Ensell v. Ensell

[Cite as Ensell v. Ensell, 2010-Ohio-5942.]
STATE OF OHIO, JEFFERSON COUNTY

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

SEVENTH DISTRICT

WILLIAM ENSELL ) CASE NO. 09 JE 14
)
PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT )
)
VS. ) OPINION
)
ANNETTE ENSELL )
)
DEFENDANT-APPELLEE )

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDINGS: Civil Appeal from the Court of Common
Pleas, Juvenile Division, of Jefferson
County, Ohio
Case No. 2008 CU 127

JUDGMENT: Affirmed.

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellant: Atty. Francesca T. Carinci
Suite 904-911, Sinclair Building
Steubenville, Ohio 43952

For Defendant-Appellee: Atty. Mary F. Corabi
424 Market Street
Steubenville, Ohio 43952

JUDGES:

Hon. Cheryl L. Waite
Hon. Gene Donofrio
Hon. Joseph J. Vukovich
Dated: November 26, 2010
[Cite as Ensell v. Ensell, 2010-Ohio-5942.]
WAITE, J.

{¶1} Appellant, William J. Ensell, appeals the judgment entry of the Jefferson

County Common Pleas Court, Juvenile Division, awarding residential parent and

legal custodian status to Appellee, Annette Ensell over the parties’ minor child, M.E.,

born June 5, 1995. In addition to arguing that the trial court’s decision is not in M.E.’s

best interest, Appellant also contends that his due process rights were violated when

he was denied a recess during the hearing on his petition for allocation of parental

rights and responsibilities. For the following reasons, the judgment entry of the

juvenile court is affirmed.

{¶2} The parties married after M.E. was born but separated in July of 2001.

(Tr., p. 52.) M.E. lived with Appellee and her parents in Brilliant, Ohio until June of

2008, when M.E. asked Appellee if he could live with Appellant for the summer. On

November 18, 2008, Appellant filed a petition requesting residential parent and legal

custodial status over M.E. Both parties, acting pro se, provided testimony at the

hearing on the petition conducted by the magistrate. The magistrate also accepted

the testimony of Shirley Frye, Appellee’s mother.

{¶3} At the beginning of the hearing, the magistrate explained the procedure

that the parties would follow, that is, Appellant’s witnesses first, then Appellee’s

witnesses. Appellant stated, “I have no actual witnesses, Your Honor, just some

evidence as far as what has transpired.” (Tr., p. 4.) The parties were permitted to

testify in the narrative form for the purposes of their direct examination, and cross-

examine one another after their respective narrative testimony was given.
 -2-

{¶4} According to Appellee, Appellant provided no financial or emotional

support to M.E., which was the reason that she separated from Appellant. (Tr., pp.

11, 108.) Appellee testified that, since M.E. was born, she has sometimes worked

two jobs in order to support M.E. and to set an example for him by not seeking public

assistance. (Tr., pp. 86, 109.) Appellee testified that it was only after 2005 that M.E.

spent summers and every other weekend with Appellant. (Tr., p. 15.) She testified

that Appellant was a consistent source of disappointment to M.E. throughout the

years, making promises to M.E. and not keeping them. (Tr., p. 116.)

{¶5} Appellant testified that M.E. spent summers and every other weekend

with him. (Tr., p. 15.) Appellant testified that he has worked part time since 2001,

earning approximately $6,000 annually and that he could not afford to provide for

M.E. (Tr., p. 14.) He testified that he is currently a full time student. (Tr., p. 23.)

{¶6} Appellee has filed for divorce three times, most recently in 2007. She

testified that the reason that the divorce has never “gone through” is because of “the

[M.E.] issue.” (Tr., p. 122.) While the 2007 divorce proceedings were pending, M.E.

asked to live with Appellant during his 2008 summer vacation “to see what it’s like.”

(Tr., p. 15.) M.E.’s request came five months after the death of his maternal

grandfather. (Tr., p. 85.) According to Appellee, the parties orally agreed to “joint

custody” in May of 2008 during a meeting with Appellee’s divorce attorney, and

Appellant agreed not to seek child support. (Tr., p. 8.)

{¶7} During the summer of 2008, Appellant applied for and received food

stamps based on M.E.’s birth certificate and school records that showed M.E. lived
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with him. (Tr., pp. 23, 26.) Appellant also applied for and received welfare. (Tr., p.

25.) Appellant conceded that he changed M.E.’s address on his social security card

for the sole purpose of applying for government aid. (Tr., p. 26.) Appellant testified

that M.E. did not have health insurance for a few years, but now had a medical card

through the welfare program. Appellant further testified that the congregation at his

church took up a collection to buy M.E. a new winter coat. (Tr., p. 58.) Appellant

testified that M.E. had two winter coats purchased by Appellee, but that they were

both too small. (Tr., pp. 58-59.)

{¶8} M.E. continued to live with Appellant into the fall. M.E. was attending

Jefferson County Christian School (“JCCS”). In late September of 2008, Appellant

spoke to an administrator at JCCS regarding demerits that M.E. had received. (Tr.,

p. 30.) On October 21, 2008, he took M.E. out of JCCS and enrolled him in public

school. Appellant claimed that M.E.’s friends attended public school, and that the

public school system provided a superior education. (Tr., pp. 33-34.)

{¶9} Appellant testified that he talked to Appellee about enrolling M.E. in

public school, but she refused to consider it. Appellee responded that each year,

M.E. complained about missing his public school friends at the beginning of the

school year, and then complained about missing his JCCS school friends at the end

of the school year. (Tr., p. 111.)

{¶10} According to Appellant, he provided Appellee one day’s notice before

enrolling M.E. in public school. (Tr.. p. 33.) According to Appellee, an administrator

at JCCS called her when Appellant arrived with M.E. to withdraw him from school.
 -4-

(Tr., p. 112.) The administrator told Appellee that it would likely be detrimental to

force M.E. to stay at JCCS, so Appellee acquiesced and the administrator released

M.E. Appellee testified that an administrator at the public school informed her that

Appellant had told the school that she need not be involved in M.E.’s care because

he was the custodial parent. (Tr., p. 113.)

{¶11} On November 7, 2008, Appellee took M.E. to live with her and her

boyfriend at his home in Toronto, Ohio. Appellant testified that Appellee told M.E.

that, “unless he got his clothes and came with her, she was going to file charges

against [Appellant] for misrepresenting [himself] as the custodial parent.” (Tr., p. 6.)

However, Appellant was not home at the time. He testified that he thought Appellee

was taking M.E. for visitation, and did not realize that she had taken him to Toronto,

Ohio to live there permanently until he spoke to M.E. (Tr., pp. 6-7.) M.E. told his

father to speak with Sean Norman, the D.A.R.E. officer for Wells Township, who

explained that Appellee had threatened to have Appellant arrested. Norman is a

friend of Appellant, who is a former police officer. (Tr., p. 27.) Appellant filed the

petition at issue in this appeal the next day.

{¶12} Appellee suspended divorce proceedings shortly after she discovered

that Appellant filed the petition. At the hearing, the magistrate explained that the

domestic relations court would have no authority or control over M.E. because he

was born out of wedlock. (Tr., p. 73.) When Appellee asked Appellant why he chose

to seek full custody in November of 2008, Appellant responded:

{¶13} “I have to.
 -5-

{¶14} “* * *

{¶15} “Because I get no assistance from the state government if I do not

pursue -- if I do not pursue child support, I get no assistance from the government. If

I were to sign your papers stating no -- dissolution with no child support, they kick us

both off the insurance and the -- and the food stamps in a heartbeat.” (Tr., p. 51.)

{¶16} Appellant accused Appellee of blackmailing him in August of 2008 with

a request for dissolution with no child support in exchange for recording Appellant’s

name on M.E.’s birth certificate. (Tr., p. 6.) When M.E. was born, Appellee told

Appellant that, even if his name was on the birth certificate, M.E.’s last name was not

going to be “Ensell.” The parties also argued about M.E.’s first name. Appellant

conceded that he “copped an attitude” and walked out of the hospital without signing

the birth certificate. (Tr., pp. 44-45.)

{¶17} Based on her testimony, Appellee clearly believed that, even though

there was no custody order, she was M.E.’s custodial parent and that she had the

right to terminate M.E.’s living arrangements with Appellant at will. She stated that

she thought M.E. would change his mind by the end of the summer and would want

to live with her and her boyfriend in Toronto, Ohio. (Tr., p. 114.) Appellee testified at

trial that she did not finalize the divorce because she “wanted [M.E.].” She stated,

“[h]e’s been mine for 13 years.” (Tr., p. 46.)

{¶18} Testimony reveals that M.E. enjoyed far less adult supervision during

the summer of 2008 than he was accustomed, and, ultimately got into trouble around

town. (Tr., pp. 128, 130.) Appellant conceded that M.E. misbehaved at the local
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haunted house run by the D.A.R.E. program at the public school. (Tr., p. 31.) He

testified that Norman “took care of it himself.” (Tr., p. 31.) He also conceded that

M.E. got into trouble “at the gazebo” and near “the announcer’s box,” but that

Norman did not inform him about the incidents. (Tr., pp. 68-69.) Appellant

expressed no concern about the incident at the haunted house, and testified that

“[k]ids will be kids.” (Tr., p. 32.)

{¶19} Appellee testified that she was concerned about the current circle of

friends M.E. has joined since moving in with his father. (Tr., p. 119.) Appellee

characterized M.E.’s behavior as sullen, angry, and restless when he arrived for visits

during the summer, but she said his mood changed after a few hours in her home.

(Tr., p. 121.) Frye testified that when she asked M.E. if he enjoyed living with his

father, M.E. responded that “it certainly has its advantages.” (Tr., p. 85.)

{¶20} Appellant conceded that M.E. is home alone for about two hours on

school days. (Tr., p. 32.) He admitted that the previous semester he took a night

class. (Tr., p. 68.) When asked if he knew where M.E. was in the evening, he

testified that the police would let him know if M.E. was at the other end of town. (Tr.,

p. 68.)

{¶21} Appellant argued that he should be the residential parent because

Appellee had recently moved to Toronto, Ohio to live with her boyfriend, and M.E.

was forced to travel a long distance each day back and forth from school. (Tr., p.

70.) He testified that with practice and his homework, M.E. was only getting 5½ to 6

hours of sleep a night. (Tr., p. 70.) Appellant conceded that he has refused
 -7-

scheduled visits with Appellee on several occasions because M.E. did not want to go

to Appellee’s house. (Tr., p. 60.)

{¶22} M.E. was interviewed by the magistrate for the purposes of the custody

determination pursuant to R.C. 3109.04(B)(1).

{¶23} The magistrate awarded residential parent and legal custodian status to

Appellee. The magistrate relied on M.E.’s statement made during his interview, that

he comes and goes as he chooses at his father’s house, and spends a lot of time

with his friends. M.E. stated that he has far less freedom at his mother’s house. In

addition to M.E.’s statements, the magistrate also relied on testimony that M.E. had

gotten into trouble on several occasions during the summer of 2008, and that

Appellant was unaware of the incidents. Finally, the magistrate cited the fact that

Appellant has not compelled M.E. to visit Appellee on several scheduled occasions

because M.E. does not want to go.

{¶24} Appellant filed objections to the magistrate’s decision. He claimed that

Appellee and Frye had manufactured the stories about M.E.’s misbehavior.

Appellant attached letters from Norman, another policeman, and a local minister

stating that M.E. was never in trouble with the police department and that Appellant is

a good influence over the child. Appellee filed a response to the objections.

Appellee attached two letters to the juvenile court, one from her and one from her

mother, detailing M.E.’s misbehavior. According to Appellee and Frye, M.E. and his

friends spent a lot of time at the gazebo during the summer, and there were

numerous reports by neighbors of arguments and foul language. M.E. was
 -8-

reprimanded and sent home from the haunted house for misbehaving, although

neither Appellee nor Frye knew the details of the incident. Finally, the announcer’s

box at the football field was vandalized and M.E.’s name was carved into the wall.

Frye further stated in her letter that Appellant’s home is in disarray and disrepair.

The juvenile court summarily overruled the objections in a judgment entry dated

March 27, 2009. This timely appeal followed.

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 1

{¶25} “THE MAGISTRATE ABUSED HIS DISCRETION BY IGNORING THE

FACT THAT THE MINOR CHILD HAD BEEN INTEGRATED INTO THE HOME OF

THE APPELLANT AND THAT THE TESTIMONY PRESENTED WOULD INDICATE

THAT THE APPELLEE HAD NO COMPLAINTS OVER THE CARE GIVEN TO THE

MINOR CHILD BY THE APPELLANT.”

{¶26} Magistrate’s decisions are generally interlocutory in nature, and may be

reconsidered upon the court's own motion or that of a party. Kniszek v. Kniszek, 7th

Dist. No. 08 JE 30, 2009-Ohio-3249, ¶26 citing Pitts v. Dept. of Transp. (1981), 67

Ohio St.2d 378, 423 N.E.2d 1105. The trial court’s standard of review of a

magistrate’s decision is de novo. Kniszek at ¶26, citing Shihab & Assoc. Co., L.P.A.

v. Ohio Dept. of Transp., 168 Ohio App.3d 405, 2006-Ohio-4456, 860 N.E.2d 155,

¶13.

{¶27} An appellate court reviews a trial court’s ruling on a magistrate's

decision only for abuse of discretion. Id. citing Briarwood v. Bratanov, 9th Dist. No.

23318, 2007-Ohio-2476, ¶9. An abuse of discretion connotes an attitude that is
 -9-

unreasonable, arbitrary or unconscionable. Blakemore v. Blakemore (1983), 5 Ohio

St.3d 217, 219, 450 N.E.2d 1140. However, “[t]he knowledge a trial court gains

through observing the witnesses and the parties in a custody proceeding cannot be

conveyed to a reviewing court by printed record.” Surgenavic v. Surgenavic, 7th Dist.

08 MA 29, 2009-Ohio-1028, ¶46. Therefore, where an award of custody is supported

by a substantial amount of credible and competent evidence, such an award will not

be reversed as being against the weight of the evidence by a reviewing court.

Bechtol v. Bechtol (1991), 49 Ohio St.3d 21, 23, 550 N.E.2d 178.

{¶28} R.C. 3109.04(A) requires a trial court to allocate parental rights and

responsibilities in any proceeding pertaining to the allocation of parental rights and

responsibilities for the care of a child. The court makes its determination based on

the best interests of the child, using the factors found in R.C. 3109.04(F) or any other

factors that the court finds relevant.

{¶29} In determining the child’s best interests, the court is required to

consider all relevant factors, including the child’s wishes; the child’s relationship with

his or her parents, siblings, and any other person who may significantly affect the

child’s best interests; and the child’s adjustment to his or her home, school, and

community. There is no presumption that either the mother or the father should

become the residential parent; the parents stand on equal footing regarding the final

allocation of parental rights and responsibilities. R.C. 3109.03; Bechtol, supra, at 24.
 -10-

{¶30} Appellant argues that the juvenile court expressed its intention to

disregard M.E.’s wishes at the hearing. When Appellee expressed concern that M.E.

would be coached by Appellant before his interview, the magistrate responded:

{¶31} “[M.E.] gets to state whatever he wants to state to me. It is not

controlling and [M.E.] is not the first 13 year old that I’ve ever dealt with.

{¶32} “* * *

{¶33} “[M.E.’s wishes] are not controlling in the case. They’re just a factor.

So, it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter. [M.E.] can come in and tell me practically

anything. It doesn’t mean that what he wants gets done, you know.” (Tr., p. 138.)

{¶34} Contrary to Appellant’s argument, the magistrate simply stated the law,

that M.E.’s wishes are a factor but not a controlling factor. Evidently, the juvenile

court agreed with the findings of the magistrate that M.E.’s misbehavior over the

summer was directly related to lack of supervision he experienced in his father’s

home. The juvenile court’s decision apparently also turned upon Appellant’s decision

to allow M.E. to determine whether he wanted to visit his mother on the days that the

parties agreed he would spend time with her. The parent more likely to honor and

facilitate court-approved parenting time rights or visitation and companionship rights

is favored under the statute. R.C. 3109.04(F)(1)(i). It appears that the juvenile court

believed that M.E. was given too much latitude in his father’s home, and, therefore, it

was in his best interest to live with his mother. Appellant has not raised any abuse of

discretion on the part of the juvenile court, and, as a consequence, his first

assignment of error is overruled.
 -11-

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 2

{¶35} “THE COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION BY NOT PERMITTING

REBUTTAL WHICH DENIED THE APPELLANT DUE PROCESS.”

{¶36} Appellant contends that his right to due process was violated at the

hearing. Appellant, Frye, and Appellee testified and were cross examined. At the

close of Appellee’s testimony, she asked the trial court if she could submit letters

written by her and Appellant to M.E. as part of a school project. (Tr., p. 135.) Both

parents wrote beautiful letters telling M.E. that he was loved. The following exchange

occurred:

{¶37} “THE MAGISTRATE: * * * [i]f you want to give [the letters] to the clerk,

then we’ll make copies and before you leave today we’ll make sure that you get them

back, get back the originals. We’ll keep those.

{¶38} “MR. ENSELL: Your Honor, would it be possible to take a short –

{¶39} “THE MAGISTRATE: We’re done.

{¶40} “MR. ENSELL: Oh, okay.

{¶41} “THE MAGISTRATE: You’re going to take the rest of the day recess

here.

{¶42} “MR. ENSELL: I need to use the restroom.

{¶43} “THE MAGISTRATE: As soon as we get the letters from Mrs. Ensell.

You just go up to the third floor.” (Tr., pp. 136-137.)

{¶44} Appellant claims that he “made an attempt to put on rebuttal testimony

but was not given an opportunity by the Court,” was “denied due process when he
 -12-

was not permitted to rebuttal [sic].” (Appellant’s Brf. p. 9.) Appellant contends that

the trial court abused its discretion in denying Appellant’s request for a recess.

{¶45} There is nothing in the record to suggest that Appellant intended to

provide rebuttal testimony. It appears that the reason Appellant requested a recess

is because he needed to use the restroom. As a consequence, no due process

violation is evident from the record. Accordingly, Appellant’s second assignment of

error is overruled and the judgment of the juvenile court is affirmed.

Donofrio, J., concurs.

Vukovich, P.J., concurs.