K. T. and M. R. T. v. L. S. ( 2014 )

J.A22035/14
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
K.T. AND M.R.T., : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
Appellants :
:
v. :
:
:
L.S. F/K/A L.R., :
:
: No. 433 MDA 2014
Appeal from the Order Entered February 14, 2014
In the Court of Common Pleas of York County
Civil Division No(s).: 2013-FC-001604-03
BEFORE: PANELLA, SHOGAN, and FITZGERALD,* JJ.
MEMORANDUM BY FITZGERALD, J.: FILED SEPTEMBER 16, 2014
order
entered in the York County Court of Common Pleas dismissing their
complaint for partial physical custody of their grandchildren, K.A.T., born in
1
We vacate and remand.
Grandparents are the parents of natural father, D.T., who is deceased.
On September 6, 2013, Grandparents filed a complaint seeking partial
physical custody of Grandchildren. A detailed recitation of the facts is not
*
Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court.
1
Our review of the record did not reveal the month in which Grandchildren
were born.
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necessary for our disposition. Grandparents have standing to file a
complaint for partial physical custody of Grandchildren. See 23 Pa.C.S. §
5325(1).
On October 4, 2013, the court entered an interim order for custody
pending trial which provided Grandparents with periods of partial physical
custody. Interim Order for Custody, 10/4/13, at 3-6. The court held a
partial physical custody. This timely appeal followed. Grandparents filed a
concise statement of errors complained of on appeal pursuant to Pa.R.A.P.
1925(a)(2). The trial court filed a Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) opinion.
Grandparents raise the following issues for our review:
[1]. Whether the trial court committed an abuse of
discretion or an error of law by failing to conduct a detailed
child custody analysis in entering its opinion and order as
required by both statutory law, specifically 23 Pa.C.S. §
5328(c), and appellate case law?
[2]. Whether the trial court committed an abuse of
discretion or an error of law by repeatedly allowing the
admission of evidence (over objections) of criminal and
motor vehicle offenses not enumerated in 23 Pa.C.S. §
5329 and which were not otherwise admissible under the
Rules of Evidence?
[3]. Whether the trial court committed an abuse of
discretion or an error of law by failing to grant
[Grandparents] any rights of partial physical custody
whatsoever which severed all ties between [Grandchildren]
contravention of long-standing appellate case law as well
as the purpose and intent of 23 Pa.C.S. § 5325?
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[4]. Whether the trial court committed an abuse of
discretion or an error of law by focusing its analysis of the
evidence exclusively on the apparent conflict between the
biological mother and paternal grandmother and failing to
perform the detailed analysis required under 23 Pa.C.S. §
5328(c)(1) when standing exists because the biological
father is deceased (23 Pa.C.S. § 5325(a)) and
[Grandparents] sought relief under 23 Pa.C.S. § 5328?
[5]. Whether the trial court committed an error of law or
abused its discretion by sua sponte raising a constitutional
issue regarding whether the legislature exceeded its
authority to adopt the Custody Statute?
2
In their first issue, Grandparents argue the trial court erred by failing
to conduct a detailed child custody analysis pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. §
5328(a). Id. at 20. We agree.
This Court has stated:
In reviewing a custody order, our scope is of the
broadest type and our standard is abuse of discretion. We
must accept findings of the trial court that are supported
by competent evidence of record, as our role does not
include making independent factual determinations. In
addition, with regard to issues of credibility and weight of
the evidence, we must defer to the presiding trial judge
who viewed and assessed the witnesses first-hand.
or inferences from its factual findings. Ultimately, the test
reasonable as
shown by the evidence of record. We may reject the
conclusions of the trial court only if they involve an error of
law, or are unreasonable in light of the sustainable findings
of the trial court.
C.R.F. v. S.E.F., 45 A.3d 441, 443 (Pa. Super. 2012) (citation omitted).
2
For ease of disposition, we have changed the order of the issues.
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Initially, we observe that in any custody case decided under the Child
child. See 23 Pa.C.S. §§ 5328(a), 5338(a). In L.A.L. v. V.D., 72 A.3d 690(Pa. Super. 2013), this Court held that in a custody action initiated by a
grandparent, the court must consider the statutory factors in determining
the best interests of the child. Id. at 695.
Section 5328(c)(1) of the Child Custody Act requires a
court consider the following factors when awarding custody
to grandparents and great-grandparents:
(i) the amount of personal contact between the child
and the party prior to the filing of the action;
(ii) whether the award interferes with any parent-
child relationship; and
(iii) whether the award is in the best interest of the
child.
23 Pa.C.S. § 5328(c)(1)(i)-(iii). Section 5328(a)
provides a non-exhaustive list of factors that courts
must consider when determining the best interest of
the child, including:
(1) Which party is more likely to encourage and
permit frequent and continuing contact between the
child and another party.
(2) The present and past abuse committed by a
there is a continued risk of harm to the child or an
abused party and which party can better provide
adequate physical safeguards and supervision of the
child.[3]
3
In 2012, Section 5328 was amended to add a factor at subsection (a)(2.1)
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(3) The parental duties performed by each party
on behalf of the child.
(4) The need for stability and continuity in the
(5) The availability of extended family.
(7) The well-reasoned preference of the child,
(8) The attempts of a parent to turn the child
against the other parent, except in cases of domestic
violence where reasonable safety measures are
necessary to protect the child from harm.
(9) Which party is more likely to maintain a
loving, stable, consistent and nurturing relationship with
(10) Which party is more likely to attend to the
daily physical, emotional, developmental, educational
and special needs of the child.
(11) The proximity of the residences of the
parties.
or ability to make appropriate child-care arrangements.
(13) The level of conflict between the parties and
the willingness and ability of the parties to cooperate
effort to protect a child
from abuse by another party is not evidence of
unwillingness or inability to cooperate with that party.
consideration of child abuse and involvement with protectiv
Pa.C.S. § 5328(a)(2.1)
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(14) The history of drug or alcohol abuse of a
(15) The mental and physical condition of a party
(16) Any other relevant factor.
23 Pa.C.S. § 5328(a)(1)-(16).
Id. at 695-96 (emphasis added).
In L.A.L., the trial court did not conduct an analysis of the statutory
factors because it determined that the paternal grandparents did not have
standing to seek partial custody. Id. at 691. This Court held that the
not evince a thorough analysis of all relevant factors, we cannot conclude
Id. at 696.
remanded for the trial court to hold a hearing to consider the best interests
of the child in light of the statutory factors. Id.
Instantly, following the hearing, the trial court dismissed
opined:
We have reviewed our Decision and feel no need
presently to elaborate further. As the issues are styled,
we would take the opportunity to offer some generalized
comments and observations. Simply put, this Judge
believes that the legislature has unduly encroached
upon the judiciary and the way Judges are to perform
their responsibilities. To state the issues of error as
failing to conduct a detailed child custody analysis as
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required misdirects the focus away from the sole
question of what is in the best interests of children.
* * *
Perhaps in hindsight, this Judge should have
declared outright in this case that
not be considered . . . .
Trial Ct. Op., 3/24/14, at 2-3, 5 (emphasis added).
The court did not consider the statutory factors under Section 5328(a),
finding the legislature
erred as a matter of law in not considering the custody factors as set forth in
Sections 5328(a) and (c) of the Act in entering its order. See L.A.L., 72
A.3d at 695-96; C.R.F. 45 A.3d at 443. Therefore, we vacate the order and
light of the statutory factors. The court is directed to enter an order within
sixty days.
remaining issues.4
4
admission of evidence (over objections) of criminal and motor vehicle
offenses not enumerated in 23 Pa.C.S. § 5329 and which were not otherwise
its opinion related to [the conflict between Grandmother and the mother]
and it used this factor to deny Grandparents any custodial time with their
Id. at 36, 37. The trial court stated, when rendering its
e
reversible error, an evidentiary ruling must be both erroneous and
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Order vacated. Case remanded. Jurisdiction relinquished.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 9/16/2014
A.J.B. v. M.P.B., 945 A.2d 744, 751
(Pa. Super. 2008). Instantly, because we are vacating the order and
remanding for the trial court to consider the best interests of the children
based upon the statutory factors, it would be premature to address this
evidentiary claim.
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