In re Guardianship of Fourough Bakhtiar , 2016 Ohio 8199 ( 2016 )

[Cite as In re Guardianship of Fourough Bakhtiar, 2016-Ohio-8199.]
STATE OF OHIO ) IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
)ss: NINTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
COUNTY OF LORAIN )
IN RE: GUARDIANSHIP OF C.A. No. 15CA010721
FOUROUGH BAKHTIAR
APPEAL FROM JUDGMENT
ENTERED IN THE
COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
COUNTY OF LORAIN, OHIO
CASE No. 13GI00040
DECISION AND JOURNAL ENTRY
Dated: December 19, 2016
CARR, Presiding Judge.
{¶1} Appellant Mehdi Saghafi appeals the judgment of the Lorain County Court of
Common Pleas, Probate Division, that granted authority to the guardian for his wife, Fourough
Bakhtiar, to proceed with divorce proceedings in the Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations
Court. This Court dismisses the appeal as moot.
I.
{¶2} Mehdi Saghafi and Fourough Bakhtiar are both in their eighties and had been
married for over 55 years when Mehdi filed an application for appointment as guardian of his
wife’s person based on allegations of her incompetence. On the same day, Dariush Saghafi, one
of the couple’s sons, filed an application for appointment as guardian of Fourough’s estate.
Another son, Kourosh Saghafi, D.O., executed the statement of expert evaluation appended to
both applications. A month later, Fourough filed a complaint for divorce from Mehdi in the
Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court. A couple days after that, the couple’s only
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daughter, Jaleh Presutto, filed an application for appointment as guardian of her mother’s person
and estate. She appended a statement of expert evaluation conducted by a clinical
neuropsychologist. Both experts who evaluated Fourough concluded that she was suffering from
dementia. The Lorain County Probate Court subsequently found Fourough incompetent to care
for herself and her property and determined that a guardianship was necessary. The probate
court appointed Jaleh as interim guardian of her mother’s person and Stephen Sartschev as
interim guardian of Fourough’s estate. Two days later, the probate court issued a judgment entry
noting that it had conducted a pretrial during which all parties agreed that a guardianship was
necessary for Fourough and that the court had appointed interim guardians. The trial court
further prohibited the parties from proceeding with a final divorce hearing at that time.
{¶3} This guardianship matter proceeded in a highly contentious manner among
Fourough’s various family members. In addition, other lawsuits pending in Cuyahoga County,
including the divorce proceedings between Mehdi and Fourough; a civil action by Kourosh
seeking to have Fourough’s earlier executed powers of attorney declared invalid; a civil action
by Mehdi against Jaleh; and a civil action by third parties against Mehdi and Fourough’s
guardians surrounding their refusal to transfer their interest in certain real estate pursuant to a
real estate contract, all intertwined and served to complicate these matters to a greater extent.
{¶4} Subsequently, Kourosh filed an application for appointment as guardian of his
mother’s person and estate. In addition, Mehdi and his sons filed multiple motions to have
Fourough evaluated by an independent forensic psychiatrist and independent physician
notwithstanding the parties’ stipulation of incompetency and agreement that Fourough needed a
guardian and that the probate court had appointed interim guardians for the ward and her estate.
Mehdi and his sons further repeatedly sought to remove and/or limit the authority of Jaleh as her
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mother’s guardian. The probate court denied those requests. It continued to prohibit the parties
from proceeding with a final divorce hearing.
{¶5} More than a year after the first application for appointment of a guardian was
filed, the parties and attorneys involved in this matter, as well as some of the other legal matters
involving this family, exhibited ongoing contentious and accusatory behaviors. While Fourough
had two interim guardians, she also had her own attorney (Stephen Wolf) who moved to replace
the guardian for the estate (Mr. Sartschev) who allegedly was no longer permitted to hold a
fiduciary position. Mr. Wolf applied to the probate court to be permitted to “step in and take over
as guardian of the estate[.]” Other members of Fourough’s family challenged Mr. Wolf’s
application, asserting that his involvement with this matter, as well as his representation of
Jaleh’s husband in a criminal matter, prevented him from being a disinterested guardian. Mr.
Sartschev informed the probate court that he was required to resign as guardian of the estate, and
the trial court accepted his resignation. The probate court further removed Jaleh as guardian of
the person and appointed attorney Zachary Simonoff as interim guardian of both the person and
estate of Fourough. Mr. Simonoff filed a formal application for appointment as guardian. The
probate court issued letters of guardianship of the estate to Mr. Simonoff and denied all other
pending applications for guardian of the estate. The court further issued letters of guardianship
to Mr. Simonoff as guardian of Fourough’s person, pending final hearing on the matter. Again,
the probate court ordered that neither the parties nor the guardian may proceed with a final
divorce hearing relative to Mehdi and Fourough.
{¶6} A year-and-a-half after the initiation of this guardianship case, the probate court
held a final hearing and issued a final judgment disposing of the pending applications. It denied
the applications for guardianship filed by Mehdi Saghafi, Dariush Saghafi, and Kourosh Saghafi.
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It issued letters of guardianship of the person of Fourough to Jaleh Presutto and letter of
guardianship of the estate of Fourough to Zachary Simonoff. If addition, the probate court
ordered Fourough’s attorney, Stephen Wolf, to “file [a] brief with Court on issue of divorce of
the Ward.” The court granted a 21-day period for responses to Attorney Wolf’s brief.
{¶7} Fourough, through Attorney Wolf, moved for an order allowing Mehdi and
Fourough to proceed with a final divorce hearing. The guardian of the estate filed a brief in
support. Mehdi filed briefs in opposition to both. Upon consideration of the briefs, the probate
court ordered that “the Guardian is to proceed in the Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations case
through to final divorce.” Mehdi Saghafi filed a timely appeal, raising one assignment of error
for review.
II.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
THE HONORABLE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN GRANTING THE [ ]
MOTION FOR AN ORDER ALLOWING PARTIES TO PROCEED WITH A
FINAL DIVORCE HEARING.
{¶8} Mehdi argues that the probate court erred by ordering that the guardian could
proceed in the parties’ domestic relations case through to final divorce where the probate court
had not ensured that the ward Fourough submitted to another capacity evaluation to determine
whether her cognitive abilities had improved.
{¶9} This Court has jurisdiction to hear appeals only from final judgments. Article IV,
Section 3(B)(2), Ohio Constitution; R.C. 2501.02. R.C. 2505.02(B) states, in relevant part, that
an order is final and appealable if it “affects a substantial right in an action that in effect
determines the action and prevents a judgment;” or “affects a substantial right made in a special
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proceeding * * *.” Guardianship proceedings constitute special proceedings. In re Emergency
Guardianship of Stevenson, 9th Dist. Medina No. 04CA0036-M, 2005-Ohio-997, ¶ 8.
{¶10} In Guardianship of Stevenson, this Court assumed without deciding that an order
modifying the authority of a guardian affects a substantial right of the ward. Id. However, we
declined to address the substantive challenge to the trial court’s order granting additional
authority to the guardian because those issues were moot. Id. We reasoned:
Any opinion issued by this Court on the merits of this case would be completely
advisory, and have no practical effect on the proceedings. This Court may not
issue an advisory opinion.
(Internal citations omitted.) Id. at ¶ 11.
{¶11} In this case, the probate court issued an order allowing Fourough’s guardian to
proceed in the domestic relations case through a final divorce. Mehdi challenges the propriety of
that order in the absence of a more recent and successive evaluation to determine Fourough’s
competency to proceed with a divorce. The guardian has submitted to this Court a suggestion of
mootness for the reason that the Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court has issued a final
decree of divorce and, moreover, that Mehdi has appealed that decree. We agree.
{¶12} As the Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court has granted a final decree of
divorce, this Court’s opinion on the issue “would be completely advisory, and have no practical
effect on the proceedings.” Guardianship of Stevenson at ¶ 11. Accordingly, we refrain from
addressing Mehdi’s assignment of error, and we are compelled to dismiss the appeal. See id.
Appeal dismissed.
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Immediately upon the filing hereof, this document shall constitute the journal entry of
judgment, and it shall be file stamped by the Clerk of the Court of Appeals at which time the
period for review shall begin to run. App.R. 22(C). The Clerk of the Court of Appeals is
instructed to mail a notice of entry of this judgment to the parties and to make a notation of the
mailing in the docket, pursuant to App.R. 30.
Costs taxed to Appellant.
DONNA J. CARR
FOR THE COURT
MOORE, J.
CONCURS.
CANNON, J.
DISSENTING.
{¶13} I respectfully disagree that an opinion on the merits of this appeal would be
advisory. I therefore dissent from the majority’s decision to dismiss the appeal.
{¶14} The majority opinion states that “[a]s the Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations
Court has granted a final decree of divorce, this Court’s opinion on the issue ‘would be
completely advisory, and have no practical effect on the proceedings.’” However, the probate
court issued its order authorizing the guardian to proceed with the divorce on December 3, 2014,
and the domestic relations court thereafter entered judgment for final divorce decree on October
28, 2015. I respectfully suggest that the case before us is distinguishable from the decision of this
Court in In re Emergency Guardianship of Stevenson, 9th Dist. Medina No. 04CA0036-M, 2005-
Ohio-997. In that case, this Court was asked to review three orders that had each expired by
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their terms. There was no relief that could be granted. Contrary to being advisory or moot, I
believe this decision is necessary to support the jurisdiction of the domestic relations court in its
decision to proceed with the divorce.
{¶15} Prior to deciding the merits, there is a distinction that must be made between the
determination of whether it is in the ward’s best interest to proceed with a divorce and the
determination of whether she is competent to testify in the domestic relations case.
{¶16} Pursuant to R.C. 2101.24(A)(1)(e), the probate court has exclusive jurisdiction
“[t]o appoint and remove guardians * * * [and to] direct and control their conduct.” R.C.
2111.50(A)(1) provides that “[a]t all times, the probate court is the superior guardian of wards
who are subject to its jurisdiction, and all guardians who are subject to the jurisdiction of the
court shall obey all orders of the court that concern their wards or guardianships.” See also In re
Guardianship of Derakhshan, 110 Ohio App.3d 190, 192 (11th Dist.1996).
{¶17} “The probate court has plenary power at law and in equity to dispose fully of any
matter that is properly before the court, unless the power is expressly otherwise limited or denied
by a section of the Revised Code.” R.C. 2101.24(C). “Where a matter falls within the exclusive
jurisdiction of the probate court, no other court may exercise jurisdiction over the matter.” In re
Guardianship of Campbell, 7th Dist. Mahoning No. 05 MA 10, 2006-Ohio-1764, ¶ 30.
{¶18} The role of the domestic relations court as it relates to the parties herein is
different than that of the probate court. The question before the domestic relations court is one of
competency to testify pursuant to Evid.R. 601. That rule provides, in pertinent part:
{¶19} Every person is competent to be a witness except:
Those of unsound mind, and children under ten years of age, who appear
incapable of receiving just impressions of the facts and transactions respecting
which they are examined, or of relating them truly.
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{¶20} Although the domestic relations court determines a ward’s competency to testify
in a divorce proceeding, the probate court is the only court authorized by statute to decide what is
or is not in the best interest of the ward.
{¶21} As a threshold matter, there is a clear difference between what constitutes
“competence” for purposes of a probate court determination of guardianship, and a domestic
relations court’s consideration of competency to testify. I agree with the analysis of the Sixth
District Court of Appeals, which states:
The criteria for determining incompetence for purposes of establishing a
guardianship are substantially different than those used in establishing whether a
witness is competent to testify at trial. A person is incompetent for purposes of
establishing a guardianship if he or she is so mentally impaired as a result of a
mental or physical illness or disability, or mental retardation, or as a result of
chronic substance abuse, that the person is incapable of taking proper care of the
person's self or property or fails to provide for the person's family or other persons
for whom the person is charged by law to provide. This is different than the
standard provided in Evid.R. 601(A). One is not necessarily determinative of the
other.
(Internal quotations omitted.) Reinbolt v. Kern, 6th Dist. Wood No. WD-12-041, 2013-Ohio-
1359, ¶ 33, quoting State v. Marshall, 191 Ohio App.3d 444, 2010-Ohio-5160; R.C. 2111.01(D).
{¶22} Once a guardianship is established, it is the province of the probate court to
decide what is in the best interest of the ward. When a question arises about whether it is in the
best interest of a ward to proceed with a divorce, exclusive jurisdiction over that question lies
with the probate court. R.C. 2101.24(A)(1)(e) and R.C. 2111.50. The probate court has
exclusive jurisdiction “to direct and control” the conduct of the guardian, so it follows that the
determination of the probate court in regard to proceeding with a divorce should be binding upon
the domestic relations court in any subsequent divorce proceeding.
{¶23} In the present case, the probate court, acting within its exclusive jurisdiction and
as superior guardian of the ward, held exhaustive hearings to ensure proceeding with a divorce
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was in the best interest of the ward. The probate court determined that although the ward is
incompetent, she is capable of expressing her wishes with regard to the divorce proceeding.
Thus, the probate court authorized the guardian to proceed with the divorce through final decree.
Where the probate court, acting as superior guardian, has already made the determination that the
ward is capable of expressing her wishes with regard to the divorce, the jurisdiction of the
domestic relations court would be limited to an exercise of its discretion to determine the extent
to which the witness is competent to testify, and the weight to be given to such testimony. It
would not, however, be in a position to rule contrary to the probate court determination regarding
whether a divorce is in the best interest of the ward. Therefore, I believe this Court must rule on
the merits of the issue presented on appeal and determine whether the probate court abused its
discretion in determining that the ward is capable of expressing her wishes to file for divorce and
authorizing the guardian to proceed through final decree.
{¶24} Appellant’s sole assignment of error is that the probate court “erred in granting
the October 27, 2014 motion for an order allowing parties to proceed with final divorce hearing.”
Appellant argues the trial court abused its discretion in granting the motion in the absence of the
ward undergoing a capacity evaluation.
{¶25} Appellee argues the probate court did not abuse its discretion in authorizing the
guardian to proceed with final divorce in the absence of a capacity evaluation because the
evidence supported the finding that the ward is capable of expressing her wishes with regard to
the divorce.
{¶26} We review a probate court’s decision regarding matters of guardianship under an
abuse of discretion standard. In re Guardianship of Lavers, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-11-1044,
2012-Ohio-1668, ¶ 32. Unless the probate court’s decision amounts to an abuse of discretion,
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the decision will not be reversed on appeal. Id. “An ‘abuse of discretion’ is more than an error of
law or judgment, it implies that the trial court acted unreasonably, arbitrarily or unconscionably.”
Id., citing Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 219 (1983).
{¶27} The factual determinations the probate court makes in exercising its discretion
will not be disturbed on appeal when those determinations are supported by some competent
credible evidence. Lavers at ¶ 33.
{¶28} Pursuant to R.C. 2111.02(C)(7), the probate court shall conduct a hearing during
which the alleged incompetent person has the right to introduce an independent expert evaluation
prior to the appointment of a guardian or limited guardian. Thereafter, however, “the granting of
a medical examination is within the sound discretion of the trial court.” In re Guardianship of
Poulos, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 96366, 2011-Ohio-6472, ¶ 24.
{¶29} In the present case, the probate court exercised its discretion as superior guardian
of the ward when it authorized the guardian to proceed with the final divorce hearing. In its
December 3, 2014 judgment entry, the probate court stated that after reviewing the Guardian Ad
Litem report and the briefs in opposition and support, it found the report confirmed that the ward
“wants to be divorced and that she ‘knows’ what she wants.” Additionally, the probate court
found that “[w]hile the ward needs a Guardian to oversee her needs she has the ability to express
that she wants a divorce and why.” Upon review of the Guardian Ad Litem report, it states that
“Mrs. Bakhtiar is an extremely articulate and intelligent woman who is able to express herself
well.” The probate court considered the Guardian Ad Litem’s findings in making its decision
and reviewed the briefs in opposition and support; therefore, I do not hold that the probate court
abused its discretion in finding the ward is capable of expressing her feelings regarding divorce
and authorizing the guardian to proceed through final decree.
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{¶30} For the reasons stated herein, I would decide this case on the merits. In doing so, I
would affirm the probate court’s decision to authorize the guardian to proceed through final
decree.
(Cannon, J., of the 11th District Court of Appeals, sitting by assignment.)
APPEARANCES:
BRADLEY HULL IV, Attorney at Law, for Appellant.
ERIC ZAGRANS, Attorney at Law, for Appellee.