Hassingger v. Hassinger

2018 Ohio 1901

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: May 11, 2018
• Docket: 17-COA-026
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as Hassingger v. Hassinger, 2018-Ohio-1901.]

COURT OF APPEALS ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

TARA HASSINGER : JUDGES: : : Hon. John W. Wise, P.J. Plaintiff-Appellee : Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J. : Hon. Earle E. Wise, Jr., J. -vs- : : Case No. 17-COA-026 : RYAN C. HASSINGER : : : Defendant-Appellant : OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Ashland County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division, Case No. 15-DIV-032

JUDGMENT: AFFIRMED

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: May 11, 2018

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee: For Defendant-Appellant:

MATTHEW J. MALONE RYAN C. HASSINGER, PRO SE 10 East Main Street 320 Ohio Street Ashland, OH 44805 Ashland, OH 44805 Ashland County, Case No. 17-COA-026 2

Delaney, J.

{¶1} Defendant-Appellant Ryan C. Hassinger appeals the June 22, 2017

judgment entry of the Ashland County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations

Division.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

{¶2} Defendant-Appellant Ryan C. Hassinger and Plaintiff-Appellee Tara

Hassinger were married on February 27, 2009 and separated on August 1, 2009. Two

children were born of the marriage, R.H. born June 29, 2007, and C.H. born November

30, 2008. On February 25, 2015, Wife filed a complaint for divorce.

{¶3} The parties reached an agreement as to all issues except the care and

disposition of the children and child support. A hearing before a magistrate was held on

January 6, 2016. Husband represented himself at the hearing. By decision filed February

1, 2016, the magistrate named Wife residential parent and legal custodian of the children,

and ordered Husband to pay child support in the amount of $361.25 per month.

{¶4} Husband filed objections to the magistrate’s decision. He simultaneously

filed a motion requesting permission from the trial court to file alternative media to review

the evidence because he could not afford a transcript of the magistrate’s hearing. On

February 25, 2016, the trial court granted the motion in part and denied the motion in part.

The trial court ordered the audio recording of the magistrate’s hearing be provided to

Husband, but Husband was required by Civ.R. 53(D) to file a written transcript to support

his objections to the magistrate’s decision. By separate judgment entry on February 25,

2016, the trial court ordered the hearing transcript be prepared and made available to

Husband, but Husband was required to pay a $600.00 deposit to obtain the transcript. Ashland County, Case No. 17-COA-026 3

Husband did not provide the trial court with a transcript of the magistrate's hearing. By

judgment entry filed March 22, 2016, the trial court reviewed the magistrate's findings,

found them to be sufficient to support the conclusions of law, denied the objections, and

adopted the magistrate's decision. The trial court ordered Wife to prepare the decree of

divorce and submit the decree to the trial court.

{¶5} Husband appealed the March 22, 2016 judgment entry. In Hassinger v.

Hassinger, 5th Dist. Ashland No. 16-COA-009, 2017-Ohio-2962, we dismissed the appeal

for lack of jurisdiction. The trial court ordered Wife to prepare a final decree of divorce

conforming to the magistrate's decision and submit the decree to the trial court, which

was not done at the time of the appeal. We found the March 22, 2016 judgment entry was

“simply prefatory to the issuance of a final order.” Id. at ¶ 16 citing Huffman v. Huffman,

11th Dist. Lake No. 2015–L–130, 2016–Ohio–62, ¶ 19; Beck v. Beck, 11th Dist. Lake No.

2016–L–031, 2016–Ohio–3012, ¶ 19.

{¶6} The Decree of Divorce was filed on June 22, 2017. It is from this judgment

Husband now appeals.

ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR

{¶7} Husband raises three Assignments of Error:

{¶8} “I. THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED PREJUDICIAL ERROR WHEN IT

DIVESTED THE APPELLANTS FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS TO PARENT HIS CHILDREN

WITH THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD STANDARD, IN VIOLATION OF THE DUE

PROCESS CLAUSE OF THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS OF THE U.S.

CONSTITUTION. Ashland County, Case No. 17-COA-026 4

{¶9} “II. THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED PREJUDICIAL ERROR WHEN IT

IMPEDED THE APPELLANT IN PREPARING AND LITIGATING HIS CASE, IN

VIOLATION OF THE DUE PROCESS AND EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSES OF THE

FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION.

{¶10} “III. THE TRIAL COURT ERRORED IN ITS FINDINGS THAT IT WAS IN

THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILDREN IN THIS CASE TO NAME THE APPELLEE

AS THE SOLE RESIDENTIAL AND LEGAL CUSTODIAN AND THE COMPUTATION OF

CHILD SUPPORT, AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE.”

ANALYSIS

I. Standard of Review

{¶11} Because the final hearing giving rise to this appeal was conducted by the

magistrate, we first address the standard of review of the trial court and the appellate

court under Civ.R. 53. Husband filed objections to the magistrate’s decision, but Husband

did not submit a transcript of the final hearing with his objections.

{¶12} When Husband filed objections to the magistrate’s decision, he was

required to file a supporting transcript or affidavit in lieu of an unavailable transcript. Civ.R.

53(D)(3)(b)(iii). “Where a transcript can be produced, the transcript is available and must

be provided to the trial court in support of objections to a magistrate's decision.” Bhau v.

PEM Properties, Ltd., 5th Dist. Stark No. 2015CA00214, 2016-Ohio-7377, ¶ 15 quoting

JPMorgan Chase Bank v. Liggins, 10th Dist. Franklin Case No. 15AP–242, 2016–Ohio–

3528, ¶ 10 citing Gladden v. Grafton Corr. Inst., 10th Dist. No. 05AP–567, 2005–Ohio–

6476, ¶ 7. It is the responsibility of the objecting party to provide the trial court with the

transcript. Id. Ashland County, Case No. 17-COA-026 5

{¶13} This Court has held, “where an appellant fails to provide a transcript of the

original hearing before the magistrate for the trial court's review, the magistrate's findings

of fact are considered established and may not be attacked on appeal.” Murray v. Miller,

5th Dist. Richland No. 15CA02, 2015–Ohio–3726, ¶ 35; Doane v. Doane, 5th Dist.

Guernsey No. 00CA21, 2001 WL 474267 (May 2, 2001); State v. Leite, 5th Dist.

Tuscarawas No.1999AP090054, 2000 WL 502819 (Apr. 11, 2000); Fogress v. McKee,

5th Dist. Licking No. 99CA15, 1999 WL 668580(Aug. 11, 1999); and Strunk v. Strunk, 5th

Dist. Muskingum No. CT96–0015, 1996 WL 787981(Nov. 27, 1996). Without a transcript,

the trial court is free to adopt the magistrate's decision, unless it determines there is an

“error of law or other defect evident on the face of the magistrate's decision.” Civ.R.

53(D)(4)(c).

{¶14} We consider Husband’s appeal pursuant to the above standard of review.

II. Constitutionality of R.C. 3109.04

{¶15} In Husband’s first Assignment of Error, he challenges the constitutionality

of R.C. 3109.04. “The primary purpose of R.C. 3109.04 is to provide guidance to domestic

relations courts for the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities between divorcing

parents.” Baker v. Baker, 113 Ohio App.3d 805, 808, 682 N.E.2d 661 (9th Dist.1996). He

specifically argues the best interests standard under R.C. 3109.04(B)(1) improperly

divests a parent of his fundamental right to parent his child. A review of the record shows

that Husband did not raise this argument at the trial court level. Husband did not argue

the constitutionality of R.C. 3109.04 in his objections to the magistrate’s decision, nor did

he raise the issue by separate motion. Ashland County, Case No. 17-COA-026 6

{¶16} In State v. Awan, 22 Ohio St.3d 120, 489 N.E.2d 277 (1986), syllabus, the

Ohio Supreme Court held: “Failure to raise at the trial court level the issue of the

constitutionality of a statute or its application, which issue is apparent at the time of trial,

constitutes a waiver of such issue and a deviation from this state's orderly procedure, and

therefore need not be heard for the first time on appeal.” State v. Richardson, 5th Dist.

Stark No. 2017CA00063, 2018-Ohio-947, ¶ 46. The waiver doctrine announced in Awan

is discretionary. Shanklin v. McDonald's USA, LLC, 5th Dist. Licking No. 2008 CA 00074,

2009-Ohio-251, ¶ 17 citing In re M.D. (1988), 38 Ohio St.3d 149, 151, 527 N.E.2d 286,

288 (1988).

{¶17} Upon review of the record and the appellate arguments of the parties in this

case, we exercise our discretion to find that Husband has waived the argument as to the

constitutionality of R.C. 3109.04. Husband’s appellate brief gives a limited review of the

case law on this complex issue but he supports his argument about the unconstitutionality

of the statute with the magistrate’s findings of fact as to the best interests of his children.

We find Husband’s argument on appeal is a collateral attack on the magistrate’s findings

of fact. The issue as to the constitutionality of R.C. 3109.04 is waived for appeal.

{¶18} Husband’s first Assignment of Error is overruled.

III. Trial Court Impeded Husband’s Ability to Present His Case

{¶19} Husband contends in his second Assignment of Error that the trial court

engaged in certain actions that prevented Husband from properly presenting his case. He

raises multiple issues to support his argument.

{¶20} He first argues the trial court violated local rules and denied him due

process and equal protection by not providing him with no-cost service of subpoenas. On Ashland County, Case No. 17-COA-026 7

March 30, 2015, Husband filed a motion that the Ashland Clerk of Courts prepare and

serve six subpoenas. He requested the costs of filing the subpoenas be waived.

Simultaneously with the motion, he filed Ashland Co. Loc.R. Form 1.00, which is an

Affidavit of Indigency for Court Costs in the Ashland County Court of Common Pleas,

General and Domestic Relations Division. By judgment entry filed March 30, 2015, the

trial court denied the motion because the local rules did not waive costs for the filing and

service of subpoenas pursuant to Ashland Co. Loc.R. 2.03.

{¶21} Ashland Co. Loc.R. 2.03 states as to the Affidavit of Indigency:

The Clerk of Courts shall accept any pleadings filed without a court cost

deposit, if an Affidavit of Indigency for Court Costs (Form 1.00 in the

Appendix of these Rules), which has been approved by the Judge or

Magistrate of this Court, is submitted with the pleadings. The filing of an

Affidavit of Indigency for Court Costs does not relieve a party from liability

for court costs. Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent the Court from

requiring any other party to the action to make a sufficient deposit for costs,

or from assessing costs to any party.

{¶22} The trial court held the issuance of a subpoena by the Clerk of Courts was

not a pleading subject to Ashland Co. Loc.R. 2.03 and Husband was therefore liable for

court costs. Subpoenas served are normally considered as costs. Matter of Carlin (John

J., Jr.), 5th Dist. Licking No. 93 CA 00124, 1994 WL 369889, *2 (June 3, 1994) citing

Howard v. Wills, 77 Ohio App.3d 133, 601 N.E.2d 515 (4th Dist.1991). We find no error

on the part of the trial court as to court costs. Ashland County, Case No. 17-COA-026 8

{¶23} Husband next argues the magistrate failed to consider his request for

shared parenting. He states he entered an oral motion before the final hearing to amend

his counterclaim to request shared residential parenting. He states the magistrate advised

the court would allow Husband to proceed on that request. In the magistrate’s decision,

Husband contends, the magistrate incorrectly stated that both parties were seeking sole

residential and legal custody of the children.

{¶24} Husband did not file a transcript of the final hearing. “The duty to provide a

transcript for appellate review falls upon the appellant. This is necessarily so because an

appellant bears the burden of showing error by reference to matters in the record.” Knapp

v. Edwards Laboratories, 61 Ohio St.2d 197, 400 N.E.2d 384 (1980); Bd. of Trustees of

Troy Twp. v. Lawson, 5th Dist. Ashland No. 17-COA-003, 2017-Ohio-7216. Further,

“[w]hen portions of the transcript necessary for resolution of assigned errors are omitted

from the record, the reviewing court has nothing to pass upon and thus, as to those

assigned errors, the court has no choice but to presume the validity of the lower court's

proceedings, and affirm.” Id.

{¶25} Without the transcript, we cannot resolve Husband’s assigned error and

thus have no choice but to presume the validity of the magistrate’s statement that both

parties were seeking sole residential and legal custody.

{¶26} Husband finally argues the trial court erred when it refused to hear

additional evidence pursuant to Civ.R. 53(D)(4)(d). In his objections to the magistrate’s

decision, Husband stated: a) he was currently employed part-time and submitted his

salary information to Child Support services, b) he will sign up for the ordered parenting

class when he receives his first paycheck, c) he has information that Mother gave false Ashland County, Case No. 17-COA-026 9

information while testifying under oath, and d) he wanted to submit additional information

to show he was disabled, but it did not significantly affect his ability to care for his children.

{¶27} The trial court is obliged to independently review the issues upon objections

to a magistrate's decision. Ohio Civ.R. 53(D)(4)(d) states in pertinent party:

* * * * In ruling on objections, the court shall undertake an independent

review as to the objected matters to ascertain that the magistrate has

properly determined the factual issues and appropriately applied the law.

Before so ruling, the court may hear additional evidence but may refuse to

do so unless the objecting party demonstrates that the party could not, with

reasonable diligence, have produced that evidence for consideration by the

magistrate.

{¶28} The trial court denied Husband’s request to hear additional evidence. It

found Husband did not demonstrate that he could not, with reasonable diligence, have

produced the additional evidence for consideration by the magistrate at the final hearing.

The trial court acknowledged that Husband’s employment may be new evidence, but it is

understood that a party’s employment status and wages will fluctuate. The trial court

stated its independent review of the magistrate’s decision, Husband’s objections, Wife’s

response, and the record did not demonstrate the magistrate committed an error based

on the evidence produced at the final hearing.

{¶29} The trial court has discretion to decide whether to hear additional evidence

after the parties submit objections to the magistrate's report. Kolano v. Vega, 2016-Ohio-

356, 58 N.E.3d 546, ¶ 23 (5th Dist.) citing Wallace v. Taylor, 5th Dist. Licking No. 00CA71,

2001 WL 1782654 (April 16, 2001). Accordingly, when a trial court hears or does not hear Ashland County, Case No. 17-COA-026 10

additional evidence, we review this decision under an abuse of discretion standard.

Parrish v. Parrish, 5th Dist. Knox No. 15CA4, 2015-Ohio-4560, 2015 WL 6690026.

{¶30} Upon our review of the record, we do not find the trial court abused its

discretion in overruling Husband’s motion to submit additional evidence. First, the trial

court is correct that employment and income may change after child support orders are

imposed by the trial court. There are procedures outside of Civ.R. 53 to address these

changes. Second, on March 16, 2015, the trial court ordered Husband and Wife to attend

a divorcing parents education program prior to the final hearing. Husband did not attend

the program prior to the final hearing. That Husband intended to attend the divorcing

parents education program after the final hearing was not additional evidence. Third and

fourth, Husband argued he had evidence to present regarding Wife’s alleged perjury and

his disability. Husband claimed Wife gave false testimony at the final hearing based on

statements she made during an earlier juvenile proceeding. Husband next claimed he

had further evidence regarding his disabilities. The magistrate addressed Husband’s

disabilities in the magistrate’s decision. As to both Wife’s alleged perjury and Husband’s

disabilities, we do not have the transcript of the final hearing; therefore, the facts as

determined by the magistrate are established.

{¶31} Husband’s second Assignment of Error is overruled.

IV. Bias by the Trial Court

{¶32} Husband contends in his final Assignment of Error that inconsistencies in

the trial court’s decision evidence prejudicial bias against Husband in violation of

Jud.Cond.R. 2.3 and the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth

Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Ashland County, Case No. 17-COA-026 11

{¶33} Jud.Cond.R. 2.3 concerns the performance of judicial duties without bias or

prejudice so as to impair the fairness of the proceedings. Husband argues that findings

of fact made by the magistrate in relation to Husband and Wife show how the trial court

was biased against Husband. As an example, Husband states the magistrate found Wife

had a more stable living situation where she resided in a rental home and planned to

move to a bigger home. Wife was evicted from an apartment in 2010. Husband currently

resided in a three-bedroom duplex. During the pendency of the action, Husband moved

twice.

{¶34} We first note Husband did not file a transcript of the final hearing.

Accordingly, pursuant to Civ.R. 53, the magistrate’s findings of fact are established and

cannot be attacked on appeal.

{¶35} As to Husband’s arguments regarding judicial bias, alleged violations of the

Code of Judicial Conduct do not, as a rule, create substantive rights in litigants before the

courts. Spring v. Wick, 11th Dist. Geauga No. 2013-G-3163, 2014-Ohio-2879, ¶ 25. Thus,

for instance, Code of Judicial Conduct, Scope [7] provides: “The code is not designed or

intended as a basis for civil or criminal liability. Neither is it intended to be the basis for

litigants to seek collateral remedies against each other or to obtain tactical advantages in

proceedings before a court.” Id.

{¶36} Further, R.C. 2701.03 provides the exclusive means by which a litigant can

assert that a common pleas judge is biased or prejudiced and requires an affidavit of

prejudice to be filed with the Supreme Court of Ohio. Gould v. Gould, 4th Dist. Lawrence

No. 16CA30, 2017-Ohio-6896, ¶ 59. R.C. 2701.031 states as follows: Ashland County, Case No. 17-COA-026 12

If a judge of a municipal or county court allegedly is interested in a

proceeding pending before the judge, allegedly is related to or has a bias

or prejudice for or against a party to a proceeding pending before the judge

or to a party's counsel, or allegedly otherwise is disqualified to preside in a

proceeding pending before the judge, any party to the proceeding or the

party's counsel may file an affidavit of disqualification with the clerk of the

supreme court. The affidavit of disqualification shall be filed and decided in

accordance with divisions (B) to (E) of section 2701.03 of the Revised Code,

and, upon the filing of the affidavit, the provisions of those divisions apply

to the affidavit, the proceeding, the judge, and the parties to the proceeding.

A court of appeals lacks “authority to pass upon disqualification or to void the judgment

of the trial court upon that basis.” Id. quoting Beer v. Griffith, 54 Ohio St.2d 440, 441–442,

377 N.E.2d 775 (1978). There is no evidence in the record that Husband filed an affidavit

of prejudice with the Ohio Supreme Court pursuant to R.C. 2701.03.

{¶37} Accordingly, Husband’s third Assignment of Error is overruled. Ashland County, Case No. 17-COA-026 13

CONCLUSION

{¶38} The judgment of the Ashland County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic

Relations Division, is affirmed.

By: Delaney, J.,

Wise, P.J. and

E. Wise, J., concur.