Lawrence Custard and Vanessa Custard v. Annette Brooks Russell and Jackie Brooks (mem. dec.)

• Court: Indiana Court of Appeals
• Decided: February 14, 2018
• Docket: 02A04-1704-GU-1053
• Status: Published

Opinion

MEMORANDUM DECISION FILED Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), Feb 14 2018, 6:09 am this Memorandum Decision shall not be regarded as precedent or cited before any CLERK Indiana Supreme Court court except for the purpose of establishing Court of Appeals and Tax Court

the defense of res judicata, collateral estoppel, or the law of the case.

APPELLANTS, PRO SE Lawrence Custard Vanessa Custard Fort Wayne, Indiana

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

Lawrence Custard and Vanessa February 14, 2018 Custard, Court of Appeals Case No. Appellants-Petitioners, 02A04-1704-GU-1053 Appeal from the Allen Superior v. Court The Honorable Phillip E. Houk, Annette Brooks Russell and Magistrate Jackie Brooks, Trial Court Cause Nos. Appellees-Respondents. 02D01-0808-GU-159 02D01-1608-GU-193

Pyle, Judge.

Statement of the Case [1] Lawrence Custard (“Lawrence”) and Vanessa Custard (“Vanessa”)

(collectively, “the Custards”) attempt to appeal, pro se, the trial court’s orders

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 02A04-1704-GU-1053 | February 14, 2018 Page 1 of 9 denying their motions to set aside, which they had filed in two separate

guardianship causes. Because the Custards failed to timely file their notice of

appeal1 and because we find no extraordinary compelling reasons to restore

their forfeited right to this appeal, we dismiss the appeal.

[2] We dismiss.

Issue Whether this appeal should be dismissed because the Custards failed to timely file a notice of appeal.

Facts [3] We have limited facts before us because the Custards have included limited

information in their Appellant’s Appendix.2 Nevertheless, from the record

presented on appeal, it appears that the Custards are attempting to appeal from

two guardianship cases: (1) a guardianship over Brunette Custard (“Brunette”)

established in 2008 under cause number 02D01-0808-GU-159 (“Brunette’s

guardianship case”); and (2) a guardianship over Rhonda Custard (“Rhonda”)

established in 2016 under cause number 02D01-1608-GU-193 (“Rhonda’s

guardianship case”). Brunette is Lawrence’s mother, and Rhonda is

1 The Custards filed one notice of appeal containing the cause numbers from both guardianship cases. 2 Contrary to Indiana Appellate Rule 50(A)(2)(a), the Custards did not include all relevant pleadings in their Appellants’ Appendix, and they did not include a copy of the chronological case summary (“CCS”) from either guardianship case.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 02A04-1704-GU-1053 | February 14, 2018 Page 2 of 9 Lawrence’s sister. The current guardian over Brunette is Annette Brooks

Russell (“Russell”), who is Brunette’s sister.

[4] Apparently, in August 2016, Jackie Brooks (“Brooks”), who is Rhonda’s

cousin, filed a petition to establish a guardianship over Rhonda’s person and

estate.3 On September 26, 2016, the trial court held a hearing on Brooks’

petition. The court-appointed guardian ad litem (“GAL”) testified that Rhonda

needed a guardian and that Brooks was “a good person to serve as that

guardian.” (Sept. 26, 2016 Hrg. Tr. 13). Lawrence attended the hearing pro se.

Lawrence had not filed a petition to be appointed as Rhonda’s guardian;

nevertheless, the trial court gave him the opportunity to speak.4 Lawrence

acknowledged that Rhonda needed a guardian. He contended that Brooks did

not “[t]echnically” qualify to serve as guardian but offered no reasons why.

(Sept. 26, 2016 Hrg. Tr. 13). Lawrence indicated that he wanted to intervene

and petition to be Rhonda’s guardian. The trial court stated that it would allow

him to file an official petition, but, in the meantime, it would proceed with

establishing Rhonda’s guardianship, which all parties agreed was necessary.

Lawrence stated he also would be filing a petition to have the guardian

removed from Brunette’s guardianship case and that he wanted to have both

3 The Custards did not include a copy of Brooks’ petition in their Appendix. 4 The transcript indicates that Lawrence had filed an objection to Brooks’ guardianship petition, but the Custards have not included that pleading in their Appendix.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 02A04-1704-GU-1053 | February 14, 2018 Page 3 of 9 guardianship petitions reviewed at the same time. 5 The trial court indicated

that it would grant Brooks’ petition and appoint her as temporary guardian in

Rhonda’s guardianship case. The trial court specified that the temporary

guardianship would convert to a permanent guardianship after ninety days if

Lawrence did not file a petition. Thereafter, the trial court issued an order

granting Brooks’ petition and appointing her as guardian in Rhonda’s

guardianship case.6

[5] On December 2, 2016, the Custards filed, pro se, a “Verified Petition for

Successor Guardianship(s) /Suit for Warsaw Property.” (App. Vol. 2 at 19).7

They filed this motion in reference to Rhonda’s guardianship case and

Brunette’s guardianship case.8 The Custards asserted that both Rhonda and

Brunette were “in need of Guardians because of their incapacity” and that it

was “in the best interest of Rhonda and Brunette Custard that a Successor

Guardian be appointed over the Person and Estate.” (App. Vol. 2 at 20). The

Custards requested the trial court to “terminate” the current court-appointed

guardians and to appoint the Custards as successor guardians over the two

5 When requesting that both guardianship petitions be heard at the same time, he referenced Indiana Trial Rule 81.1. 6 The Custards did not include a copy of the trial court’s order in their Appendix. 7 Apparently, the Custards also filed a “Motion to Set Aside Order” and a “Verified Petition for Removal of Guardians.” (February 8, 2017 Hrg. Tr. 5). They, however, have not included those pleadings in their Appendix. 8 The Custards filed the petition under the cause number for Rhonda’s guardianship case but captioned the case to be for both guardianship cases. Within the petition, the Custards stated, without further explanation, the following: “Judicial Notice to prior Case Brunette #02D01-0808-GU-000159[.]” (App. Vol. 2 at 20).

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 02A04-1704-GU-1053 | February 14, 2018 Page 4 of 9 guardianship cases. (App. Vol. 2 at 22). Additionally, within their petition, the

Custards asserted that they were bringing a “suit for recovery of damages to

property[.]” (App. Vol. 2 at 26). The Custards alleged that Russell and Brooks

had allowed Brunette’s “Warsaw property” to be “trashed[,]” and they sought

“money damages in the amount of $180,000” from Russell and Brooks. (App.

Vol. 2 at 29).

[6] On February 8, 2017, the trial court held a hearing on the Custards’ petition.

Lawrence represented the Custards pro se. At the beginning of the hearing, the

trial court noted that Lawrence had cited multiple trial rules, including Trial

Rule 59, 60, and 81, in his petition. The trial court asked Lawrence to explain

the legal theory under which he was proceeding and inquired into what

evidence he had to show that the current guardians had not properly performed

their fiduciary responsibilities that would warrant their removal. Lawrence

stated that he was not alleging that the guardians had not performed their

responsibilities. Instead, he stated that his argument was that both guardians

should be removed because Brunette had intended that Lawrence serve as

guardian over her and Rhonda. The trial court explained to Lawrence that if he

wanted to have the current guardians removed, then he needed to present

evidence that they had improperly performed their role as guardians. The trial

court stated that it had appointed the guardians and that it was “going to let

them continue to do that job because there is no reason for them not to do their

job.” (February 8, 2017 Hrg. Tr. 26). In reference to the Custards’ claim for

property damage, the trial court explained to Lawrence that his property

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 02A04-1704-GU-1053 | February 14, 2018 Page 5 of 9 damage claim was a civil action separate from the guardianship proceeding and

that he could not file his civil action for damages “by just mentioning it in a

pleading that [he] fil[ed] inside a guardianship.” (February 8, 2017 Hrg. Tr.

19).

[7] Thereafter, on February 21, 2017, the trial court entered an order in Rhonda’s

guardianship case (“February 2017 Order”).9 This order provided as follows:

The Court, having had under advisement the pending Petition for Successor Guardianship(s) /Suit for Warsaw Property, now rules as follows:

1. The portion of the Petitioner’s filing, which references a claim against Annette Brooks-Russell and Jackie Brooks, is improperly filed under this cause and is dismissed without prejudice.

2. The Court fails to find grounds for the removal of Annette Brooks as Guardian and therefore denies the Petition for Successor Guardianship.

(App. Vol. 2 at 2).

[8] On March 23, 2017, Lawrence filed a “Motion to Set Aside Order” in both

Rhonda’s guardianship case and Brunette’s guardianship case. (App. Vol. 2 at

9 The record on appeal does not indicate whether the trial court also entered this order in Brunette’s guardianship case.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 02A04-1704-GU-1053 | February 14, 2018 Page 6 of 9 8, 13).10 In these two motions, Lawrence argued that the trial court should set

aside its February 2017 Order; remove Brooks as Rhonda’s guardian and

remove Russell as Brunette’s guardian; “[t]erminate[]” both guardianships; and

appoint Lawrence as guardian over Rhonda and appoint Lawrence and

Vanessa as guardians over Burnette. (App. Vol. 2 at 10, 15). Additionally, he

requested that “money damages be awarded for property damage.” (App. Vol.

2 at 16).

[9] The following day, March 24, 2017, the trial court entered an order in both

Rhonda’s guardianship case and Brunette’s guardianship case and denied

Lawrence’s motions. The Custards filed their notice of appeal, covering both

guardianship causes, on April 27, 2017.

Decision [10] Initially, we note that neither Russell nor Brooks filed an Appellee’s Brief.

When an Appellee fails to submit an appellate brief, “‘we need not undertake

the burden of developing an argument on the [A]ppellee’s behalf.’” Front Row

Motors, LLC v. Jones, 5 N.E.3d 753, 758 (Ind. 2014) (quoting Trinity Homes, LLC

v. Fang, 848 N.E.2d 1065, 1068 (Ind. 2006)). Rather, “‘we will reverse the trial

court’s judgment if the appellant’s brief presents a case of prima facie error.’” Id.

(quoting Trinity Homes, 848 N.E.2d at 1068). “Prima facie error in this context

10 In these motions, the Custards referenced, among other rules, Trial Rule 59(B), which relates to a motion to correct error. For purposes of this appeal, we will treat the Custards’ pleadings as such.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 02A04-1704-GU-1053 | February 14, 2018 Page 7 of 9 is defined as, at first sight, on first appearance, or on the face of it.” Id. (internal

quotation marks and citation omitted).

[11] Turning to this appeal, we recognize that our Indiana Appellate Rules provide

that a party who wishes to appeal must “initiate[] an appeal by conventionally

filing a Notice of Appeal with the Clerk (as defined in Rule 2(D)) [11] within

thirty (30) days after the entry of a Final Judgment is noted in the

Chronological Case Summary.” Ind. Appellate Rule 9(A)(1). Additionally,

Appellate Rule 9(A)(5) provides that “unless the Notice of Appeal is timely

filed, the right to appeal shall be forfeited[.]”

[12] Here, the Custards are attempting to appeal from two trial court orders—one in

Brunette’s guardianship case and one in Rhonda’s guardianship case. The trial

court entered these orders on March 24, 2017. Therefore, the Custards’ notice

of appeal was due on or before April 24, 2017.12 The Custards, however, filed

their notice of appeal on April 27, 2017. Thus, their notice of appeal was three

days late. Pursuant to Appellate Rule 9(A)(5), the Custards’ failure to timely

file their notice of appeal with our Court results in their “right to appeal . . .

be[ing] forfeited[.]”

11 Appellate Rule 2(D) defines “Clerk” as “the Clerk of the Indiana Supreme Court, Court of Appeals[,] and Tax Court.” 12 Thirty days from March 24, 2017 was Sunday April 23, 2017; however, because that day was a non- business day, the due date for the notice of appeal was Monday April 24, 2017. See Ind. Appellate Rule 25.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 02A04-1704-GU-1053 | February 14, 2018 Page 8 of 9 [13] Our supreme court, however, has explained that an appellate court may restore

a right of appeal that has been forfeited if there are “extraordinarily compelling

reasons to do so.” In re Adoption of O.R., 16 N.E.3d 965, 971 (Ind. 2014). In

O.R., our supreme court concluded that, in an appeal of a father seeking to

challenge the adoption of his child, there were extraordinarily compelling

reasons that existed to restore the father’s forfeited right to appeal. Id. at 972.

In so finding, the O.R. Court cited to: (1) Appellate Rule 1, which provides that

our Court may permit deviation from the Appellate Rules; (2) the father’s

timely attempt to initiate an appeal before the deadline for filing his notice of

appeal; and (3) the significance of the parent-child relationship as a

fundamental liberty interest and one of the most valued relationships of our

culture. Id.

[14] We do not find any extraordinary compelling reasons to restore the Custards’

forfeited right to this appeal, and we dismiss the appeal. See, e.g., Blinn v. Dyer,

19 N.E.3d 821, 822 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014) (explaining that “while we may waive

the apparent Appellate Rule 9(A)’s forfeiture requirement, we need not do so”).

[15] Dismissed.

Kirsch, J., and Bailey, J., concur.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 02A04-1704-GU-1053 | February 14, 2018 Page 9 of 9