In re P.G.T.

2016 Ohio 3429
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedJune 13, 2016
Docket14 CO 0034
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 2016 Ohio 3429 (In re P.G.T.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re P.G.T., 2016 Ohio 3429 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016).

Opinion

[Cite as In re P.G.T., 2016-Ohio-3429.]

STATE OF OHIO, COLUMBIANA COUNTY IN THE COURT OF APPEALS SEVENTH DISTRICT IN THE MATTER OF: ) ) P.G.T. ) D.O.B. 5/18/12 ) CASE NO. 14 CO 0034 ) BRANDON D. GOOD, SR. ) OPINION ) PLAINTIFF-RESPONDENT- ) APPELLEE ) ) VS. ) ) CHARLOTTE TRAGESER ) ) DEFENDANT-PETITIONER- ) APPELLANT )

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDINGS: Appeal from Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, Columbiana County, Ohio Case Nos. C2012-0372 & C2012-0373

JUDGMENT: Affirmed.

APPEARANCES: For Plaintiff-Respondent-Appellee Attorney Tracey Laslo 325 East Main Street Alliance, Ohio 44601

For Defendant-Petitioner-Appellant Attorney David Engler 725 Boardman-Canfield Road, Unit S-3 Youngstown, Ohio 44512 JUDGES:

Hon. Mary DeGenaro Hon. Gene Donofrio Hon. Cheryl L. Waite

Dated: June 13, 2016 [Cite as In re P.G.T., 2016-Ohio-3429.] DeGENARO, J.

{¶1} This appeal filed by Charlotte Trageser, Mother, challenges the Columbiana County Juvenile Court's decision that awarded primary custody of the minor child to Brandon Good, Father. Mother’s arguments regarding the telephone records, disqualification of counsel, and custody, are meritless and the judgment of the trial court is affirmed. Facts and Procedural History {¶2} On May 18, 2012, P.G.T. was born to Charlotte Trageser and Brandon Good. Approximately five months later, Father filed a complaint for allocation of parental rights and responsibilities (or in the alternative Shared Parenting) and a motion for name change in the Columbiana County Juvenile Court. At the pretrial both Mother and Father were ordered to submit to a hair follicle drug screening by 4:00 pm that day, and a Guardian ad Litem was appointed. Father was also given supervised companionship time with the minor child on weekends. {¶3} Father did not submit to the drug test and Mother filed a motion again requesting an order for Father to submit to a hair follicle drug test and an order terminating all companionship with the child. The juvenile court granted both of Mother’s motions. Father filed a notice with the juvenile court stating that he attempted to get the screening done, however, the test administrator was on vacation and had limited availability due to the holidays. Father submitted to the drug test and requested the court to reinstate his visitation, which the court did. {¶4} Father filed a proposed shared parenting plan. In the meantime Mother discharged her lawyer and retained new counsel. The GAL filed an interim report recommending standard visitation for Father. The juvenile court awarded Father standard visitation in accordance with the county’s local rule of companionship. {¶5} A merit hearing was held and evidence was presented. However, the matter was unable to be completed in the time allotted and was continued for further proceedings. In the interim, Mother filed a motion requesting counsel for Father to be recused from representing him. She alleged that his counsel was using information obtained during a consultation Attorney Laslo had with her regarding obtaining a -2-

divorce from her husband at the time. Attorney Laslo filed a reply denying any representation of Mother or any recollection of a consultation with her. The juvenile court found Mother lacked credibility and denied her motion. {¶6} Mother’s final attorney entered an appearance and promptly assisted her in filing an affidavit with the Supreme Court of Ohio to disqualify the juvenile court judge. As such, the previously scheduled hearing was stayed. Ultimately, the Supreme Court of Ohio found no basis was established to order the disqualification of the judge. {¶7} The second day of the merit hearing was held and the juvenile court granted legal custody of the minor child to Father; Mother received standard visitation in accordance with the county’s local rule of companionship. The minor child’s last name was changed to Father’s last name. Mother’s income was imputed and she was ordered to pay Father child support. Telephone Records {¶8} In her first of six assignments of error, Mother asserts:

The Trial Court Erred by Denying Appellant’s Telephone Records To Be Admitted As Evidence In Support of A Motion to Disqualify Attorney Laslo As An Abuse of Discretion.

{¶9} "The admission or exclusion of relevant evidence rests within the sound discretion of the trial court." State v. Sage, 31 Ohio St.3d 173, 510 N.E.2d 343 (1987), paragraph two of the syllabus. "The term ‘abuse of discretion’ means an error in judgment involving a decision that is unreasonable based upon the record; that the appellate court merely may have reached a different result is not enough." In re S.S.L.S., 7th Dist. No. 12 CO 8, 2013-Ohio-3026, ¶ 22. {¶10} Evid.R. 901 governs authentication:

The requirement of authentication or identification as a condition precedent to admissibility is satisfied by evidence sufficient to support a -3-

finding that the matter in question is what its proponent claims.

{¶11} Mother argues that the juvenile court erred in denying her request to admit telephone records in support of her motion to disqualify Father’s attorney. Father counters that the records were not relevant and/or not properly authenticated. {¶12} The trial court did not abuse its discretion in excluding Mother’s cellular telephone records as her testimony created confusion as to their authenticity and also, she failed to establish how they are relevant to the present matter. {¶13} Mother testified that the phone records in question were obtained by her from AT&T and that they emanated from her cell phone. She indicated that she highlighted two separate numbers on the records which she testified were the numbers of Father’s attorney’s office and his attorney’s cell phone. However later in the proceeding Mother testified that she had not called the numbers herself, but rather her father placed the respective calls; his testimony was not offered. Further, Attorney Laslo stated to the court that one of the highlighted numbers was not actually to her office. {¶14} Additionally, Mother failed to establish how any information Father’s attorney may have gained in July 2011 and September 2011 was relevant to the present matter. She testified that her first contact with Attorney Laslo occurred by phone in July of 2011 and was followed by an office visit in September of 2011, lasting 45 minutes. Mother was seeking advice regarding obtaining a divorce from her husband at the time, not Father. The minor child was not conceived in July of 2011. Mother alleges that she was a week pregnant during an alleged office visit in September. When pressed for answers as to what information Father’s attorney had acquired from 2011 that impacted the custody proceeding herein, Mother gave no specific answer. Accordingly, Mother’s first assignment of error is meritless. Disqualification {¶15} In her second of six assignments of error, Mother asserts:

The Trial Court Erred by Denying Appellant’s Motion to -4-

Disqualify Attorney Laslo pursuant to Prof. Cond. Rule 1.9 and 1.6 as an Abuse of Discretion.

{¶16} Disqualification of an attorney is a drastic measure that should not be imposed unless it is absolutely necessary. Spivey v. Bender, 77 Ohio App.3d 17, 22, 601 N.E.2d 56 (6th Dist.1991). The trial court has wide latitude when considering a motion to disqualify counsel and is reviewed for an abuse of discretion. Id. "The term ‘abuse of discretion’ means an error in judgment involving a decision that is unreasonable based upon the record; that the appellate court merely may have reached a different result is not enough." In re S.S.L.S., 7th Dist. No. 12 CO 8, 2013- Ohio-3026, ¶ 22.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Total Quality Logistics v. Integrity Express Logistics, L.L.C.
2021 Ohio 4242 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2021)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
2016 Ohio 3429, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-pgt-ohioctapp-2016.