Douglas J. Allison v. Heather Pepkowski , 2014 Ind. App. LEXIS 124 ( 2014 )


Menu:
  • FOR PUBLICATION
    ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT:
    Mar 27 2014, 9:51 am
    ADAM J. SEDIA
    Rubino, Ruman, Crosmer & Polen
    Dyer, Indiana
    IN THE
    COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
    DOUGLAS J. ALLISON,                          )
    )
    Appellant-Respondent,                  )
    )
    vs.                             )      No. 64A05-1311-PO-554
    )
    HEATHER PEPKOWSKI,                           )
    )
    Appellee-Petitioner.                   )
    APPEAL FROM THE PORTER SUPERIOR COURT
    The Honorable Julia M. Jent, Judge
    Cause No. 64D03-1308-PO-7674
    March 27, 2014
    OPINION - FOR PUBLICATION
    DARDEN, Senior Judge
    STATEMENT OF THE CASE
    The trial court continued the hearing on a protective order petition and extended
    the temporary protective order for six months after the petitioner suffered an apparent
    anxiety attack while on the witness stand.        Although the circumstances justified a
    continuance and extension, the delay of six months without explanation runs contrary to
    the Indiana Civil Protection Order Act and violates the respondent’s due process rights.
    In any event, because the court’s extension granted a temporary restraining order, which
    is not appealable as of right, the respondent was required to seek a discretionary
    interlocutory appeal. Because he did not do so, we must dismiss this appeal for lack of
    jurisdiction.
    FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
    On August 26, 2013, Heather Pepkowski petitioned the Porter Superior Court for
    an ex parte protective order against her neighbor Douglas Allison, alleging that Allison
    had engaged in harassing behavior toward her and her mother constituting stalking. The
    petition requested a hearing. The same day, the trial court granted the ex parte protective
    order and set the matter for a hearing on October 10, 2013.
    Pepkowski and Allison each appeared in person and by counsel for the October
    10, 2013 hearing. Allison had seven witnesses ready to testify on his behalf. Pepkowski
    was the first and, as it turned out, the only person to testify. During redirect examination,
    the trial court became concerned for Pepkowski’s physical well-being while on the
    witness stand and thus continued the hearing:
    2
    Q      And just so we’re clear – you okay?
    BY THE COURT:
    You okay?
    Q      You want to take a break?
    BY THE COURT:
    Let me call security in.
    BY PETITIONER’S ATTORNEY:
    Breathe[ ] slowly, it’s okay, every things [sic] fine.
    BY THE WITNESS:
    I need my mom.
    BY THE COURT:
    I think maybe we ought to wrap this up for today. I have some issue,
    I have some concerns with your well being. There’s a hospital emergency
    room right next door. Do you feel you need to go in? Do you want us to
    call someone? Mom, do you think we need to call an ambulance? Let’s do
    that. Let me reset this counsel, we’ll take care of that later as far as time
    and dates are concerned. I think we need to get her medical attention. I’m
    not going to take any chances here, we’ve had too many issues.
    BY THE WITNESS:
    I’m sorry.
    BY THE COURT:
    It’s okay. It’s absolutely okay, has no bearing one way or another on
    your case. We just want to make sure everyone stays healthy. I want to see
    counsel[ ] in chambers right now, and then we’ll get a new court date for
    you guys. Larry is an EMT so he knows what to do here. Okay, and we’ll
    get you new dates.
    Tr. pp. 28-29. The same day, the trial court issued an order resetting the hearing for six
    months later on April 10, 2014, and extending the temporary protective order until that
    time. The record does not indicate that Allison objected to the court’s order. Allison
    now appeals, asserting that he has a right to do so pursuant to Indiana Appellate Rule
    14(A)(5).
    DISCUSSION AND DECISION
    Allison does not challenge the trial court’s continuance of the hearing or extension
    of the temporary protective order pending the hearing. Rather, he challenges the length
    3
    of the delay, contending the court’s continuance and extension for six months runs
    contrary to the Indiana Civil Protection Order Act, which aims to provide prompt
    resolutions to protective order petitions. He thus asks us to dismiss Pepkowski’s action.
    We initially note that Pepkowski has not filed a brief. When an appellee fails to
    submit a brief, we need not undertake the burden of developing arguments on her behalf.
    Trinity Homes, LLC v. Fang, 
    848 N.E.2d 1065
    , 1068 (Ind. 2006). Instead, we apply a
    less stringent standard of review with respect to showings of reversible error and reverse
    if the appellant establishes prima facie error. 
    Id.
     Prima facie error in this context is an
    error at first sight, on first appearance, or on the face of it. 
    Id.
    Indiana’s Civil Protection Order Act is to be construed to promote (1) the
    protection and safety of all victims of domestic or family violence “in a fair, prompt, and
    effective manner” and (2) the prevention of future domestic and family violence. 
    Ind. Code § 34-26-5-1
     (2002).
    A person who is or has been a victim of domestic or family violence may file a
    petition for a protective order against (1) a family or household member who commits an
    act of domestic or family violence or (2) a person who has committed stalking or a sex
    offense against the petitioner. 
    Ind. Code § 34-26-5-2
    (a) (2002). If it appears from a
    protective order petition “that domestic or family violence has occurred,” a trial court
    may immediately issue an ex parte protective order without notice or a hearing. 
    Ind. Code § 34-26-5-9
    (a)(1) (2010). For purposes of the Civil Protection Order Act, domestic
    and family violence includes stalking or a sex offense “whether or not the stalking or sex
    4
    offense is committed by a family or household member.” 
    Ind. Code § 34-6-2-34
    .5
    (2007).
    Indiana Code section 34-26-5-9(b) sets forth the type of relief a trial court may
    provide in an ex parte order. If such ex parte relief is granted, a prompt hearing is
    required upon a party’s timely request:
    [I]f a court issues . . . an order for protection ex parte . . . and provides relief
    under section 9(b) of this chapter, upon a request by either party not more
    than thirty (30) days after service of the order . . ., the court shall set a date
    for a hearing on the petition. The hearing must be held not more than thirty
    (30) days after the request for a hearing is filed unless continued by the
    court for good cause shown.
    
    Ind. Code § 34-26-5-10
    (a) (2002). On August 26, 2013, Pepkowski petitioned for a
    protective order and requested a hearing. The trial court issued an ex parte protective
    order, granting relief under three provisions of Section 9(b). 1 Pursuant to Section 34-26-
    5-10(a), the hearing should have been held by September 25, 2013. Although it was not
    held until fifteen days later on October 10, 2013, neither party objected to the delay.
    At the hearing, Pepkowski suffered what appears to be some type of anxiety attack
    while on the witness stand. The trial court thus ended the hearing and reset the matter for
    six months later on April 10, 2014, and extended the temporary protective order against
    Allison until that time.
    1
    Specifically, the court granted relief under 9(b)(1) (“Enjoin a respondent from threatening to commit or
    committing acts of domestic or family violence against a petitioner and each designated family or
    household member.”), 9(b)(2) (“Prohibit a respondent from harassing, annoying, telephoning, contacting,
    or directly or indirectly communicating with a petitioner.”), and 9(b)(4) (“Order a respondent to stay
    away from the residence, school, or place of employment of a petitioner or a specified place frequented
    by a petitioner and each designated family or household member.”).
    5
    It was certainly within the trial court’s discretion to continue the matter based on
    Pepkowski’s apparent anxiety attack at the hearing. A six-month delay, though, defeats
    the Act’s purpose of protecting victims in a fair, prompt, and effective manner. It also
    runs contrary to Section 34-26-5-10(a), which requires a hearing within thirty days after a
    request for a hearing is filed “unless continued by the court for good cause shown.” The
    trial court made no record explaining why a delay of six months was necessary.
    The need for a particular length of delay must be balanced against Allison’s due
    process rights. Indeed, the temporary protective order has been in effect during the entire
    pendency of this appeal. The court’s extension of that order resulted in Allison being
    subject to its terms for over seven months (the initial 45-day period before the hearing
    plus the six-month continuance), all before he has even had an opportunity to be heard at
    a hearing. In such circumstances, and as provided by statute, good cause was necessary
    for the delay. We are inclined to determine that the trial court abused its discretion by
    continuing the hearing for six months without explanation and to remand for a prompt
    hearing.
    However, a party’s failure to object to an error waives the issue for review.
    Monroe Guar. Ins. Co. v. Magwerks Corp., 
    829 N.E.2d 968
    , 974 (Ind. 2005). “The
    overriding purpose of the requirement for a specific and timely objection is to alert the
    trial court so that it may avoid error or promptly minimize harm from an error that might
    otherwise require reversal, result in a miscarriage of justice, or waste time and resources.”
    Camm v. State, 
    908 N.E.2d 215
    , 223 (Ind. 2009). There is no indication in the record that
    Allison brought the issue before the trial court. We cannot grant any type of relief under
    6
    such circumstances. See Schiller v. Knigge, 
    575 N.E.2d 704
    , 707 (Ind. Ct. App. 1991)
    (“[L]itigants will not be permitted to invite error by their action, inaction or silence and
    then expect to be successful in an attempt to gain relief from the error on appeal.”).
    Instead of objecting, Allison filed a notice of appeal. Allison argues that the trial
    court’s October 10, 2013 order is appealable as a matter of right because it is an
    interlocutory order granting or refusing to dissolve a preliminary injunction. See Ind.
    Appellate Rule 14(A)(5) (an appeal from an interlocutory order “[g]ranting or refusing to
    grant, dissolving, or refusing to dissolve a preliminary injunction” may be taken as a
    matter of right). However, a preliminary injunction may not be granted without notice
    and an opportunity to be heard at a hearing. See Ind. Trial Rule 65(A)(1). Allison
    appeared at the October 10, 2013 hearing, but the hearing ended before he had an
    opportunity to be heard. Thus, the court’s extension of the temporary protective order
    granted a temporary restraining order, not a preliminary injunction.             Temporary
    restraining orders are not appealable as of right. Witt v. Jay Petroleum, Inc., 
    964 N.E.2d 198
    , 203 (Ind. 2012). To pursue this appeal, Allison was required to seek the trial court’s
    certification of the order for interlocutory appeal, and upon the court’s certification, to
    ask us to accept jurisdiction over the appeal. See Ind. Appellate Rule 14(B) (providing
    process for pursuing discretionary interlocutory appeals). Because he did not, we must
    dismiss his appeal for lack of jurisdiction.
    CONCLUSION
    We therefore dismiss Allison’s appeal.
    RILEY, J., and MAY, J., concur.
    7
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 64A05-1311-PO-554

Citation Numbers: 6 N.E.3d 467, 2014 WL 1257523, 2014 Ind. App. LEXIS 124

Judges: Darden, Riley

Filed Date: 3/27/2014

Precedential Status: Precedential

Modified Date: 11/11/2024