MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF JURISDICTION IN THE SUPREME COURT OF OHIO SHARON M. DOWHAN APPELLEE V. TERRANCE DO'W'HAN APPELLrNNT ON APPEAL FROM THE LAKE COUNTY COURT OF APPEALS, ELEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS CASE NO. 2012-L-065 MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT' OF Jt7RISDICTION OF APPELLANT' 'I'ERRANCE DOWHAN Edwin V. Hargate (0017239))(COUSEL OF RECORD) Attorney at Law 18519 Underwood Ave. Cleveland, Ohio 44119 (216) 531-7000 Fax No. (440) 473-5476 COLINSEI, FOR APPELLANT, TERRANCE DOWI-IAN Pamela D. Kurt, Esq. (0083454)(COUN$EL OF RECORD) Randy A. Vermilya, Esq. (0070617) Kurt & Vermilya Law, Iilc. 30432 Euclid Ave., Suite 101 Wickliffe, Ohio 44092 (440) 516-1010 Fax No. (440) 516-1011 COUNSEL FOR APPELLEE, SHARON M. DOWI3AN (.'.^ i'^>;s ^ ^.r „ , ^^,M1 ^ ^^ ^ ^ ;ts ;^^:•; r;:3s,; ,r y;:.;ssi:. :^ ..... ., ^..r.....r.....ii:..^..^....._^__, ids3CJ
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MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF JURISDICTION
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF OHIO
SHARON M. DOWHAN
APPELLEE
V.
TERRANCE DO'W'HAN
APPELLrNNT
ON APPEAL FROM THELAKE COUNTY COURTOF APPEALS, ELEVENTHAPPELLATE DISTRICT
COURT OF APPEALSCASE NO. 2012-L-065
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT' OF Jt7RISDICTIONOF APPELLANT' 'I'ERRANCE DOWHAN
Edwin V. Hargate (0017239))(COUSEL OF RECORD)Attorney at Law18519 Underwood Ave.Cleveland, Ohio 44119(216) 531-7000Fax No. (440) 473-5476
COLINSEI, FOR APPELLANT, TERRANCE DOWI-IAN
Pamela D. Kurt, Esq. (0083454)(COUN$EL OF RECORD)Randy A. Vermilya, Esq. (0070617)Kurt & Vermilya Law, Iilc.30432 Euclid Ave., Suite 101Wickliffe, Ohio 44092(440) 516-1010Fax No. (440) 516-1011
PameEXPLANATION OF WHY THIS CASE IS A CASE OF PUBLIC -3-OR GREAT GENERAL INTEREST AND INVOLVES A SIJBSTANTIALCONSTITUTIONAL QUESTION
STATEMENT OF THE CASE AND FACTS-6-
ARGUMENT IN SUPPORT OF PROPOSITIONS OF LAW -7-
Proposition of Law No. 1: The trial court cannot summarily deny -7-Appellant's long pending Motion to Modify Custody and EstablishVisitation without a hearing.
Proposition of Law No. 2: Under Evidence Rule 201(B) a trial court cannot -$-take judicial notice of proceedings in a separate action., evem. if the prioraction was between the same parties and was tried before the same judge.
Proposition of Law No. 3: The court's allocation of parental rights and _g-respon.sibilities in the context of a civil protection order are alwaystemporary, and the statute 31.13.31 expressly contemplates that ordersin a divorce, legal separation, or juvenile court proceeding shouldsupersede a civil protection order as it applies to the minor children.
CONCLUSION
PROOF OF SERVICE
APPENDIX
Opinion of the Lake County Court of Appeals, Eleventh AppellateDistrict (September 23, 2013)
Judgment Entry of the Lake County Court of Appea:l.s, EleventhAppellate District (September 23, 2013)
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EXPLANATION OF WHY THIS CASE IS A CASE OFPIJBLIC OR GREAT GENERAL INTEIZEST AND
INVOLVES A SUBSTANTIAL CONSTITUTIONAL QUES'TION
This cause presents a critical issue for the future of natural parents'
constitutionally protected liberty interests in the care and custody of their children. The
issue is whether Appellant's due process rights were violated when the trial court
suddenly and summarily denied Appellap.t's long pending Motion to Modify Custody and
Establish Visitation without a hearing. The Trial Court reasoned that it could deny
Appellant's long pending motion because it had denied his Motion to Modify a Civil
Protection Order regarding his children in a separate and distinct case. However, the trial
court's denial of his pending Motion to Modify Custody and Establish Visitation in the
divorce case was based upon the intake of evidence adduced in the trial of the civil
protection order action. The trial court improperly relied on testimony and evidence from
the civil protection order action which was not part of the record in the underlying matter
involving custody and visitation (in the separate and distinct divorce action).
In this case, the court of appeals in a split decision held that Appellant's due
process rights where not denied because he had a opportunity to be heard on the Motion
to Modify the Civil Protection Order. Abearing on the subsequent case was not necessary
because "due process..... expresses the requirement of `fundamental fairness,' a
requirement whose meaning can be as opaque as its importance is lofty." The majority
further argued that "the concept of due process is flexible and varies depending on the
importance attached to the interest annd the particular circumstances under which the
deprivation may occur:"
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The implications of the split decision of the court of appeals are far reaching
and affect and touch the lives of tens of thousands of parents in this state. Thousands
of parents in this state are involved in custody and visitation disputes each year. The
process needs to be clear. The majority opinion argues that the temporary provision for
child custody and visitation under a civil protection order are only temporary pending the
final allocation of parental rights and responsibilities and are not temporary in civil
protection orders issued after the final divorce decree. It is interesting to note that the civil
protection order issued here clearly states that the allocation is only temporary.
Consequently, the trial court concluded that "Modification of the protection order is a
necessary prerequisite to the establishment of parenting time with the children. i=towever,
the Ohio courts have held that "the statute does not.... vest the court (that issues the CPO)
with authority to modify the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities in the CPO
(Civil Protection Order) proceeding." Only the domestic relations court in the underlying
divorce case can modify the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities. The court of
appeals interpretation is inconsistent with the clear drafting of O.R.C. 3113. The court of
appeals distinction does not appear in the Ohio Revised Code. The court of appeals
offered no case authority for this distinction and its decision is inconsistent with a number
of cases on point. This urgently needs to be corrected by this Court. The determination of
clear procedures for determining the care and custody of children as envisioned by the
General Assembly is one of great public interest.
This case also involves a substantial constitutional question. The majority
decision of the court of appeals threatens the constitutionally protected liberty interests of
natural parents in the care and custody of their children as set forth by the U.S. Supreme
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Court in Santosky v. Kramer, (1982), 445 U.S. 745, 753. The court of appeals majority
opinion argues that "the concept of due process is flexible and varies depending on the
importance attached to the interest.... " It is hard to image an: "interest" more important to
residents of this state than the care and custody of their children. If due process depends
on the importance attached to the interest, Appellant's due process rights have clearly
been violated. Appellant is entitled to notice and an opportunity for a hearing. T'his
urgently needs correction by this Court.
As the dissenting opinion indicates, the trial court's denial of Appellant's
Motion to Modify Custody and Establish Visitation is predicated upon its review of
testimon.y and evidence which had been presented in a separate action. The trial court
relied on improper evidence in makin.g its ruling because that evidence was not part of the
record in the underlying matter involving custody and visitation. This is inconsistent with
Evid. R. 201(B) which has been applied by the courts of this state to prohibit trial courts
from taking judicial notice of proceedings in a separate action, even if the prior action
was between the same parties and was tried before the same judge. The court of appeals
decision urgently needs to be corrected by this Coun
In sum, this case puts in issue the constitutionally protected liberty interest of
parents in the care and custody of their children. The Appellant's due process right to be
heard is in jeopardy. Appellee wi11 likely spend a lot of time arguing that Appellant is not
entitled to the same due process rights as oth.er parents because of domestic violence
problems caused by his alcoholism. However, all parents are entitled to the same due
process rights in the care and custody of their children. The clear procedure for the
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determination of the custody and visitation rights of Ohio parents as set forth in O.R.C.
needs to be clearly stated by this Court. The Court should grant jurisdictioal to
hear this case and review the erroneous and dangerous decision of the court of appeals.
STATEMENT OF THE CASE AND FACTS
The Plaintiff-Appellee filed a complaint for Divorce and related relief on October
21, 2008 in the Lake County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division, Case
No. 08 DR 652. The parties' marriage wa:s terminated by Decree issued from the Court on
April 1, 2009. The Court named mother as the residential parent and legal custodian of
the minor children, Terrance, dob 9/30/93, Danni, dob 12/27/97 and Sean, dob 2/13/00.
On February 8, 2011, Petitioner-Appellee filed her Petition for Domestic Violence
Civil Protection Order pursuant to R.C. 3113.31 (Case No. 11DV 000019). Petitioner-
Appellee and her witnesses testified at trial .regarding incidents of domestic violence by
the Respondent-Appellant. These incidents were the result of Respondent's alcoholism,
which Respondent-Appellant has addressed and he has been sober for the last five years.
He testified that he had a long standing alcohol problem which resulted in numerous DUl
convictions from 1998 to 2006. He spent time in jail as a result of these convictions.
The Defendant-Appellant filed his Motion to Modify Custody and Establish
Visitation in the Lake County Court of Conn.non Pleas, Domestic Relations Division on
July 1, 2011 (08 DR 652). The txiai coui-t appointed Attorney John W. Shryock as
Guardian-ad-Litem for the minor children on September 2, 2011. The Guardian-ad-Litem
proceeded with his duties including interviewing the parties in this case. However, the
trial court on May 5, 2012, suddenly on its own motion, summarily dismissed Appellant's
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Motion witliout a hearing. The trial court reasoned that because it had denied Appellant's
Motion to Modify its Civil Protection Order in 11 DV 00019, which had prohibited him
from any contact with his children, that his long pending Motion to Determine Custody
and Visitation should be denied. The Appellant filed his Notice of Appeal in May 2012.
One year after the last brief was filed in September 2012, the court of appeals entered its
split decision in September 2013 affzrmiaxg the decision of the trial court.
In support of his position on these issues, the Appellant presents the following
argument.
ARGUMENT IN SUPPORT OF PROPOSITION OF LAW
Proj2psition of Law No. 1: The trial court cannot summarily deny Appellant'slong pending Motion to Modify Custody and Establish Visitation withouta hearing.
The action of the trial court to suddenly and summarily deny Appellant's Motion to
Modify Custody and Establish Visitation violates Appellant's constitutional rights.
Regarding custody and visitation, R.C. Section 3109.051(D) provides that "In
determin3ng whether to grant parenting time to a parent pursuant to this section, the court
shall consider all of the factors set forth in Sections(1)-(16).
A. APPELLANT HAS A CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTEDLIBERTY INTEREST II?•1 THE CARE AND CUS'I'ODYOF t-IIS CI-IILDREN
"At a minimum, due process of law requires notice and opportunity for a hearing,
that is, an opportunity to be heard." Shell v, Shell, 2010-Ohio-5813, citing Mathews v.
Eldridge (1976), 424 U.S. 319, See a1so, Vocaire v. Beltz , 2003-Ohio-6015. Natural
parents have a constitutionally protected liberty interest in the care and custody of their
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children. Id. See Santosky v. Kramer (1982), 445 U.S. 745, 753.
tJnder the facts and circumstances of this case, wherein the motion had been
pend.ing for almost a year and the trial court had already appointed a guardian-ad-litem
who had done extensive work on the case, due process requires that Appellant, because of
his interest in the care and custody of his children, have an opportunity to be heard.
B. IF THE CONCEPT OF DUE PROCESS IS FLEXIBLE AND VARIESDEPENDING ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE INTEItI;ST, WI-IATCOULD BE MORE IMPORTANT TIIAN "TIIE DETERMINATIONOF TI-IE CARE AND CUsTODY OF HIS CHILDREN?
If as the court of appeals argues in this case, that "the concept of due process is
flexible and varies depending on the importance attached to the interest and the particular
circumstances under which the deprivation may occur" State v. I-Iochhausler, (1996), 76
Ohio St. 3d 455, 459, what "interest" and "deprivation" could be more important than the
determination of the care and custody of his children?
Proposition of La--A- No. 2: Under Evidence Rule 2(} 1(B) a trial court cannottake judicial notice of proceedings in a separate action, even if the prioraction was between the same parties and was tried before the same judge.
Evidence Rule 201(I3) provides that judicial notice may be taken of any fact which
is not in dispute and which is capable of ready determination by resort to certain sources.
As the dissent in this case points out, "In applying this rule, the courts of this state llave
consistently held that a trial court cannot take judicial notice of proceedings in a separate
action, even if the prior action was between the same parties and was tried before the
same judge." Page 7 The rationale for this holding is that (as it is in this case) the record
of a prior action (CPO) is not part of the record in the action to modify custody and
visitation. The dissent is correct that the trial court relied on improper evidence in making
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its ruling because the evidence was not part of the record in the underlying matter
involving custody and visitation. Page 8
Proposition of Law No. 3: The court's allocation of parental rights andresponsibilities in the context of a civil protection order are always temporary,and the statute 3113.31 expressly contemplates that orders in a divorce, legalseparation, or juvenile court proceeding should supersede a civil protectionorder as it applies to the minor children.
The Ohio courts have made it crystal clear that "a DVCPO is not a custody
proceeding." Tabler v. Myers, 173 Ohio App. 3d 657, 2007-Ohio-6219. "Any rulings in a
DVCPO dealing with the custody of a minor child are only temporary orders that last
until the custody matter is litigated in a domestic relations or juvenile court." Id.; McCue
v. Martin, 187 Ohio App. 3d 1, 2010-Ohio-1298, paragraph 26.
A. THE DOMESTIC RELATIONS COURT HA:S TIIE AUTHORITYIN THE DIVORCE CASE TO MODIFY THE ALLOCATION OFPARENTAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS SET FORTHIN A CIVII, PROTECTION ORDER IN ANY StJBSEQUENTDIVORCE PROCEEDINfa
A court's allocation of parental rights and responsibilities in the context of a civil
protection order are always temporary, and the statute expressly contemplates that orders
in a divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or juvenile court proceeding should supersede a
civil protection order as it applies to the minor children. Delmatto v. Hamed, 2008-Ohio-
6375, paragraph 22. See also, Yazdani-Isfekani v. Yazdani-Isfekani, 170 Ohio App. 3d 1,
2006-Ohio-7105, at paragraph 23. The Yazdani-Isfekani court took the argument one step
fiirther when it held:
"In the absence of any statuton, grant of continuing jurisdiction that wouldpermit the modification of the allocation of parental rights and responsibilitiesonce a CPO has issued, and in Iight of the general Assembly's express
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intention that a domestic court have the authority to modify such orders in thecontext of a later divorce, dissolutipn, or legal separation proceeding (emphasisadded)... ..." Id., at page 9, paragraph 25.
B COURT OF APPEALS DECISION IS INCONSISTENTWITH THF, EXISTINC; STATUTE AND CASE LAW
The domestic relations court in this case has the authority to modify the allocation
of parental rights and responsibilities as set forth in the CPO. The court in the CPO case
does not have the authority to modify the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities
once it is issued in the divorce case. The eourt of appeals decision in this case is
inconsistent with this case authority. The court of appeals held that the allocation of
parental rights and responsibilities in the CPO case are only temporary in regards to the
initial proceeding of the domestic relations court and not any subsequent proceeding
(Page 5). However, 'The court of appeals does not cite any section of the ORC or any case
law in support of its decision. The court of appeals also fails to cite any statute or case
law in support of its conclusion that "Modification of the protection order is a necessary
prerequisite to the establishment of parenting time with the children:" (Page 6). The
court's decision is inconsistent with all of the case authority on point. The case authority
is all contrary to the court of appeals decision in this case. It is interesting to note that the
civil protection order in the CPO proceeding indicates that it is temporary.
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CONCLUSION
For the reasons discussed above, this case involves matters of public and great
general interest and a substantial constitutional question. The Appellant requests that this
Court grant jurisdiction and allow this case so that the important issues presented in this
case will be reviewed on the merits.
Respectfully submitted,
, , ..
By: ^ ^Edwin V. Hargate, Co.' el of Record
COUNSEL FOR APPELLANTTERRANCE DOWHAN
PROOF OF SERVICE
I certify that a copy of this memorandum in Support of Jurisdiction was sent byregular U.S. mail to counsel for Appellee, Pamela D. Kurt, Att rney at Law, 30432Euclid Avenue, Suite 101, Wickliffe, Ohio 44092, this ^ j^^ day of October, 2013.
40^'-Edwin V. Ilargat
COUNSEL FOR APPELLANTTERRA^NCE DOWHAN
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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
ELEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
LAKE COUNTY, OHIO
SHARON M. DOWHAN,
Plaintiff-Ap
vs-
TERRANCE DOWHAN,
Defendant-
OPINION
F1L.^D ^ NO. 2012-L-065COURT OF: APPEA^^ I
S-p 2:3 ?0t3N4r^,URF6N G. KELLY
lant. + a^^ coU^^^, o^i®
Civil Appeal from the Lake County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic RelationsDivision, Case No. 08 DR 000652.
Judgment: Affirmed.
Pamela D. Kurt and RandyA. Vermilya, 30432 Euclid Avenue, Suite 101, Wickliffe, OH44092 (For Plaintiff-Appellee).