In the Matter of the Paternity of L.C. and C.C. (Minor Children): Nichole Wells v. Joshua Christman, Deborah Christman (mem. dec.)

• Court: Indiana Court of Appeals
• Decided: May 2, 2019
• Docket: 18A-JP-2923
• Status: Published

Opinion

MEMORANDUM DECISION Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), this Memorandum Decision shall not be FILED regarded as precedent or cited before any May 02 2019, 8:37 am

court except for the purpose of establishing CLERK Indiana Supreme Court the defense of res judicata, collateral Court of Appeals and Tax Court estoppel, or the law of the case.

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE Emily S. Waddle Thomas J. O’Brien DeMotte, Indiana Lafayette, Indiana

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

In the Matter of the Paternity of May 2, 2019 L.C. and C.C. (Minor Children): Court of Appeals Case No. 18A-JP-2923 Appeal from the Jasper Circuit Nichole Wells, Court Appellant-Petitioner, The Honorable John D. Potter, Judge v. Trial Court Cause No. 37C01-1501-JP-25 Joshua Christman, Respondent,

Deborah Christman, Appellee-Intervenor.

Bailey, Judge.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JP-2923 | May 2, 2019 Page 1 of 9 Case Summary [1] L.C. and C.C. (collectively, the “Children”) are minor children born to Nichole

Wells (“Mother”) and Joshua Christman (“Father”). After Father died, his

mother Deborah Christman (“Grandmother”) successfully petitioned for

grandparent visitation rights. Mother now appeals from the order granting

those rights. She presents several issues, which we consolidate and restate as

whether the trial court erred in granting visitation rights to Grandmother.

[2] We affirm.

Facts and Procedural History [3] Mother and Father had two daughters, L.C. (born in 2010) and C.C. (born in

2013). While Mother and Father were in a relationship, Grandmother

regularly spent time with the Children. In 2014, the relationship between

Mother and Father deteriorated, and Mother eventually received primary

physical custody of the Children. Father had weekly parenting time, and

Grandmother would help by transporting the Children between residences.

[4] Father died in August 2015, which led to Grandmother having little contact

with the Children. Grandmother later petitioned for visitation rights. The trial

court held a hearing and ultimately granted visitation rights to Grandmother.

[5] Mother now appeals.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JP-2923 | May 2, 2019 Page 2 of 9 Discussion and Decision [6] When ruling on a petition for grandparent visitation rights, the court must enter

findings and conclusions in accordance with Trial Rule 52. See Ind. Code § 31-

17-5-6; Ind. Trial Rule 52(A). We conduct a two-tiered review of those

findings, first determining “whether the evidence supports the findings and then

whether [the] findings support the judgment.” K.I. ex rel. J.I. v. J.H., 903 N.E.2d

453, 457 (Ind. 2009). In conducting our review, we do not reweigh the

evidence, Stonger v. Sorrell, 776 N.E.2d 353, 358 (Ind. 2002), and must give “due

regard . . . to the opportunity of the trial court to judge the credibility of the

witnesses,” T.R. 52(A). We “shall not set aside the findings or judgment unless

clearly erroneous.” Id. Findings are clearly erroneous when the record

contains no facts to support them, either directly or by inference. Fischer v.

Heymann, 12 N.E.3d 867, 870 (Ind. 2014). “A judgment is clearly erroneous

when there is no evidence supporting the findings or the findings fail to support

the judgment.” J.H., 903 N.E.2d at 457. A judgment is also clearly erroneous

when the court “applies the wrong legal standard to properly found facts.” Id.

[7] “Indiana has enacted legislation . . . recogniz[ing] that ‘a child’s best interest is

often served by developing and maintaining contact with his or her

grandparents.’” In re Visitation of L-A.D.W., 38 N.E.3d 993, 997 (Ind. 2015)

(quoting J.H., 903 N.E.2d at 462). Indeed, Indiana Code Section 31-17-5-1

gives grandparents like Grandmother—whose own child is deceased—the right

to seek visitation. Moreover, a court may grant visitation if it “determines that

visitation rights are in the best interests of the child.” I.C. § 31-17-5-2(a).

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JP-2923 | May 2, 2019 Page 3 of 9 Notably, however, natural parents have a “fundamental constitutional right to

direct their children’s upbringing without undue governmental interference.” In

re Visitation of M.L.B., 983 N.E.2d 583, 586 (Ind. 2013) (discussing Troxel v.

Granville, 530 U.S. 57 (2000) (plurality opinion)). Thus, to “strik[e] a balance”

between the interests of parents and children, visitation orders must address:

(1) a presumption that a fit parent’s decision about grandparent visitation is in the child’s best interests (thus placing the burden of proof on the petitioning grandparents);

(2) the “special weight” that must therefore be given to a fit parent’s decision regarding nonparental visitation (thus establishing a heightened standard of proof by which a grandparent must rebut the presumption);

(3) “some weight” given to whether a parent has agreed to some visitation or denied it entirely (since a denial means the very existence of a child-grandparent relationship is at stake, while the question otherwise is merely how much visitation is appropriate); and

(4) whether the petitioning grandparent has established that visitation is in the child’s best interests.

Id. (emphasis removed) (citing McCune v. Frey, 783 N.E.2d 752, 757-59 (Ind. Ct.

App. 2003)); J.H., 903 N.E.2d at 462.

[8] Here, the trial court found that “Grandmother has had a close and bonding

relationship” with the Children, App Vol. II at 82, including “substantial and

meaningful contact” with them before Father died, id. at 83. The court also Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JP-2923 | May 2, 2019 Page 4 of 9 found that Father’s death “greatly affected” Mother and Grandmother “to such

an extent that they have shown animosity towards one another which appeared

during the testimony in Court.” Id. at 82. The court found that “Grandmother

has had very little contact with [the Children] since her son passed away” and

that “Grandmother has attempted to maintain a relationship.” Id. The court

acknowledged that Mother had reasons for denying visitation, in that “she

believes allowing Grandmother visitation with her children would cause [the

Children] mental harm and she wanted the [C]hildren to be old enough to

decide for themselves about Grandmother.” Id. The court also addressed

evidence that Mother permits the Children to spend time with their paternal

uncle—Grandmother’s son. The court found that although Mother “claims

that she is not actively trying to exclude Father’s family from the [C]hildren’s

lives . . . the paternal uncle is estranged from his mother, the Grandmother.”

Id. at 83. The court further noted that it had appointed a Guardian Ad Litem

(the “GAL”), and that the GAL’s “report and testimony indicate[] that it would

be in the best interest of the [C]hildren that Grandmother have visitation.” Id.

[9] The court ultimately recited the four factors, then found as follows:

In this case, Mother is a fit parent and has been denying visitation to the paternal Grandmother. Many unresolved issues remain surrounding the death of the common connection between Mother and Grandmother—the [C]hildren’s father. Mother has unresolved issues teeming with animosity with paternal Grandmother that appear to be the primary reason for her denial of visitation. The [C]hildren miss their grandparent and substantial evidence, including the Guardian Ad Litem

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JP-2923 | May 2, 2019 Page 5 of 9 Report, indicates that visitation with Grandmother would be in the best interests of the [C]hildren.

Id. at 83.

[10] Mother argues that the trial court erred in several respects. Her arguments

generally focus on whether the trial court erred by either failing to apply or

improperly applying each of the four factors. Mother also asserts that

Grandmother did not meet her burden of proof as the petitioner, and that the

“judgment was not supported by the findings of fact.” Appellant’s Br. at 12.1

[11] Yet, the trial court found that Mother was a fit parent and it gave careful

attention to Mother’s reasons for denying the relationship—thereby addressing

the first and second factors. As to the third factor, the trial court found that

although Mother allowed the Children to have a relationship with a paternal

uncle, Mother was denying the Children a relationship with Grandmother.

[12] Mother mainly focuses on the fourth factor—whether Grandmother established

that visitation was in the Children’s best interests. Mother argues that

Grandmother “presented no evidence” that would support a best-interests

1 Mother presents an argumentative Statement of the Facts, contrary to Appellate Rule 46(A)(6)(b), which provides that “[t]he facts shall be stated in accordance with the standard of review appropriate to the judgment or order being appealed.” Moreover, her Argument section contains sparse citation, contrary to Appellate Rule 46(A)(8)(a), which provides that “[e]ach contention must be supported by citations to the authorities, statutes, and the Appendix or parts of the Record on Appeal relied on, in accordance with Rule 22.” We remind counsel that non-compliance with Appellate Rule 46 can result in waiver of appellate issues. See, e.g., Pierce v. State, 29 N.E.3d 1258, 1267 (Ind. 2015). We nevertheless address Mother’s appellate contentions. See id. (noting a preference to resolve cases on the merits instead of on procedural grounds).

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JP-2923 | May 2, 2019 Page 6 of 9 determination. Appellant’s Br. at 12. Indeed, Mother asserts that attention to

the Children’s best interests “was wholly absent [from] . . . Grandmother’s case

in chief.” Id. at 15. Yet, Grandmother testified that, in her belief, it was in the

Children’s best interests to maintain a relationship with her. Grandmother

testified about her close relationship with the Children before Father died,

including how she would watch them when Mother and Father “need[ed] to go

somewhere or wanted to go out.” Tr. Vol. II at 5-6. Grandmother recalled

taking the Children places, including the pumpkin patch, the zoo, and the mall.

Grandmother also testified about how she would attend school events.

[13] Largely disregarding this testimony, Mother suggests that Grandmother was

obligated to place “Mother in an[] unpleasant or unacceptable light” in order to

prevail on the petition. Appellant’s Br. at 13. However, Mother cites no

authority for this proposition. Mother also focuses on evidence least favorable

to Grandmother. Indeed, at one point, Mother asserts that the Children should

not be “exposed to Grandmother’s negativity,” id. at 14, and that the court

“should have placed more weight” on certain evidence, id. at 15. Mother also

suggests that “no testimony was given . . . to bolster Grandmother’s position.”

Id. Yet, these arguments amount to requests to reweigh the evidence—and we

must decline them. Nevertheless, as to Mother’s assertion that the record was

devoid of additional evidence that visitation was in the Children’s best interests,

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JP-2923 | May 2, 2019 Page 7 of 9 the GAL testified that the Children were “excited” to have a relationship with

Grandmother. Tr. Vol. II at 37. Moreover, the GAL recommended visitation.2

[14] Mother also directs us to In re Visitation of C.S.N., 14 N.E.3d 753 (Ind. Ct. App.

2014), where this Court reversed an order granting visitation rights. There, the

written findings indicated that the court had improperly shifted the burden to

the parent. See id. at 759. The court also erroneously found that the parent had

been completely denying visitation. See id. at 762 (identifying a “significant

difference in situations where a grandparent’s visitation has been merely

reduced versus denied entirely”). Thus, that case involved error in applying

certain factors. Here, however, Mother fails to identify any such error.

[15] Ultimately, although Mother focuses on her fundamental right to direct the

Children’s upbringing, Indiana law permits some interference with that right,

preserving grandparent relationships for children who have lost a parent. In

determining that visitation was in the best interests of the Children, the court

properly addressed each of the four factors. Moreover, Mother has not

identified error in the findings—and those findings support the decision to grant

2 To the extent Mother is suggesting that the trial court failed to give appropriate deference to Mother’s decision to deny visitation, “it is the trial court’s prerogative to listen to the evidence and determine, in light of that evidence, whether a parent’s alleged justification for denying or restricting visitation with grandparents holds water.” Spaulding v. Williams, 793 N.E.2d 252, 260 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003). Here, the trial court properly acknowledged and considered Mother’s explanation, but ultimately determined that animosity was the primary motivator for denying visitation—not the proffered concerns about Grandmother’s care.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JP-2923 | May 2, 2019 Page 8 of 9 visitation rights to Grandmother. We therefore conclude that Mother has not

demonstrated that the trial court clearly erred in granting visitation rights.

[16] Affirmed.

Riley, J., and Pyle, J., concur.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JP-2923 | May 2, 2019 Page 9 of 9