IMPORTANT NOTICE NOT TO BE PUBLISHED OPINION
THIS OPINION IS DESIGNATED "NOT TO BE PUBLISHED." PURSUANT TO THE RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE PROMULGATED BY THE SUPREME COURT, CR 76.28(4)(C), THIS OPINION IS NOT TO BE PUBLISHED AND SHALL NOT BE CITED OR USED AS BINDING PRECEDENT IN ANY OTHER CASE IN ANY COURT OF THIS STATE; HOWEVER, UNPUBLISHED KENTUCKY APPELLATE DECISIONS, RENDERED AFTER JANUARY 1, 2003, MAY BE CITED FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE COURT IF THERE IS NO PUBLISHED OPINION THAT WOULD ADEQUATELY ADDRESS THE ISSUE BEFORE THE COURT. OPINIONS CITED FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE COURT SHALL BE SET OUT AS AN UNPUBLISHED DECISION IN THE FILED DOCUMENT AND A COPY OF THE ENTIRE DECISION SHALL BE TENDERED ALONG WITH THE DOCUMENT TO THE COURT AND ALL PARTIES TO THE ACTION. RENDERED: NOTJ
2019-SC-000420-MR
BARBARA RAE CUNNINGHAM, APPELLANT F/K/A BARBARA RAE INMAN
ON APPEAL FROM COURT OF APPEALS V. CASE NO. 2019-CA-000599-OA WHITLEY CIRCUIT COURT NO. 15-AD-00011
HON. PAUL A. WINCHESTER, JUDGE, APPELLEE 34TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, DIVISION II
AND
BRONSON EARL NEACE REAL PARTY IN INTEREST
MEMORANDUM OPINION OF THE COURT
AFFIRMING
Appellant, Barbara Rae Cunningham,1 seeks a writ of prohibition
restraining the Whitley Circuit Court from adjudicating a termination of
parental rights (TPR) action filed by Bronson Earl Neace. Cunningham
contends that the trial court lost subject matter jurisdiction of the TPR action
on January 15, 2019, six months after Kentucky Revised Statute (KRS)
625.050(7) went into effect on July 14, 2018. The Court of Appeals denied the
writ. For reasons stated below, we affirm.
1 Formerly known as Barbara Rae Inman. I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Neace and Cunningham are the parents of a disabled child.2 In April
2015, Neace filed an action in Whitley Circuit Court pursuant to KRS 625.050
to terminate Cunningham’s parental rights. Three years later, KRS 625.050(7)
was enacted and became effective July 14, 2018. The statute states: “Any
petition filed pursuant to this section shall be fully adjudicated and a final
judgment shall be entered by the court within six (6) months of the service of
the petition on the parents.” On January 15, 2019, Cunningham moved the
circuit court to dismiss the 2015 TPR action because it was still pending more
than six (6) months after the effective date of KRS 625.050(7). The trial court
denied the dismissal motion and set a final hearing. Cunningham sought a
writ of prohibition from the Court of Appeals, which that court denied, and this
appeal followed.3
II. ANALYSIS
Being an extraordinary remedy, a writ is cautiously and conservatively
granted. Bender v. Eaton, 343 S.W.2d 799, 800 (Ky. 1961). One type of writ,
commonly known as a first-class writ and the type of writ at issue here, may be
granted when a lower court is acting on matters outside its subject matter
jurisdiction. Goldstein v. Feeley, 299 S.W.3d 549, 551-52 (Ky. 2009). “The
2 Although a detailed statement of facts is unnecessary in this writ action, it appears undisputed that Neace, the father, has had sole custody of the child since at least 2011 and Cunningham has been denied visitation based on a finding of abuse. 3 Both parties have requested oral argument but the Court finds it unnecessary in this straightforward writ case.
2 court has subject matter jurisdiction when the ‘kind of case’ identified in the
pleadings is one which the court has been empowered, by statute or
constitutional provision, to adjudicate.” Daugherty v. Telek, 366 S.W.3d 463,
467 (Ky. 2012) (citation omitted). “One seeking a writ when the lower court is
acting ‘outside of its jurisdiction’ need not establish the lack of an adequate
alternative remedy or the suffering of great injustice and irreparable injury.
Those preconditions apply [when one seeks a second-class writ, which may be
granted] when a lower court acts ‘erroneously but within its jurisdiction.”’
Goldstein, 299 S.W.3d at 552.
The lower court’s grant or denial of a writ of prohibition is generally
reviewed for an abuse of discretion. S. Fin. Life Ins. Co. v. Combs, 413 S.W.3d
921, 926 (Ky. 2013) (citation omitted). However, when it is alleged that the
lower court is acting outside its jurisdiction, a question of law is generally
raised, and we review that question de novo. Grange Mut. Ins. Co. v. Trude, 151
S.W.3d 803, 810 (Ky. 2004). In this case requesting a first-class writ, we
proceed de novo.
Cunningham presents a two-part argument. She contends first that
pursuant to the plain “shall” language of KRS 625.050(7), the trial court loses
its jurisdiction, requiring dismissal, of every parental rights termination action
when the petition is not fully adjudicated and a final judgment is not entered
within six (6) months of service of the petition on the parents. Next, she argues
that KRS 625.050(7) must be applied retroactively to all cases filed before July
14, 2018, which failed to reach final judgment six (6) months after the July 15,
3 2018 effective date of KRS 625.050(7). We conclude that even assuming KRS
625.050(7) applied retroactively (an issue we need not decide), a writ is not
available to Cunningham because the trial court would not lose its subject
matter jurisdiction by not acting in accordance with KRS 625.050(7).
In Daugherty v. Telek, 366 S.W.3d at 463, this Court addressed an
argument similar to Cunningham’s. Telek argued that the family court lost
subject matter jurisdiction to issue a domestic violence order (DVO) when it
failed to follow the procedure in KRS 403.740(4) and by not holding the DVO
hearing within fourteen days after the issuance of the original emergency
protective order. Id. at 465-66. Reversing the Court of Appeals, this Court
explained a court acts outside its subject matter jurisdiction when it acts
without having been given any power, by constitutional provision or statute, to
do anything at all. Id. at 467. As long as the court has been empowered to
adjudicate the specific types of claims and causes of action identified in the
pleadings, the court has subject matter jurisdiction of the case. Id. “A court,
once vested with subject matter jurisdiction over a case, does not suddenly lose
subject matter jurisdiction by misconstruing or erroneously overlooking a
statute or rule governing the litigation.” Id. Instead, that court is acting
erroneously within its jurisdiction. Id.
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IMPORTANT NOTICE NOT TO BE PUBLISHED OPINION
THIS OPINION IS DESIGNATED "NOT TO BE PUBLISHED." PURSUANT TO THE RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE PROMULGATED BY THE SUPREME COURT, CR 76.28(4)(C), THIS OPINION IS NOT TO BE PUBLISHED AND SHALL NOT BE CITED OR USED AS BINDING PRECEDENT IN ANY OTHER CASE IN ANY COURT OF THIS STATE; HOWEVER, UNPUBLISHED KENTUCKY APPELLATE DECISIONS, RENDERED AFTER JANUARY 1, 2003, MAY BE CITED FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE COURT IF THERE IS NO PUBLISHED OPINION THAT WOULD ADEQUATELY ADDRESS THE ISSUE BEFORE THE COURT. OPINIONS CITED FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE COURT SHALL BE SET OUT AS AN UNPUBLISHED DECISION IN THE FILED DOCUMENT AND A COPY OF THE ENTIRE DECISION SHALL BE TENDERED ALONG WITH THE DOCUMENT TO THE COURT AND ALL PARTIES TO THE ACTION. RENDERED: NOTJ
2019-SC-000420-MR
BARBARA RAE CUNNINGHAM, APPELLANT F/K/A BARBARA RAE INMAN
ON APPEAL FROM COURT OF APPEALS V. CASE NO. 2019-CA-000599-OA WHITLEY CIRCUIT COURT NO. 15-AD-00011
HON. PAUL A. WINCHESTER, JUDGE, APPELLEE 34TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, DIVISION II
AND
BRONSON EARL NEACE REAL PARTY IN INTEREST
MEMORANDUM OPINION OF THE COURT
AFFIRMING
Appellant, Barbara Rae Cunningham,1 seeks a writ of prohibition
restraining the Whitley Circuit Court from adjudicating a termination of
parental rights (TPR) action filed by Bronson Earl Neace. Cunningham
contends that the trial court lost subject matter jurisdiction of the TPR action
on January 15, 2019, six months after Kentucky Revised Statute (KRS)
625.050(7) went into effect on July 14, 2018. The Court of Appeals denied the
writ. For reasons stated below, we affirm.
1 Formerly known as Barbara Rae Inman. I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Neace and Cunningham are the parents of a disabled child.2 In April
2015, Neace filed an action in Whitley Circuit Court pursuant to KRS 625.050
to terminate Cunningham’s parental rights. Three years later, KRS 625.050(7)
was enacted and became effective July 14, 2018. The statute states: “Any
petition filed pursuant to this section shall be fully adjudicated and a final
judgment shall be entered by the court within six (6) months of the service of
the petition on the parents.” On January 15, 2019, Cunningham moved the
circuit court to dismiss the 2015 TPR action because it was still pending more
than six (6) months after the effective date of KRS 625.050(7). The trial court
denied the dismissal motion and set a final hearing. Cunningham sought a
writ of prohibition from the Court of Appeals, which that court denied, and this
appeal followed.3
II. ANALYSIS
Being an extraordinary remedy, a writ is cautiously and conservatively
granted. Bender v. Eaton, 343 S.W.2d 799, 800 (Ky. 1961). One type of writ,
commonly known as a first-class writ and the type of writ at issue here, may be
granted when a lower court is acting on matters outside its subject matter
jurisdiction. Goldstein v. Feeley, 299 S.W.3d 549, 551-52 (Ky. 2009). “The
2 Although a detailed statement of facts is unnecessary in this writ action, it appears undisputed that Neace, the father, has had sole custody of the child since at least 2011 and Cunningham has been denied visitation based on a finding of abuse. 3 Both parties have requested oral argument but the Court finds it unnecessary in this straightforward writ case.
2 court has subject matter jurisdiction when the ‘kind of case’ identified in the
pleadings is one which the court has been empowered, by statute or
constitutional provision, to adjudicate.” Daugherty v. Telek, 366 S.W.3d 463,
467 (Ky. 2012) (citation omitted). “One seeking a writ when the lower court is
acting ‘outside of its jurisdiction’ need not establish the lack of an adequate
alternative remedy or the suffering of great injustice and irreparable injury.
Those preconditions apply [when one seeks a second-class writ, which may be
granted] when a lower court acts ‘erroneously but within its jurisdiction.”’
Goldstein, 299 S.W.3d at 552.
The lower court’s grant or denial of a writ of prohibition is generally
reviewed for an abuse of discretion. S. Fin. Life Ins. Co. v. Combs, 413 S.W.3d
921, 926 (Ky. 2013) (citation omitted). However, when it is alleged that the
lower court is acting outside its jurisdiction, a question of law is generally
raised, and we review that question de novo. Grange Mut. Ins. Co. v. Trude, 151
S.W.3d 803, 810 (Ky. 2004). In this case requesting a first-class writ, we
proceed de novo.
Cunningham presents a two-part argument. She contends first that
pursuant to the plain “shall” language of KRS 625.050(7), the trial court loses
its jurisdiction, requiring dismissal, of every parental rights termination action
when the petition is not fully adjudicated and a final judgment is not entered
within six (6) months of service of the petition on the parents. Next, she argues
that KRS 625.050(7) must be applied retroactively to all cases filed before July
14, 2018, which failed to reach final judgment six (6) months after the July 15,
3 2018 effective date of KRS 625.050(7). We conclude that even assuming KRS
625.050(7) applied retroactively (an issue we need not decide), a writ is not
available to Cunningham because the trial court would not lose its subject
matter jurisdiction by not acting in accordance with KRS 625.050(7).
In Daugherty v. Telek, 366 S.W.3d at 463, this Court addressed an
argument similar to Cunningham’s. Telek argued that the family court lost
subject matter jurisdiction to issue a domestic violence order (DVO) when it
failed to follow the procedure in KRS 403.740(4) and by not holding the DVO
hearing within fourteen days after the issuance of the original emergency
protective order. Id. at 465-66. Reversing the Court of Appeals, this Court
explained a court acts outside its subject matter jurisdiction when it acts
without having been given any power, by constitutional provision or statute, to
do anything at all. Id. at 467. As long as the court has been empowered to
adjudicate the specific types of claims and causes of action identified in the
pleadings, the court has subject matter jurisdiction of the case. Id. “A court,
once vested with subject matter jurisdiction over a case, does not suddenly lose
subject matter jurisdiction by misconstruing or erroneously overlooking a
statute or rule governing the litigation.” Id. Instead, that court is acting
erroneously within its jurisdiction. Id. at 466.
Cunningham cites cases including Tolley v. Commonwealth, 65 S.W.3d
531, 533-34 (Ky. App. 2001), and Revenue Cabinet v. O’Daniel, 153 S.W.3d
815, 819-29 (Ky. 2005), in support of her argument that when a statute directs
a trial court’s action by using the word “shall,” that mandate must be followed
4 or subject matter jurisdiction is lost. While Tolley deals with a challenge to
particular case subject matter jurisdiction, none of the other cited cases deal
squarely with subject matter jurisdiction as Daugherty clearly does. More
importantly, Cunningham cites no case which calls into question Daugherty’s
careful subject matter jurisdiction analysis. In Daugherty this Court
unanimously held that a court with subject matter jurisdiction does not lose
that jurisdiction even if it fails to follow or deviates from a controlling statute.
Without question, parental rights termination proceedings pursuant to
KRS 625.050 are within the subject matter jurisdiction of Whitley Circuit
Court. Consequently, even if KRS 625.050(7) were applicable to the 2015 TPR
case, a matter we need not and do not decide in this writ action, the circuit
court would not lose subject matter jurisdiction by failing to comply with its
six-month directive. “Once a court has acquired subject matter and personal
jurisdiction, challenges to its subsequent rulings and judgment are questions
incident to the exercise of jurisdiction rather than to the existence of
jurisdiction.” Daugherty, 366 S.W.3d at 467 (citations omitted). The first-class
writ Cunningham has requested is not available in this case.
4 As a Court of Appeals’ opinion, Tolley does not bind this Court. In any event, that case involved an involuntary hospitalization statute which identified when the court “shall, without taking any further action, terminate the proceedings.” KRS 202A.061.
5 III. CONCLUSION
For reasons stated above, the Court of Appeals’ denial of the writ is
affirmed.
All sitting. All concur.
COUNSEL FOR APPELLANT:
James Harold Wren, II JAMES H. WREN, II, PLLC
COUNSEL FOR REAL PARTY IN INTEREST:
John A. Combs COMBS LAW, PLLC
B. J. Foley