In re K.H.

2016 Ohio 4784

Opinion

[Cite as In re K.H., 2016-Ohio-4784.]

COURT OF APPEALS MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

IN THE MATTERS OF: : JUDGES: : Hon. Sheila G. Farmer, P.J. K.H. AND K.C. : Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J. : Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J. : : : Case No. CT2016-0001 : : OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, Case Nos. 21330239 and 21330240

JUDGMENT: Reversed and Remanded

DATE OF JUDGMENT: June 30, 2016

APPEARANCES:

For Appellant For Appellee

PETER N. CULTICE GERALD V. ANDERSON II 58 North Fifth Street 27 North Fifth Street Zanesville, OH 43701 P.O. Box 189 Zanesville, OH 43702-0189 For K.H. and K.C. Guardian ad Litem FRED SEALOVER P.O. Box 2910 KEVIN VAN HORN Zanesville, OH 43702-2910 715 Adair Avenue Zanesville, OH 43701 Muskingum County, Case No. CT2016-0001 2

Farmer, P.J.

{¶1} On November 8, 2013, appellee, Muskingum County Children Services,

filed a complaint alleging K.H., born October 4, 2008, and K.C., born June 14, 2011, to

be neglected and/or dependent children. Mother of the children is appellant, Kayla

Hayes; father of K.H. is Christopher Dalton and father of K.C. is Jonathan Commeans.

Neither father is a party to this appeal.

{¶2} Following a shelter care hearing, the children were placed in appellee's

temporary custody. A case plan was filed on December 5, 2013.

{¶3} An adjudicatory hearing was held on February 6, 2014, wherein the children

were found to be neglected and dependent. The dispositional hearing followed and the

trial court placed the children in the temporary custody of Christopher and Diana Riggs.

{¶4} On November 5, 2014, appellee filed a motion for an order of legal custody

of the children to the Riggses. Appellant also filed a motion for legal custody on January

21, 2015. Hearings were held on March 16, and September 28, 2015. By judgment entry

filed November 23, 2015, the trial court awarded legal custody of the children to the

Riggses.

{¶5} Appellant filed an appeal and this matter is now before this court for

consideration. Assignment of error is as follows:

I

{¶6} "THE JUDGMENT ENTRY OF THE COURT AWARDING LEGAL

CUSTODY OF THE CHILDREN TO CHRISTOPHER AND DIANA RIGGS IS

CONTRARY TO THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE." Muskingum County, Case No. CT2016-0001 3

{¶7} Appellant claims the trial court's decision on legal custody is against the

manifest weight of the evidence.

{¶8} R.C. 2151.353(A)(3) states the following in pertinent part:

(A) If a child is adjudicated an abused, neglected, or dependent child,

the court may make any of the following orders of disposition:

(3) Award legal custody of the child to either parent or to any other

person who, prior to the dispositional hearing, files a motion requesting legal

custody of the child or is identified as a proposed legal custodian in a

complaint or motion filed prior to the dispositional hearing by any party to

the proceedings.

{¶9} We agree with the following analysis set forth by our brethren from the

Eighth District in In re D.T., 8th Dist. Cuyahoga Nos. 100970 and 100971, 2014-Ohio-

4818, ¶ 19-22:

Legal custody is significantly different than the termination of

parental rights in that, despite losing legal custody of a child, the parent of

the child retains residual parental rights, privileges, and responsibilities. In

re G.M., 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 95410, 2011-Ohio-4090, ¶ 14, citing R.C.

2151.353(A)(3)(c). In such a case, a parent's right to regain custody is not

permanently foreclosed. In re M.J.M. [8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 94130, 2010- Muskingum County, Case No. CT2016-0001 4

Ohio-1674] at ¶ 12. For this reason, the standard the trial court uses in

making its determination is the less restrictive "preponderance of the

evidence." Id. at ¶ 9, citing In re Nice, 141 Ohio App.3d 445, 455, 751

N.E.2d 552 (7th Dist.2001). "Preponderance of the evidence" means

evidence that is more probable, more persuasive, or of greater probative

value. In re C.V.M., 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 98340, 2012-Ohio-5514, ¶ 7.

Unlike permanent custody cases in which the trial court is guided by

the factors outlined in R.C. 2151.414(D) before terminating parental rights

and granting permanent custody, R.C. 2151.353(A)(3) does not provide

factors the court should consider in determining the child's best interest in

a motion for legal custody. In re G.M. at ¶ 15. We must presume that, in

the absence of best interest factors in a legal custody case, "the legislature

did not intend to require the consideration of certain factors as a predicate

for granting legal custody." Id. at ¶ 16. Such factors, however, are

instructive when making a determination as to the child's best interest. In

re E.A. [8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 99065, 2013-Ohio-1193] at ¶ 13.

The best interest factors include, for example, the interaction of the

child with the child's parents, relatives, and caregivers; the custodial history

of the child; the child's need for a legally secure permanent placement; and

whether a parent has continuously and repeatedly failed to substantially

remedy the conditions causing the child to be placed outside the child's

home. R.C. 2151.414(D). Muskingum County, Case No. CT2016-0001 5

Because custody determinations " 'are some of the most difficult and

agonizing decisions a trial judge must make,' " a trial judge must have broad

discretion in considering all of the evidence. In re E.A. at ¶ 10, quoting

Davis v. Flickinger, 77 Ohio St.3d 415, 418, 674 N.E.2d 1159 (1997). We

therefore review a trial court's determination of legal custody for an abuse

of discretion. Miller v. Miller, 37 Ohio St.3d 71, 74, 523 N.E.2d 846 (1988).

An abuse of discretion implies that the court's attitude is unreasonable,

arbitrary, or unconscionable. Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217,

219, 450 N.E.2d 1140 (1983).

Accord, In re L.D., 10th Dist. Franklin No. 12AP-985, 2013-Ohio-3214; Stull v. Richland

County Children Services, 5th Dist. Richland Nos. 11CA47 and 11CA48, 2012-Ohio-738.

{¶10} In its judgment entry filed November 23, 2015, the trial court found the

following as to appellant:

The Court finds that Mother completed Stanton Villa; does have

Section 8 Voucher; completed mental health assessment and is counseling

at Six County; completed 103 random drug screens out of 157 possible

random drug screens and completed parent education. However, despite

those reasonable efforts made by Muskingum County Children Services, it

continues to be in the best interest of the children, Not to be returned home

because Mother has missed 54 random drug screens; Mother tested

positive for THC and Opiates; Mother has had no unsupervised visitation Muskingum County, Case No. CT2016-0001 6

since the case opened; Mother does not have appropriate/independent

housing; Mother has failed to attend all of the children's medical

appointments and required treatments/injections.

{¶11} We note the trial court's findings are lacking in specificity and are cursory at

best. The trial court used a form similar to a traffic court entry and merely filled in the

blanks.

{¶12} The case began in November 2013 because of a domestic violence incident

between appellant and Mr. Commeans wherein appellant was the aggressor. See Report

of Investigation attached to Complaint filed November 8, 2013; September 28, 2015 T. at

14-15. A case plan was filed on December 5, 2013. The objectives in the case plan for

appellant included substance abuse assessment, random drug screenings, mental health

assessment, anger management, obtain housing and income, complete parenting

classes, and attend the children's appointments. March 16, 2015 T. at 9; September 28,

2015 T. at 9. The case plan did not instruct appellant to stay away from Mr. Commeans.

{¶13} As for substance abuse assessment, appellant completed Stanton Villa and

continuing care with Genesis Recovery. March 16, 2015 T. at 9; September 28, 2015 T.

at 9. She completed mental health assessment at Six County, completed anger

management through Tompkins, and completed parenting classes. Id. at 10; Id. She

obtained and has maintained employment and recently obtained a Section 8 voucher for

housing. Id.; Id. She has attended some of the children's appointments, but not all. Id.;

Id. at 10. Muskingum County, Case No. CT2016-0001 7

{¶14} During the March 16, 2015 hearing, the caseworker explained appellee's

continuing concern was with the medical condition of one of the children. The child has

juvenile polyarticular arthritis and needs to be monitored very closely and receive

injections to control inflammation. March 16, 2015 T. at 10. Appellee wanted appellant

to attend all of the children's medical appointments and remain familiar with the child's

medical condition. Id. Out of twenty-seven appointments for K.H., appellant attended

four, and for K.C., appellant attended one appointment out of eighteen. Id. at 11. During

the March hearing, the caseworker admitted appellant completed every objective of the

case plan and appellee's only concern "has to do with her attendance at medical

appointments." Id. at 14-15. The caseworker was also concerned with appellant's contact

with Mr. Commeans, as he had done nothing to meet the objectives of his case plan. Id.

at 19. The caseworker agreed this concern would be addressed if the trial court ordered

no contact with Mr. Commeans during appellant's parenting time. Id. At the March

hearing, appellant was seven and a half months pregnant with Mr. Commeans's child. Id.

at 92.

{¶15} At the start of the September 28, 2015 hearing, appellant presented to the

trial court a civil protection order she had obtained against Mr. Commeans on August 31,

2015. September 28, 2015 T. at 6-7. Mr. Commeans was incarcerated at the date of the

hearing and was expected to be released in November 2015. Id. at 16. His criminal

history did not involve violence, "mostly theft and nonpayment of child support." Id. at 26.

During this hearing, the caseworker stated appellant submitted to one hundred and three

random drug screens out of one hundred and fifty-seven. Id. at 9. The caseworker

admitted "[o]f those missed, seven were due to the number not working, busy signal. I Muskingum County, Case No. CT2016-0001 8

did not call her. Part of it was because she was in Stanton Villa, so that was a good bit

of them." Id. The caseworker stated appellant "was positive for marijuana on five, opiates

on two of them, but the opiates were due to having a baby. She completed a hair follicle

test in October of 2013 and was positive for marijuana. She was referred to Six County.

She did complete that assessment." Id. As for attending the children's medical

appointments, the caseworker testified since the March hearing, appellant was "doing

better as far as getting to the appointments." Id. at 10. The caseworker stated the only

change from the March hearing was the civil protection order. Id.

{¶16} Appellant gave birth in June of 2015 and the child resides with appellant

and appellee has no problems or concerns regarding this child. Id. at 12. The caseworker

observed the infant in appellant's care and the infant was doing well and the infant's needs

were being met. Id. at 18. When questioned as to the reasoning for not wanting the

children returned to appellant even though she basically completed her case plan, the

caseworker stated "[t]he continued contact" with Mr. Commeans. Id. at 13. The

caseworker did not have any confidence that appellant would abide by the civil protection

order. Id. at 22.

{¶17} The caseworker testified the children have been in the legal custody of the

Riggses since November 2013 and were "thriving." March 16, 2015 T. at 13. Christopher

Riggs is the pastor to the children's maternal grandmother. Id. The Riggses have

cooperated with appellee in trying to reunify the children with appellant. September 28,

2015 T. at 23-24. In fact, they made the one child available so appellant could administer

the necessary injections. Id. at 24. Muskingum County, Case No. CT2016-0001 9

{¶18} In finding the children should not be returned to appellant, the trial court

noted she had missed "fifty-four random drug screens" and tested positive for THC and

opiates. The caseworker testified seven of the missed drug screens were due to the

number not working or it was busy or she did not call her, and a "good bit of them" were

missed because appellant was in Stanton Villa as directed by her case plan. September

28, 2105 T. at 9. Appellant's Drug Testing Schedule and Results, attached to the trial

court's November 23, 2015 judgment entry, indicates appellant did not have any "no-

shows" after December 2, 2014, which means appellant complied with random drug

testing for over nine months prior to the September 2015 hearing. As for the positive drug

screens, the caseworker explained appellant tested positive for opiates because she had

just given birth, and the Drug Testing Schedule and Results indicate appellant last tested

positive for THC on May 7, 2014, over sixteen months prior to the September 2015

hearing. By the March 2015 hearing, appellant had completed substance abuse

assessment at Stanton Villa and continuing care with Genesis Recovery. March 16, 2015

T. at 9.

{¶19} The trial court also found appellant "had no unsupervised visitation since

the case opened." The caseworker stated the reason visitation was supervised after

appellant had completed the case plan had to do with location, not supervision at the

agency, as transportation was easier for appellant to the agency. March 16, 2015 T. at

20-21. Appellant had custody of her newborn and appellee did not have any problems or

concerns as the infant's needs were being met. September 28, 2015 T. at 12, 18.

{¶20} The trial court also found appellant did not have "appropriate/independent

housing." At the March hearing, appellant was residing with her uncle, and there was no Muskingum County, Case No. CT2016-0001 10

testimony that the arrangement was unsuitable. By the September hearing, appellant

was still living with her uncle, but had obtained a Section 8 voucher for housing.

September 28, 2015 T. at 9. Clearly appellant made efforts toward independent living.

{¶21} Lastly, the trial court found appellant "has failed to attend all of the children's

medical appointments and required treatments/injections." During the September

hearing, the caseworker stated appellant was doing better at attending the appointments,

and agreed the Riggses were making the child available so appellant could administer

the injections which was going well. September 28, 2015 T. at 10, 21, 23-24. No further

testimony was taken on this issue, as the bulk of the hearing focused on appellant's prior

contact with Mr. Commeans, which appellant remedied by obtaining a civil protection

order against him. It is interesting to note that the March hearing primarily focused on the

medical appointments issue which was barely touched upon during the September

hearing.

{¶22} We find appellant has completed the required objectives of the case plan

and has even obtained a civil protection order against Mr. Commeans even though the

case plan did not instruct her to stay away from him.

{¶23} Based upon the foregoing, we find the trial court abused its discretion in

granting legal custody of the children to the Riggses.

{¶24} The sole assignment of error is granted. Muskingum County, Case No. CT2016-0001 11

{¶25} The judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Muskingum County, Ohio,

Juvenile Division, is hereby reversed, and the matter is remanded to said court for further

proceedings consistent with this opinion.

By Farmer, P.J.

Delaney, J. and

Baldwin, J. concur.

SGF/sg 601