In Re Feaster, Unpublished Decision (3-10-1999)
In Re Feaster, Unpublished Decision (3-10-1999)
Opinion of the Court
CSB filed a motion for permanent custody on October 10, 1997. A trial on the matter was scheduled for March 5, 1998. The Summit County Sheriff's Office attempted to serve Ms. Booze with notice of the trial on two separate occasions; however, Ms. Booze could not be located. The assistant prosecutor filed an affidavit averring that Ms. Booze's address was unknown and could not with reasonable diligence be ascertained. Service by publication was completed on January 27, 1998.
On March 4, 1998, the juvenile court received a letter from Ms. Booze in which she requested a continuance of the permanent custody hearing, requested court appointed counsel, and informed the court that she was in the Bedford Heights Jail. On March 5, 1998, Ms. Booze's previously appointed counsel moved the court for a continuance because he had just recently learned of his client's whereabouts. The court granted the motion and scheduled the permanent custody hearing for March 19, 1998. It appears from the record that the order granting the continuance was mailed to the prosecutor and Ms. Booze's attorney. On March 11, 1998, Ms. Booze's attorney moved the court for a warrant of removal directing the Summit County Sheriff to transport Ms. Booze to and from the permanent custody hearing. The juvenile court granted that order; however, it was never executed because Ms. Booze was apparently released from the Bedford Heights Jail prior to the hearing date.
At the permanent custody hearing on March 19, 1998, although Ms. Booze was not in attendance, her appointed counsel was present. Her counsel moved the court for another continuance. He informed the court that he once again was not aware of his client's whereabouts, and that he had not had an opportunity to speak to her. He argued that his ability to represent and defend his client had been "seriously jeopardized" by his inability to meet with her. The juvenile court denied the motion and proceeded with the hearing. The juvenile court terminated Ms. Booze's parental rights and granted permanent custody of Samuel to CSB. Ms. Booze has timely appealed, raising one assignment of error.
Ms. Booze has argued that the juvenile court had no jurisdiction to grant permanent custody to CSB. She has based her argument on the allegation that, after her whereabouts became known on March 4, 1998, the State made no further efforts to serve her pursuant to Section
It is important to note that Ms. Booze was represented by counsel at the adjudicatory hearing, the dispositional hearing, the original permanent custody hearing scheduled on May 5, 1998, and at the permanent custody hearing. At the permanent custody hearing, her counsel did not raise the issue of lack of notice. Her counsel moved the juvenile court for a continuance of the custody hearing because he had been unable to speak with his client. He told the court that he felt that his ability to represent and defend her had been seriously jeopardized. The juvenile court denied the motion for a continuance.
Ms. Booze's counsel did not at any time mention that Ms. Booze had not received proper notice. In fact, when the State asked the juvenile court to put on the record that proper service had been effectuated, Ms. Booze's counsel did not object. The juvenile court subsequently found that Ms. Booze had been properly served with notice. By failing to raise the issue of lack of notice in the juvenile court, Ms. Booze has waived any possible error on appeal. In re Jones (Sept. 16, 1998), Summit App. No. 18813, unreported, at 3; In re Gibson (June 10, 1992), Summit App. No. 15416, unreported, at 3. Accordingly, Ms. Booze's sole assignment of error is overruled.
Judgment affirmed.
The Court finds that there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
We order that a special mandate issue out of this Court, directing the County of Summit, Court of Common Pleas, to carry this judgment into execution. A certified copy of this journal entry shall constitute the mandate, pursuant to App.R. 27.
Immediately upon the filing hereof, this document shall constitute the journal entry of judgment, and it shall be file stamped by the Clerk of the Court of Appeals at which time the period for review shall begin to run. App.R. 22(E).
Costs taxed to appellant.
Exceptions. ___________________________ MARY CACIOPPO, FOR THE COURT
SLABY, P. J.
CARR, J., CONCUR
(Cacioppo, J., retired Judge of the Ninth District Court of Appeals, sitting by assignment pursuant to Section 6(C), Article IV, Constitution.)
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.