In re the Guardianship of Benjamin Jack, an Incapacitated Person, Alex Jack (Father) v. Christine Jack (Mother) (mem. dec.)

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),
this Memorandum Decision shall not be FILED
regarded as precedent or cited before any
Feb 14 2020, 9:00 am
court except for the purpose of establishing
the defense of res judicata, collateral CLERK
Indiana Supreme Court
estoppel, or the law of the case. Court of Appeals
and Tax Court
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Lisa M. Dillman Janette E. Surrisi
Dillman Law Group James N. Clevenger
Indianapolis, Indiana Wyland, Humphrey, Clevenger &
Surrisi, LLP
Plymouth, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
In re the Guardianship of February 14, 2020
Benjamin Jack, an Incapacitated Court of Appeals Case No.
Person, 19A-GU-2079
Alex Jack (Father), Appeal from the Marshall Circuit
Court
Appellant-Defendant,
The Honorable Curtis Palmer,
v. Judge
Trial Court Cause No.
Christine Jack (Mother), 50C01-1904-GU-16
Appellee-Plaintiff.
Brown, Judge.
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[1] Alex Jack (“Father”) appeals the trial court’s order naming him and Christine
L. Jack (“Mother”) as co-guardians of their son, Benjamin. We affirm.
Facts and Procedural History
[2] Mother and Father had a son, Benjamin, who was born on July 17, 2001, and
suffers from Autistic Spectrum Disorder. In April 2017, the marriage of Mother
and Father was dissolved, and they agreed to joint legal custody with Father
having primary physical custody.
[3] On April 5, 2019, Mother filed a Petition for Appointment of Guardian Over
Person and Estate of an Incapacitated Minor, Soon to Be Age of Majority. The
petition sought to “extend [Mother’s] rights and obligations of joint legal
custody with this petition which may include appointment of [Father] as co-
guardian.” Appellant’s Appendix Volume II at 78. A chronological case
summary entry dated April 10, 2019, indicates that Attorney Edward Ruiz filed
an appearance on behalf of Father and his current wife, Natalie Jack
(“Natalie”). On April 10, 2019, Father and Natalie filed a counter-petition
seeking an order appointing them as Benjamin’s guardians.
[4] On June 25, 2019, the court held a hearing. When asked by the court if Father
and Natalie wanted to be co-guardians excluding Mother as a guardian,
Father’s counsel answered, “Correct.” Transcript Volume II at 3.
[5] Mother testified that Benjamin would turn eighteen in July, she and Father
always wanted him to be as independent as possible, and reports from Marshall
Starke Center indicated that Benjamin wished to be in a more independent
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setting such as a group home. She testified that, based on the last meeting she
attended, Benjamin seemed to be ready to make that step and graduated from
high school a couple weeks earlier. When asked to describe her objection to
Natalie being appointed as a co-guardian, Mother stated that Father and
Natalie had been married for a little over a year and she did not feel Natalie had
been in Benjamin’s life “long enough to make those decisions for him in place
of his mother.” Id. at 11. She testified that she exercised visitation with
Benjamin on a regular basis, scheduled activities for him, and met with his case
manager, recreational therapist, and his new behavioral therapist.
[6] Father testified he obtained custody of Benjamin two years earlier, he did not
believe Benjamin was ready to transition to a group home, and Mother had
little to no communication with service providers and had not been proactive.
When asked if he was requesting the court to appoint him and Natalie as co-
guardians, he answered affirmatively. He indicated he did not feel he and
Mother could be effective co-guardians because she does not take initiative or
offer any feedback or input. He testified he is a reservist assigned to Grissom
Air Reserve Base and Mother’s lack of commitment would concern him if he
were again deployed and she was left in charge as guardian. When asked if he
thought Mother had the track record to show she could follow through on
Benjamin’s behalf, Father answered: “Anything that I’ve asked her to do she
has done.” Id. at 31. On cross-examination, Father testified he was deployed
three times prior to the dissolution and, during those times, Mother took care of
Benjamin. Natalie testified she was very involved with Benjamin’s services, she
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was willing to act as Benjamin’s guardian if Father were deployed, and Mother
was not proactively involved in Benjamin’s life.
[7] On rebuttal, Mother testified that she told Father and Natalie she would take
Benjamin to a doctor’s appointment anytime and they just needed “to let [her]
know what’s going on.” Id. at 56. She testified that she talked to Father about
placing Benjamin on Accutane, she expressed her opinion, and they agreed on
the medication. She stated she went to Benjamin’s IEP meeting, met with his
teacher, and responded to the teacher’s emails.
[8] On June 28, 2019, the court entered an order appointing Father and Mother as
co-guardians of Benjamin. The court’s order states in part:
1. Benjamin Jack was born July 17, 2001, and is currently
seventeen years of age.
2. Benjamin Jack, currently a minor, is a resident of Marshall
County, Indiana, residing with his father and stepmother . . . .
3. Benjamin Jack is incapable of handling his personal and
financial affairs due to his current minority status and his lifelong
developmental limitations due to his autism. He is found to be
an incapacitated person.
4. Benjamin’s parents divorced in 2017 and agreed [Father]
would have primary physical custody and they would share joint
legal custody.
5. [Father] has since remarried [to] Natalie Jack, the co-
petitioner in the counter petition filed herein. They both wish to
become co-guardians of Benjamin, to the exclusion of [Mother].
6. [Mother] seeks to become a co-guardian of Benjamin along
with [Father] to the exclusion of the step-mother, Natalie Jack.
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7. IC 29-3-5-5 establishes a priority the court may follow when
selecting guardians. Natural parents share the same priority and
are slightly above step-parents in priority.
8. Mother and [Father] both live in Plymouth and both have
maintained regular contact with Benjamin even after the divorce.
*****
10. [Father] is in the military reserves and is concerned that if
called to active duty, he would be unable to perform his duties as
a co-guardian while deployed. He feels stepmother, Natalie Jack,
as a co-guardian, would be in a better position to direct the care
for Benjamin instead of his mother.
11. Although the court finds [Father’s] concerns to be
reasonable, there is no evidence that [Mother] would not be able
to direct the care for Benjamin if needed to do so. She is familiar
with his therapists, medications and routines and would have the
ability to contact the stepmother if additional information were
needed.
12. While the court recognizes there is some friction between
[Mother] and the stepmother, it does not appear to rise to the
level that either of them would fail to communicate with one
another when Benjamin’s best interests are at stake.
*****
14. [Mother] has been familiar with Benjamin’s special needs for
eighteen years. The stepmother has been aware of Benjamin’s
special needs for eighteen months. The court finds no basis for
excluding [Mother] as a co-guardian for her son.
15. All of the requirements for the appointment of a guardian as
set forth in the Indiana Code have been satisfied and [Father] and
[Mother] are entitled to be co-guardians of the person and estate
of Benjamin Jack and are so appointed without limitation as to
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their duties, responsibilities, or powers as set out in IC §§ 29-3-8-
1, 29-3-8-2 and 29-3-8-4.
16. The ward has no significant property or income.
17. The co-guardians need not post a bond nor are they required
to file an inventory of current assets. Biennial reports shall be
required pursuant to the probate code.
Appellant’s Appendix Volume II at 85-88.
[9] On July 29, 2019, Attorney Lisa Dillman filed an appearance on behalf of
Father. That same day, Father filed a Motion to Reconsider or in the
Alternative a Motion to Correct Errors and attached the Marriage Settlement
Agreement, Father’s affidavit, and a letter from Quinn Selner, Benjamin’s
teacher. In the motion, Father asked the court to appoint him as sole guardian
and designate Mother and Natalie as standby guardians. In part, Father argued
that “[t]he issue or problem arises when Father, as Guardian, needs to make a
decision . . . with which Mother does not agree.” Id. at 97-98.
[10] On August 6, 2019, Mother filed a Motion to Strike Supplemental Documents
to Motion to Reconsider and Motion to Correct Errors. On August 7, 2019, the
court granted Mother’s motion to strike the proffered additional evidence and
denied Father’s motion to reconsider or correct error.
Discussion
[11] The issue is whether the trial court abused its discretion in naming Father and
Mother as co-guardians. Father argues the trial court failed to select the best
qualified person and that Ind. Code § 29-3-5-5(b) requires the court to appoint a
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single person as guardian. He asserts that while the court found no basis for
excluding Mother as a co-guardian, such an analysis does not constitute the test
for selecting a guardian. He contends the court disregarded the prior custody
determination which demonstrated it was in Benjamin’s best interest that he be
appointed sole guardian. Mother argues Father waived his argument regarding
a sole guardian, Ind. Code § 29-3-5-4 provides the court may appoint persons as
co-guardians, and the court heard evidence supporting its conclusion that she
should be named as co-guardian.
[12] The trial court is vested with discretion in making determinations as to the
guardianship of an incapacitated person or minor. In re Guardianship of A.L.C.,
902 N.E.2d 343, 352 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009). This discretion extends to both its
findings and its order. Id. We apply the abuse of discretion standard to review
the trial court’s findings and order. Id. Because the court set forth findings, we
look to those findings to determine whether the court abused its discretion. See
id. The findings will not be set aside unless clearly erroneous. Id. Findings are
clearly erroneous when the record lacks any facts or reasonable inferences to
support them. Id. Further, we will not set aside the judgment unless clearly
erroneous. Id. A judgment is clearly erroneous when unsupported by the
findings of fact and conclusions thereon. Id.[13] The guardianship statutes provide for the appointment of guardians for minors
or incapacitated persons. See Ind. Code § 29-3-5-1. Ind. Code §§ 29-3-5 set
forth proceedings for the appointment of a guardian, and Ind. Code § 29-3-5-3provides that, if it is alleged and the court finds that the individual for whom the
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guardian is sought is an incapacitated person or a minor and the appointment of
a guardian is necessary as a means of providing care and supervision of the
physical person or property of the incapacitated person or minor, the court shall
appoint a guardian under the chapter.
[14] Ind. Code § 29-3-5-4 is titled “Considerations for appointment of guardian” and
provides:
The court shall appoint as guardian a qualified person or persons
most suitable and willing to serve, having due regard to the
following:
(1) Any request made by a person alleged to be an
incapacitated person, including designations in a durable
power of attorney under IC 30-5-3-4(a).
(2) Any request made for a minor by:
(A) a parent of the minor; or
(B) a de facto custodian of the minor, including a
designation in a power of attorney under IC 30-5-3-
4(b) or IC 30-5-3-4(c).
(3) Any request contained in a will or other written
instrument.
(4) A designation of a standby guardian under IC 29-3-3-7.
(5) Any request made by a minor who is at least fourteen
(14) years of age.
(6) Any request made by the spouse of the alleged
incapacitated person.
(7) The relationship of the proposed guardian to the
individual for whom guardianship is sought.
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(8) Any person acting for the incapacitated person under a
durable power of attorney.
(9) The best interest of the incapacitated person or minor
and the property of the incapacitated person or minor.
[15] Ind. Code § 29-3-5-5 is titled “Considerations for appointment of guardian;
order of consideration; priorities” and provides:
(a) The following are entitled to consideration for appointment as
a guardian under section 4 of this chapter in the order listed:
(1) A person designated in a durable power of attorney.
(2) A person designated as a standby guardian under IC
29-3-3-7.
(3) The spouse of an incapacitated person.
(4) An adult child of an incapacitated person.
(5) A parent of an incapacitated person, or a person
nominated by will of a deceased parent of an incapacitated
person or by any writing signed by a parent of an
incapacitated person and attested to by at least two (2)
witnesses, or in a power of attorney of a living parent of an
incapacitated person under IC 30-5-3-4(c).
(6) A parent of a minor, a de facto custodian of a minor, or
a person nominated:
(A) by will of a deceased parent or a de facto
custodian of a minor; or
(B) by a power of attorney of a living parent or a de
facto custodian of a minor.
(7) Any person related to an incapacitated person by blood
or marriage with whom the incapacitated person has
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resided for more than six (6) months before the filing of the
petition.
(8) A person nominated by the incapacitated person who is
caring for or paying for the care of the incapacitated
person.
(b) With respect to persons having equal priority, the court shall
select the person it considers best qualified to serve as guardian.
The court, acting in the best interest of the incapacitated person
or minor, may pass over a person having priority and appoint a
person having a lower priority or no priority under this section.
[16] To the extent Father argues on appeal that the court abused its discretion by
appointing him and Mother as co-guardians and could have appointed only one
individual as guardian, we observe that the April 10, 2019 counter-petition filed
by Father and Natalie asserted that “it is necessary that [Father] and Natalie
Jack be appointed guardians for [Benjamin] in order to provide for his care,
custody, support, maintenance” and requested an order “[a]ppointing [Father]
and Natalie [Jack] as the guardians of the person and estate of” Benjamin.
Appellant’s Appendix Volume II at 82. Further, at the hearing, Father
indicated multiple times that he was seeking a co-guardianship with Natalie.
During closing argument, Father’s counsel asserted that the best option would
be to appoint Father and Natalie as co-guardians. We conclude Father has
waived the argument that the trial court’s discretion was limited to appointing
only one guardian. Waiver notwithstanding, we cannot say that the trial court
abused its discretion.
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[17] When interpreting a statute, we independently review a statute’s meaning and
apply it to the facts of the case under review. Bolin v. Wingert, 764 N.E.2d 201,
204 (Ind. 2002). If a statute is unambiguous, we must give the statute its clear
and plain meaning. Id. A statute is unambiguous if it is not susceptible to more
than one interpretation. Elmer Buchta Trucking, Inc. v. Stanley, 744 N.E.2d 939,
942 (Ind. 2001). If a statute is susceptible to multiple interpretations, we must
try to ascertain the legislature’s intent and interpret the statute so as to
effectuate that intent. Bolin, 764 N.E.2d at 204. We presume the legislature
intended logical application of the language used in the statute, so as to avoid
unjust or absurd results. Id. A statute should be examined as a whole, avoiding
excessive reliance upon a strict literal meaning or the selective reading of
individual words. Mayes v. Second Injury Fund, 888 N.E.2d 773, 776 (Ind. 2008).
“To effectuate legislative intent, we read the sections of an act together in order
that no part is rendered meaningless if it can be harmonized with the remainder
of the statute.” Young v. Hood’s Gardens, Inc., 24 N.E.3d 421, 425 (Ind. 2015)
(quoting City of Carmel v. Steele, 865 N.E.2d 612, 618 (Ind. 2007) (internal
citation omitted)).
[18] While Ind. Code § 29-3-5-5(b) provides in part that “[w]ith respect to persons
having equal priority, the court shall select the person it considers best qualified
to serve as guardian,” Ind. Code § 29-3-5-4 explicitly provides that “[t]he court
shall appoint as guardian a qualified person or persons most suitable and willing
to serve, having due regard to the following . . . .” (Emphasis added). We
cannot say that the court abused its discretion by appointing co-guardians. See
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In re Guardianship of Atkins, 868 N.E.2d 878, 884 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007) (“Based
upon the evidence presented, the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it
found that it was in Patrick’s best interest to appoint the Atkinses as co-
guardians of his person.”), reh’g denied, trans. denied.
[19] With respect to Mother’s appointment, we note that Ind. Code § 29-3-5-5establishes a priority for parents. The court found no evidence that Mother
would be unable to direct the care for Benjamin if she needed to do so. It also
found that Mother was familiar with his therapists, medication, and routines,
would have the ability to contact the stepmother if additional information was
needed, and that Mother had been familiar with Benjamin’s needs for eighteen
years. Based upon the evidence and testimony presented, we cannot say the
trial court abused its discretion in appointing Father and Mother as co-
guardians.
[20] For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the order of the trial court.
[21] Affirmed.
Baker, J., and Riley, J., concur.
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