Ejm v. Ajm

846 So. 2d 289, 2003 WL 21005237
CourtCourt of Appeals of Mississippi
DecidedMay 6, 2003
Docket2002-CA-00045-COA
StatusPublished

This text of 846 So. 2d 289 (Ejm v. Ajm) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Mississippi primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Ejm v. Ajm, 846 So. 2d 289, 2003 WL 21005237 (Mich. Ct. App. 2003).

Opinion

846 So.2d 289 (2003)

E.J.M., Appellant,
v.
A.J.M., a minor, By and Through her Grandmother and next Friend, I.V.C., Appellee.

No. 2002-CA-00045-COA.

Court of Appeals of Mississippi.

May 6, 2003.

*291 John R. Reeves, Christopher Paul Palmer, attorneys for appellant.

Kate S. Eidt, attorney for appellee.

Before KING, P.J., THOMAS and IRVING, JJ.

THOMAS, J., for the court.

¶ 1. I.V.C., the paternal grandmother of A.J.M., was awarded custody of A.J.M. through an ex parte proceeding alleging sexual abuse of the minor child by a third party, the attorney of the minor's mother, E.J.M. Aggrieved the mother asserts the following:

I. THE HINDS COUNTY CHANCERY COURT LACKED SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION.

II. THE COURT ERRED IN DENYING HER MOTION IN LIMINE.

III. THE APPELLANT'S SUBSTANTIVE AND PROCEDURAL DUE PROCESS RIGHTS WERE VIOLATED WHEN THE LOWER COURT GRANTED AN EX PARTE TRANSFER OF CUSTODY OF HER CHILD TO THE APPELLEE.

IV. THE LOWER COURT ERRED IN GRANTING CUSTODY TO APPELLEE, NON-PARENT OF THE CHILD.

V. THE LOWER COURT ERRED IN ALLOWING APPELLANT'S EXPERT WITNESSES TO TESTIFY THAT THE MINOR CHILD WAS CREDIBLE.

VI. THE LOWER COURT ERRED BY NOT GRANTING APPELLANT'S MOTION FOR SANCTIONS AGAINST APPELLEE.

Finding no error, we affirm.

FACTS

¶ 2. On May 7, 2001, I.V.C. was granted an emergency petition for custody, guardianship and protective relief in the Chancery Court of Hinds County. She obtained an ex parte emergency temporary order for custody of A.J.M., the natural child of E.J.M. A hearing was held on May 29, 2001, after a requested continuance by E.J.M. was granted from the original date of May 18, 2001. The court ruled before the hearing that the ultimate issue before the court was the request for custody of a minor child by a third party.

*292 ¶ 3. Testimony began on May 29, 2001, and the first witness called by I.V.C. was E.J.M. who readily admitted that she was a diagnosed paranoid, bi-polar schizophrenic with a history of hospitalizations. She further acknowledged that she refused active treatment and care of a doctor and further stated that during a recent stint of depression she could not remember where her child was. No objections were made by E.J.M.'s counsel regarding the line of questioning. Testimony was not resumed until September 10, 2001, whereby E.J.M. filed a motion in limine on that morning requesting the court to exclude any testimony regarding allegations of E.J.M. being an unfit parent, any testimony from expert witnesses and any evidence regarding the mental condition of E.J.M. The court denied E.J.M.'s motion in limine. As the testimony continued, E.J.M.'s counsel failed to object to testimony regarding her mental condition.

¶ 4. I.V.C. also presented expert testimony from Melanie Wood, clinical therapist, regarding the child's statements about her encounters with a third party. The expert further testified regarding her two interviews with the minor child, techniques she used, and the basis for her opinion. A second expert, Dr. Catherine Dixon, psychologist, testified as to the believability of the child. She further stated that the child had a fear of the third party. One of the appellant's experts on cross examination testified to a finding of sexual abuse of the child from a report in 1997.

¶ 5. After both sides presented testimony from experts and witnesses, the judge ruled custody should be taken from E.J.M. as she was unfit, and placed the child in the custody of I.V.C.

I. DID THE HINDS COUNTY CHANCERY COURT LACK SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION?

¶ 6. E.J.M. argues that jurisdiction was only proper in Hinds County Youth Court based on Miss.Code Ann. § 43-21-151(1) (Rev.2002). She further contends that since the charge of abuse of the child did not first arise in a pending action in Hinds County Chancery Court then the statute mandates that youth court has exclusive jurisdiction.

¶ 7. Jurisdiction is a question of law. Entergy Miss., Inc. v. Burdette Gin Co., 726 So.2d 1202, 1204-05(¶ 5) (Miss. 1998). This Court reviews questions of law de novo. See Saliba v. Saliba, 753 So.2d 1095, 1098(¶ 11) (Miss.2000); Peters v. Peters, 744 So.2d 803, 804(¶ 2) (Miss.Ct. App.1999). We hold that a chancery court may not exercise jurisdiction over any abused or neglected child or any proceeding pertaining thereto over which the youth court may exercise jurisdiction if there has been a prior proceeding in the youth court concerning that same child. K.M.K. v. S.L.M. ex rel. J.H., 775 So.2d 115(¶ 10) (Miss.2000). Here the Mississippi Supreme Court showed deference to the court where prior proceedings had taken place. "Continuing and exclusive nature of chancery court jurisdiction over issues involving child custody precludes Youth Court from having exclusive original jurisdiction over proceedings involving abused child where allegations of abuse are raised in context of custody proceeding over which chancery court already exercises jurisdiction." Chrissy F. ex rel. Medley v. Mississippi Dep't of Pub. Welfare, 780 F.Supp. 1104 (S.D.Miss.1991), aff'd in part, rev'd on other grounds, 995 F.2d 595 (5th Cir.1993).

¶ 8. This matter was brought before the Hinds County Chancery Court as a custody action based upon child abuse. The *293 chancellor found that the court had issued a temporary order regarding the custody and visitation of the child and in that temporary order the court opined that any further allegations regarding the child would be referred to "this court" and the proper authorities. This is adequate retention of jurisdiction as the temporary order could be construed as pending and jurisdiction regarding child custody, which is exclusive to chancery court, was never relinquished to the youth court. This issue is without merit.

II. DID THE COURT ERR IN DENYING E.J.M.'S MOTION IN LIMINE?

¶ 9. E.J.M. asserts that the court erred in denying her motion in limine, barring any testimony regarding her being unfit for custody. She claims that as these allegations were not present in the pleadings, they are barred and the only evidence that may be heard is evidence regarding allegations which were pled. E.J.M.'s motion was brought before the court on September 10, 2001, after a whole day of testimony which took place in May.

¶ 10. The supreme court has repeatedly held that in matters regarding child custody and visitation the best interest of the child is of paramount importance. Morgan v. West, 812 So.2d 987, 992(¶ 13) (Miss.2002). A trial judge enjoys wide discretion with regard to the relevancy and admissibility of evidence. Fisher v. State, 690 So.2d 268, 274 (Miss.1996). The court will not reverse the ruling of the trial judge unless the judge commits an abuse of discretion which prejudices the party bringing the motion. Id.

¶ 11. In child custody cases, the polestar consideration is the best interest of the child, and this must always be kept paramount. Lee v. Lee, 798 So.2d 1284, 1288 (¶ 15) (Miss.2001) (citing Sellers v. Sellers, 638 So.2d 481, 485 (Miss.1994)).

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E.J.M. v. A.J.M. ex rel. I.V.C.
846 So. 2d 289 (Court of Appeals of Mississippi, 2003)

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