Merle v. Stantz, Unpublished Decision (9-17-1998)
Merle v. Stantz, Unpublished Decision (9-17-1998)
Opinion of the Court
Appellee Amy Merle filed a complaint, to establish paternity, in the Richland County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, on July 8, 1997. In the complaint, appellee alleges appellant is the biological father of Jacob Merle, born February 4, 1997. The trial court conducted an initial hearing, in this matter, on July 31, 1997. At this hearing, the trial court ordered the parties to undergo genetic testing. The genetic testing was performed at the offices of the Richland County Child Support Enforcement Agency, in cooperation with LabCorp of America, on August 6, 1997.
The trial court scheduled the final hearing, in this matter, for October 2, 1997. At this hearing, appellant requested a continuance so he could obtain private, additional genetic testing. Appellant disputed the test results which indicated a 99.72% probability that he was the biological father of the minor child. The trial court granted appellant's request for a continuance and rescheduled the matter for October 23, 1997. The trial court further informed appellant that at the hearing scheduled for October 23, 1997, he would be required to furnish proof of payment of a deposit to a private laboratory for genetic testing.
On October 23, 1997, the trial court conducted the final hearing. Appellant indicated, at this hearing, he did not secure the genetic testing due to confusion over the cost from the various companies that he contacted. Appellant requested another continuance to acquire additional genetic testing. The trial court denied appellant's request. On November 19, 1997, the magistrate issued her decision finding appellant to be the biological father of the minor child. Appellant filed objections to the magistrate's decision on December 3, 1997. The trial court overruled appellant's objections on January 9, 1998.
Appellant timely filed his notice of appeal. Appellant did not set forth, in his brief, an assignment of error as required by App.R. 16(A)(3). We therefore summarize appellant's assignment of error as follows:
I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT REFUSED TO GRANT ADDITIONAL TIME FOR THE APPELLANT-DEFENDANT TO ACQUIRE ADDITIONAL GENETIC TESTING TO DETERMINE PATERNITY OF THE MINOR CHILD.
Although R.C.
The grant or denial of a continuance is a matter that is entrusted to the broad, sound discretion of the trial court.State v. Unger (1981),
The trial court gave appellant an opportunity to make the necessary arrangements on October 2, 1997, when it continued the hearing. Appellant did not set forth a legitimate reason for his request for a second continuance. Further, appellant contributed to the circumstances giving rise to his request for a second continuance because he failed to meet the deadline set by the trial court. We therefore find appellant must accept the results of the test conducted by the Richland County Child Support Enforcement Agency and LabCorp of America.
Appellant also challenges the reliability of the genetic testing. However, appellant failed to object to the admission of the genetic testing at the hearing. Ordinarily, errors which arise during the course of a trial and which are not brought to the attention of the court by objection or otherwise are waived and may not be raised on appeal. Stores Realty Co. v. City ofCleveland (1975),
Appellant's assignment of error is overruled.
For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, Richland County, Ohio, is hereby affirmed.
By: Wise, J., Gwin, P. J., and Reader, J., concur.
For the reasons stated in the Memorandum-Opinion on file, the judgment of the Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, of Richland County, Ohio, is affirmed.
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