In re Z.C.

2020 Ohio 3635
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedJune 26, 2020
Docket19CA3693
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 2020 Ohio 3635 (In re Z.C.) 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 Z.C., 2020 Ohio 3635 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020).

Opinion

[Cite as In re Z.C., 2020-Ohio-3635.] IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT ROSS COUNTY

IN THE MATTER OF: :

Z.C. : Case No. 19CA3693

[HEIDI CARTER] :

VS. : DECISION AND JUDGMENT ENTRY

[SHAWN CAREY] :

_________________________________________________________________

APPEARANCES:

James T. Boulger, Chillicothe, Ohio, for Appellant.

Bernard Yavich, Columbus, Ohio, for Appellee1.

CIVIL CASE FROM COMMON PLEAS COURT, JUVENILE DIVISION DATE JOURNALIZED: 6-26-20 ABELE, J.

{¶ 1} This is an appeal from a Ross County Common Pleas Court, Juvenile Division, judgment

that denied a motion to modify child support filed by Heidi Carter, appellant herein, and in favor of

Shawn Carey, appellee herein. Appellant assigns one error for review:

“THE TRIAL COURT’S DENIAL OF THE APPELLANT’S MOTION TO MODIFY CHILD SUPPORT FOR THE MINOR CHILD Z.C. CONSTITUTED AN ABUSE OF DISCRETION, THE COURT HAVING FAILED TO COMPLY WITH THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN R.C. SECTIONS 3119.22, 3119.23 AND 3119.79.”

1 Appellee’s brief does not appear to comply with Local Rule 16 (I) (briefs shall conform to App.R. 19 and contain, under appropriate headings a table of contents with page references, a table of cases alphabetically arranged, statutes and other authorities, with references to pages where cited). Nevertheless, in the interest of justice we will consider appellee’s arguments. 2 ROSS, 19CA3693

{¶ 2} The parties are the biological parents of three children: Zachary (an adult), Z.C.(a minor),

and Zo.C. (a minor). The two minor children were the subject of 2017 dependency actions, 2017DEP76

(Z.C.) and 2017DEP77 (Zo.C.). The adult child is the subject of a child support case (2006CA227) in

which appellee owes an arrearage in excess of $23,000.

{¶ 3} Initially, the trial court awarded custody of the two minor children to appellee.

However, on September 13, 2018 in 2017DEP77, the court adopted the parties’ agreement that (1)

appellee remain the primary residential parent of Zo.C., (2) appellant become the primary residential

parent of Z.C., (3) the parents enjoy standard companionship rights with the children, (4) the parties

withdraw all contempt motions, (5) the agency terminate protective services, and (6) “previous child

support orders were vacated with respect to these children.” In particular, the magistrate noted that

“[t]he Court finds that an award of child support would not be in the best interests of the minor child

for the reason that Father will be the primary residential parent of the minor child’s sibling and will

be responsible for her care and that Mother is likely to receive a Supplemental Security Income check

on behalf of the minor child. All previous arrears shall remain and shall be paid at the current rate.”

Further, the magistrate found: “In the event an award of child support is necessary due to the child

receiving cash benefits from the State of Ohio, the following provisions apply: Father must

immediately notify, and Mother may notify the CSEA of any reason for which the support order should

terminate.”

{¶ 4} On December 11, 2018, appellant filed a motion for contempt and a motion to modify

the arrearage payments in 06CA227. Appellant stated: “The change I want the Court to order is [a]

current support order of zero per month been changed to what the Defendant receives from me of 3 ROSS, 19CA3693

$175.00 or I ask to run the income guidelines accordingly for one child determined by employment

wages which is fair and to the best interest of the children. Per the O.R.C. - I am entitled to child

support.” As for the circumstances that had allegedly changed, appellant stated “Mr. Carey works all

year around. His estimated monthly income alone is $4,000.00 per month not including the $175.00

he receives as being the residential parent to our daughter [Zo.C.] from my SSDI dependent claim.”

On February 4, 2019, appellee filed a motion to dismiss and on March 13, 2019, appellee filed a motion

for contempt.

{¶ 5} Apparently, on May 20, 2019 an Administrative Adjustment Recommendation was

completed and appellee subsequently requested a mistake of fact hearing. Appellee, however, failed

to appear at the hearing and the hearing officer affirmed the Administrative Adjustment

Recommendation.

{¶ 6} On June 20, 2019, appellant filed a motion in 2017DEP76 to modify child support for

Z.C. and asserted that a substantial change in circumstances had occurred since the previous order.

In the alternative, appellant requested that the trial court vacate the portion of the September 13, 2018

judgment that pertains to child support because “it was secured through fraud, misrepresentation

and/or misconduct on the part of the father.”

{¶ 7} On July 12, 2019, the trial court overruled appellant’s December 11, 2018 motion, as

well as appellee’s March 13, 2019 and March 18, 2019 motions. The court determined, however, that

appellant’s May 30, 2019 contempt motion had merit because appellee had disobeyed the parenting

time order. Thus, the court sentenced appellee to serve ten days in jail, but suspended the sentence

on the condition that appellee pay court costs and fully comply with the order.

{¶ 8} On July 15, 2019, the child support issue (2017DEP076) and child support arrearage 4 ROSS, 19CA3693

issue (2006CS227) came on for a hearing to consider the appellee’s objection to the administrative

order. Appellee testified that Zo.C. is a product of the relationship with appellant and that he serves

as Zo.C.’s custodial parent. Appellee explained that Z.C., another child from his relationship with

appellant, lives with appellant and appellant serves as Z.C.’s custodial parent. Appellee also

explained that he pays for health insurance for Zo.C. and Z.C. Appellee and appellant also have a

third child, Zachary, an adult who does not reside with either party. Appellee further testified that he

is a union employee, works at the ACON plant and received $30,000 in income for 2018. Appellee

pointed out that although the CSEA calculated $58,000 in income in early 2019, appellee did not

actually earn $58,000 in 2018 or in 2019. Instead, appellee explained that from January through July

2019 he worked 40 hours per week at an hourly wage of $26.43, but that position ended in July and

for the remainder of 2019 he received $535 per week for unemployment compensation.

{¶ 9} Appellant testified that (1) she lives with four children, including Z.C., (2) she was last

employed in 2013 and earned approximately $28,000, (3) since 2013, she receives approximately

$1,477 per month for social security disability payments, (4) she receives $108 per month for each of

her five minor children, and (5) Z.C. receives $582.42 per month for partial disability compensation.

Appellant further testified that she is a college graduate, two quarters from a master’s degree, and

engaged in an internship at the Ohio Supreme Court. Appellant expected to “be eventually fully

employed” through Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities. Appellant also stated that she

resigned from a position with the state in 2013, but intended to be employed at the end of November.

{¶ 10} South Central Ohio Job and Family Services staff attorney Karen DeMers testified that,

although she was not involved in the child support computation, in 2017DEP076 the income attributed

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2020 Ohio 3635, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-zc-ohioctapp-2020.