In re the Visitation of A.D. and B.D., Candy Miller v. Abby Dickens

FOR PUBLICATION
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT: ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE:
R. PATRICK MAGRATH JOHN L. KELLERMAN, II
Madison, Indiana Batesville, Indiana
Sep 30 2014, 9:36 am
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
IN RE THE VISITATION OF A.D. AND B.D., )
)
CANDY MILLER, )
)
Appellant-Petitioner, )
)
vs. ) No. 69A05-1401-DR-39
)
ABBY DICKENS, )
)
Appellee-Respondent. )
APPEAL FROM THE RIPLEY CIRCUIT COURT
The Honorable Darrell M. Auxier, Special Judge
Cause No. 69C01-1304-DR-45
September 30, 2014
OPINION – FOR PUBLICATION
PYLE, Judge
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Paternal grandmother, C.M. (“Grandmother”) appeals the trial court’s denial of
her petition for grandparent visitation, under the Grandparent Visitation Act, with
A.J.M.D. and B.R.M.D. (collectively “the Children”), who are the children of A.D.
(“Mother”). The parties entered into an agreement—which was then set forth in an
agreed order—that allowed Grandmother to have supervised visitation with the Children
under certain conditions during the two months pending a final review hearing.
Following that hearing, the trial court denied Grandmother’s grandparent visitation
petition, finding that Grandmother had neither met her burden to rebut the presumption
accorded to Mother as a fit parent nor her burden to show that visitation was in the
Children’s best interests.
Grandmother now appeals the trial court’s order, arguing that the trial court erred
by reviewing this case as a petition for grandparent visitation instead of a motion to
modify grandparent visitation. Given the specific record before us on appeal, we
conclude that the trial court did not err by ruling on this case as a petition for grandparent
visitation and by denying Grandmother’s petition.
We affirm.
ISSUE
Whether the trial court erred by denying Grandmother’s petition for
grandparent visitation.
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FACTS
Mother has two children—A.J.M.D., born in September 2009, and B.R.M.D., born
in August 2011—born out-of-wedlock with G.M. (“Father”). At some point prior to the
final hearing in this case, Father established paternity of the Children.
In January 2013, Father “walked away” from the Children and no longer had any
contact with them. (Tr. 5). Prior to January 2013, Grandmother had seen the Children “a
few times” when Father had visitation with them. (Tr. 5). After Father stopped his
contact with the Children, Grandmother contacted Mother to ask for visitation with the
Children, but Mother refused because of safety concerns (i.e., Mother was concerned
because Grandmother had previously drunk alcohol around the Children and had once
taken A.J.M.D. out of his car seat and held him while Grandmother’s boyfriend was
driving the car on the highway).
On April 1, 2013, Grandmother filed a petition for grandparent visitation. In her
petition, Grandmother stated that there was “currently a paternity matter” pending in the
circuit court. (App. 7). Grandmother also filed a motion for a change of judge, and a
special judge from an adjoining county was then appointed.
Thereafter, the trial court held a hearing on July 12, 2013. Grandmother did not
request transcription of this hearing for this appeal; thus, the transcript from that July
2013 hearing is not part of the record on appeal. The parties apparently entered into an
agreement for Grandmother to have a “trial period” of grandparent visitation pending a
final review hearing, which was scheduled for September 13, 2013. (App. 12). The trial
court set forth the parties’ terms of the visitation agreement in an agreed order.
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Specifically, the parties agreed that Grandmother would have supervised visitation with
the Children, consisting of: (1) two hours of visitation each Saturday in July at a park
with that visitation to be supervised by Mother and Grandmother’s parents (“Great
Grandparents”); and (2) four hours of visitation each Saturday during August until the
final review hearing date with the visitation to be supervised by Great Grandparents.
Furthermore, as part of the agreed order, the parties agreed that they would be “cordial to
each other,” and Grandmother agreed that there would be “no drinking alcohol during the
visitation times” and “no swearing or fighting in front of the children[,]” and that she
would have “proper car seats in her vehicle[.]” (App. 9).
Thereafter, Mother supervised Grandmother’s July visitations with the Children,
and these visitations were without issue. However, during the time period that
Grandmother was allowed to have supervised visitation with the Children outside of
Mother’s presence, Grandmother allowed three-year-old A.J.M.D to be placed on the
roof of a shelter and also allowed him to ride on the back of a four-wheeler without a
helmet. Grandmother then posted photos of these two incidents on Facebook.
“[A]lmost every weekend” after vising with Grandmother, A.J.M.D. would say
curse words, including “the ‘F’ word[,]” “‘damnit[,]’” and “the ‘P’ word.” (Tr. 47, 49).
After one of Grandmother’s visits with the Children, A.J.M.D said to Mother, “‘Mom,
look at my fucking hat. Look at my fucking hat.’” (Tr. 48).
After two scheduling delays, the trial court held the review hearing on November
25, 2013. During the hearing, Grandmother did not present any evidence challenging
Mother’s fitness. In fact, Grandmother’s mother (“Great Grandmother”) testified that
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Mother was a “good mommy.” (Tr. 39). Grandmother generally testified that her
visitation with the Children had gone well and that she wanted it to continue and to have
overnight visits.
On cross-examination, Mother’s counsel asked Grandmother about the Children
being exposed to cursing and about Mother’s concerns for the Children’s safety while
with Grandmother. Grandmother testified that she had “absolutely no clue” where the
Children would have picked up curse words and testified that she did not use “foul
language” in front of the Children. (Tr. 26). Grandmother then testified that she may
have said “‘shit,’ ‘damn,’ or ‘ass,’ but not . . . not beating asses or anything like that.”
(Tr. 27). When asked about the incident where A.J.M.D. was allowed to sit on top of a
roof, Grandmother testified that she was “not the only parent or grandparent that’s ever
done something like that” and then shifted the blame to her ex-husband for putting him
on the roof. (Tr. 29). When asked about letting A.J.M.D. ride on a four-wheeler without
a helmet, Grandmother testified that her fourteen-year-old son was driving it in her yard
and was only going about five miles per hour.
Mother testified that the visitation that had occurred in July—when Mother was
able to supervise the visitation—had been “fine.” (Tr. 56). Mother testified that she did
not want Grandmother to have unsupervised visitation with the Children because of her
concern of the Children being exposed to curse words and because she did not feel that
the Children were safe with Grandmother.
On December 23, 2013, the trial court entered the following order denying
Grandmother’s petition for grandparent visitation:
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1. Under Indiana law it is presumed that a fit parent’s decision about
grandparent visitation is in the child’s best interest. Respondent [Mother] is
a fit parent who has decided that it is not in the best interests of her children
to have visitation with their paternal grandmother. Petitioner
[Grandmother] has the burden of proving that grandparent visitation is in
the children’s best interest and she must do so by a heightened standard of
proof.
2. Petitioner [Grandmother] had little contact with the children until
July of 2013. On July 16, 2013, an Agreed Order was entered herein
providing for a trial period of grandparent visitation pending final hearing
herein. The children, A.J.M.D. . . . and B.R.M.D. . . . have visited with
[Grandmother] on a weekly basis since the entry of said Agreed Order.
Said visitation has, by the agreement of the parties, been supervised by the
children’s paternal great grandparents.
3. Visitation over the last four months has gone well in the opinion
of the [Grandmother]. The children do not hesitate to go for visitation and
the oldest child calls the Petitioner grandma. As the children’s paternal
great grandmother observed, the children get along great with the
[Grandmother].
4. Visitation has not gone well in the opinion of the [Mother]. The
oldest child comes home from visitation using curse words that are not used
in [Mother’s] home; the oldest child was allowed to sit on the roof of a
shelter house on one occasion; and the oldest boy was allowed to ride on
the back of a 4-wheeler without a helmet. Furthermore, this is not a case
where a relationship between the grandmother and the children has
developed over a substantial period of time. Given the above,
[Grandmother] has failed to rebut the presumption that [Mother’s] decision
to deny visitation is in the children’s best interests and has not established
that visitation is in the children’s best interests.
5. [Mother] testified that she would prefer that the children have no
visitation with [Grandmother]. The Court gives some weight to the fact
that this most probably will result in there being no relationship between
the children and [Grandmother]. This factor, however, does not outweigh
the special weight that must be given to a fit parent’s decision regarding
non-parental visitation.
(App. 11-13). Grandmother now appeals.
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DECISION
Grandmother challenges the trial court’s denial of her petition for grandparent
visitation under the Grandparent Visitation Act. See IND. CODE §§ 31-17-5-1 through -
10.
“Historically, grandparents had no special common-law right to visitation with
their grandchildren.” In re Guardianship of A.J.A., 991 N.E.2d 110, 112 (Ind. 2013)
(citing In re Visitation of M.L.B., 983 N.E.2d 583, 585 (Ind. 2013)). “[G]randparents do
not have the legal rights or obligations of parents and do not possess a constitutional
liberty interest with their grandchildren[.]” K.I. ex rel. J.I. v. J.H., 903 N.E.2d 453, 462
(Ind. 2009). Instead, “[t]he Courts had previously thought any grandparent visitation
policy should be a ‘legislative, not judicial’ function.” Id. (quoting Collins v. Gilbreath,
403 N.E.2d 921, 923-24 (Ind. Ct. App. 1980)). The Grandparent Visitation Act
“represents a Legislative recognition that ‘a child’s best interest is often served by
developing and maintaining contact with his or her grandparents.’” K.I., 903 N.E.2d at
462 (quoting Swartz v. Swartz, 720 N.E.2d 1219, 1221 (Ind. Ct. App. 1999)). “Thus, in
drafting the Act, the Legislature balanced two competing interests: ‘the rights of the
parents to raise their children as they see fit and the rights of grandparents to participate
in the lives of their grandchildren.’” Id. (quoting Swartz, 720 N.E.2d at 1222).
Pursuant to INDIANA CODE § 31-17-5-1 of the Grandparent Visitation Act, a
grandparent may seek visitation only if: (1) the child’s parent is deceased; (2) the child’s
parents are divorced; or (3) the child was born out of wedlock and the child’s father has
established paternity. I.C. § 31–17–5–1. A trial court may grant grandparent visitation
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rights upon a determination that it would be “in the best interests of the child.” I.C. § 31–
17–5–2(a). When evaluating a child’s best interests, the trial court “may consider
whether a grandparent has had or has attempted to have meaningful contact with the
child.” I.C. § 31–17–5–2(b). “However, ‘this consideration is not the touchstone for
determining the child’s best interests.’” McCune v. Frey, 783 N.E.2d 752, 757 n.4 (Ind.
Ct. App. 2003) (quoting Woodruff v. Klein, 762 N.E.2d 223, 228 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002),
trans. denied).
“[N]atural parents have a fundamental constitutional right to direct their children’s
upbringing without undue governmental interference, and . . . a child’s best interests do
not necessarily override that parental right.” In re Visitation of M.L.B., 983 N.E.2d 583,
585-86 (Ind. 2013) (citing Troxel v. Granville, 530 U.S. 57 (2000)). As our Indiana
Supreme Court recently explained:
In striking a balance between parental rights and children’s interests, the
Troxel plurality discussed several key principles . . . which our Court of
Appeals soon distilled into four factors that a grandparent-visitation order
“should address”:
(1) a presumption that a fit parent’s decision about grandparent visitation is
in the child’s best interests (thus placing the burden of proof on the
petitioning grandparents);
(2) the “special weight” that must therefore be given to a fit parent’s
decision regarding nonparental visitation (thus establishing a heightened
standard of proof by which a grandparent must rebut the presumption);
(3) “some weight” given to whether a parent has agreed to some visitation
or denied it entirely (since a denial means the very existence of a child-
grandparent relationship is at stake, while the question otherwise is merely
how much visitation is appropriate); and
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(4) whether the petitioning grandparent has established that visitation is in
the child’s best interests.
Id. (citing McCune, 783 N.E.2d at 757-59) (emphasis in original). Our Indiana Supreme
Court, in K.I., approved the four factors set forth in McCune and clarified that a
grandparent visitation order “must address” those factors in its findings and conclusions.
M.L.B., 983 N.E.2d at 586 (quoting K.I., 903 N.E.2d at 462). The K.I. Court “further
explained that the Grandparent Visitation Act contemplates only occasional, temporary
visitation that does not substantially infringe on a parent’s fundamental right to control
the upbringing, education, and religious training of their children.” Id. (internal
quotations and citations omitted).
Whenever a trial court enters an order on a petition filed under the Grandparent
Visitation Act, the trial court is required to issue specific findings and conclusions in its
decree. I.C. § 31-17-5-6. Accordingly, we apply the two-tiered standard of review set
forth in Indiana Trial Rule 52(A). M.L.B., 983 N.E.2d at 585. First, we must consider
whether the evidence supports the findings; second, we determine whether those findings
support the judgment. Id. We do not reweigh evidence or assess the credibility of
witnesses, and we consider the evidence and all reasonable inferences in favor of the trial
court’s judgment. Megyese v. Woods, 808 N.E.2d 1208, 1213 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004). We
will “not set aside the findings or judgment unless clearly erroneous.” Ind. Trial Rule
52(A). Regarding the factual findings, we “defer[] to the trial court’s superior
opportunity ‘to judge the credibility of the witnesses.’” M.L.B., 983 N.E.2d at 585
(quoting K.I., 903 N.E.2d at 457). We will find the judgment to be clearly erroneous if
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“‘the findings fail to support the judgment’” or if “‘the trial court applies the wrong legal
standard to properly found facts.’” M.L.B., 983 N.E.2d at 585 (quoting K.I., 903 N.E.2d
at 457). “Further, we give substantial deference to trial courts in family law matters.”
Wilder-Newland v. Kessinger, 967 N.E.2d 558, 560 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012), trans. denied.
Here, Grandmother appeals a negative judgment and, as a result, she must show that the
evidence points unerringly to a conclusion different from that reached by the trier of fact,
or that the judgment is contrary to law. Id. “This means that even if we might have taken
a different course of action than that which a trial court took, we are bound to review the
order, and findings and conclusions, for clear error only.”
On appeal, both parties agree that the trial court discussed the McCune factors
when entering its order on grandparent visitation in this case. Grandmother, however,
argues that the trial court’s order denying her petition for grandparent visitation should be
reversed because the trial court applied “the wrong legal standard.” (Grandmother’s Br.
9). Specifically, Grandmother asserts that the trial court erred by deciding the case before
it as a petition for grandparent visitation instead of a motion to modify grandparent
visitation. Grandmother contends that the July 2013 agreed order was a final order on her
grandparent visitation petition that established her “right to grandparent visitation.”
(Grandmother’s Br. 10) (emphasis in original). She argues that because she had already
established her right to visitation, then the trial court should not have applied the legal
standard for establishing grandparent visitation under INDIANA CODE § 31-17-5-2,
discussed the McCune factors, or placed the burden on her to meet the heightened
standard of proof of overcoming the presumption in favor of Mother as a fit parent.
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(Grandmother’s Br. 10). Instead, she asserts that the trial court should have put the
burden on Mother to show that Grandmother’s visitation rights should have been
modified. Grandmother contends that we should remand this case to the trial court “to
reweigh the evidence and determine whether Mother met her burden to modify and
terminate visitation.” (Grandmother’s Br. 11).
Mother disputes Grandmother’s contention that the trial court should have treated
this case as a petition to modify grandparent visitation and argues that the July 2013 order
was not a final order on Grandmother’s grandparent visitation petition. Mother asserts
that the trial court applied the correct standard of review and “correctly addressed all of
the factors prescribed by [the] Indiana Supreme Court in determining whether
Grand[mother’s] visitation [was] appropriate under IC 31-17-5.” (Mother’s Br. 5)
(emphasis in original). In other words, Mother contends that the trial court properly
addressed the McCune factors and placed the burden on Grandmother to show that
visitation was in the best interests of the Children.
Given the record before us on appeal, we agree that the trial court properly ruled
on this case as a petition for grandparent visitation. The proceeding commenced upon
Grandmother’s filing of a petition for grandparent visitation. At a hearing, the parties
came to an agreement that the trial court then entered as an agreed order. As previously
mentioned, we do not have the transcript of that hearing because Grandmother did not
request that it be transcribed. Nevertheless, the record that is before us reveals that the
parties agreed that Grandmother could have supervised visitation, and the record shows
that the visitation was a trial period pending the final hearing on Grandmother’s petition.
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Essentially, it appears that the agreed order was some sort of agreed provisional order for
visitation pending the hearing.1 Additionally, when the trial court issued its order in this
action, it discussed the McCune factors, which our Indiana Supreme Court has instructed
must be discussed when entering an order granting or denying grandparent visitation.
Thus, a review of the record as a whole and the specific facts contained therein indicate
that the November 2013 hearing was a hearing on Grandmother’s grandparent visitation
petition in which she had the burden to show that visitation was in the Children’s best
interests.
Grandmother makes no argument that she met the burden of showing that
grandparent visitation was in the best interests of the Children or that Mother was an unfit
parent. Indeed, as the trial court’s order indicates, Grandmother did not have meaningful
contact with the Children prior to July 2013 when Mother agreed to let Grandmother
have supervised visitation pending the final hearing. In addition, Grandmother neither
satisfied her heightened standard of proof to rebut the presumption that Mother’s decision
about grandparent visitation was in the Children’s best interests nor met her burden to
prove that visitation was in the Children’s best interests. Because Grandmother has not
shown that the evidence points unerringly to a conclusion different from that reached by
the trier of fact, we affirm the trial court’s order denying Grandmother’s petition for
grandparent visitation. See, e.g., Wilder-Newland, 967 N.E.2d at 562 (holding that a
1
While the Grandparent Visitation Act does not contain an explicit provision allowing for the entry of a
provisional visitation order, the parties may certainly stipulate to such. See Crowl v. Berryhill, 678
N.E.2d 828, 830 (Ind. Ct. App. 1997) (providing that parties can stipulate to provisional grandparent
visitation but cannot thereafter claim any error in the entry of such a provisional order).
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grandmother’s failure to carry her burden of proof that grandparent visitation was in the
best interest of the children was “sufficient reason to uphold the order denying
visitation”); Woodruff, 762 N.E.2d at 228 (affirming the denial of a grandmother’s
petition for grandparent visitation where the grandmother failed to present any evidence
to rebut presumption of a fit parent).
Affirmed.2
NAJAM, J., and BAILEY, J., concur.
2
When the parties discuss the alternative argument about whether this case should have been treated as a
modification action, the parties dispute who would carry the burden of proof if this case were a petition
for modification of grandparent visitation under INDIANA CODE § 31-17-5-7 and whether a discussion of
the McCune factors are required in a modification action. Because we conclude that the trial court
properly treated this cause as a petition for grandparent visitation under INDIANA CODE § 31-17-5-2, we
save for another day the discussion of the allocation of burden in a grandparent visitation modification
action. See Reed v. State, 796 N.E.2d 771, 775 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003) (“This court does not render advisory
opinions.”).
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