In re J.T. , 2011 Ohio 3435 ( 2011 )

[Cite as In re J.T., 2011-Ohio-3435.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
WYANDOT COUNTY
IN THE MATTER OF:
CASE NO. 16-10-12
J. T.
ALLEGED NEGLECTED,
DEPENDENT CHILD, OPINION
[CARRIE THIEL - APPELLANT].
Appeal from Wyandot County Common Pleas Court
Juvenile Division
Trial Court No. C2092010
Judgment Affirmed
Date of Decision: July 11, 2011
APPEARANCES:
Scott B. Johnson for Appellant
Douglas P. Rowland for Appellee
Case No. 16-10-12
ROGERS, P.J.
{¶1} Defendant-Appellant, Carrie Thiel (“Carrie”), appeals the November
2010 judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Wyandot County granting legal
custody of her minor son, J.T., to J.T.’s paternal grandparents, Larry and Debrah
Thiel (“the grandparents” or “the Thiels”), granting protective supervision over J.T.
to the Wyandot County Department of Job and Family Services (“WCDJFS”), and
finding Carrie in contempt of court. Carrie argues that the trial court erred in
admitting evidence of certain medical records that contained hearsay statements;
that the trial court erred in allowing the psychological evaluation testimony to be
based on medical records that were not admitted into evidence; that the trial court
abused its discretion as its ruling was against the preponderance of the evidence;
and, that Carrie’s counsel provided ineffective assistance of counsel. Based upon
the following, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
{¶2} On June 5, 2009, the WCDJFS filed a two count complaint and a
motion for emergency custody in the Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, of
Wyandot County alleging that J.T. was a neglected child as defined in R.C.
2151.03(A)(2), (3), and that J.T. was a dependent child as defined in R.C.
2151.04(B), (C). WCDJFS requested in the complaint that emergency custody of
J.T. be granted to the grandparents and that protective supervision of J.T. be
granted to WCDJFS.
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{¶3} In the statement of facts submitted with its motion, WCDJFS
indicated that the agency recently received five reports alleging neglect of Carrie’s
children resulting from inadequate supervision, drug use, and domestic violence
with the children present. According to WCDJFS, WCDJFS attempted to contact
Carrie at her home on June 2, 2009, but was unsuccessful. On June 3, 2009 Carrie
called WCDJFS, and then arrived at its office. WCDJFS reported that during the
visit Carrie was observed to act “erratically and appeared to be under the influence
of an unknown substance.” (Statement of Facts, Docket No. 1). Due to these
concerns, WCDJFS and the Wyandot County Prosecutor’s Office determined that
Carrie was not an adequate caretaker for her children. Since the children were not
in Carrie’s custody at the time, WCDJFS determined that no further action was
needed. However, on the evening of June 3, 2009, Carrie did attempt to retake
custody of two of her children from their father’s house, which required
WCDJFS’s involvement. Carrie and WCDJFS ultimately agreed to allow Carrie
to take the two children for one night to Carrie’s friend’s house upon Carrie’s
promise to get a drug test the next morning and to meet with the case worker the
next day. Carrie failed to fulfill either of her promises.
{¶4} On June 5, 2006, the trial court granted WCDJFS’s motion for
emergency custody, awarding emergency custody of J.T. to the grandparents.
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{¶5} On July 1, 2009, the trial court held an adjudicatory hearing after
which it found that J.T. was a dependent, but not a neglected, child. On July 23,
2009, the trial court held a dispositional hearing. The trial court ordered that
WCDJFS’s case plan be implemented, which required Carrie to undergo random
drug testing, and granted temporary custody of J.T. to the grandparents and
protective supervision of J.T. to WCDJFS.
{¶6} On August 5, 2009, WCDJFS moved the trial court to direct Carrie to
immediately comply with random drug testing upon request. In its memorandum
WCDJFS expressed that, on August 3, 2009 at approximately 10:25 A.M., it had
requested Carrie to submit to a random drug test at Wyandot Memorial Hospital
pursuant to the court-ordered case plan. Carrie reported for the drug screen at 4:15
P.M., approximately six hours after WCDJFS requested her to arrive. WCDJFS
relayed its concern that “such delay could jeopardize the validity of the results of
the drug screen due to potential masking, flushing and/or other deception.”
Motion, Docket No. 52. The trial court ordered that Carrie must comply with
WCDJFS’s requests for random drug screens within twenty minutes of the request,
absent valid excuse or emergency.
{¶7} On October 30, 2009, the trial court granted WCDJFS’s motion to
order Carrie to complete a psychological evaluation. In its motion, WCDJFS
reported that, although Carrie’s drug screens were negative, Carrie continued to
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exhibit erratic behavior, was visibly shaking, unable to stand still, and had red
marks on her neck, and that WCDJFS continued to receive reports from
community members regarding Carrie’s behavior. WCDJFS reported that Carrie
had engaged in services at Firelands for a substance abuse assessment. Ultimately,
Firelands closed Carrie’s case as it was unable to address Carrie’s drug use due to
her denial of the same. Further, WCDJFS stated that, after researching Carrie’s
medical history and multiple visits to emergency rooms, there appeared to be a
pattern of Carrie going to the emergency rooms, complaining of pain, requesting
specific narcotics, and being discharged with a prescription for narcotics.
According to WCDJFS, doctors had confronted Carrie regarding her drug seeking
behavior.
{¶8} On November 24, 2009, WCDJFS filed a motion to show cause why
Carrie should not be found in contempt of court for failing to follow through with
the trial court’s October 30, 2009 order to complete a psychological evaluation.
According to its motion, WCDJFS had arranged for Dr. David K. Connell (“Dr.
Connell”), a clinical and forensic psychologist, to perform Carrie’s psychological
evaluation. On November 23, 2009, Carrie met with Dr. Connell and signed the
necessary contract and drug testing consent forms. Dr. Connell then requested
Carrie to provide a hair sample for purposes of drug testing. Carrie refused to
submit to the drug test and refused to cooperate further with Dr. Connell.
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{¶9} On February 5, 2010, WCDJFS filed a motion to place J.T. in the
legal custody of the grandparents. In the attached statement of facts, WCDJFS
stated the following reasons in support of the motion: that Alec Thiel, J.T.’s father,
was currently serving a 17-month prison sentence for drug-related charges; that an
agency worker observed a water shut off notice at Carrie’s residence as well as a
summons for a court hearing; that Carrie had not notified the agency worker of her
release from the hospital and her new address; that Carrie was continuing to
exhibit erratic behaviors, was involved in criminal activity, had continued to visit
distant emergency rooms; and, that Carrie had decreased her time with J.T., at
times allowing more than a week to pass between her contacts with him.
{¶10} On March 2, 2010, the grandparents filed a motion for joinder and a
motion for custody, moving the trial court for an order granting them custody of
J.T. The trial court granted the motion for joinder.
{¶11} The hearing on the motion for legal custody and the motion to show
cause took place on May 25, 2010.
{¶12} At the hearing, the assistant Wyandot County prosecutor presented
the following exhibits: Carrie’s medical records from Wyandot Memorial Hospital
as State’s Exhibit 6, Hardin Memorial Hospital as State’s Exhibit 8-A, Marion
Pain Clinic as State’s Exhibit 9, Marion General Hospital as State’s Exhibit 10,
and Blanchard Valley Hospital as State’s Exhibit 11. The trial court admitted all
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with the exception of Exhibit 10 as the certification was not properly verified as
required by R.C. 2317.42.2(A).
{¶13} The State presented Dr. Connell who testified that he met with Carrie
for her psychological evaluation on November 23, 2009. He stated that he
explained the procedure to Carrie, discussed her rights, and that Carrie signed the
release and confidentiality forms. He explained that when he went to collect the
sample of hair, Carrie became “increasingly irritable and belligerent. Then she
said, ‘Get April in here. I’m not gonna do this. This is crap.’ ” Hearing Tr., pp.
38-39. Dr. Connell testified that Carrie was cooperative for about fifteen minutes
and then was resistant, defensive, and argumentative for about 45 minutes.
{¶14} He also stated that he had reviewed Carrie’s medical records,
including Exhibit 8-A from Hardin Memorial Hospital, Exhibit 11 from Blanchard
Valley Hospital, and Exhibit 6 from Wyandot Memorial Hospital. Dr. Connell
testified that, based on his experience, training, familiarization with Carrie’s case,
and her medical records, Carrie was addicted to drugs and, from 2004 to 2009,
has frequently gone to different hospitals and emergency rooms, complaining of
pain and seeking narcotics. Dr. Connell also stated that one of the notations
included in several of her medical records states, “pain is triggered by nothing. It
is helped by nothing.” Hearing Tr., p. 47.
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{¶15} On cross-examination, Dr. Connell testified that he reviewed
Wyandot County Memorial Hospital records dating from March 2005 to May
2009 comprising a total of 38 visits to the emergency room. Dr. Connell testified
that Carrie went to “[Blanchard Valley] eleven times in 2005 with abdominal pain,
fourteen times to Wyandot Memorial . . . six times to Marion General, . . . and
eight times to Hardin.” Hearing Tr., p. 89. Dr. Connell also stated, “[t]he question
for me . . . is why is she going to all these different hospitals. In some months she
goes to three or four different hospitals seeking medication.” Hearing Tr., p. 79.
Dr. Connell stated that a review of the records indicated that she had never seen a
nephrologist nor had surgery for any of her kidney problems. He also testified that
there was not much evidence to show that any of her presenting complaints were
valid.
{¶16} Carrie then testified. She stated that all of her visits to the
emergency room were based on legitimate reasons, and that she received pain
medication at the hospital on many occasions. Carrie also testified that she served
a jail sentence in April 2010 for complicity to theft. She testified to serving a
second jail sentence for “driving off with gas.” Hearing Tr., p. 112. She
acknowledged that since May of 2009, she had come into contact with law
enforcement on fourteen separate occasions. Carrie testified that she has been
unemployed since July 2009, that she has been living with her mom since March
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or April 2009, and that she had been evicted from her previous home because she
was not paying rent.
{¶17} April Allison (“Ms. Allison”), a caseworker for WCDJFS, then
testified that the ultimate goal for Carrie’s case plan was to “get Carrie stable
enough to have [J.T.] return to her care.” Ms. Allison testified that, in order to
assist Carrie in achieving the reunification goal, WCDJFS conducted home visits
and referred her to Firelands. On one particular home visit in the fall of 2009, Ms.
Allison testified that she had a difficult time engaging Carrie in conversation as
Carrie had trouble keeping eye contact and could not stay on topic, that Carrie was
pacing across the porch, and that Carrie was unable to stand still. She testified that
her concerns about Carrie were due to Carrie’s failure to complete the
psychological evaluation, her pattern of hospitalization, criminal activity, lack of
permanent housing, electricity shut-off notices, abuse of medications, and “doctor
shopping.” Hearing Tr., pp. 163-165.
{¶18} Ms. Allison also testified that J.T. is living with the grandparents,
that he feels comfortable in their home, that he is bonded to them, that he is being
appropriately cared for, and that she believes it is in J.T.’s best interest to be
placed in the legal custody of the grandparents. Ms. Allison testified that recently
Carrie has been cooperative and has made some progress with respect to her
substance abuse and mental health, but at this point, she does not feel that Carrie is
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an appropriate placement for J.T., and that Carrie ought not to have unsupervised
or overnight visits with J.T. for the present time.
{¶19} On cross-examination, Debrah Thiel (“Deb”) testified regarding
Carrie’s alarming behavior. She said that Carrie is late to about one in every three
visits with J.T. One example of Carrie’s tardiness was on Christmas Day in 2009;
Deb testified that Carrie requested to come over first thing in the morning to see
J.T. open his presents, but actually did not arrive until almost two o’clock in the
afternoon. On October 25, 2009, Carrie visited J.T. at the Thiel’s house and she
brought with her a flat screen television to surprise J.T. Deb testified that Carrie
said to J.T., “ ‘there’s your TV that got stolen out of my house . . . I was at Eric
Shackelford’s house and I will swear that that’s the TV that gotten (sic) stolen
from my house so I took it.’” Hearing Tr., pp. 207-08. According to Deb, about
thirty minutes after Carrie said goodbye that evening, Carrie’s car was still sitting
in the driveway with the dome light on, the door open, and Carrie was “kind of
laid out in the front seat.” Hearing Tr., p. 209. She then testified that in the past
year, she observed Carrie under the influence of drugs on about three or four
different occasions. Lastly, Deb testified that she believes it is in J.T.’s best
interest to live with her and her husband.
{¶20} Louanne Hufford (“Ms. Hufford”), a guardian ad litem (“GAL”) with
CASA, testified that at this point in time it is in J.T.’s best interest to remain with
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the Thiels as J.T. needs consistency. She testified that Carrie is currently unable to
maintain a home as she does not have a home of her own or a job.
{¶21} Ms. Hufford also testified that Carrie had exhibited very odd
behavior when she and Ms. Allison went to visit Carrie. She testified that she
observed Carrie, “crawling out of her skin, clawing at herself, trying to hold
herself still . . . She was just clawing and . . . couldn’t keep her feet straight. She
was putting one foot on top of the other trying to hold it down. [It] was very
erratic behavior at that time.” Hearing Tr., p. 231. Ms. Hufford testified that she
observed Carrie act this way only once, that Carrie admitted to taking Ritalin at
that time which was causing her to act erratically, and that apparently Carrie has
changed medications. She also testified that Carrie has made recent
improvements, keeps in regular contact with J.T., and is attempting to secure her
own housing. Ms. Hufford’s report was admitted into evidence as Exhibit 1.
{¶22} On direct-examination, Carrie testified regarding her medical
ailments. In 2002, Carrie began to experience stomach and bowel problems,
including very bad stomach pains. Carrie testified that she went to Wyandot
Memorial Hospital and OSU where she underwent testing and was diagnosed with
diverticulosis and ulcerative colitis. She began taking various medications,
including pain medications. Carrie also testified that, since 2003, she suffered
with kidney stones for about three or four years. Carrie testified that she saw a
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nephrologist in Lima. Carrie testified that she had a seizure, and that this seizure
was caused by Ultram, a certain drug she was taking at the time. She also testified
that her kidneys stopped functioning correctly during one of her pregnancies and
that she was given narcotics. Carrie further testified that in the last three years she
has had two pregnancies that “were very bad” as she was “in and out of the
hospital a lot for issues . . . due to the ulcerative colitis.” Hearing Tr., p. 279. She
testified that she has very high blood pressure which causes her to be in the
hospital often. Carrie also stated that she regularly went to OSU for her digestive
issues but when she would get sick, as in vomiting blood, she would go to
Wyandot Hospital. Further, Carrie testified that she had cysts on her wrist in
2004 or 2005, that she had several laparoscopic surgeries in 2005, that she had
toxic shock syndrome in October of 2007, that she received stitches on May 3,
2009 from an incident between her and an ex-boyfriend, that she was assaulted on
May 31, 2009, that she had a hysterectomy in July of 2009, that she has been
diagnosed with endometriosis, cysts on her ovaries, fibromyalgia, lupus, and that
she suffers from a blood clotting disorder and hematoma.
{¶23} Carrie testified that, at her psychological evaluation with Dr.
Connell, she refused to complete the psychological evaluation or give a hair
sample because she was concerned that Dr. Connell “did not work for [her], where
normal psychologists . . . work for you” and because he would not do any follow-
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up care, if necessary. Hearing Tr., p. 294. When explaining her interactions with
the police, Carrie testified, “I’ve had numerous occasions where I get waved down
and told to get out of my car, I’m intoxicated, and I need to walk.” Hearing Tr., p.
309.
{¶24} Carrie testified that all of her drug tests at WCDJFS since July 2009
have been negative. Carrie further testified that she contests permanent custody of
J.T. being granted to the Thiels because she wants to raise her son.
{¶25} On August 2, 2010, the trial court issued its written decision,
awarding legal custody of J.T. to the grandparents and protective custody of J.T. to
WCDJFS. The trial court also found Carrie in contempt of court and imposed a
suspended jail sentence of ten days, conditioned upon her completing the
psychological evaluation.1 Carrie timely filed a notice of appeal, presenting the
following assignments of error for our review.
Assignment of Error No. I
THE COURT ERRED IN ADMITTING INTO EVIDENCE
CERTAIN MEDICAL RECORDS WHICH CONTAINED
RECORDS FROM OTHER UNCERTIFIED SOURCES AND
ERRED BY PERMITTING THEIR USE IN SUPPORTING
PSYCHOLOGICAL CONCLUSIONS.
1
Carrie timely filed an appeal. This Court dismissed the appeal sua sponte, finding that we did not have
jurisdiction as the judgment entry was not a final appealable order. On November 1, 2010, the trial court
entered a proper judgment entry. On November 9, 2010, the trial court vacated Carrie’s jail sentence for
contempt finding that she had properly purged herself of contempt. Carrie then filed her notice of appeal
on November 18, 2010.
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Assignment of Error No. II
THE COURT BELOW ERRED IN ALLOWING THE
PSYCHOLGICAL EVALUATION TESTIMONY TO BE
BASED ON MEDICAL RECORDS THAT WERE NOT
ADMITTED INTO EVIDENCE.
Assignment of Error No. III
THE FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS OF THE COURT
BELOW WERE NOT SUPPORTED BY THE MANIFEST
WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE.
Assignment of Error No. IV
THE COUNSEL FOR THE DEFENDANT PROVIDED
INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL.
Assignment of Error No. I
{¶26} In her first assignment of error, Carrie asserts the trial court should
have excluded Exhibits 9 and 11 as they contain “double hearsay.” Specifically,
Carrie alleges that although these exhibits are business records and were properly
admitted, they contain hearsay statements that did not contain verified
certifications by an appropriate person according to R.C. 2317.422, and therefore,
should have been excluded. Further, Carrie argues that these records should not
have been used by Dr. Connell when he concluded that Carrie had a severe drug
addiction. We disagree.
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{¶27} WCDJFS contends that these records were properly admitted
pursuant to R.C. 2317.422. Alternatively, WCDJFS argues that even if they were
not properly admitted under this rule, hearsay is admissible pursuant to Juv.R.
34(B)(2) and Evid. R. 803(6), as an exception to the hearsay rule. Lastly,
WCDJFS argues that the admission of evidence rests within the discretion of the
trial court, and that the appellant must show prejudice. Since Carrie has failed to
show prejudice, WCDJFS argues, her assignment of error should be overruled.
We agree that Juv.R. 34(B)(2) permits hearsay evidence to be admitted in these
circumstances.
{¶28} The exhibits at issue in this assignment of error are Exhibits 9 and
11. Exhibit 9 contains medical records from Marion Pain Clinic, Inc. dating from
September 2004 to November 2004. It includes records from, inter alia, the
Marion Pain Clinic, telephone consultation notes from Dr. Katabay’s office, a
letter from WCDJFS, drug screen results from Quest Diagnostics, imaging reports
from Marion General Hospital, and images and reports from The Ohio State
University Medical Center. The records in Exhibit 9 were certified by a custodian
of records at the Marion Pain Clinic. The certification was notarized. Exhibit 11
contains medical records from 2004 to 2009, including pharmacy records,
emergency department consultation reports, summary reports, and an operative
record from the Blanchard Valley Emergency Department, Blanchard Valley
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Health System, Blanchard Valley Hospital Laboratory, and Blanchard Valley
Pharmacy. A records custodian from Blanchard Valley Hospital certified these
records. The certification was notarized.
{¶29} The issue, therefore, is whether the trial court should have excluded
Exhibits 9 and 11 as they contained inadmissible hearsay. We find that hearsay
evidence was permissible in the hearing below.
{¶30} Juv.R. 34(B)(2) allows the use of hearsay evidence at dispositional
hearings and reads in pertinent part that “the court may admit evidence that is
material and relevant, including, but not limited to, hearsay, opinion, and
documentary evidence.”
{¶31} The Rules of Evidence apply in hearings on motions for permanent
custody. Juv.R. 34(I).
{¶32} Initially we note that this case does not involve permanent custody of
J.T., but is rather a case of legal custody. R.C. 2151.011(B)(30) defines
permanent custody as:
[A] legal status that vests in a public children services agency or
a private child placing agency, all parental rights, duties, and
obligations, including the right to consent to adoption, and
divests the natural parents or adoptive parents of all parental
rights, privileges, and obligations, including all residual rights and
obligations.
(Emphasis added.) Conversely, R.C. 2151.011(B)(19) defines legal custody as:
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[A] legal status that vests in the custodian the right to have
physical care and control of the child and to determine where
and with whom the child shall live, and the right and duty to
protect, train, and discipline the child and to provide the child
with food, shelter, education, and medical care, all subject to any
residual parental rights, privileges, and responsibilities.
(Emphasis added.) As we have noted previously, the important distinction
between permanent and legal custody is that the latter does not terminate all
parental rights, and the parent may, in the future, petition the court for a
modification of custody. In re Bixler, 3rd Dist. No. 13-05-41, 13-05-42, 2006-
Ohio-3533, ¶21 citing In re C.R., 108 Ohio St.3d 369, 2006-Ohio-1191, ¶17.
{¶33} In the case sub judice, neither party sought permanent custody of J.T.
After the hearing on May 25 and 26, 2010, legal custody was granted to the
grandparents and WCDJFS was granted protective supervision over J.T. Carrie
retained residual parental rights including visitation and the opportunity to seek
the return of J.T., and the matter was continued for review within six months. As
this hearing was not a permanent custody hearing, but rather a dispositional
hearing, Juv.R. 34(B)(2) applies rather than the Rules of Evidence. Hearsay is
therefore permitted at this hearing. Accordingly, we overrule Carrie’s first
assignment of error.
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Assignment of Error No. II
{¶34} In her second assignment of error, Carrie argues that the trial court
erred by allowing Dr. Connell to base his psychological evaluation testimony on
his review of medical records, including those records in Exhibit 10, which was
properly excluded by the trial court. Without the records in Exhibit 10, Carrie
argues, the weight of the evidence considered by Dr. Connell would have been
skewed differently and Dr. Connell may have had a different opinion.2
{¶35} WCDJFS contends that this assignment of error is not supported by
the record; rather, the record reflects that WCDJFS explained to Dr. Connell that
portions of the medical records were not allowed into evidence, and that Dr.
Connell testified that he reviewed Exhibits 6, 8-A, 9, and 11. Therefore, WCDJFS
asserts that Dr. Connell’s testimony did not rely upon Exhibit 10.
{¶36} The transcript of the May 25, 2010 hearing shows that the assistant
prosecutor for Wyandot County handed Dr. Connell Exhibits 8-A, 11, 6, and 9,
and instructed Dr. Connell “to speak to only those records that [he had] reviewed
that [the prosecutor] handed [Dr. Connell] . . .”. Hearing Tr., p. 43. Mr.
Workman, attorney for Carrie, on his cross-examination of Dr. Connell instructed
him to speak only on Wyandot records. Hearing Tr., p. 63. The court questioned
2
We note that, with respect to her second assignment of error, Carrie fails to cite to any legal authority as
required by Ohio R.App.P. 16(a)(7). Despite this Court’s ability to disregard this assignment of error
according to Ohio R. App. P. 12(a)(2), we will proceed to the merits.
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Dr. Connell, “You said you reviewed 38 visits to Wyandot Memorial Hospital . . .
from . . . March of ’05 to May of ’09. Could you tell me how many visits within
that same general time frame there was (sic) at Blanchard? . . . Could you tell me
how many, excluding Marion General?” Hearing Tr., p. 103. The trial court again
questioned Dr. Connell, “how many visits at each hospital institution, excluding
Marion General.” Dr. Connell responded the following:
Wyandot Memorial 3-05 through 5-09, 38 visits, Hardin
Memorial 2-05 through 2-06, three visits. Blanchard Valley
Hospital 10-04 through 6-09, 32 visits.
Hearing Tr., p. 104. Dr. Connell did, however, twice mention Carrie’s visits to
Marion General Hospital in his testimony. First, when prompted by Mr. Workman
why Carrie’s visit to Wyandot Memorial on April 20, 2005 caused him concern,
Dr. Connell responded that she also visited Marion General Hospital on March 14,
2005 for abdominal pain. Hearing Tr., p. 78. Second, when asked by Mr.
Workman if Carrie was at Blanchard Valley in 2005 for a kidney stone issue, Dr.
Connell responded the following:
Primarily for the kidney stone issue she went to BV 11 times, in .
. .’05 with abdominal pain. She went to Wyandot Memorial
Hospital 14 times. [L]et’s see, Marion General, one, two, three,
four, five, six times.
Hearing Tr., pp. 88-89. Therefore, the record reveals that Dr. Connell did testify
regarding the Marion General records, even though these records were excluded
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and he was instructed not to refer to them. As no objection was made to this
testimony at the hearing, we review for plain error.
{¶37} In appeals of civil cases, the plain error doctrine is not favored and
may be applied only in the extremely rare case involving exceptional
circumstances where error, to which no objection was made at the trial court,
seriously affects the basic fairness, integrity, or public reputation of the judicial
process, thereby challenging the legitimacy of the underlying judicial process
itself.’” Ordean v. Ordean, 3d Dist No. 17-06-15, 2007-Ohio-3979, ¶14, quoting
Goldfuss v. Davidson, 79 Ohio St.3d 116, 1997-Ohio-401, syllabus. We find that
Dr. Connell’s mention of Carrie’s visits to Marion General is not the extreme case
that seriously affects the basic fairness, integrity, or public reputation of the
judicial process.
{¶38} Dr. Connell gave a lengthy testimony through which he explained his
credentials, his meeting with Carrie to evaluate her, Carrie’s premature
termination of the meeting by refusing to give a hair sample, his review of her
“voluminous medical records” including those from Hardin Memorial Hospital,
Blanchard Valley Hospital, Wyandot Memorial Hospital, and Marion Pain Clinic.
When asked what his opinion and findings were, based on his experience, training,
and familiarization with the case and medical records, Dr. Connell responded:
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Well . . . overall looking at the hospital records, I think it’s . . .
very clear to me that . . . Carrie was . . . probably addicted to
narcotics . . . and spends a lot of time and effort going to
different hospitals. [T]he records that I saw beginning in . . . ’04
. . . seeking . . . sometimes daily . . . doses of narcotic
medications, primarily narcotics.
Hearing Tr., p. 44. When asked by the trial court to give a general idea of the time
period in which this behavior occurred, Dr. Connell responded:
Well, I think the first records I reviewed were from . . . 2004.
The last records I reviewed were from 2009. And there seems to
be a pretty consistent pattern during that five year period of
very frequent . . . trips to the emergency room at different
hospitals complaining of some kind of pain, either abdomen
pain, sometimes tooth pain, . . . sometimes hand pain, a wrist
pain, and always with the request for narcotics.
Hearing Tr., p. 45. Further when asked whether Carrie’s kidney issues would
have supported her request for pain medication, Dr. Connell responded:
[O]ne of the things that is noted on several of the medical
records . . . is the line . . . “pain is triggered by nothing it is
helped by nothing.”
Hearing Tr., p. 47. Lastly, when asked whether being addicted to pain
medications would impact parenting, Dr. Connell responded, “Absolutely, yes.”
Hearing Tr., p. 47.
{¶39} On cross-examination, Mr. Pfeifer, attorney for the grandparents,
asked Dr. Connell, “And is it your professional opinion, based upon years of
experience and reviewing her hospital records, that she’s a drug seeker?” Hearing
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Tr., p. 102. Dr. Connell responded, “Yes. And . . . that’s something that came up
again and again in the documentation that . . . doctors at the hospital . . . refused to
treat her because . . . of that issue.” Hearing Tr., p. 102.
{¶40} In light of the foregoing testimony of Dr. Connell, there is no
indication that Dr. Connell relied on the Marion General Hospital records in
forming his opinion that Carrie is a drug seeker and addicted to narcotics.
Although Dr. Connell made two cursory statements regarding Carrie’s visits to
Marion General, this does not equate to reliance on them in forming his opinion,
especially in light of the hundreds of medical records from other medical
institutions that sufficed to establish Carrie’s behavior as a drug seeker.
{¶41} Assuming arguendo that Dr. Connell relied on the Marion General
records in Exhibit 10, the record is devoid of any indication that the trial court
relied on them in issuing its decision. In its judgment entry, the trial court cited to
Carrie’s visits to area hospitals, including Hardin Memorial Hospital and Wyandot
Memorial Hospital, but never once mentioned her visit to or records from Marion
General Hospital. Therefore, there is no indication of reliance by the trial court or
by Dr. Connell on the records contained in Exhibit 10. Dr. Connell’s cursory
reference to Marion General Hospital records in no way “affects the basic fairness,
integrity, or public reputation of the judicial process,” nor does it “challeng[e] . . .
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the legitimacy of the underlying judicial process itself.” Id. Accordingly, we find
Carrie’s second assignment of error to be without merit and overrule it.
Assignment of Error No. III
{¶42} In her third assignment of error, Carrie asserts that the trial court’s
decision is against the manifest weight of the evidence. First, she argues that if the
first two assignments of error are sustained, the weight of the evidence against her
would be greatly emaciated. Second, she argues that she should not have been
found in contempt of court for failing to render a hair sample and completing the
court-ordered psychological evaluation. Absent the evidence in issue in her first
and second assignments of error and the finding of contempt, Carrie argues, the
outcome should have been different, and therefore the trial court erred.
{¶43} Initially we note this case is not one that calls for a manifest weight
review. Rather, in legal custody proceedings the trial court’s standard of review is
a preponderance of the evidence standard. Bixler, 2006-Ohio-3533 at ¶24, citing
In re Nice (2001), 141 Ohio App.3d 445, 455. “Preponderance of the evidence
means evidence that’s more probable, more persuasive or of greater probative
value.” Bixler, 2006-Ohio-3533 at ¶24 (internal citations omitted). On appeal, an
appellate court will not reverse an award of legal custody absent an abuse of
discretion. Id., citing Nice, 141 Ohio App.3d. at 455. Although Carrie asserts that
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the trial court’s decision was against the manifest weight of the evidence, she
argues the correct legal standard, under which we will address her argument.
Evidence from Assignments of Error Nos. I & II
{¶44} As we have overruled Carrie’s first two assignments of error and
held that the evidence in dispute is admissible, Carrie’s argument regarding the
evidence in issue under these two assignments is moot. We decline to address this
portion of her third assignment of error. App.R. 12(A)(1)(c).
Contempt
{¶45} Carrie argues that the trial court erred by finding her in contempt of
court and that, without such finding, there may not have been an award of legal
custody.
{¶46} The trial court found Carrie in contempt for failing to comply with
the court’s previous order to undergo a psychological evaluation and then
sentenced her to ten days in the Wyandot County Jail. The trial court suspended
the jail time “on the condition that Carrie purge herself of the contempt order by
obtaining a psychological evaluation and a hair test analysis within the next thirty
days…” Judgment Entry, p. 8. Carrie complied with the conditions of the purge
and the trial court entered judgment vacating the jail sentence. As Carrie has
purged herself of the finding of contempt, she no longer has standing to challenge
the propriety of such finding. Further, Carrie has not assigned the finding of
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contempt as error. We, therefore, hold that this argument is moot and decline to
address it.
Abuse of Discretion
{¶47} A trial court will be found to have abused its discretion when its
decision is contrary to law, unreasonable, not supported by the evidence, or
grossly unsound. See State v. Boles, 2d Dist. No. 23037, 2010-Ohio-278, ¶¶17-18,
citing Black’s Law Dictionary (8 Ed.Rev.2004) 11. When applying the abuse of
discretion standard, a reviewing court may not simply substitute its judgment for
that of the trial court. Blakemore v. Blakemore (1983), 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 219.
Rather, an abuse of discretion will only be found where the decision is
unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable. Id.{¶48} The evidence presented at trial clearly met and exceeded a
preponderance standard. The lion’s share of the testimony presented during the
hearing supported the trial court’s decision to grant legal custody to the
grandparents. Dr. Connell testified that, based on his knowledge and experience,
Carrie was addicted to narcotics as evidenced by her drug-seeking behavior,
voluminous medical records, and visits to various emergency rooms requesting
narcotics. Ms. Allison, the WCDJFS caseworker, testified that it is in J.T.’s best
interest to be placed with the grandparents due to Carrie’s failure to complete the
psychological evaluation, her pattern of hospitalization, criminal activity, lack of
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permanent housing, electricity shut-off notices, abuse of medications, and “doctor
shopping.” Hearing Tr., pp. 163-65. Deb testified that she believes it is in J.T.’s
best interest to be placed with her and her husband as she has observed Carrie
acting erratically and under the influence of drugs several times throughout the
prior year. Ms. Hufford testified that, although Carrie had made recent
improvements, she believes it is in J.T.’s best interest to be placed with the
grandparents as J.T. needs a consistent, structured environment. Lastly, the record
reflects voluminous medical records from various area medical institutions and
drug test results that support the testimony of Carrie’s drug-seeking behavior.
{¶49} In light of the testimony and evidence presented at trial, we cannot
conclude that the trial court abused its discretion by awarding legal custody to the
grandparents. Accordingly, we overrule Carrie’s third assignment of error.
Assignment of Error No. IV
{¶50} In her fourth assignment of error, Carrie alleges that she received
ineffective assistance of counsel. Specifically, Carrie asserts that her trial attorney
failed to cross-examine Dr. Connell regarding his opinion excluding the records in
Exhibit 10, and failed to provide any documentary or expert evidence regarding
Carrie’s medical history. Such evidence could have verified her medical issues,
pain, and the side effects of certain medications she was taking. Carrie argues that
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the trial attorney’s failure to provide such evidence resulted in an unfair trial as
substantial justice was not done.
{¶51} WCDJFS responds that Carrie’s trial counsel was not ineffective as
Carrie’s assertions are speculative and fail to overcome the strong presumption
that the trial attorney provided competent representation. Specifically, Wyandot
County contends that trial counsel’s decision on how to cross-examine a witness is
soundly within trial strategy, that the trial counsel strongly objected to the
admission of exhibits and successfully moved the court to exclude Exhibit 10, and
that Carrie’s assertions that medical records or testimony from her physician could
have explained her voluminous medical records are mere speculation.
{¶52} In order to succeed on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, an
appellant must “show that his trial counsel was deficient and that such deficiency
prejudiced the defense.” Strickland v. Washington (1984), 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct.
2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674. Specifically, an appellant must establish 1) that the trial
counsel’s representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness, and 2)
that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors,
the result of the proceeding would have been different. Strickland, adopted by
Ohio in State v. Bradley (1989), 42 Ohio St.3d 136, 538 N.E.2d 373. In reviewing
the alleged deficiency of trial counsel, courts presume that a properly licensed
attorney executes his duties in an ethical and competent manner. State v. Smith
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(1985), 17 Ohio St.3d 98, 100, 477 N.E.2d 1128. The courts are to refrain from
second-guessing the strategic decisions made by trial counsel. State v. Sallie
(1998), 81 Ohio St.3d 673, 674.
{¶53} The deficiencies Carrie alleges fail to establish prejudice and
overcome the presumption that is accorded licensed attorneys. Carrie asserts that
her trial counsel should have done a more thorough cross-examination of Dr.
Connell pertaining to his reliance on the records contained in Exhibit 10 in
forming his opinion. As discussed above, Dr. Connell was instructed several
times to exclude those records when testifying. Further, the trial counsel’s
approach to cross-examining a witness is soundly within trial strategy. State v.
Otte (1996), 74 Ohio St.3d 555, 565, citing State v. Brown (1988), 38 Ohio St.3d
305, 319.
{¶54} Next, Carrie asserts that her trial counsel was deficient due to the
lack of evidence presented. Specifically, Carrie asserts that her counsel’s failure
to provide any medical or dental records or her treating physician was prejudicial
as such evidence would have substantiated her statements regarding her medical
history, the pain typically associated with her conditions, and the side effects of
medication. Although providing such evidence may have been beneficial to
Carrie’s defense, Carrie provides no documentation to establish that such
evidence, if it in fact exists and favors her, would have changed the outcome of the
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proceeding. Without any documentation as to the substance of such evidence, this
Court is left with only speculation as to what such evidence would have revealed.
Although it is possible such evidence would have changed the outcome of the
case, Carrie’s flat assertions do not establish that a different outcome would have
been reasonably probable. Accord In re N.H., 9th Dist. No. 24355, 2008-Ohio-
6617 (reasoning that, without explaining what father’s therapist’s testimony would
have been or demonstrating that the therapist’s testimony would have changed the
outcome of the proceeding, the father failed to establish ineffective assistance of
counsel). Further, “[d]ecisions regarding the calling of witnesses are within the
purview of defense counsel's trial tactics. Matter of Coffey (Jan. 26, 1998), 12th
Dist. No. 97-05-021, citing State v. Cantwell (Nov. 24, 1997), 12th Dist. No. 97-
02-018. Because Carrie has failed to demonstrate any prejudice resulting from the
assistance of her trial counsel, we hold that her claim lacks merit. Accordingly,
we overrule her fourth assignment of error.
{¶55} Having found no error prejudicial to the appellant herein, in the
particulars assigned and argued, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Judgment Affirmed
SHAW and WILLAMOWSKI, J.J., concur.
/jlr
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