In re the Paternity of E.S.: Makayla LeGault v. Michael J. Scott

• Court: Indiana Court of Appeals
• Decided: June 18, 2014
• Docket: 71A05-1312-JP-606
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), this Memorandum Decision shall not be regarded as precedent or cited before any court except for the purpose of establishing the defense of res judicata, collateral estoppel, or the law of the case.

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT: ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE:

GEORGE T. CATANZARITE MARK S. LENYO Zappia Zappia & Stipp South Bend, Indiana South Bend, Indiana

Jun 18 2014, 9:42 am

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

IN RE THE PATERNITY OF E.S.: ) ) MAKAYLA LEGAULT, ) ) Appellant, ) ) vs. ) No. 71A05-1312-JP-606 ) MICHAEL J. SCOTT, ) ) Appellee. )

APPEAL FROM THE ST. JOSEPH PROBATE COURT The Honorable James N. Fox, Judge The Honorable Harold E. Brueseke, Magistrate Cause No. 71J01-0712-JP-1423

June 18, 2014

MEMORANDUM DECISION - NOT FOR PUBLICATION

CRONE, Judge Case Summary

Makayla Legault (“Mother”) appeals the trial court’s order modifying custody of her

minor child, E.S., and granting sole physical custody of E.S. to Michael J. Scott (“Father”).

Finding that Mother has failed to establish that the trial court abused its discretion or that the

court’s modification determination was clearly against the logic and effect of the facts and

circumstances before the court, we affirm.

Facts and Procedural History

E.S. was born to Mother out of wedlock on December 7, 2007. Father’s paternity was

established by court order on April 2, 2008. Mother was granted primary physical custody of

E.S., and Father was granted parenting time pursuant to the Indiana Parenting Time

Guidelines. Thereafter, on March 30, 2010, the parties agreed to share joint physical custody

of E.S., with Mother having E.S. on Mondays and Wednesdays and Father having E.S. on

Tuesdays and Thursdays. The parties agreed to alternate weekends from Friday through

Sunday.

In September 2012, Father filed a petition to modify custody but later withdrew the

petition. Then, on July 26, 2013, Father filed an emergency petition to modify custody. In

the petition, Father alleged that, on July 19, 2013, Mother attempted to kill herself by

slashing her wrists. Father asserted that due to Mother’s current “psychiatric problems,” she

is unable to provide a safe and stable environment for E.S. Appellant’s App. at 30. Father

also asserted that, prior to this incident, Mother had been exhibiting instability in her personal

life by repeatedly dropping out of college and abusing alcohol.

2 The trial court held a hearing on Father’s emergency petition on August 5, 2013. The

court ordered that shared physical custody of E.S. would continue according to previous

court order and set the matter for an evidentiary hearing. On November 7, 2013, the trial

court conducted an evidentiary hearing on Father’s petition to modify custody. Thereafter,

the trial court entered its findings of fact and conclusions thereon modifying custody and

granting Father’s request for sole physical custody of E.S. This appeal followed.

Discussion and Decision

Mother appeals a custody modification. Our standard of review in this regard is well

settled:

When reviewing a custody determination, we afford the trial court considerable deference as it is the trial court that observes the parties’ conduct and demeanor and hears their testimonies. We review custody modifications for an abuse of discretion “with a preference for granting latitude and deference to our trial judges in family law matters. We will not reweigh the evidence or judge the credibility of witnesses. Rather we will reverse the trial court’s custody determination based only upon a trial court’s abuse of discretion that is “clearly against the logic and effect of the facts and circumstances or the reasonable inferences drawn therefrom.” “[I]t is not enough that the evidence might support some other conclusion, but it must positively require the conclusion contended for by the appellant before there is a basis for reversal.”

In re Paternity of C.S., 964 N.E.2d 879, 883 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012) (citations omitted), trans.

denied. Where, as here, the trial court enters findings and conclusions sua sponte, the

specific findings control only as to the issues they cover, while a general judgment standard

applies to any issues upon which the trial court has not found. Kietzman v. Kietzman, 992

N.E.2d 946, 948 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013). We may affirm a general judgment on any theory

supported by the evidence adduced at trial. Id.

3 Indiana Code Section 31-14-13-6 provides that, in paternity cases, an existing child

custody order may not be modified unless:

(1) modification is in the best interests of the child; and

(2) there is a substantial change in one (1) or more of the factors that the court may consider under section 2 and, if applicable, section 2.5 of this chapter.

The relevant factors that the court may consider include:

(1) The age and sex of the child.

(2) The wishes of the child’s parents.

(3) The wishes of the child, with more consideration given to the child’s wishes if the child is at least fourteen (14) years of age.

(4) The interaction and interrelationship of the child with:

(A) the child’s parents;

(B) the child’s siblings; and

(C) any other person who may significantly affect the child’s best interest.

(5) The child’s adjustment to home, school, and community.

(6) The mental and physical health of all individuals involved.

(7) Evidence of a pattern of domestic or family violence by either parent.

(8) Evidence that the child has been cared for by a de facto custodian, and if the evidence is sufficient, the court shall consider the factors described in section 2.5(b) of this chapter.

Ind. Code § 31-14-13-2.

4 We begin by addressing Mother’s assertion that the trial court abused its discretion in

hearing evidence during the modification hearing regarding the July 19, 2013 incident when

Mother cut her wrists with a knife. Specifically, Mother argues that the cutting incident1

occurred prior to the trial court’s last custody proceeding, the August 5, 2013 hearing on

Father’s emergency petition to modify, and that Father is merely attempting to relitigate

matters already considered during a previous custody determination. Mother directs us to

Indiana Code Section 31-14-13-9, which provides:

In a proceeding for a custody modification, the court may not hear evidence on a matter occurring before the last custody proceeding between the parties unless the matter relates to a change in the factors relating to the best interests of the child as described in section 2, and if applicable, section 2.5 of this chapter.

While we agree with Mother that this provision clearly aims to prevent unnecessary

relitigation of issues that have been previously determined, see Dwyer v. Wynkoop, 684

N.E.2d 245, 249 (Ind. Ct. App. 1997), trans. denied, Mother has nevertheless failed to

establish grounds for reversal. First, we note that the record indicates that Mother’s counsel

solicited Mother’s testimony regarding the July 19, 2013 incident during direct examination.

Thus, any error that may have occurred in the admission of the evidence was invited by

Mother, and error invited by the complaining party is not reversible error. In re Adoption of

L.C.E., 940 N.E.2d 1224, 1227 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011). Moreover, Mother failed to object

during the custody hearing to the court’s consideration of evidence regarding the incident. “A

timely objection is a prerequisite to appellate review,” and Mother’s decision to sit idly by

1 We note that Father refers to this incident as a suicide attempt.

5 and allow the court to consider the evidence has resulted in waiver of the issue. Werner v.

Werner, 946 N.E.2d 1233, 1246 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011) (quoting Trout v. Trout, 638 N.E.2d

1306, 1397 (Ind. Ct. App. 1994), trans. denied), trans. denied.

Also, Mother has failed to include a transcript, if any, of the August 5, 2013 hearing.

Because Mother relies upon evidence that she asserts was presented during that hearing in

support of her argument that the trial court abused its discretion in permitting the relitigation

of custody matters, her failure to include a transcript of such evidence has resulted in waiver.

See Lifeline Youth & Family Servs., Inc. v. Installed Bldg. Prods., Inc., 996 N.E.2d 808, 814

(Ind. Ct. App. 2013) (citing In re Walker, 665 N.E.2d 586, 588 (Ind. 1996) (failure to include

a transcript “works a waiver of any specifications of error which depend upon the

evidence.”)). Having found no reversible error in the trial court’s admission of evidence, we

now turn to the trial court’s consideration of the relevant statutory factors and E.S.’s best

interests.

The trial court here considered and made findings as to all of the factors listed in

Indiana Code Section 31-14-13-2 and found a substantial change in three of the factors.

Regarding E.S.’s age, the court found that there has been a substantial change because E.S. is

now age five and attending full-time kindergarten rather than age two as she was at the time

of the original custody determination. The court also found that there has been a substantial

change in the wishes of the parents, as Father now desires full physical custody of E.S. rather

than shared physical custody. Further, the court found that there has been a substantial

change in Mother’s mental health. Specifically, the trial court found that “[w]hile Mother’s

6 response to stress and related anxiety attacks does not appear to be a part of the prior record

in this case, it is clear that she needs continued professional help to deal with that problem.”

Appellant’s App. at 60. The court noted that Mother suffered a disabling panic attack in

2013 while at an amusement park with E.S. and extended family. The court also noted that,

on July 19, 2013, Mother had another panic attack after communicating with a former

boyfriend which resulted in her cutting her wrists with a knife and being rushed to the

emergency room. The evidence in the record supports these findings, and therefore the trial

court did not abuse its discretion in concluding that there has been a substantial change in one

or more of the relevant statutory factors.

Still, a showing of a change in circumstances regarding one or more of the relevant

factors is not enough to warrant a custody modification; it must also be proven that

modification is in the child’s best interests. Joe v. Lebow, 670 N.E.2d 9, 22-23 (Ind. Ct. App.

1996). As this Court has stated, “[t]he welfare of the child, not the wishes and desires of the

parents, is the primary concern of the courts.” In re Paternity of J.M., 766 N.E.2d 1203,

1209 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002). We emphasize that we will not second-guess the trial court’s

decision because “our trial judges are in a superior position to ascertain information and

apply common sense, particularly in the determination of the best interests of the involved

children.” Best v. Best, 941 N.E.2d 499, 502 (Ind. 2011).

Regarding best interests, the record supports the trial court’s conclusion that the

parties’ joint physical custody agreement is no longer in E.S.’s best interests and that custody

modification is appropriate. The trial court found that while E.S. had done well in preschool,

7 E.S. recently started kindergarten and has had much difficulty adjusting. On occasion, E.S.

has expressed an unwillingness to go to school. There is evidence indicating that, during the

first two months of school, and while in Mother’s care, E.S. missed six days of school and

was tardy on six other days. Mother testified that E.S. was crying and having anxiety on

those days. The court specifically found that E.S. “is troubled” by not knowing where she

will go at the end of the school day. Appellant’s App. at 58. There is ample evidence in the

record to support the trial court’s conclusion that E.S. “does best” with structure and a

specific schedule and that the shared physical custody arrangement has, in part, made it

impossible to provide E.S. with such structure. Id.

Moreover, the trial court’s order recognizes the court’s overwhelming concern

regarding Mother’s recent mental health issues and Mother’s acknowledged history of being

unable to function in crisis situations. Although noting Mother’s declared commitment to

taking prescribed medication and learning strategies to deal with anxiety, the trial court

recognized Mother’s need for continued professional help. Based upon these facts, the trial

court concluded that it is in E.S.’s best interests for Father to be granted full physical custody

of E.S. While Mother downplays the significance of the evidence regarding her mental

health and asserts that a custody modification would cause more instability in E.S.’s routine,

these arguments are merely requests for us to reweigh the evidence and substitute our

judgment for that of the trial court, which we will not do.

8 After reviewing the evidence favorable to the trial court’s order, we are unpersuaded

that the evidence positively requires Mother’s conclusion that a modification of custody was

not in E.S.’s best interests. Therefore, we affirm the trial court’s decision.

Affirmed.

BAKER, J., and BARNES, J., concur.