Casey L Shimel v. Jennifer L McKinley

STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
CASEY L. SHIMEL, UNPUBLISHED
April 27, 2017
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v No. 334571
Presque Isle Circuit Court
JENNIFER L. MCKINLEY, f/k/a JENNIFER L. LC No. 10-083507-DM
SHIMEL,
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: RONAYNE KRAUSE, P.J., and K. F. KELLY and GADOLA, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
In this child custody dispute, defendant appeals by right, after a prior remand from this
Court,1 the trial court’s determination that it was in the child’s best interests to have primary
physical custody with plaintiff. We affirm.
The parties shared joint physical and legal custody of the child after their divorce until
late 2015, when the parties, who no longer resided in the same city, agreed that the child should
attend a single school rather than different schools pursuant to her alternating residence with the
two parties, but could not agree on which school. The trial court previously entered an order
purporting to modify parenting time and finding it was in the child’s best interests to “attend
Onaway Public Schools and have her principal residence with plaintiff during the school year.”
This Court reversed that order because the trial court failed to appreciate that its ruling
effectuated a change in the child’s established custodial environment, so the matter was
remanded “for the trial court to determine if plaintiff, as the party seeking to change [the child]’s
school, established, by clear and convincing evidence, that the change—and resultant
modification of parenting time—was in the child’s best interest, utilizing the factors set forth in
MCL 722.23.” On remand, the trial court received additional evidence and considered those
statutory best-interest factors, and it found by clear and convincing evidence that primary
custody with plaintiff was in the child’s best interests.
1
Shimel v McKinley, unpublished opinion per curiam of the Court of Appeals, issued February
23, 2016 (Docket No. 329144).
-1-
We initially address defendant’s contention that the trial court erred in failing to
disqualify itself. “The factual findings underlying a ruling on a motion for disqualification are
reviewed for an abuse of discretion, while application of the facts to the law is reviewed de
novo.” Butler v Simmons-Butler, 308 Mich App 195, 226; 863 NW2d 677 (2014). A trial court
abuses its discretion when its decision falls outside the range of reasonable and principled
outcomes. Id. “A trial judge is presumed to be unbiased and the party moving for
disqualification bears the burden of proving that the motion is justified.” Id. at 227. Repeated
rulings against a party, even if erroneous, do not establish prejudice in the absence of some
display of “deep-seated favoritism or antagonism that would make fair judgment impossible.”
Cain v Dep’t of Corrections, 451 Mich 470, 496; 548 NW2d 210 (1996) (quotation omitted).
Defendant contends that the trial judge demonstrated prejudice by continuing to rely on
and reference defendant’s conviction of perjury for lying during the parties’ divorce
proceedings.2 Although the trial judge apparently did have personal knowledge of the perjury
proceedings, MCR 2.003(C)(1)(c), the facts were not actually disputed. Perjury is a crime
containing an element of dishonesty, which makes it directly and significantly relevant to the
credibility of a witness. People v Allen, 429 Mich 558, 571, 593-594 n 15; 420 NW2d 499, 506
(1988). We do not think that a disagreement between defendant and the trial judge over how
significant her perjury conviction might be amounts to a demonstration of bias warranting
disqualification.
After the trial judge denied defendant’s motion for disqualification, the motion was
referred to the chief judge at defendant’s request, pursuant to MCR 2.003(D)(3)(a)(i). Defendant
complains that she was not afforded a hearing on that motion. The court rule requires the chief
judge to decide a disqualification motion de novo, but it does not require that a separate hearing
be held after the assigned judge denies such a motion. Although defendant complains that she
was not able to fully present her reasons for disqualification, the record discloses that the
assigned judge was amenable to granting defendant an evidentiary hearing on her motion, but
defendant instead agreed that the chief judge could decide the matter on the record established at
the motion hearing. The chief judge indicated that he had reviewed the hearing proceedings as
part of his de novo review of defendant’s motion. Moreover, MCR 2.003(D)(2) required
defendant to include all known grounds for disqualification in her motion, or in an
accompanying affidavit. Thus, defendant would not have been entitled to present any additional
grounds for disqualification that were not included in her motion. We find no error.
Additionally, we accept plaintiff’s counsel’s observation that the trial court initially
awarded joint legal and physical custody despite knowing of defendant’s perjury; even perjury
involving coaching the child to claim plaintiff hit her, which could reasonably be construed as
exceptionally relevant and disturbing under the circumstances. As stated at oral argument by
plaintiff’s counsel, that the trial court equally split custody even with this knowledge because the
2
In the trial court, defendant contended that “the trial court may be related in some manner to
plaintiff’s family,” see MCR 2.003(C)(1)(g), but no facts in support of that contention were
apparently developed, and defendant does not pursue that theory on appeal.
-2-
trial court felt the child should have both parents in her life is compelling and highlights how fair
the trial court was throughout these proceedings. We think defendant’s claim that the trial court
was biased is clearly based entirely on having received an outcome with which she disagrees.
This borders on frivolity, especially considering defendant’s counsel’s effective admission at oral
argument that had the outcome of the lower court proceedings gone the other way, plaintiff could
make the exact same arguments she makes and, ostensibly, prevail. It appears to us that the trial
court took great pains to ensure that defendant was treated with fairness for the sake of the child,
and being treated fairly is defendant’s real objection.
Next, defendant argues that the trial court erred by changing the prior parenting time and
custody arrangement without first finding that there was proper cause or a change of
circumstances to revisit the prior custody arrangement. We disagree. In a child custody dispute,
“[w]e review findings of fact to determine if they are against the great weight of the evidence, we
review discretionary decisions for an abuse of discretion, and we review questions of law for
clear error.” Kubicki v Sharpe, 306 Mich App 525, 538; 858 NW2d 57 (2014).
Defendant correctly states that a court, when faced with a request to change custody,
must first determine whether the proponent of the change has “established a change of
circumstances or proper cause for a custodial change under MCL 722.27(1)(c).” Kubicki, 306
Mich App at 540, citing Vodvarka v Grasmeyer, 259 Mich App 499, 508–509; 675 NW2d 847
(2003). In relevant part,
a movant must prove by a preponderance of the evidence the existence of an
appropriate ground for legal action to be taken by the trial court. The appropriate
ground(s) should be relevant to at least one of the twelve statutory best interest
factors [in MCL 722.23(a)-(l)], and must be of such magnitude to have a
significant effect on the child’s well-being. When a movant has demonstrated
such proper cause, the trial court can then engage in a reevaluation of the statutory
best interest factors.
* * *
[T]o establish a “change of circumstances,” a movant must prove that, since the
entry of the last custody order, the conditions surrounding custody of the child,
which have or could have a significant effect on the child’s well-being, have
materially changed. Again, not just any change will suffice, for over time there
will always be some changes in a child’s environment, behavior, and well-being.
Instead, the evidence must demonstrate something more than the normal life
changes (both good and bad) that occur during the life of a child, and there must
be at least some evidence that the material changes have had or will almost
certainly have an effect on the child. [Vodvarka, 259 Mich App at 512, 513-514
(emphasis in original).]
Whatever the trial court might have stated regarding its prior order, the trial court complied with
this Court’s instructions on remand, which is not improper. K & K Constr, Inc v Dep’t of
Environmental Quality, 267 Mich App 523, 544; 705 NW2d 365 (2005). In any event, we find
that the necessary threshold showing was made.
-3-
The trial court’s original custody order was entered when the child was an infant. During
the child’s early years, she resided alternately with each party, and was able to attend two
different preschools, one near the residence of each party. Both parties agreed that the child
should attend a single kindergarten school, and because of the physical distance between the
parties, it was simply not possible for the child to alternately reside with each party. There was
simply no other solution: the trial court had to enter an order that, as this Court previously
found, necessarily had the effect of changing the child’s custody. These were important matters
affecting her welfare, as this Court noted in its earlier decision. Shimel, unpub op at 3, citing
Pierron v Pierron, 486 Mich 81, 85; 782 NW2d 480 (2010). Given the importance of these
matters to MS’s well-being, coupled by the parties’ inability to agree on which school MS would
attend and where she would primarily reside, proper cause or a change of circumstances to revisit
the original custody arrangement existed within the Vodvarka definition.
Defendant next argues that the trial court erred by failing to consider the parenting time
factors in MCL 722.27a(7). By its plain language, MCL 722.27a(7) does not require explicit
consideration of the listed factors. Moreover, to the extent some of the factors were relevant, the
trial court’s extensive consideration of each of the factors in MCL 722.23 makes it “clear from
the trial court’s statements on the record that the trial court was considering the minor child’s
best interests in modifying defendant’s parenting time,” which was sufficient. Shade v Wright,
291 Mich App 17, 32; 805 NW2d 1 (2010). In addition, the trial court followed this Court’s
explicit remand instructions by deciding MS’s best interests in light of the best-interest factors in
MCL 722.23. We find no error by the trial court.
Finally, defendant challenges the trial court’s findings on several of the best-interest
factors in MCL 722.23 and by awarding primary custody of the child to plaintiff. Specifically,
defendant challenges the trial court’s findings concerning best-interest factors (b), (c), (d), (e),
(f), (h), (j), and (l) in MCL 722.23, which encompasses the following considerations:
(b) The capacity and disposition of the parties involved to give the child
love, affection, and guidance and to continue the education and raising of the
child in his or her religion or creed, if any.
(c) The capacity and disposition of the parties involved to provide the
child with food, clothing, medical care or other remedial care recognized and
permitted under the laws of this state in place of medical care, and other material
needs.
(d) The length of time the child has lived in a stable, satisfactory
environment, and the desirability of maintaining continuity.
(e) The permanence, as a family unit, of the existing or proposed
custodial home or homes.
(f) The moral fitness of the parties involved.
***
(h) The home, school, and community record of the child.
-4-
***
(j) The willingness and ability of each of the parties to facilitate and
encourage a close and continuing parent-child relationship between the child and
the other parent or the child and the parents.
***
(l) Any other factor considered by the court to be relevant to a particular
child custody dispute. [MCL 722.23.]
The trial court found the parties equal under the remaining unchallenged factors.
The trial court found that factor (b) favored plaintiff because of a past incident in which
the trial court believed that defendant had induced the child to lie about whether plaintiff struck
her, which the trial court characterized as “a matter of such terribly poor guidance as to require
this factor be scored in favor of plaintiff.” The trial court also observed, albeit in discussing
factor (i), that despite both parties having been instructed not to attempt to influence the child’s
interview with the judge, the child clearly had been coached, impliedly by defendant, who was
the party to bring the child to chambers. Notably, defendant does not challenge the assertion that
she attempted to have the child lie or the finding that she coached the child for her interview.
Because these incidents reflect negatively on defendant’s capacity to provide proper guidance for
the child, and the evidence does not clearly preponderate in the opposite direction, defendant has
not shown that the trial court’s finding with respect to factor (b) is against the great weight of the
evidence.
Defendant contends that the trial court should not have scored the parties equally under
factor (c), asserting that plaintiff failed to provide the child with appropriate medical care. The
evidence at the hearing shows at most the parties had a difference of opinion about the severity
of an injury the child sustained to her ankle. There was no unambiguous evidence that it was
fractured; and plaintiff’s testimony about how the child acted after the accident, and the
testimony from his mother, who was a nurse, that it was unnecessary to take the child to a doctor
support the trial court’s finding. Likewise, the testimony regarding less serious issues of insect
bites and dry skin do not render the trial court’s finding against the great weight of the evidence.
Plaintiff presented evidence that he adequately treated MS’s itching from her dry skin.
Under factors (d), (e), and (h), the trial court found that the stability of plaintiff’s home,
coupled with the fact that the child appeared to be thriving in this environment, favored plaintiff.
Defendant asserts that this was a disparagement of her status as a single mother, but we find no
such disparagement; rather, the trial court merely recognized that the child was presently doing
well. Generally, trial courts are required to consider up-to-date information on remands in
custody matters. See Fletcher v Fletcher, 447 Mich 871, 889; 526 NW2d 889 (1994). The
evidence did show that the child has had trouble adjusting to sharing plaintiff’s attention with
other children, but it also showed that plaintiff and his fiancée were able to address those
problems. The child’s kindergarten teacher provided testimony supporting a finding that the
child had done well in school and made progress socially. We do not find that the trial court’s
findings on these factors are against the great weight of the evidence.
-5-
Defendant contends that the trial court inappropriately continued to focus on her perjury
conviction under factor (f), arguing that “immorality” must be pertinent to her ability to parent.
The latter contention is true, and the trial court said as much in its order. The trial court did not
simply rely on the perjury conviction, but rather on defendant’s continued practice of grossly
exaggerating, if not outright falsifying, issues in order to win custody. As noted, the trial court
implicitly found that defendant had coached the child in contravention of instructions; and it
appears that defendant over-reacted to the child’s ankle injury, asserting that she sustained a
fracture when the actual medical diagnosis was that swelling on the x-ray image precluded ruling
out the possibility of a fracture. Furthermore, while perjury per se may not directly impact a
person’s ability to parent, attempting to persuade the child to lie about abuse certainly does. We
do not find that the trial court’s finding was against the great weight of the evidence.
The trial court found the parties equal under factor (j) without any further explication.3
Defendant asserts that plaintiff has attempted to limit her contact with the child, but the evidence
simply did not establish that to be so. Defendant presented testimony to the effect that plaintiff
had deliberately excluded her from some activities with the child. Plaintiff presented text
messages showing his willingness to allow defendant to pick the child up earlier due to a
forecasted storm, a time when plaintiff had the child call defendant when defendant wanted to
talk to her, and a text message picture plaintiff sent to defendant at the child’s request about their
baby chicks. The evidence was therefore at the most equivocal, so the trial court’s finding that
the parties were also equivocal was not against the great weight of the evidence.
Finally, defendant’s challenge to the trial court’s findings under factor (l) merely
reiterates her opinion that the trial court penalized her for being a single parent. As discussed,
the trial court does not appear to have done so. Rather, it discussed the benefit to the child of
plaintiff’s extended family and the fact that the trial court had no updated information on the role
of defendant’s father in the child’s life. The relative availability of a support network was not
discussed in the other factors, and the trial court’s finding that the factor favored plaintiff was not
against the great weight of the evidence.
We therefore find that the trial court’s best-interests findings were not against the great
weight of the evidence, and defendant has not shown that the trial court abused its discretion by
3
It would have been better for the trial court to have at least briefly explored why it so found.
Daniels v Daniels, 165 Mich App 726, 730-731; 418 NW2d 924 (1988). However, the record
makes it clear that the trial court did properly consider the pertinent facts, Fletcher, 447 Mich at
883-884, and the record is sufficient for us to review it. Foskett v Foskett, 247 Mich App 1, 12-
13; 634 NW2d 363 (2001). Because defendant did not challenge the adequacy of the trial court’s
ruling at the time of the hearing, we will not disturb the trial court’s order on this basis.
-6-
finding that in total they constituted clear and convincing evidence that it was in the child’s best
interests to award primary custody to plaintiff.
Affirmed.
/s/ Amy Ronayne Krause
/s/ Kirsten Frank Kelly
/s/ Michael F. Gadola
-7-