Keefe v. Doornweerd

2012 Ohio 5654

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: December 5, 2012
• Docket: 26377
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as Keefe v. Doornweerd, 2012-Ohio-5654.]

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

JEFFREY KEEFE C.A. No. 26377

Appellant

v. APPEAL FROM JUDGMENT ENTERED IN THE ALBERTJE DOORNWEERD COURT OF COMMON PLEAS COUNTY OF SUMMIT, OHIO Appellee CASE No. 2010-05-1568

DECISION AND JOURNAL ENTRY

Dated: December 5, 2012

WHITMORE, Presiding Judge.

{¶1} Appellant, Jeffrey Keefe, appeals from the judgment of the Summit County Court

of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division, dismissing his complaint for divorce. This

Court affirms.

I

{¶2} Albertje Doornweerd met Keefe in 1982 or 1983 when she hired Keefe to work as

a stylist in her salon. Within a year, the two began a romantic relationship and moved in

together. Doornweerd’s salon closed within a couple of years, and the two continued to work

together at another local salon. Keefe worked at several salons around Akron and Cleveland

over the next couple of years. Around 1987, Doornweerd decided to open another salon in

Fairlawn, and Keefe returned to work with her. Doornweerd and Keefe worked together all but

one of their 24 or 25 years together. 2

{¶3} Over the years the couple moved to four or five different apartments. Keefe

testified that he spent every night with Doornweerd, except for a few months that he spent in

New Mexico and a few nights when his father became ill. Doornweerd and Keefe agreed that

they were in a long-term, committed relationship and that they discussed children and caring for

each other in the future. Because Doornweerd was 20 years older than Keefe, the two discussed

Doornweerd caring for Keefe presently, and Keefe providing for her when she got older. At one

time, Keefe was included in Doornweerd’s will.

{¶4} Keefe testified that they “pooled” their money together like a family. According

to Keefe, he always turned over his paychecks to Doornweerd. Doornweerd, however, testified

that only towards the beginning of their relationship did she deposit Keefe’s paycheck, and even

then she would deposit his check into the business account because she was trying to help him

get out of debt. After she had paid off his credit cards, according to Doornweerd, Keefe kept his

paychecks and all of his tips while the business continued to pay for all of his living expenses.

{¶5} Keefe testified that his parents gave them $5,000 towards the down payment on a

building which Doornweerd purchased for her salon. Keefe also explained that he agreed to a

$12,000 annual salary and to work 60 to 80 hours a week because he was told that the business

was part his.

{¶6} Keefe and Doornweerd had their taxes prepared by the same accountants.

According to Keefe, he had very little contact with the accountants and just signed the returns.

However, Keefe also testified that every year they would meet with the accountants and they

would ask the accountants if this was the year they would get married. The decision to get

married, according to Keefe, “was all based on income potential, or income disbursement, or tax

performance.” At trial, Keefe presented a letter from the accounting firm to the City of Fairlawn 3

income tax department. The letter, dated September 17, 2003, included a sentence which said:

“In addition, Mr. Keefe and Miss Doornweerd had a relationship which is recognized as a

common-law marriage within the State of Ohio.” Keefe and Doornweerd both denied making

any such statements to the accountants. The accountants called to testify about the letter had no

recollection of drafting the letter and did not remember Keefe or Doornweerd ever telling them

that they had a common law marriage.

{¶7} In May 2010, Keefe filed a complaint for divorce alleging the two had a common

law marriage. Subsequently, Doornweerd filed a motion to bifurcate. The court granted her

motion and scheduled an evidentiary hearing to be held before a magistrate on May 16, 2011,

“for the purpose of determining whether a common law marriage exists.”

{¶8} Doornweerd filed her witness and exhibit list on May 9, 2011, seven days before

the hearing. Keefe filed his witness and exhibit list on May 12, 2011, four days before the

hearing. Doornweerd filed a motion in limine to exclude Keefe’s witnesses and exhibits because

he failed to file the list at least seven days before the evidentiary hearing, in violation of Loc.R.

12. After a hearing, the court granted Doornweerd’s motion in limine. Specifically, the court

excluded the exhibits because they did not pertain to the issue of determining whether a common

law marriage existed and excluded the witnesses because Keefe did not show good cause for

failing to comply with Loc.R. 12. The court did, however, permit testimony from Doornweerd’s

accountants.

{¶9} After Keefe presented his case at the evidentiary hearing, Doornweerd motioned

the court for a directed verdict. The court granted the motion and dismissed the complaint for

divorce, finding that Keefe had not established a common law marriage. Keefe filed objections 4

to the magistrate’s decision, which the trial court overruled. Keefe now appeals and raises two

assignments of error for our review.

II

Assignment of Error Number One

THE TRIAL ERRED IN DETERMINING THAT THERE WAS NO COMMON LAW MARRIAGE BETWEEN PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT JEFFREY KEEFE AND DEFENDANT-APPELLEE ALBERTJE DOORNWEERD.

{¶10} In his first assignment of error, Keefe argues that the court erred in finding there

was no common law marriage. We disagree.

{¶11} “Common law marriage is the joinder of a man and a woman as husband and wife

without having first observed the formalities of licensure papers or ceremony.” In re Little, 9th

Dist. No. 19396, 1999 WL 1059672, *1 (Nov. 17, 1999). Ohio has prohibited common law

marriages occurring on or after October 10, 1991. R.C. 3105.12(B)(1). Common law marriages

that occurred prior to that date continue to be recognized and remain valid unless terminated by

death, divorce, dissolution of marriage, or annulment. R.C. 3105.12(B)(2).

{¶12} A party seeking to establish a common law marriage must show, by clear and

convincing evidence, “(1) an agreement to marry in praesenti, (2) cohabitation of the individuals

as husband and wife, and (3) the treatment and reputation of the couple as husband and wife in

the community and circle in which they reside.” In re Little at *2, citing Nestor v. Nestor, 15

Ohio St.3d 143, 146 (1984).

{¶13} “The in praesenti element requires a meeting of the minds between the parties to

presently take each other as husband and wife.” Rogers v. Rogers, 9th Dist. No. 18280, 1997

WL 795820, *2 (Dec. 17, 1997). Without this threshold element, a common law marriage

cannot be established, regardless of whether the parties cohabitate or their reputation as a couple. 5

Id. See also Nestor at 146. The parties’ present intent to be husband and wife may be proven by

either direct or indirect evidence. Rogers at *2. Indirect evidence includes “proof of

cohabitation, acts, declarations, and the conduct of the parties and their recognized status in the

community in which they reside.” Glover v. Glover, 9th Dist. No. 21281, 2003-Ohio-1292, ¶ 8,

quoting Nestor at 146.

{¶14} “Generally, absent an error of law, ‘the decision to adopt, reject, or modify a

magistrate’s decision lies within the discretion of the trial court and should not be reversed on

appeal absent an abuse of discretion.’” Cirino v. Cirino, 9th Dist. No. 11CA009959, 2011-Ohio-

6332, ¶ 7, quoting Barlow v. Barlow, 9th Dist. No. 08CA0055, 2009-Ohio-3788, ¶ 5. An abuse

of discretion indicates that the court’s decision was arbitrary, unconscionable, or unreasonable.

Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 219 (1983).

{¶15} In our review, “we consider the trial court’s action with reference to the nature of

the underlying matter.” Tabatabai v. Tabatabai, 9th Dist. No. 08CA0049-M, 2009-Ohio-3139, ¶

18. In this case, the magistrate found that Keefe had not proven that the parties had a present

intention to be married prior to October 1, 1991, when common law marriage was abolished.

Because this was a factual finding, we review the magistrate’s decision under a manifest weight

of the evidence standard. Barlow at ¶ 6. As such, we will affirm if the decision is supported by

competent, credible evidence. Id.

{¶16} Keefe argues that there is sufficient, indirect evidence of the parties’ actions to

establish an agreement to marry in praesenti. Keefe further argues that the magistrate

misinterpreted his testimony and that this misinterpretation was a decisive factor in its finding

that there was no present intent to be married. 6

Indirect Evidence

{¶17} Keefe argues that the parties were in a committed relationship for 24 or 25 years.

They discussed having children and caring for each other in the future. Keefe and Doornweerd

worked together for almost their whole relationship. They began living together within a year of

the commencement of their romantic relationship and shared numerous apartments together over

the years. The two spent almost every night together, except for a few months when Keefe was

in New Mexico and when his father became ill.

{¶18} Keefe testified that he always turned his paychecks over to Doornweerd and that

she always handled the finances. Doornweerd testified that only early on in the relationship did

she deposit his paycheck, and she only did so because she was paying off his credit card debts.

Doornweerd testified that after the debts were paid, Keefe kept his paychecks and spent them.

Both Doornweerd and Keefe maintained separate personal bank accounts. According to

Doornweerd, the corporation paid all of Keefe’s living expenses. At one time during their

relationship Doornweerd had Keefe designated as a beneficiary in her will. Keefe argues that his

agreement to accept $12,000 a year to work 60 to 80 hours a week in the salon is proof that he

considered part of the business to be his.

{¶19} Keefe argues that all of these actions, taken together, create an inference that the

parties’ had a present intent, prior to 1991, to take each other as husband and wife.

Where there is no direct proof in reference to the formation of the contract of marriage in praesenti, testimony regarding cohabitation and community reputation tends to raise an inference of the marriage. This inference is given more or less strength according to the circumstances of the particular case. The inference is generally strengthened with the lapse of time during which the parties are living together and cohabitating as man and wife.

(Emphasis sic.) Glover, 2003-Ohio-1292, ¶ 9, quoting Nestor, 15 Ohio St.3d at 146. In this

particular case, there is competent, credible evidence that weighs against such inference. 7

{¶20} Keefe testified that in the mid-1990s, “[Doornweerd] was concerned about a

commitment when [he] went to New Mexico.” Keefe purchased a ring, “that was basically like

an engagement ring,” and gave it to her when he returned. According to Keefe, the ring

“represent[ed], basically, our commitment to marry. It wasn’t – we didn’t have anything else at

that point * * *.” A promise to marry in the future, followed by cohabitation as husband and

wife, is insufficient to establish a common law marriage. Poland Twp. Bd. of Trustees v. Swesey,

7th Dist. No. 02CA185, 2003-Ohio-6726, ¶ 29. Further, common law marriage was abolished in

October 1991, prior to Keefe giving the “engagement ring” to Doornweerd. Keefe’s promise to

marry Doornweerd in the future indicates that he did not believe that they were already married

by common law.

{¶21} Keefe further testified that they did not apply for a marriage license because of tax

implications. Every year, according to Keefe, the two of them would ask their accountants if this

was the year they get married. “[Whether they got married or not] was all based on income

potential, or income disbursement, or tax performance.” While the magistrate did incorrectly

attribute these statements to Doornweerd, its rationale remains sound: the parties expressly chose

not to marry for tax reasons. A mutual commitment to marry at some point in the future is

insufficient to establish a common law marriage. See In re Estate of Shepherd, 97 Ohio App.3d

280, 285 (3d Dist.1994), citing Duncan v. Duncan, 10 Ohio St. 181 (1859), syllabus. Keefe’s

own statements directly conflict with his assertion that the parties had a present intent, prior to

1991, to take each other as husband and wife.

{¶22} After a careful review of the record, we conclude that there is competent, credible

evidence showing that no in praesenti agreement to marry existed prior to October 1991. 8

Statement by Keefe

{¶23} The magistrate found that “importantly [Keefe] himself stated that he never held

himself out to the community as being married because he knew he was not.” Keefe asserts that

his statement was merely acknowledging the absence of a marriage license. Keefe argues that

the court misunderstood his statement to mean that there was no common law marriage, and that

the court relied on this misunderstanding to find that the parties did not have a present intent to

be husband and wife.

{¶24} From his testimony, Keefe does appear to equate the word marriage with having a

marriage license. Keefe does repeatedly testify that the two had a long term, committed

relationship. However, this does not rise to the level of a common law marriage. To support a

finding of a common law marriage, Keefe was required to show that he and Doornweerd had,

prior to October 1991, a meeting of the minds to presently take each other as husband and wife.

See Rogers, 1997 WL 795820, *2. As discussed in the first assignment of error, Keefe’s own

testimony indicates that the two did not consider themselves to be husband and wife. Keefe

presented Doornweerd with an engagement ring in the mid-1990s, and the couple repeatedly

asked their accountants about the tax implications of marriage. Thus, even assuming Keefe’s

statement that he never held himself out to be married was a direct reference to a lack of a

marriage license, the record contains competent, credible evidence to show that no in praesenti

agreement to marry existed between the parties prior to October 1991.

{¶25} Keefe’s first assignment of error is overruled.

Assignment of Error Number Two

THE MAGISTRATE ERRED IN EXCLUDING WITNESSES WHO WOULD HAVE TESTIFIED THAT THE PARTIES HELD THEMSELVES OUT AS MARRIED. 9

{¶26} In his second assignment of error, Keefe argues that the court abused its discretion

in granting Doornweerd’s motion in limine and excluding his witnesses from testifying at the

evidentiary hearing.

{¶27} Summit County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division, Loc.R. 12

requires parties to file a listing of all witnesses and exhibits at least seven days before trial or

evidentiary hearing. The rule provides that “the court will not admit the testimony of any

witness not timely listed, except for good cause shown.” Loc.R. 12.02.

{¶28} A trial court has broad discretion over discovery matters. State ex rel. Citizens for

Open, Responsive & Accountable Govt. v. Register, 116 Ohio St.3d 88, 2007-Ohio-5542, ¶ 18.

“As such, this Court generally applies an abuse of discretion standard of review in appeals from

discovery rulings * * *.” Kaplan v. Tuennerman-Kaplan, 9th Dist. No. 11CA0011, 2012-Ohio-

303, ¶ 10. An abuse of discretion indicates the trial court’s ruling was arbitrary, unconscionable,

or unreasonable. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d at 219.

{¶29} Keefe filed his list of exhibits and witnesses four days before the evidentiary

hearing, in violation of Loc.R. 12. Keefe argued that he was unaware of the local rule, but had

filed the lists within two days of trial as was usually required by Judge Dezso. The magistrate

found that this was not “good cause” and granted Doornweerd’s request to exclude the witnesses

and exhibits. We note that the court decided to exclude the exhibits because it found they were

not relevant to the issue of whether there was a common law marriage. The court did permit

testimony from the accountants, but excluded testimony from Keefe’s mother and a friend who

would have testified about “the relationship they had.”

{¶30} After a hearing, the magistrate found that Keefe had not produced sufficient

evidence to establish a common law marriage and issued its decision dismissing the complaint 10

for divorce. Keefe filed an objection to the magistrate’s decision, but failed to argue that the

magistrate erred in excluding the testimony of the witnesses. Keefe argues that he was not

required to object to the “actual exclusion of the proffered witnesses and testimony” because it

was not part of the final order.

{¶31} However, “[i]nterlocutory orders * * * are merged into the final judgment. Thus,

an appeal from the final judgment includes all interlocutory orders merged with it * * *.” Aber v.

Vilamoura, Inc., 184 Ohio App.3d 658, 2009-Ohio-3364, ¶ 7 (9th Dist.), quoting Grover v.

Bartsch, 170 Ohio App.3d 188, 2006-Ohio-6115, ¶ 9 (2d Dist.). The magistrate’s decision to

exclude testimony of certain witnesses became final when magistrate issued its decision to

dismiss the complaint. Therefore, Civ.R. 53(D)(3) applies, and Keefe was required to raise this

issue in his objections to the trial court. Because Keefe failed to raise this issue to the trial court,

he has waived all but plain error on appeal. Civ.R. 53(D)(3)(b)(iv).

{¶32} Keefe, however, does not argue plain error on appeal, and we, therefore, decline

to address his argument. Nelson v. Nelson, 9th Dist. No. 10CA0115-M, 2011-Ohio-6200, ¶ 34.

Keefe’s second assignment of error is overruled.

III

{¶33} Keefe’s assignments of error are overruled. The judgment of the Summit County

Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division, is affirmed.

Judgment affirmed.

There were reasonable grounds for this appeal. 11

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 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.

BETH WHITMORE FOR THE COURT

BELFANCE, J. CONCURS IN JUDGMENT ONLY.

CARR, J. CONCURRING IN JUDGMENT ONLY.

{¶34} I fully join in the majority’s resolution of the first assignment of error.

{¶35} I agree with the ultimate result reached by the majority in regard to the second

assignment of error, and I, too, would overrule it. I do not agree that Mr. Keefe forfeited the

issue because I am not convinced that he had to object pursuant to Civ.R. 53(D)(3) to the

magistrate’s interlocutory order excluding his testimony in order to preserve the issue for appeal.

Furthermore, I agree that interlocutory orders are merged into the final judgment and that an

appeal from a final judgment includes those interlocutory orders. I do not agree, however, that 12

the magistrate’s decision on the ultimate issue constituted a final judgment. The dismissal of the

complaint did not become a final judgment until issued by the trial court. Accordingly, I do not

believe that Mr. Keefe forfeited the issue on appeal. However, assuming without deciding that

Mr. Keefe was not required to object regarding the magistrate’s evidentiary ruling, I would

overrule Mr. Keefe’s second assignment of error because he did not adequately proffer the

excluded evidence and he, therefore, failed to demonstrate any prejudice.

APPEARANCES:

TERENCE E. SCANLON and KATHELEEN M. AMERKHANIAN, Attorneys at Law, for Appellant.

KENNETH L. GIBSON, Attorney at Law, for Appellee.