Kuhn v. Kuhn

2013 Ohio 5807
Ohio Court of Appeals·Decided December 31, 2013·No. 2012-L-099·Published·Cited by 4 cases

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

ELEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT LAKE COUNTY, OHIO

MICHELLE KUHN, : OPINION

Petitioner-Appellee, :

CASE NO. 2012-L-099

- vs - :

DENNIS P. KUHN, JR., :

Respondent-Appellant. :

Civil Appeal from the Lake County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division, Case No. 11 DV 000153.

Judgment: Affirmed.

Davida J. Dodson, Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, 8 North State Street, #300, Painesville, OH 44077 and Tonya Whitsett, Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, 1223 West 6th Street, Cleveland, OH 44113 (For Petitioner-Appellee).

Cory R. Hinton, Rand, Gurley & Hanahan, LLC, 8570 Mentor Ave., Mentor, OH 44094 (For Respondent-Appellant).

COLLEEN MARY O’TOOLE, J.

{¶1} Dennis P. Kuhn, Jr., appeals from the decision of the Lake County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division, granting his estranged wife, Michelle Kuhn, a Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order (“DVCPO”) until September 12, 2016. Mr. Kuhn argues that the trial court committed prejudicial error given that there was insufficient competent, credible evidence to support the grant of a DVCPO and that the trial court erred in that the decision to grant the DVCPO petition was based upon

hearsay evidence. Finally, Mr. Kuhn argues that the trial court’s inclusion of a prohibition from possessing, using, carrying, or obtaining a deadly weapon for the duration of the DVCPO, ordering that his .357 revolver be forfeited, prohibiting him from using or possessing alcohol and suspending his parenting time was unwarranted.

{¶2} On September 12, 2011, Ms. Kuhn filed a petition for a DVCPO, in which she requested an order of protection for herself and her minor children B. K. and S. K. The hearing was held on December 9, 2011 and March 15, 2012. The magistrate’s decision was issued on May 25, 2012. Mr. Kuhn filed his first set of objections on June 7, 2012; Ms. Kuhn responded on June 20, 2012. Mr. Kuhn filed his second set of objections on July 23, 2012; Ms. Kuhn responded on July 30, 2012. On August 22, 2012 the trial court adopted the magistrate’s decision in its entirety. Mr. Kuhn timely appealed and now brings the following assignments of error:

{¶3} “[1.] The trial court committed prejudicial error when it adopted the Magistrate’s Decision of May 25, 2012 and sustained and granted the September 11, 2012 petition for a domestic violence civil protection order given that there was insufficient competent, credible evidence to support a finding of domestic violence.”

{¶4} “[2.] The trial court committed prejudicial error when it adopted the Magistrate’s Decision given that there was insufficient competent, credible evidence to support the granting of a Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order in that said decision was based on hearsay evidence which had been properly objected to.”

{¶5} “[3.] The trial court erred in prohibiting the appellant from possessing, using, or obtaining a deadly weapon for the duration of the domestic violence civil protection order, ordering that the Rossi .357 thirty-eight caliber revolver confiscated by

the Mentor Police Department shall be forfeited to law enforcement, prohibiting appellant from using or possessing alcohol, and suspending appellant’s parenting time.”

{¶6} In his first assignment of error, Mr. Kuhn challenges the trial court’s adoption of the magistrate’s decision. He argues that Ms. Kuhn failed to present sufficient competent, credible evidence to carry her burden in the DVCPO proceeding.

{¶7} At the hearing, Ms. Kuhn presented testimonial evidence from Mentor Police Officers Michael Bruening and Jason Myers, and Dennis P. Kuhn, Jr., as if on cross-examination. Ms. Kuhn also took the stand in support of her petition. Ms. Kuhn’s counsel submitted into evidence a suicide note allegedly written by Mr. Kuhn. Mr. Kuhn’s counsel objected to the submission of the note on the basis that it was impermissible hearsay. The magistrate allowed the note into evidence.

{¶8} Dennis and Michelle Kuhn were married in 1995. They are the parents of two children: B. K. (d.o.b. 1-17-96) and S. K. (d.o.b. 1-2-02). In 2010 the parties were engaged in an embittered divorce in the Lake County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division, Case No. 10 DR 000666. The divorce case was scheduled for trial on August 3, 2011. Mr. Kuhn did not attend as he had left the marital residence in July 2011, ostensibly to look for work in Texas. The magistrate issued his decision in the divorce on August 10, 2011.

{¶9} On September 11, 2011, two Mentor police officers, Michael Bruening and Jason Meyers, responded to a call from the Super 8 Motel about a possible fight. Officer Bruening, a 20-year veteran of the department, testified that he found Mr. Kuhn laying in the fetal position in the hallway of the second floor. Kuhn had dried blood on his face, which was also black and blue. Mr. Kuhn was incoherent and talking about

“terrorists.” The fire department was called and Mr. Kuhn was taken to Lake West Hospital.

{¶10} Officers Bruening and Myers then went to Mr. Kuhn’s motel room to see if they could determine what had happened to Kuhn. Upon entering they saw dried blood by the door to the bathroom and numerous tissues of dried blood lying on the floor. Additionally, the room was strewn with empty beer cans and multiple boxes of over-the- counter sleeping pills. Officer Bruening then discovered an unsigned note written on the inside flap of a cardboard beer case. The note also appeared to have blood on it. The note stated:

{¶11} Please forgive me. I couldn’t allow myself to work that hard and not be able to support myself. I really thought seriously about getting even, and taking Michelle with me. I drove by the house many times. I just couldn’t stand the thought that Samantha might be home. I don’t want my daughter to remember me as a killer, getting even doesn’t really matter. I am dead either way. Please tell Samantha the truth. Maybe someday the laws will change and the average working man who cares about his kids can survive.

{¶12} Officers Bruening and Myers located Mr. Kuhn’s truck in the parking lot of the motel. Inside the truck Officer Bruening noticed a folded-up jacket with the butt of a revolver sticking out. The revolver was a Rossi .357 loaded with .38 caliber ammunition. Six rounds of ammunition were found in each of the jacket’s two pockets.

{¶13} The combination of Mr. Kuhn’s condition, the note and the loaded handgun caused Officer Bruening to be concerned for Ms. Kuhn’s welfare. He obtained

Ms. Kuhn’s address and went to her home. Upon arriving, Officer Bruening found that Ms. Kuhn was safe at home. Officer Bruening then explained to Ms. Kuhn what had happened. Upon hearing about the note and the gun, Ms. Kuhn became very upset and expressed a desire to go someplace where her husband would not find her. She also filed this action seeking a domestic violence protection order for her and her children.

{¶14} Officer Myers followed Mr. Kuhn to Lake West Hospital to continue his investigation. Given the totality of the circumstances, and the concern that he would harm himself, Mr. Kuhn was “pink-slipped” and kept at the hospital for observation. Mr. Kuhn was eventually transferred to North Coast Psychiatric Facility and held there for nearly a month under an involuntary commitment.

{¶15} During the hearing on her motion for a DVCPO, Ms. Kuhn testified as to how much the information given her by Officer Bruening had upset her. She expressed significant concern for herself and her children. Ms. Kuhn testified that she was unaware that Mr. Kuhn had returned from Texas. She was also very concerned about his possession of a handgun as he had never owned a gun during their marriage.

{¶16} Ms. Kuhn testified about five acts of domestic violence committed by Mr.

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