In re Z.T.

2021 Ohio 2023

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: June 16, 2021
• Docket: 29746
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as In re Z.T., 2021-Ohio-2023.]

STATE OF OHIO ) IN THE COURT OF APPEALS )ss: NINTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COUNTY OF SUMMIT )

IN RE: Z.T. C.A. No. 29746

APPEAL FROM JUDGMENT ENTERED IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS COUNTY OF SUMMIT, OHIO CASE No. DN 18-01-014

DECISION AND JOURNAL ENTRY

Dated: June 16, 2021

CALLAHAN, Judge.

{¶1} Appellant Father appeals the judgment of the Summit County Court of Common

Pleas, Juvenile Division, that granted legal custody of his child Z.T. to Mother. This Court affirms.

I.

{¶2} Mother and Father are the biological parents of Z.T. (d.o.b. 11/30/15). Mother is

also the biological mother of a younger daughter (“Sister”) and a younger son (“Brother”) who are

not subjects of this appeal, but whose circumstances are relevant to Z.T. Father is not related to

Z.T.’s siblings.

{¶3} After Mother set off the smoke detector in the hotel room where she was living with

Z.T. and Sister,1 the police removed both children pursuant to Juv.R. 6 based on the presence of

bruises, lacerations, and welts all over Z.T.’s body. Mother was arrested and charged with child

endangering. Father was living outside Ohio at the time. Based on these circumstances, as well

1 Brother was not yet born at that time. 2

as Mother’s prior child welfare history and known mental health issues, Summit County Children

Services Board (“CSB” or “the agency”) filed a complaint alleging that Z.T. was an abused and

dependent child.2 At adjudication, Mother and Father stipulated to the allegations in the complaint.

Accordingly, the juvenile court found Z.T. to be abused pursuant to R.C. 2151.031(B), (C), and

(D); and dependent pursuant to R.C. 2151.04(A), (B), and (C). Mother was ordered to have no

contact with the child, while Father was granted visitation in the discretion of CSB.

{¶4} Upon their removal, Z.T. and Sister had been placed in the home of their maternal

great grandmother. Shortly thereafter, Mother gave birth to Brother who became a subject child

in another complaint filed by CSB. Brother was placed in foster care.

{¶5} At the dispositional hearing, Mother and Father stipulated that Z.T. would be placed

in the temporary custody of CSB and remain with Sister in their great grandmother’s home.

Mother was to have no contact with Z.T. She was not ordered to pay child support because she

was unemployed. Father was granted visitation in the agency’s discretion, as Father had not yet

had any interaction with the child. Father was ordered to pay monthly child support for Z.T.

{¶6} The parents further stipulated to the juvenile court’s adoption of the agency’s case

plan as the order of the court. The case plan included the following objectives: 1. Z.T.’s

development would be assessed by Help Me Grow, and the child would be seen by a pediatrician

to ensure up to date immunizations and proper health; 2. Mother would obtain a mental health

assessment, follow all recommendations, and discuss parenting issues with a therapist; 3. Mother

would obtain and maintain safe and stable housing, and complete the housing referral process; 4.

Mother would abide by court-ordered treatment and orders arising out of her criminal (child

2 Sister was also the subject child of a complaint, although that complaint is not in the record before this Court. 3

endangering) case; 5. Mother would successfully complete parenting education focusing on

redirecting defiant behaviors and developmental needs of children, and demonstrate her

understanding through interactions with the children; and 6. Father would contact CSB if he

desired visitation and/or custody, cooperate with background checks and home studies, sign

releases, and cooperate with service recommendations if any concerns were identified.

{¶7} Over the next 18 months, the juvenile court conducted seven hearings, including

five reviews and two sunset dispositions. Although represented by appointed counsel, Father

failed to appear for any hearing or have any involvement with Z.T. On multiple occasions, the

agency caseworker reported that neither Father nor his family wanted any involvement with the

child. At the same time, Mother continued to participate in services. Based on Mother’s

compliance with case plan objectives, the juvenile court granted two extensions of temporary

custody to CSB based on the finding that reunification with Mother was likely to occur.

{¶8} During the case, Mother was granted supervised visitation with the child.

Eventually, she was permitted to have unsupervised visits pursuant to the parties’ agreement.

Moreover, CSB implemented a plan to transition all three of Mother’s children back into her home.

Twenty-two months into the case, CSB filed a motion to modify its temporary custody of all three

siblings to a disposition of legal custody to Mother under the agency’s protective supervision.

{¶9} At the same time, for the first time since the initial disposition, Father indicated his

desire to participate in the proceedings. He moved to participate in the forthcoming hearing by

telephone, he filed a pre-trial statement noting his opposition to CSB’s dispositional motion, and

he filed a subpoena seeking all agency records regarding Z.T. The magistrate granted Father’s

request to attend the hearing by telephone, as he was residing outside of Ohio. After an in camera

inspection, all attorneys were permitted to review CSB’s records on court premises. 4

{¶10} Father ultimately did not appear for the hearing on CSB’s motion for legal custody

to Mother with protective supervision, although he was represented at the hearing by counsel. The

attorney noted Father’s opposition to the agency’s motion. Father, however, had no pending

dispositional motion before the trial court. At the conclusion of the hearing, the magistrate

recommended an award of legal custody to Mother under the protective supervision of CSB and

scheduled a sunset dispositional hearing in two months.

{¶11} Father filed objections to the magistrate’s decision, arguing that the evidence did

not demonstrate that it was in Z.T.’s best interest to be returned to Mother. CSB filed a brief in

opposition to the objections. After an oral hearing on the objections, the juvenile court overruled

Father’s objections. The trial court granted legal custody of Z.T. to Mother without ongoing

protective supervision by CSB based on the recommendation of the guardian ad litem and

Mother’s demonstrated ability to safely care for all three children. The juvenile court did not

award visitation to Father but ordered that he may petition the court if he desires a relationship

with the child.

{¶12} Father filed a timely appeal. His appellate counsel filed a brief pursuant to Anders

v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), asserting that there were no meritorious issues to raise on

Father’s behalf and that an appeal would be frivolous. Father was served and given an opportunity

to file pro se a brief on his own behalf. However, Father’s previously appointed trial counsel filed

an appellate brief. This Court ordered that brief stricken from the record for failure to comply with

the procedures set forth in Anders. See In re Z.T., 9th Dist. No. 29746, Magistrate’s Order (Sep.

10, 2020). Upon review of the record, this Court determined that there were arguable issues that

could be raised and that an appeal would not be frivolous. Accordingly, we appointed new 5

appellate counsel to prepare a merit brief. New counsel has filed a brief raising one assignment of

error for review.

II.

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR

THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION AND COMMITTED REVERSIBLE ERROR IN GRANTING LEGAL CUSTODY TO MOTHER.

{¶13} Father argues that the juvenile court’s judgment awarding legal custody of Z.T. to

Mother was against the manifest weight of the evidence. This Court disagrees.

On appeal, an award of legal custody will not be reversed if the judgment is supported by a preponderance of the evidence. Preponderance of the evidence entails the greater weight of the evidence, evidence that is more probable, persuasive, and possesses greater probative value. In other words, when the best interest of the child is established by the greater weight of the evidence, the trial court does not have discretion to enter a judgment that is adverse to that interest. Thus, our standard of review is whether a legal custody decision is against the manifest weight of the evidence.

(Internal citations and quotations omitted.) In re M.F., 9th Dist. Lorain No. 15CA010823, 2016-

Ohio-2685, ¶ 7.

{¶14} In considering whether the juvenile court’s judgment is against the manifest weight

of the evidence, this Court “weighs the evidence and all reasonable inferences, considers the

credibility of witnesses and determines whether in resolving conflicts in the evidence, the [finder

of fact] clearly lost its way and created such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the [judgment]

must be reversed and a new [hearing] ordered.” (Internal quotations omitted.) Eastley v. Volkman,

132 Ohio St.3d 328, 2012-Ohio-2179, ¶ 20. When weighing the evidence, this Court “must always

be mindful of the presumption in favor of the finder of fact.” Id. at ¶ 21.

{¶15} “Following an adjudication of neglect, dependency, or abuse, the juvenile court’s

determination of whether to place a child in the legal custody of a parent or a relative is based 6

solely on the best interest of the child.” In re K.H., 9th Dist. Summit No. 27952, 2016-Ohio-1330,

¶ 12. The statutory scheme regarding an award of legal custody does not include a specific test or

set of criteria, but Ohio courts agree that the juvenile court must base its decision to award legal

custody on the best interest of the child. In re B.B., 9th Dist. Lorain No. 15CA010880, 2016-Ohio-

7994, ¶ 18, quoting In re N.P., 9th Dist. Summit No. 21707, 2004-Ohio-110, ¶ 23. In that regard,

the juvenile court is guided by the best interest factors enunciated in R.C. 2151.414(D) relating to

permanent custody. In re B.G., 9th Dist. Summit No. 24187, 2008-Ohio-5003, ¶ 9, citing In re

T.A., 9th Dist. Summit No. 22954, 2006-Ohio-4468, ¶ 17. Those factors include the interaction

and interrelationships of the child, the child’s wishes, the custodial history of the child, the child’s

need for permanence, and whether any of the factors in R.C. 2151.414(E)(7)-(11) are applicable.

R.C. 2151.414(D)(1)(a)-(e); see also In re B.C., 9th Dist. Summit Nos. 26976, 26977, 2014-Ohio-

2748, ¶ 16.

{¶16} In addition, the juvenile court may also look to the best interest factors in R.C.

3109.04(F)(1) for guidance. In re K.A., 9th Dist. Lorain Nos. 15CA010850, 15CA010860, 2017-

Ohio-1, ¶ 17. While some factors overlap with those above, others include the child’s adjustment

to his or her environment; the mental and physical health of all persons involved; the parents’

history of providing support and honoring companionship orders; certain indicia of violence,

abuse, or neglect in any household involved; and whether a parent plans to or has established a

residence outside of Ohio. R.C. 3109.04(F)(1).

{¶17} Father focuses his argument on Mother’s mental health issues. He correctly asserts

that Mother has failed on multiple prior occasions to manage her mental health issues as directed

by healthcare professionals, and that she has caused harm to Z.T. during those times. Mother was

diagnosed in 2015 at the age of 21 with schizophrenia. She admitted that she has made mistakes 7

regarding the management of her mental health issues, but that she has learned from those

mistakes.

{¶18} Mother used to take oral medication to manage the symptoms of schizophrenia. In

2018, however, a medical provider switched her to once monthly injections of Abilify to stabilize

her moods. Since that time, Mother has been consistently compliant with her medication schedule.

In addition, she sees a licensed therapist at Minority Behavioral Health and plans to continue with

that counseling. Mother also has supportive family members with whom she can talk.

{¶19} While Mother did not evidence a complete understanding of the intricacies of

schizophrenia, she recognizes that it affects her mood and that her symptoms subside when she

consistently engages in healthy activities, including counseling and taking her medication. The

CSB caseworker confirmed that Mother has routinely received her monthly injections for over a

year and that all professionals report that Mother is mentally stable and able to care for her children.

The caseworker testified that she has also observed Mother’s mental stability during visits and

other interactions. The guardian ad litem echoed that she has no concerns regarding the effect of

Mother’s mental health issues on her ability to safely parent Z.T. and his siblings based on

Mother’s sustained demonstration of compliance with healthcare directives, as well as her

appropriate interaction with the children.

{¶20} Significantly, Father has had no communication or other contact with Mother for

years and has no firsthand knowledge of her current mental state or her ability to provide care for

Z.T. Instead, he relies solely on historical events which no longer reflect the current circumstances.

As the caseworker testified, the purpose of the agency’s case plan for the family is to identify

concerns and develop a plan to resolve those issues. The case plan included an objective to address

Mother’s cyclical parenting issues arising out of her failure to maintain mental health stability. By 8

complying with that case plan objective and consistently engaging in services for an extended

period of time, Mother has demonstrated her ability to remedy the agency’s concerns.

{¶21} Mother was also fully compliant with all other case plan objectives. Although case

plan compliance is not dispositive of the issue of best interest of the child, it is nevertheless

relevant. See in re J.W., 9th Dist. Summit No. 28976, 2019-Ohio-210, ¶ 15. In this case, Mother

obtained safe and stable housing. She receives financial benefits which allow her to provide for

the basic needs of herself and her children. Mother resolved her criminal child endangering charge

and has had no issues with her court-ordered probation. She successfully completed intensive in-

home parenting education through Urban Ounce of Prevention. Both the caseworker and guardian

ad litem agreed that Mother’s compliance with her case plan objectives has allowed her to

demonstrate the ability to provide appropriate care for all her children.

{¶22} Z.T. is very attached to Mother and they share a loving bond. Sister and Brother

had already transitioned back into Mother’s home successfully, while Z.T. remained placed with

his great grandmother. During that time, Mother had daily unsupervised visits with Z.T. In fact,

she assumed responsibility for much of the child’s daily care, including waking, washing, dressing,

and feeding the child in the morning; getting him to Head Start on time; picking him up after

school and returning him to the great grandmother’s home; helping to prepare dinner; and putting

the child to bed. At no time did the great grandmother report, or the caseworker or guardian ad

litem observe, any concerns regarding Mother’s care of Z.T. The child is observed by mandatory

reporters at Head Start, none of whom has reported any issues with the child.

{¶23} Based on a thorough review of the record, this is not the exceptional case in which

the trier of fact clearly lost its way and committed a manifest miscarriage of justice by returning

Z.T. to the legal custody of Mother. The preponderance of the evidence established that Mother’s 9

compliance with her case plan objectives resulted in her remedying the conditions that had earlier

prevented her from appropriately parenting the child. Mother consistently complied with the

requirements of her mental healthcare regimen and demonstrated the ability to provide a safe and

stable environment for Z.T., as well as his siblings. Both the caseworker and guardian ad litem

expressed confidence in Mother’s ability to maintain a safe, stable, and appropriate environment

for her children. Despite Father’s concerns based on Mother’s history, all professionals involved

with Mother during the past two years agreed that Mother had remedied all prior concerns and

demonstrated a commitment to maintaining stability. Under these circumstances, the juvenile

court’s finding that the return of legal custody of Z.T. to Mother was in the child’s best interest is

not against the manifest weight of the evidence. Father’s assignment of error is overruled.

III.

{¶24} Father’s sole assignment of error is overruled. The judgment of the Summit County

Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, is affirmed.

Judgment affirmed.

There were reasonable grounds for this appeal.

We order that a special mandate issue out of this Court, directing the Court of Common

Pleas, County of Summit, State of Ohio, to carry this judgment into execution. A certified copy

of this journal entry shall constitute the mandate, pursuant to App.R. 27.

Immediately upon the filing hereof, this document shall constitute the journal entry of

judgment, and it shall be file stamped by the Clerk of the Court of Appeals at which time the period

for review shall begin to run. App.R. 22(C). The Clerk of the Court of Appeals is instructed to 10

mail a notice of entry of this judgment to the parties and to make a notation of the mailing in the

docket, pursuant to App.R. 30.

Costs taxed to Appellant.

LYNNE S. CALLAHAN FOR THE COURT

HENSAL, P. J. SUTTON, J. CONCUR.

APPEARANCES:

BARBARA J. ROGACHEFSKY, Attorney at Law, for Appellant.

SHERRI BEVAN WALSH, Prosecuting Attorney, and HEAVEN R. DIMARTINO, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for Appellee.

JOHN P. ALEXANDER, Attorney at Law, for Mother.

SHUBHRA AGARWAL, Guardian ad Litem.