Smith v. Smith, Unpublished Decision (12-28-1999)

CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedDecember 28, 1999
DocketNo. 98AP-1641.
StatusUnpublished

This text of Smith v. Smith, Unpublished Decision (12-28-1999) (Smith v. Smith, Unpublished Decision (12-28-1999)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Smith v. Smith, Unpublished Decision (12-28-1999), (Ohio Ct. App. 1999).

Opinion

Defendant-appellant, Laura M. Smith, appeals from a judgment of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations, (1) granting the parties a divorce, and (2) naming defendant the residential parent and legal custodian of the parties' minor child, Taylor, but naming plaintiff-appellee, Jeffrey S. Smith, the "school placement parent." Plaintiff-appellee, Jeffrey S. Smith, cross-appeals.

The parties were married on August 29, 1987. One child, Taylor, was born as issue of the marriage on July 1, 1991. Plaintiff filed a complaint for divorce, and defendant counter-claimed for divorce.

As part of the divorce proceedings before the trial court, plaintiff requested and submitted a shared parenting plan, while defendant requested that she be named the residential parent and legal custodian of the parties' minor child. In granting the divorce, the trial court found shared parenting was not in the child's best interest because the parties were unable to cooperatively communicate regarding Taylor. Instead, the court designated defendant the residential parent and legal custodian of the child, but designated plaintiff the "school placement parent." Explaining the rationale for the decision, the court noted that defendant worked from 7:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. To get to school before defendant went to work, Taylor would have to wake as early as 5:30 a.m. By contrast, if plaintiff served as the "school placement parent," Taylor could sleep until 7:00 to 7:30 a.m. and walk less than a block to school. Apparently recognizing the arrangement was unusual, the court noted that "[s]uch a determination does not divest Defendant of the right to make decisions on the child's behalf. As the residential parent and legal custodian, Defendant retains, care, custody, and control of Taylor."

Defendant appeals, assigning a single error:

THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION AND COMMITTED REVERSIBLE ERROR PREJUDICIAL TO THE RIGHTS OF THE APPELLANT WHEN IT ACTED CONTRARY TO OHIO LAW BY DESIGNATING THE APPELLEE AS THE "SCHOOL PLACEMENTPARENT" FOR THE PARTIES' MINOR CHILD, WHERE THERE WAS NO SHARED PARENTING PLAN, AND THE APPELLANT WAS DESIGNATED AS THE RESIDENTIAL PARENT AND LEGAL CUSTODIAN FOR THE PARTIES' CHILD.

Plaintiff cross-appeals, assigning the following errors:

I. A TRIAL COURT COMMITS PREJUDICIAL ERROR AND VIOLATES THE PARTIES' CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS WHEN IT REFUSES TO ALLOW EXAMINATION OF A GUARDIAN AD LITEM BY THE PARTIES AT TRIAL AND ADMITS HIS REPORT INTO EVIDENCE AND RELIES HEAVILY ON THAT REPORT IN REACHING ITS DECISION ON CUSTODY AND PARENTAL RIGHTS.

II. A TRIAL COURT ABUSE[S] ITS DISCRETION WHEN IT DENIES A SHARED PARENTING PLAN BASED UPON THE PARTIES INABILITY TO MAKE JOINT DECISION[S] FOR THEIR CHILD WHEN THERE IS NO SUBSTANTIAL, COMPETENT, CREDIBLE EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT SUCH AN ORDER.

III. A TRIAL COURT COMMITS PREJUDICIAL ERROR WHEN IN DETERMINING CHILD SUPPORT IT FAILS TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE DIFFERENCE IN HOUSING COSTS AND THE EXPENSES EACH PARTY INCURS IN PROVIDING CARE FOR THE CHILD.

IV. ABSENT SUBSTANTIAL, COMPETENT CREDIBLE EVIDENCE, IT IS PREJUDICIAL ERROR FOR A TRIAL COURT TO RESTRICT THE PARTIES ABILITY TO BE AWAY FROM THEIR CHILDREN FOR LONGER THAN TWO HOURS.

V. A CHILD SUPPORT REDUCTION BASED UPON A NEW PARENTING SCHEDULE SHOULD BE MADE RETROACTIVE TO THE DATE OF THE NEW PARENTING SCHEDULE.

VI. WHEN ONE PARTY HAS SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE CONTENTS AND FURNISHINGS OF THE MARITAL HOME, THE TRIAL COURT COMMITS PREJUDICIAL ERROR IN ALLOWING EACH PARTY TO KEEP THE PROPERTY IN THEIR POSSESSION THEREBY FAILING TO ACHIEVE A FAIR AND EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF THE PERSONAL PROPERTY.

VII. A TRIAL COURT COMMITS PREJUDICIAL ERROR WHEN IT FAILS TO AWARD THE INCOME TAX DEDUCTION TO THE PARTY THAT WOULD RECEIVE A NET TAX SAVINGS.

VIII. THERE WAS A MATHEMATICAL ERROR MADE IN CALCULATING PLAINTIFF'S EQUITY IN THE MARITAL HOME BECAUSE IT FAILED TO CONSIDER THAT PLAINTIFF PAID $1,900 FOR THE DOWNPAYMENT FROM HIS PENSION THAT HE HAD PRIOR TO THE MARRIAGE.

Defendant's single assignment of error asserts that designation of a "school placement parent" is permitted only when the trial court has adopted a shared parenting plan. Because the court did not adopt a shared parenting plan for Taylor, defendant contends the trial court erred in attempting to engraft that concept here.

Plaintiff responds by noting R.C. 3109.04(A)(1), which states:

[T]he court, in a manner consistent with the best interest of the children, shall allocate the parental rights and responsibilities for the care of the children primarily to one of the parents, designate that parent as the residential parent and the legal custodian of the child, and divide between the parents the other rights and responsibilities for the care of the children, including, but not limited to, the responsibility to provide support for the children and the right of the parent who is not the residential parent to have continuing contact with the children.

Plaintiff contends the statute's explicit language gives the trial court the authority to divide the "other rights and responsibilities," including the right to determine which school the child will attend.

R.C. 3109.04 indicates two ways to allocate parental rights and responsibilities. The trial court may allocate the parental rights and responsibilities for the care of the child primarily to one of the parents, name that parent the residential and legal custodian of the child, and divide between the parents the other rights and responsibilities, such as support for the child and continuing contact with the child for the non-residential parent. Alternatively, if in the child's best interest, the court may approve a submitted shared parenting plan and allocate parental rights and responsibilities to either parent under the plan.

Under R.C. 3109.04, as amended, if no shared parenting agreement exists, the parent who is primarily allocated the parental rights and responsibilities for the care of the child and is designated the residential and legal custodian, and has "custody of the child":

A parent who primarily is allocated the parental rights and responsibilities for the care of a child and who is designated as the residential parent and legal custodian of the child under an order that is issued pursuant to this section on or after April 11, 1991, and that does not provide for shared parenting has "custody of the child" and "care, custody, and control of the child" under the order, and is the "residential parent," the "residential parent and legal custodian," or the "custodial parent" of the child under the order. R.C. 3109.04(K)(2).

The custodial parent has legal and physical control of the minor child. See Braatz v. Braatz (1999), 85 Ohio St.3d 40 (noting that "`[c]ustody' resides in the party or parties who have the right to ultimate legal and physical control of a child"), citing In reGibson (1991), 61 Ohio St.3d 168, 171 (stating that "the legal authority to make fundamental decisions about the child's welfare remains with the custodial party"); see, also, Majnaric v.Majnaric (1975), 46 Ohio App.2d 157, citing Selby v. Selby, (1952), 69 Ohio Law Abs.

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Bluebook (online)
Smith v. Smith, Unpublished Decision (12-28-1999), Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/smith-v-smith-unpublished-decision-12-28-1999-ohioctapp-1999.