Clark v. Clark

[Cite as Clark v. Clark, 2017-Ohio-1247.]
COURT OF APPEALS
FAIRFIELD COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
AMBER M. CLARK JUDGES:
NKA MATTOX Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J.
Hon. William B. Hoffman, J.
Plaintiff-Appellant Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J.
-vs-
BART CLARK, ET AL. Case No. 16-CA-15
Defendants-Appellees OPINION
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Fairfield County Court of
Common Pleas, Domestic Relations
Division, Case No. 13 DR 204
JUDGMENT: Reversed and Remanded
DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: April 3, 2017
APPEARANCES:
For Plaintiff-Appellant For Defendants-Appellees
BARRY H. WOLINETZ BART CLARK, ET AL.
DENNIS E. HORVATH PRO SE
250 Civic Center Drive, Suite 220 Bart Clark and Keri Clark
Columbus, Ohio 43215 P.O. Box 1121
Lancaster, Ohio 43130
Fairfield County, Case No. 16-CA-15 2
Hoffman, J.
{¶1} Plaintiff-appellant Amber M. Clark, nka Mattox, appeals the April 12, 2016
Judgment Entry entered by the Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic
Relations Division, which granted custody of her minor daughter to defendants-appellees
Bart Clark and Keri Clark.
STATEMENT OF THE CASE AND FACTS
{¶2} Appellant is the biological mother of S.C. (dob 8/15/07). Appellees are
Appellant’s parents and S.C.’s maternal grandparents. Appellant was 18 years old when
she became pregnant with S.C. Appellant was financially unable to support herself and
her baby, so she and S.C. initially resided with Appellees in their Colorado home.
{¶3} In March, 2008, Appellees moved to Wyoming, taking S.C. with them.
Appellant chose to remain in Colorado, and gave temporary custody of S.C. to Appellees.
Appellees moved to Virginia in August, 2009. On April 30, 2010, Appellees filed a Petition
for legal custody of S.C. in the Lexington/Rockbridge Juvenile and Domestic Relations
District Court, Juvenile Division, State of Virginia. Notice of the petition was served on
Appellant through an Order of Publication posted on the courthouse door. Via Order for
Custody/Visitation Granted to Individual(s) filed August 19, 2010, Appellees were granted
custody of S.C. Appellees subsequently moved to Ohio.
{¶4} On May 6, 2013, Appellant filed a motion to modify parental rights and
responsibilities in the Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations
Division. On June 27, 2013, Appellees filed a consent to jurisdiction and multiple-branch
motion, in which they moved the trial court to dismiss Appellant’s motion, or, in the
Fairfield County, Case No. 16-CA-15 3
alternative, deny Appellant’s motion. Appellees also requested Appellant only be allowed
supervised visitation, sought child support and reimbursement of medical expenses, and
asked for any other relief the trial court deemed appropriate. The trial court appointed
Attorney Jessica Mongold as guardian ad litem for S.C.
{¶5} The trial court conducted a settlement conference on December 19, 2013.
The parties agreed, and the trial court ordered, Appellant and S.C. engage in Skype
sessions at the discretion and direction of the guardian ad litem, and Appellees
immediately enroll S.C. in counseling. December 19, 2013 Memorandum Entry and
December 30, 2013 Agreed Temporary Order.
{¶6} A settlement/guardian ad litem conference was held on July 30, 2014, at
which time the parties agreed Appellees would enroll S.C. in public school for the 2014-
2015 school year; Appellant would be entitled to attend all school-related activities and
parent-teacher conferences and be entitled to school records related to S.C.; Appellant
would have supervised visitation with S.C. on alternating Saturdays; and the parties would
continue joint therapy and S.C. would continue counseling. July 30, 2014 Memorandum
Entry and August 11, 2014 Agreed Interim Order. The trial court conducted a number of
additional settlement conferences throughout the proceedings which resulted in
additional agreed orders regarding counseling and visitation.
{¶7} On June 26, 2015, Appellees filed a pro se motion to vacate settlement,
motion to dismiss the case, and motion to dismiss the guardian ad litem. On July 15,
2015, the guardian ad litem filed a memorandum regarding temporary orders and other
requests set for non-oral hearing. Therein, the guardian recommended a phase-in
schedule for unsupervised visitation between Appellant and S.C.
Fairfield County, Case No. 16-CA-15 4
{¶8} On July 15, 2015, Appellees filed a pro se supplemental affidavit in support
of their June 26, 2015 motion. Appellees filed an Affidavit and Official Written Complaint
against the guardian ad litem on August 3, 2015. The guardian subsequently filed a
motion to withdraw and requested the appointment of a new guardian. The trial court
granted the guardian’s motion to withdraw via Entry filed August 17, 2015. Appellant filed
a motion to convert one day bench trial to status conference and appoint a new guardian
ad litem on September 8, 2015. The trial court denied the motion the following day.
{¶9} The matter came on for trial on September 9, October 16, October 21, and
November 2, 2015. The parties filed written closing arguments on November 16, 2015.
Via Judgment Entry filed April 12, 2016, the trial court ordered Appellees remain the legal
custodians of S.C., continued supervised visitation between Appellant and S.C., and
ordered Appellant to pay the minimum child support obligation.
{¶10} It is from that judgment entry Appellant appeals, raising the following
assignments of error:
I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN NOT MAKING A
DETERMINATION AS TO MOTHER’S SUITABILITY AND DENIED
MOTHER’S RIGHT TO A FUNDAMENTALLY FAIR TRIAL. 4/12/16
JUDGMENT ENTRY.
II. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT ALLOWED THE
GUARDIAN AD LITEM TO WITHDRAW AND DID NOT APPOINT A NEW
GUARDIAN AD LITEM. 8/17/15, 9/9/15 AND 4/12/16 JUDGMENT
ENTRIES.
Fairfield County, Case No. 16-CA-15 5
III. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT AWARDED CUSTODY
TO GRANDPARENTS PURSUANT TO R.C. 3109.04. 4/12/16 JUDGMENT
ENTRY.
IV. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT ORDERED LIMITED,
SUPERVISED VISITATION TO MOTHER. 4/12/16 JUDGMENT ENTRY.
V. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT AWARDED CHILD
SUPPORT TO GRANDPARENTS. 4/12/16 JUDGMENT ENTRY.
II
{¶11} For ease of discussion, we shall address Appellant’s assignments of error
out of order. In her second assignment of error, Appellant contends the trial court erred
in allowing the guardian ad litem to withdraw then failing to appoint a new guardian. We
agree.
{¶12} On August 6, 2015, the guardian ad litem filed a motion to withdraw due to
difficulties in dealing with Appellees. The trial court granted the guardian’s motion.
Appellant subsequently moved the trial court to convert the one day bench trial to a status
conference, and requested the appointment of a new guardian ad litem. The trial court
denied both requests without stating a reason for its decision. The matter proceeded to
trial. The guardian ad litem did not file a report or testify at trial.
{¶13} The trial court initially appointed the guardian ad litem pursuant to Civ. R.
75(B)(2), which provides for the joinder of parties and the appointment of a guardian
“[w]hen it is essential to protect the interests of a child.” We find the reasons which
necessitated the appointment of the guardian at the commencement of the action
Fairfield County, Case No. 16-CA-15 6
remained after the guardian moved to withdraw. Accordingly, we find the trial court should
have appointed a new guardian when so requested by Appellant.
{¶14} Based upon the foregoing, we reverse the trial court’s decision denying
Appellant’s request for the appointment of a new guardian and remand to the trial court
for appointment of a new guardian. Upon completion of the new guardian’s
investigation/report, the trial court is instructed to reopen the hearing, and hear testimony
limited to the guardian’s findings/recommendations. The trial court shall then reissue its
decision on the merits.
{¶15} Appellant’s second assignment of error is sustained.
V.
{¶16} In her fifth assignment of error, Appellant contends the trial court erred in
awarding child support to Appellees.
{¶17} In its April 12, 2016 Judgment Entry, the trial court made the following
findings with regard to child support:
104. The Court will not impute any income to [Appellant] at this time
given the evidence presented herein, and due to the fact that [Appellant]
was in the late stages of pregnancy at the time of the hearing.
***
106. [Appellee] Keri Clark testified [S.C.] receives medical insurance
through Molina, and not through a private plan, because grandparents are
raising [S.C.].
***
Fairfield County, Case No. 16-CA-15 7
108. The Court finds that it is appropriate that [Appellant] should pay
the minimum child support obligation for [S.C.] at this time.
109. The Child Support Worksheet is attached hereto as Exhibit A.
According to the Child Support Worksheet, [Appellant’s] minimum child
support obligation when no private medical insurance is provided is $50.00
per month, plus processing charge. April 12, 2016 Judgment Entry.
{¶18} The trial court then ordered child support as follows:
18. Effective September 9, 2015, Child Support is ordered as follows:
A. When private health insurance is being provided in accordance
with the support order, Obligor, Plaintiff Amber Clark, shall pay $50.00 per
month, plus 2% processing charge for current child support. This child
support obligation becomes effective on the first day of the month in which
private health insurance coverage for the child is provided in accordance
with the order.
At this time, the child is being covered by a private health insurance
policy. Obligor’s current child support is therefore $897.38 per month, plus
processing charge.
B. When private health insurance is not being provided in
accordance with the support order, Obligor shall pay $50.00 per month, plus
2% processing charge for current child support. This child support
obligation becomes effective on the first day of the month following the
Fairfield County, Case No. 16-CA-15 8
month in which private health insurance coverage for the child is unavailable
or terminates.
In addition, when private health insurance is not being provided in
accordance with the support order, Obligor shall pay $0.00 per month, plus
2% processing charge for cash medical support, as provided above. This
cash medical support obligation becomes effective on the first day of the
month in which private health insurance for the child is unavailable or
terminates. Obligor shall cease paying cash medical support on the last
day of the month immediately preceding the month in which private health
insurance coverage begins or resumes. April 12, 2016 Judgment Entry.
{¶19} We find the child support order is inconsistent on its face. As noted above,
the trial court found it was appropriate for Appellant to pay the minimum amount of child
support. April 12, 2016 Judgment Entry at 16. The trial court added, “According to the
Child Support Worksheet, [Appellant’s] minimum child support obligation when no private
medical insurance is provided is $50.00 per month, plus processing charge.” Id. The trial
court specifically found S.C. receives health insurance through Molina, “not through a
private plan”. However, the trial court later noted, “At this time, the child is being covered
by a private health insurance policy.” Id. at 16, 20. Having found S.C. is covered by a
private health insurance policy, the trial court ordered Appellant to pay $50.00/month,
plus 2% processing charge for current child support. Id. at 20. Two sentences later, the
trial court declared, “At this time, the child is being covered by a private health insurance
Fairfield County, Case No. 16-CA-15 9
policy. Obligor’s current child support is therefore $897.38 per month, plus processing
charge.” Id.
{¶20} In their brief to this Court as well as at oral arguments in this matter,
Appellees concede the child support order is inconsistent. Because of these
inconsistencies, we vacate the portion of the April 12, 2016 Judgment Entry which
addresses child support and remand to the trial court for clarification.
{¶21} Appellant’s fifth assignment of error is sustained.
I, III, IV
{¶22} Based upon our disposition of Appellant’s second assignment of error, we
find Appellant’s first, third, and fourth assignments of error to be premature.
{¶23} The judgment of the Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic
Relations Division, is reversed and the matter remanded for further proceedings
consistent with this Opinion and the law.
By: Hoffman, J.
Gwin, P.J. and
Baldwin, J. concur