Y.H. v. Y.P.

• Court: New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division
• Decided: January 27, 2025
• Docket: A-0425-23
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

RECORD IMPOUNDED

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court ." Although it is posted on the internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R. 1:36-3.

SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY APPELLATE DIVISION DOCKET NO. A-0425-23

Y.H.1,

Plaintiff-Respondent,

v.

Y.P.,

Defendant-Appellant. _______________________

Submitted November 4, 2024 – Decided January 27, 2025

Before Judges Sabatino and Berdote Byrne.

On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division, Family Part, Camden County, Docket No. FV-04-3755-23.

The Law Office of Louis G. Guzzo, attorney for appellant (Louis G. Guzzo, on the brief).

Shilton Law and Law Office of Christine M. D'Elia, attorneys for respondent (A. Victoria Shilton and Christine M. D'Elia, on the brief).

1 We use the parties' initials to protect the confidentiality of the alleged victim of domestic violence. R. 1:38-3(d)(10). PER CURIAM

Defendant appeals from a final restraining order ("FRO") entered against

him pursuant to the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991 ("PDVA"),

N.J.S.A. 2C:25-17 to -35, based upon the predicate act of sexual assault,

N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2. On appeal, defendant argues the trial court erred in entering

the FRO against him because it failed to make findings of facts and conclusions

of law, and failed to find an FRO was necessary to protect plaintiff from future

acts of domestic violence. We agree and vacate the FRO, reinstate plaintiff's

TRO dated June 9, 2023, and remand to a different judge for a new FRO hearing.

I.

We glean the following facts from the record. The parties met at plaintiff's

workplace, a store that sells firearms. Plaintiff contends they met in early May

2023. On May 9, 2023, the parties met for coffee. At the FRO hearing, plaintiff

testified she went to defendant's house on May 10, 2023, where she performed

"consensual oral sex" on him. Plaintiff claimed right after this, defendant

"yelled at [her]" and "got real mad [sic], because [she] spit the cum2 on his

pillowcase." Plaintiff testified between May 10 and 19, 2023, she met with

2 This factual specificity is necessary for the accuracy of the testimony and is not intended to offend the reader's sensibilities. A-0425-23 2 defendant at a park, where defendant allegedly asked plaintiff multiple times to

perform oral sex on him. Plaintiff testified she performed oral sex on defendant

after feeling "stressed and pressured into doing it" because defendant repeatedly

asked her, his tone changed from "normal" to "upset," and she feared he would

become "mad and aggressive" or "hit [her]" because of his reaction after their

first sexual encounter. Nevertheless, the parties continued communicating and

meeting.

The parties planned to meet on May 19, 2023, to go for a walk. When

plaintiff arrived, defendant asked her to come with him to his house. When they

were in defendant's room, he allegedly told plaintiff they "were going to have

sex." According to the plaintiff, she responded, "we[are] not having sex," but

defendant proceeded to "pull[ ] [her] pants down." Plaintiff testified, although

she asked him to stop and told defendant he was hurting her, he held her down

on his bed by her wrists and sexually assaulted her. After the alleged assault,

plaintiff and defendant continued to have text message conversations because

plaintiff "felt like [she] had no choice." Plaintiff attempted to report the alleged

assault and sought help but claimed she "could not get any help." Plaintiff

testified at trial:

I went to CAMcare to get help. I could not get any help. I filled out a detective form at the police station

A-0425-23 3 numerous times. Nobody would help me. I went to [Services Empowering Rights of Victims ("SERV")]. Nobody would help me, no matter how many times I went to CAMcare. . . . I called the . . . rape crisis hotline. They would transfer me to SERV. SERV would tell me there's not [sic] anybody available to come to the police station.

Defendant and plaintiff saw each other for the first time since the alleged

sexual assault when defendant came into plaintiff's workplace. Defendant told

plaintiff he wanted to purchase a "long gun bag" and asked her questions about

other long guns. During this interaction, plaintiff testified she "had to keep [her]

composure at work, knowing that [defendant] assaulted [her]," and was

"furious" defendant "had the nerve to just come into [her] job . . . like nothing

happened." Plaintiff testified she continued to text defendant and act

"cordial[ly]" to ensure her safety and the safety of her daughter. In addition,

plaintiff stated she "was afraid for her life" because she knew "[defendant] had

firearms."

On May 24, 2023, plaintiff asked defendant to stop contacting her, which

she testified he complied with, and on June 9, 2023, plaintiff obtained a TRO

against defendant. At the FRO hearing, Plaintiff testified she felt it was

necessary to have an FRO because "[defendant] sexually assaulted [her] against

[her] own will . . . . nobody would help [her]. . . . [she] need[s] to feel safe. . . .

A-0425-23 4 [a]nd . . . do[es not] feel safe . . . . [a]nd [she] know[s] he has firearms." Plaintiff

asked the trial court to grant her an FRO against defendant to hold him

"accountable for sexually assaulting" her and to protect her and her daughter's

safety.

On cross-examination, plaintiff testified she met with defendant at the

park on May 10, 2023, and went to defendant's house for the first time on May

12, 2023. Plaintiff also stated she performed oral sex on defendant for the first

time at the park on May 10, 2023. These statements contradicted plaintiff's

earlier testimony, where she stated she performed oral sex on defendant for the

first time on May 10, 2023, at his house, and felt pressured at the park into

performing oral sex a second time out of fear of defendant's upset reaction after

their first intimate encounter.

Defendant's testimony differed. According to him, as he was walking in

the park with plaintiff, she stopped him, "reached around behind her," and

grabbed his genitals. Defendant claimed plaintiff initiated oral sex in the park,

and she stopped and performed oral sex "four or five times" on defendant.

He testified plaintiff came over his house on May 12, 2023, while his

family was home, "asked where [his] room was," and once in his room "pushed

[defendant] on [his] bed" and "proceeded to give [him] oral until [he] finished."

A-0425-23 5 Contrary to plaintiff's testimony, defendant testified after plaintiff wiped her

face with his pillowcase, he "just mentioned, well I guess I got [sic] to do

laundry again."

Defendant testified he asked plaintiff on May 19, 2023, if she wanted to

come inside his house and she agreed. Plaintiff then initiated oral sex and

defendant asked if plaintiff "wanted to do anything more." According to

defendant, they had consensual sex. Defendant visited plaintiff's workplace on

May 22, 2023, "because [he] told [plaintiff] . . . [he] would stop by." Defendant

testified he never sexually assaulted or demanded sex from plaintiff. Defendant

testified, consistent with plaintiff's testimony, that he stopped contacting

plaintiff when she asked him to not contact her again.

An FRO hearing was held on August 28, 2023. In deciding whether to

grant the FRO, the trial court found plaintiff to be "a more credible witness"

addressing her demeanor, which was "nervous," but finding "the basis [of] that

nervousness . . . can be found in the classic case of State v. Kelly which talks

about the battered woman syndrome." The trial court then discussed Sacharow

v. Sacharow, 177 N.J. 62 (2003), and explained although "[p]eople [who] suffer

from battered woman syndrome do [not] readily report things immediately. . . .

the plaintiff testified at great length how she attempted to report the incident."

A-0425-23 6 The trial court found "plaintiff to be a more credible witness than the defendant,"

and added "[t]hat[ is] as simple as the analysis can be." It found the parties were

in a dating relationship, and found plaintiff "was under the control of the

defendant[] and couldn't get out of that control."

Addressing whether an FRO was necessary, the trial court found plaintiff

and defendant "have interaction in a community in which the issue is possession

of firearms. . . . [and] there is certainly a basis for . . . [p]rong [two] of Silver,

that there[ is] a need for protection, because they interact."

This appeal followed.

II.

Our review of an FRO is generally limited. C.C. v. J.A.H., 463 N.J. Super.

419, 428 (App. Div. 2020). "We accord substantial deference to the Family Part

judges, who routinely hear domestic violence cases and are 'specially trained to

detect the difference between domestic violence and more ordinary differences

that arise between couples.'" Ibid. (quoting J.D. v. M.D.F., 207 N.J. 458, 482

(2011)); see also S.K. v. J.H., 426 N.J. Super. 230, 238 (App. Div. 2012).

Consequently, findings by a court "are binding on appeal when supported by

adequate, substantial, credible evidence." T.M.S. v. W.C.P., 450 N.J. Super.

499, 502 (App. Div. 2017) (quoting Cesare v. Cesare, 154 N.J. 394, 411-12

A-0425-23 7 (1998)). However, we do not accord such deference to the court's legal

conclusions, which we review de novo. C.C., 463 N.J. Super. at 428. Questions

of law "are not entitled to that same degree of deference if they are based upon

a misunderstanding of the applicable legal principles." R.G. v. R.G., 449 N.J.

Super. 208, 218 (App. Div. 2017) (quoting N.J. Div. of Youth & Fam. Servs. v.

Z.P.R., 351 N.J. Super. 427, 434 (App. Div. 2002)); see also H.E.S. v. J.C.S.,

175 N.J. 309, 329-31 (2003) (remanding to the trial court because it failed to

"consider the totality of the circumstances surrounding the complaint"); D.M.R.

v. M.K.G., 467 N.J. Super. 308, 324-25 (App. Div. 2021) (reversing the trial

court's entry of an FRO due to lack of findings, no prior history of domestic

abuse existing between the parties, and plaintiff's lack of fear).

On appeal, defendant raises two issues. He claims the trial court erred in

failing to make adequate findings of fact and conclusions of law, and the trial

court failed to determine whether an FRO was necessary to protect the plaintiff

from future acts of domestic violence, in compliance with the statute and

applicable case law. We agree.

When determining whether to issue an FRO pursuant to the PDVA, the

Family Part is required to make two distinct determinations. Silver v. Silver,

387 N.J. Super. 112, 125-27 (App. Div. 2006). First, the trial court "must

A-0425-23 8 determine whether the plaintiff has proven, by a preponderance of the credible

evidence, that one or more of the predicate acts set forth in N.J.S.A. 2C:25-19(a)

has occurred." Id. at 125. Second, if a court finds a predicate act occurred, "the

judge must determine whether a restraining order is necessary to protect the

plaintiff from future danger or threats of violence." D.M.R. v. M.K.G., 467 N.J.

Super. 308, 322 (App. Div. 2021).

The predicate acts enumerated in the PDVA include sexual assault.

N.J.S.A. 2C:25-19(a)(7). If the plaintiff proves by a preponderance of the

evidence a sexual assault occurred, then the first prong of Silver is met. See

T.B., 479 N.J. Super. at 412 (quoting Silver, 387 N.J. Super. at 125); see, e.g.,

S.D. v. M.J.R., 415 N.J. Super. 417, 438-42 (App. Div. 2010) (reversing and

remanding for the entry of an FRO based on multiple predicate acts of domestic

violence, including sexual assault). Here, plaintiff alleges she was sexually

assaulted by the defendant. Defendant contends he did not sexually assault

plaintiff, and instead alleges all of their intimate interactions were consensual.

The trial court did not make specific findings of fact and conclusions of

law regarding the predicate act of sexual assault, and instead only stated the

plaintiff was more credible. Addressing the first prong of Silver, the trial court

said:

A-0425-23 9 [T]he requirements are found in two decisions as to whether a[n FRO] is to be granted. First of all, is the Silver case. And then there is the J.D. v. M.D.F., 207 N.J. 458, which adopts the Silver analysis, which requires proof of a predicate act, proof of a need for protection of a[n FRO]. Did the defendant in any way force himself on the plaintiff? If he pushed or shoved or grabbed an arm and pulled down, they are all parts of a[n] offensive touching, parts of a[n] assault. And finally, they[ are] parts of a sexual assault, if the [c]ourt finds that to be credible.

However, the trial court did not address these questions with any factual

specificity and instead stated, "[t]here is the assault, here, that would be a sexual

assault. The predicate act has been proven by the preponderance or greater

weight of the evidence" without further elaboration.

Additionally, the trial court did not explain why it found plaintiff "could

not get out of [defendant's] control," and cited the battered women's syndrome.

The battered woman's syndrome was not raised by plaintiff or defendant, nor

was there any expert testimony offered at trial with respect to it. The New Jersey

Supreme Court has held "that 'the battered[]woman's syndrome is an appropriate

subject for expert testimony; that the experts' conclusions . . . are sufficiently

reliable under New Jersey's standards for scientific testimony.'" State v.

Townsend, 186 N.J. 473, 491 (2006) (quoting Kelly, 97 N.J. at 187). Here, the

trial court erred in relying upon the battered woman's syndrome to make

A-0425-23 10 credibility determinations and findings without any testimony regarding same,

and without the introduction of expert testimony pursuant to the New Jersey

Rules of Evidence. See N.J.R.E. 702 ("If scientific, technical, or other

specialized knowledge will assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence or

to determine a fact in issue, a witness qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill,

experience, training, or education may testify thereto in the form of an opinion

or otherwise."). A finding that a victim is suffering from battered women's

syndrome is not necessary in order for a restraining order to issue; domestic

violence and battered women's syndrome are not synonymous. It is axiomatic

that not every victim of domestic violence suffers from battered women's

syndrome.

The trial court also erred in relying upon the battered woman's syndrome

in reaching its conclusions because the "[s]yndrome is recognized as 'a

collection of common behavioral and psychological characteristics exhibited in

women who repeatedly are physically and emotionally abused over a prolonged

length of time by the dominant male figure in their lives.'" State v. Hess, 207

N.J. 123, 149 (2011) (quoting State v. B.H., 183 N.J. 171, 182 (2005)). Here,

plaintiff was in a relationship with defendant from May 9 through May 24 and

the trial court failed to address how it found plaintiff was suffering from battered

A-0425-23 11 women's syndrome for a "prolonged length of time." Nor did the trial court

make specific findings of fact and conclusions of law on the reasons why the

court reached the conclusion that "one or more factors of coercive control are

more or less relevant than others." Plaintiff did not testify she was under

defendant's control during their brief relationship.

In sum, the trial court failed to make sufficient findings of fact and

conclusions of law to sustain commission of sexual assault, and erroneously

relied upon the battered women's syndrome to explain its findings that plaintiff

was more credible and under defendant's control. As such, we are constrained

to remand the matter for a new FRO hearing.

Additionally, the trial court failed to make sufficient findings on the

second prong of Silver as to whether an FRO was necessary. If a trial court

finds a predicate act occurred, it must make the second determination of

"whether a restraining order is necessary to protect the plaintiff from future

danger or threats of violence." D.M.R., 467 N.J. Super. at 322; see also Silver,

387 N.J. Super. at 127 ("[T]he guiding standard is whether a restraining order is

necessary, upon an evaluation of the factors set forth in N.J.S.A. 2C:25-29(a)(1)

to -29(a)(6), to protect the victim from an immediate danger or to prevent further

abuse."). The commission of one of the acts of domestic violence set forth in

A-0425-23 12 N.J.S.A. 2C:25-19(a) does not "automatically . . . warrant the issuance of a

domestic violence [restraining] order." Corrente v. Corrente, 281 N.J. Super.

243, 248 (App. Div. 1995).

N.J.S.A. 2C:25-29(a) provides "[t]he court shall consider but not be

limited to" seven factors, including the previous history of domestic violence

between the parties. N.J.S.A. 2C:25-29(a)(1). "[W]hether the victim fears the

defendant" is an additional factor the trial court may consider. G.M. v. C.V.,

453 N.J. Super. 1, 13 (App. Div. 2018) (quoting Carfagno v. Carfagno, 288 N.J.

Super. 424, 435 (Ch. Div. 1995)). The court must determine, pursuant to the

totality of the circumstances, whether the FRO is necessary "to protect the victim

from an immediate danger or to prevent further abuse." Silver, 387 N.J. Super.

at 127; see also N.J.S.A. 2C:25-29(b) ("[T]he court shall grant any relief

necessary to prevent further abuse."); C.C., 463 N.J. Super. at 436. The inquiry

is necessarily fact specific. Silver, 387 N.J. Super. at 127-28 (remanding for

further fact-finding).

The trial court erred in failing to consider the totality of the circumstances

and in issuing an FRO merely because defendant owns weapons. The trial court

did not make specific findings of fact or conclusions of law in determining

whether plaintiff was in danger of future risk of harm by defendant. In its

A-0425-23 13 decision, the trial court held the second prong of Silver was satisfied merely

because "there[ is] this need for protection[] because they interact. They[ are]

in the same community involving the use [of] . . . a firearm."

The trial court's conclusion that plaintiff "wants this protection" and she

"feels entitled to" an FRO is not sufficient to prove the second prong of Silver

and support an FRO against defendant. A trial court "shall, by opinion or

memorandum decision, either written or oral, find the facts and state its

conclusions of law thereon in all actions tried without a jury . . . ." R. 1:7-4(a).

When a trial court does not "articulate precise findings of fact and conclusions

of law" to explain its conclusions, the matter must be remanded for a re-hearing.

See J.D., 207 N.J. at 486-88; Gnall v. Gnall, 222 N.J. 414, 428 (2015) ("Failure

to make explicit findings and clear statements of reasoning [impedes meaningful

appellate review and] 'constitutes a disservice to the litigants, the attorneys, and

the appellate court.'" (quoting Curtis v. Finneran, 83 N.J. 563, 569-70 (1980))).

The trial court's failure to make factual findings and legal conclusions does not

afford us any meaningful opportunity to review its rulings, requiring our reversal

and remand.

The FRO dated August 28, 2023, is vacated, the TRO dated June 9, 2023,

is reinstated, effective immediately, and this matter is remanded for a new FRO

A-0425-23 14 hearing. Because the trial court made credibility determinations, the matter is

remanded for a new trial before a different judge. See Freedman v. Freedman,

474 N.J. Super. 291, 308 (App. Div. 2023). We take no position as to the

outcome of that hearing.

Reversed and remanded. We do not retain jurisdiction.

A-0425-23 15