In Re Shumate, Unpublished Decision (4-29-2003)
In Re Shumate, Unpublished Decision (4-29-2003)
Concurring Opinion
While I am troubled by the trial court's failure to include the statutorily required notice language in the notice for the Motion for Permanent Custody, I concur with the majority as to the disposition of the first assignment of error. I do so based on the failure of the appellant to provide a transcript to us and failure to notify appellee, pursuant to Appellate Rule 9(B) of the failure to include the entire transcript.
The notices for the Motion for Permanent Custody do not contain the statutorily required language explaining the consequences of granting permanent custody to MCCS. Had this been a complaint for permanent custody instead of a motion for permanent custody, the failure to include such language would preclude the granting of permanent custody. See O.R.C. Sec.
In addition, the record does establish that appellant was represented by counsel, that this case was an ongoing case where appellant knew what was expected of her under a case plan to get her children back, that witnesses testified and that a guardian ad litem's report was submitted to the trial court. These factors all raise the presumption that the appellant understood the potential consequences of the permanent custody proceedings.
I concur with the disposition of the second assignment of error because there is no record to establish that the GAL report was filed untimely.
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} Appellant is the mother of Serenity Shumate (born 1993), Nicketta Stuchell (born 1992), Adriona Stuchell (born 1994), and Tazz Stuchell (born 1997). On July 18, 2001, MCCS filed separate complaints in the Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas alleging that each child appeared to be neglected and/or dependent as defined by the Revised Code. At the time of the complaint, Tazz was in appellant's custody, while the other three children Serenity, Nicketta, and Adriona were with their maternal grandmother, Nancy Shumate. Nancy had maintained temporary custody of these three children since 1995. The concerns expressed in the complaint were lack of supervision by Nancy and appellant, lack of parenting skills, the children's inappropriate behaviors and sexual acting out, and appellant's mental health issues.
{¶ 3} On August 14, 2001, MCCS filed amended complaints as to Serenity, Nicketta, and Adriona, based on criminal child endangerment charges which were filed against Nancy following intercession by the Zanesville Police. MCCS was awarded temporary custody of these three children following a shelter care hearing on the same day. On August 30, 2001, the remaining child, Tazz, also came into the temporary custody of MCCS (via voluntary placement) when appellant was arrested and held in jail on felony breaking and entering charges. On October 1, 2001, a pretrial was conducted, at which time MCCS was formally granted temporary custody of Tazz. Additionally, both appellant and Aaron Stuchell, the father of Nicketta, Adriona, and Tazz, stipulated to the dependency allegations. Two weeks later, following an adjudicatory hearing at which appellant's then-counsel, Attorney Ruth Ellen Weaver, appeared, all four children were found dependent and ordered maintained in the temporary custody of MCCS.
{¶ 4} Over the course of the next few months, Roger Harris, father of Serenity, filed to obtain custody of Serenity, while Nancy Shumate filed to seek custody of all four children. These motions were denied on February 25, 2002, following a hearing on both. On August 5, 2002, MCCS filed a motion to modify temporary custody to a permanent commitment, regarding all four children. Appellant was served with said motion on or about August 14, 2002. Appellant also obtained new counsel. On September 4, 2002, appellant was served with a "Notice of Permanent Custody Hearing" in each child's case. The notices each read as follows:
{¶ 5} "You are hereby notified that a Permanent Custody Hearing on the above captioned case is scheduled for 10/29/2002 at 9:00 AM at the Muskingum County Juvenile Court, 1860 East Pike, Zanesville, Ohio, 43701.
{¶ 6} "* * * If you wish to have a Court Appointed Attorney for this hearing, you must contact the Court (Shelia Halsey) at 453-0351. * * *"
{¶ 7} A contested hearing was conducted on October 29, 2002.
{¶ 8} On November 13, 2002, the trial court issued a judgment entry granting permanent custody of all four children to MCCS.1 Appellant timely appealed and herein raises the following two Assignments of Error as to each child's case:
{¶ 9} "I. The trial court did not have authority or jurisdiction under Ohio revised code to issue an order terminating parental rights and granting permanent custody, due to failure to provide appellant with the proper notice required by R.C.
{¶ 10} "II. The appellant was denied due process of law [,] and the trial court's order terminating parental rights and granting permanent custody is invalid, due to the failure of [the] guardian ad litem to file a written report prior to or at the time of the hearing in this matter as required by R.C.
{¶ 12} R.C.
{¶ 13} We first note that appellant and her trial counsel did not raise any issues of notice defect to the trial court. See Juv.R. 22(D). In a permanent custody proceeding, notice can be waived. See In re Crow
(Jan. 22, 2001), Darke App. No. CA 1521, citing In re Frinzl (1949),
{¶ 14} Nonetheless, even absent an application of the waiver rationale, we find appellant's argument without merit. Certainly, as the Ohio Supreme Court has stated, parents in permanent custody actions "must be afforded every procedural and substantive protection the law allows." In re Hayes (1997),
{¶ 15} The complaints of July 18, 2001 each contained the following summons language:
{¶ 16} "ANY PARTY (juvenile, parent, parent having custody of a juvenile, guardian or custodian, or person with whom a juvenile is) is entitled to consult with counsel in any proceedings in Juvenile Court; AND IF ANY PARTY is indigent, the Court will appoint counsel or designate a Court Appointed Counsel to provide legal representation upon request. Contact the Deputy Clerk at Juvenile Court Monday-Friday, 8:30 — 4:30, phone 453-0351. When a complaint contains a prayer or request for the permanent custody of a neglected or dependent child or children, the parents of said child or children are hereby notified that the granting of such permanent custody takes from them all rights, duties, and obligation of a parent, including the right to consent to an adoption of the child or children."
{¶ 17} It is thus undisputed in the case sub judice that MCCS's original complaints alleging neglect/dependency were each served with a summons reciting the R.C.
{¶ 18} Appellant's First Assignment of Error is therefore overruled.
{¶ 20} R.C.
{¶ 21} The failure to object to a procedural irregularity under R.C.
{¶ 22} Accordingly, appellant's Second Assignment of Error is overruled.
{¶ 23} For the reasons stated in the foregoing opinion, the decisions of the Court of Common Pleas, Muskingum County, Ohio, are hereby affirmed.
By: Wise, P.J., Boggins, J., concurs.
Edwards, J., concurs separately.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.