Opinion
No. 353984 No. 353992
10-07-2021
SP, Petitioner-Appellee, v. BEK, Respondent-Appellant. SP, Petitioner-Appellee, v. BEK, Respondent-Appellant.
The Gallagher Law Firm, PLC (by Shane Hilyard) for respondent.
The Gallagher Law Firm, PLC (by Shane Hilyard) for respondent.
Before: Sawyer, P.J., and Stephens and Rick, JJ.
Rick, J. In these consolidated personal protection order (PPO) appeals, respondent, BEK, appeals as of right the trial court order denying his motion to terminate the PPOs issued against respondent on behalf of two minor children, HP and RP. Respondent argues that MCL 600.2950(26)(b) precludes a court from issuing a PPO on the behalf of a minor child against a respondent who is the parent of the minor child and whose parental rights have been terminated. This is an issue of first impression for this Court and is a matter of statutory interpretation. See MCR 7.215(B)(2). Respondent also argues that the trial court abused its discretion by granting the ex parte PPOs and denying his motion to terminate the PPOs. We affirm.
SP v BEK , unpublished order of the Court of Appeals, entered June 30, 2020 (Docket Nos. 353984 and 353992).
Although the PPOs were set to expire on February 10, 2021, the issue is not moot because the issuance of a PPO can affect other rights. See Hayford v. Hayford, 279 Mich.App. 324, 325, 760 N.W.2d 503 (2008) (holding that although the PPO had been terminated since the filing of the appeal, the entry of the PPO was not moot because it "may affect eligibility for a federal firearms license"). Petitioner did not submit a brief on appeal and, therefore, does not assert that the issue is moot.
I. BACKGROUND
Petitioner and respondent were previously married and were divorced at the time that the petitions were filed. HP and RP were born to the parties during the marriage.
In 2016, respondent was charged with five counts of criminal sexual conduct (CSC) based on allegations that he had sexually abused the minor children. Although respondent was acquitted of all CSC charges in 2018, child protective proceedings to terminate respondent's parental rights were initiated on the basis of the CSC allegations. In the child protective proceedings, the trial court took jurisdiction over the children and found by clear and convincing evidence that termination was in the best interests of the children. Following respondent's acquittal of the CSC charges, his parental rights to both RP and HP were terminated in May 2018. Respondent had little to no contact with the minor children between 2015 and 2019 and had no contact with the children from May 2018 until November 2019.
The termination of parental rights court file is not part of the lower court record in this appeal. However, respondent did not dispute that his parental rights had been terminated on the basis of the allegations of sexual abuse, and the trial court considered the sexual abuse allegations that led to respondent's termination of parental rights in its findings and ruling.
In February 2020, petitioner filed two separate petitions seeking ex parte PPOs against respondent on behalf of RP and HP. In the petitions, petitioner alleged that respondent had attended four of HP's basketball games in November 2019, December 2019, and February 2020. Petitioner asserted that respondent stood up in the stands so that HP would see him during the games and that respondent tried to intimidate HP. Petitioner asserted that the children exhibited mental distress after seeing respondent at the games. The trial court entered an ex parte PPO against respondent on behalf of both minor children.
Respondent moved to terminate the PPOs in March 2020, arguing that the trial court erred by issuing them. Specifically, respondent argued that the PPOs could not be issued against him under MCL 600.2950(26)(b) because he was the parent of the unemancipated minor children protected by the PPOs and that the allegations in the petitions were insufficient to support the issuance of the ex parte PPOs.
Following a motion hearing, the trial court denied respondent's motion to terminate the PPOs. The trial court rejected respondent's argument that the PPOs were improperly granted because of MCL 600.2950(26)(b) and concluded that MCL 600.2950(26)(b) did not preclude it from issuing the PPOs because respondent's parental rights had been terminated. The court also concluded that the ex parte PPOs were appropriately granted.
II. STANDARD OF REVIEW
The granting and continuation of a PPO is "within the sound discretion of the trial court and will not be reversed on appeal absent an abuse of discretion." Pickering v. Pickering , 253 Mich.App. 694, 700, 659 N.W.2d 649 (2002). "An abuse of discretion occurs when the decision resulted in an outcome falling outside the range of principled outcomes." Hayford v. Hayford , 279 Mich.App. 324, 325, 760 N.W.2d 503 (2008). A trial court's findings of fact underlying a PPO ruling are reviewed for clear error. Id. "The clear-error standard requires us to give deference to the lower court and find clear error only if we are nevertheless left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been made." Arbor Farms, LLC v. GeoStar Corp. , 305 Mich.App. 374, 386-387, 853 N.W.2d 421 (2014) (cleaned up). Additionally, "regard shall be given to the special opportunity of the trial court to judge the credibility of the witnesses who appeared before it." MCR 2.613(C). "[T]he trier of fact has the advantage of being able to consider the demeanor of the witnesses in determining how much weight and credibility to accord their testimony." In re Miller , 433 Mich. 331, 337, 445 N.W.2d 161 (1989). Questions of statutory interpretation are reviewed de novo. Hayford , 279 Mich.App. at 325, 760 N.W.2d 503.
III. ANALYSIS
Respondent first argues that the trial court erred in its interpretation and application of MCL 600.2950(26)(b). We disagree. MCL 600.2950 sets forth the criteria under which a trial court may issue a PPO in a "domestic" context. The statute permits the court to restrain or enjoin from taking certain actions the petitioner's spouse, the petitioner's former spouse, an individual with whom the petitioner has had a child in common, an individual with whom the petitioner has or has had a dating relationship, or an individual residing or having resided in the same household as the petitioner. MCL 600.2950(1). Under MCL 600.2950(4), the trial court is required to issue a PPO if it determines that "there is reasonable cause to believe that the individual to be restrained or enjoined may commit 1 or more of the acts listed in subsection (1)."
Respondent argues that the trial court erred in its interpretation and application of MCL 600.2950(26)(b) because the subsection precluded the trial court from granting the PPOs on these facts.
The primary goal of judicial interpretation of statutes is to ascertain and give effect to the Legislature's intent. Mich. Ed. Ass'n v. Secretary of State (On Rehearing ), 489 Mich. 194, 217, 801 N.W.2d 35 (2011). "[T]he provisions of a statute should be read reasonably and in context." McCahan v. Brennan , 492 Mich. 730, 739, 822 N.W.2d 747 (2012). "[N]othing may be read into a statute that is not within the manifest intent of the Legislature as derived from the act itself." Mich. Ed. Ass'n , 489 Mich. at 218, 801 N.W.2d 35 (cleaned up). "When the plain and ordinary meaning of statutory language is clear, judicial construction is neither necessary nor permitted." Pace v. Edel-Harrelson , 499 Mich. 1, 7, 878 N.W.2d 784 (2016).
However, "[a] provision is not ambiguous just because ‘reasonable minds can differ regarding’ the meaning of the provision." People v. Gardner , 482 Mich. 41, 50 n. 12, 753 N.W.2d 78 (2008), quoting Mayor of Lansing v. Pub. Serv. Comm. , 470 Mich. 154, 165, 680 N.W.2d 840 (2004). "Rather, a provision of the law is ambiguous only if it irreconcilably conflicts with another provision, or when it is equally susceptible to more than a single meaning." Mayor of Lansing , 470 Mich. at 166, 680 N.W.2d 840 (cleaned up). An apparently ambiguous statute can be clarified by the remainder of the statutory scheme. MidAmerican Energy Co. v. Dep't of Treasury , 308 Mich.App. 362, 370, 863 N.W.2d 387 (2014).
"Where the language of a statute is of doubtful meaning, a court must look to the object of the statute in light of the harm it is designed to remedy, and strive to apply a reasonable construction that will best accomplish the Legislature's purpose." Marquis v. Hartford Accident & Indemnity (After Remand) , 444 Mich. 638, 644, 513 N.W.2d 799 (1994). However, "a court should not abandon the canons of common sense." Id. This Court should avoid any construction that would render any part of a statute surplusage or nugatory. Robinson v. Lansing , 486 Mich. 1, 21, 782 N.W.2d 171 (2010). Further, "[s]tatutes should be construed so as to prevent absurd results, injustice, or prejudice to the public interest." McAuley v. Gen. Motors Corp. , 457 Mich. 513, 518, 578 N.W.2d 282 (1998).
MCL 600.2950(26)(b) provides that "[a] court shall not issue a personal protection order that restrains or enjoins conduct described in subsection (1) if ... [t]he petitioner is the unemancipated minor child of the respondent." Although respondent does not dispute that his parental rights to the minor children were terminated, he argues that because he is the natural father or parent of the minor children as defined by MCL 722.1(b), the PPOs were issued in violation of MCL 600.2950(26)(b). "Minor" and "emancipated" are not defined under MCL 600.2950. However, "[w]hen two statutes or provisions lend themselves to a construction that avoids conflict, that interpretation is controlling." Bloomfield Twp. v. Kane , 302 Mich.App. 170, 176, 839 N.W.2d 505 (2013). "Statutes that address the same subject or share a common purpose are in pari materia and must be read together as a whole." Id. (cleaned up). "The objective of the in pari materia rule is to give effect to the legislative purpose as found in statutes addressing a particular subject." Id .
MCL 722.1 et seq. , codifies the "fundamental liberty interest of parents with regard to their children ...." Ryan v. Ryan , 260 Mich.App. 315, 333, 677 N.W.2d 899 (2004). MCL 722.1 provides the following definitions:
(a) "Minor" means a person under the age of 18 years.
(b) "Parents" means natural parents, if married prior or subsequent to the minor's birth; adopting parents, if the minor has been legally adopted; or the mother, if the minor is illegitimate.
(c) "Emancipation" means termination of the rights of the parents to the custody, control, services and earnings of a minor.
Respondent argues that in order for a court to issue a PPO under MCL 600.2950 as it relates to a minor child as petitioner against a respondent parent, the child must be emancipated from both parents, meaning both parents’ parental rights must be terminated. Respondent asserts that the language of MCL 722.1(c) requires that both parents’ parental rights be terminated in order for a minor to be "emancipated." However, a plural term may include the singular, and a singular term may be extended to include its plural. Empire Iron Mining Partnership v. Orhanen , 455 Mich. 410, 428, 565 N.W.2d 844 (1997) ; see also MCL 8.3b. Given the definitions provided by MCL 722.1, we hold that "emancipated minor" as it relates to MCL 600.2950(26)(b) applies to a minor child when the parental rights of one or both parents have been terminated.
The trial court did not err when it concluded that MCL 600.2950(26)(b) did not preclude it from issuing the PPOs against respondent. It is undisputed that respondent's parental rights to the minor children were terminated. On the basis of the definitions provided by MCL 722.1, the minor children were "emancipated minors" as to respondent because respondent's parental rights were terminated at the time the petitions were filed. Therefore, the trial court was not precluded from issuing the PPOs under MCL 600.2950(26)(b) because the statute did not apply under these circumstances.
MCL 712A.19b(5) provides, "If the court finds that there are grounds for termination of parental rights and that termination of parental rights is in the child's best interests, the court shall order termination of parental rights and order that additional efforts for reunification of the child with the parent not be made." "[W]hen parental rights are terminated, what is lost are those interests identified by the Legislature as parental rights . In other words, the terminated parent loses any entitlement to the custody, control, services and earnings of the minor." In re Beck , 488 Mich. 6, 15, 793 N.W.2d 562 (2010) (cleaned up).
B. ISSUANCE OF PPOS AND MOTION TO TERMINATE
Respondent also argues that the trial court abused its discretion by granting the ex parte PPOs and denying his motion to terminate the PPOs. We disagree.
As indicated, under MCL 600.2950(4), the trial court is required to issue a PPO if it determines that "there is reasonable cause to believe that the individual to be restrained or enjoined may commit 1 or more of the acts listed in [ MCL 600.2950(1) ]." "The petitioner bears the burden of establishing reasonable cause for issuance of a PPO and of establishing a justification for the continuance of a PPO at a hearing on the respondent's motion to terminate the PPO." Hayford , 279 Mich.App. at 326, 760 N.W.2d 503 (citations omitted). "The trial court must consider the testimony, documents, and other evidence proffered and whether the respondent had previously engaged in the listed acts." Id. ; see also MCL 600.2950(4). "A court shall issue an ex parte personal protection order without written or oral notice to the individual restrained or enjoined or his or her attorney if it clearly appears from specific facts shown by a verified complaint, written motion, or affidavit that immediate and irreparable injury, loss, or damage will result from the delay required to effectuate notice or that the notice will itself precipitate adverse action before a personal protection order can be issued." MCL 600.2950(12) ; see also MCR 3.705(A)(2). "[T]he court must make a positive finding of prohibited behavior by the respondent before issuing a PPO." Kampf v. Kampf , 237 Mich.App. 377, 386, 603 N.W.2d 295 (1999). To terminate a PPO, a respondent is required to show "good cause." MCR 3.707(A)(1)(b).
MCL 600.2950(1)(j) allows a court to restrain individuals from engaging in conduct that is prohibited under MCL 750.411h, Michigan's stalking statute. "Stalking" is defined as "a willful course of conduct involving repeated or continuing harassment of another individual that would cause a reasonable person to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed, or molested and that actually causes the victim to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed, or molested." MCL 750.411h(1)(d). MCL 750.411h(1) further provides, in pertinent part:
(a) "Course of conduct" means a pattern of conduct composed of a series of 2 or more separate noncontinuous acts evidencing a continuity of purpose.
(b) "Emotional distress" means significant mental suffering or distress that may, but does not necessarily, require medical or other professional treatment or counseling.
(c) "Harassment" means conduct directed toward a victim that includes, but is not limited to, repeated or continuing unconsented contact that would cause a reasonable individual to suffer emotional distress and that actually causes the victim to suffer emotional distress. Harassment does not include constitutionally protected activity or conduct that serves a legitimate purpose.
* * *
(e) "Unconsented contact" means any contact with another individual that is initiated or continued without that individual's consent or in disregard of that individual's expressed desire that the contact be avoided or discontinued. Unconsented contact includes, but is not limited to, any of the following:
(i ) Following or appearing within the sight of that individual.
(ii ) Approaching or confronting that individual in a public place or on private property.
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(f) "Victim" means an individual who is the target of a willful course of conduct involving repeated or continuing harassment.
However, MCL 750.411h "does not require a showing of fear." Hayford , 279 Mich.App. at 331, 760 N.W.2d 503.
Respondent argues that the factual allegations were insufficient to support the issuance of the ex parte PPOs. Specifically, respondent argues that there was no evidence to support "the showing of any immediate or irreparable harm or intimidation perpetrated by [respondent] towards HP and RP" and that the allegations did not allege that he "made any attempts to contact, intimidate or otherwise interact with HP and RP."
We hold that the allegations were sufficient to support the issuance of the ex parte PPOs. The evidence at the hearing was sufficient to support the denial of respondent's motion to terminate the PPOs. The allegations and evidence established that there was reasonable cause to believe that respondent engaged in stalking behavior. MCL 600.2950(1)(j) and (4).
The record sufficiently supported the trial court's findings regarding respondent's behavior at HP's basketball games and we are not "left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been made" regarding its findings. Arbor Farms, LLC , 305 Mich.App. at 386-387, 853 N.W.2d 421 (cleaned up). The court found that the petition alleged four instances of contact between the minor children and respondent. Respondent did not dispute that he attended at least four basketball games on four separate occasions. The court noted that at least two of the contacts involved RP. At the hearing, petitioner testified that respondent stood during the games to make sure that HP saw respondent. Photographs of respondent attending the games showed respondent standing at the top of the bleachers and that respondent was the only individual standing in the stands. Petitioner testified that one photograph taken at the February 2020 game depicted respondent staring at HP, who was seated on the bench, while most other spectators watched what was going on in the game.
Respondent argues that to grant the PPOs, the trial court was required to find that the intent behind his course of conduct was "to bring about the reaction or else the language selected, such as ‘willful,’ and ‘purpose’ would not have been the words chosen by the Legislature." Respondent's argument has no merit. The plain language of the statute requires only that respondent willfully engage in the "course of conduct." MCL 750.411h(1)(d). "Willful" has been defined as "[p]roceeding from a conscious motion of the will; voluntary; knowingly; deliberate." Jennings v. Southwood , 446 Mich. 125, 140, 521 N.W.2d 230 (1994) (cleaned up). MCL 750.411h does not require that an individual engage in the "course of conduct" with the intent to bring about the harm. Cf. Jennings , 446 Mich. at 140, 521 N.W.2d 230 ("Willful and wanton misconduct is made out only if the conduct alleged shows an intent to harm or, if not that, such indifference to whether harm will result as to be the equivalent of a willingness that it does.") (cleaned up; emphasis omitted). Rather, MCL 750.411h(1)(d) requires a showing that an individual willfully engaged in the "course of conduct" and that the conduct "would cause a reasonable person to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed, or molested and that actually causes the victim to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed, or molested." MCL 750.411h(1)(d). Respondent did not dispute that he attended at least four basketball games on four separate occasions, that he stood in the stands, or that HP or RP actually saw him at the games. Accordingly, the trial court did not err when it concluded that respondent engaged in "a willful course of conduct" that included a "series of 2 or more separate noncontinuous acts evidencing a continuity of purpose." MCL 750.411h(1)(a) and (d).
Respondent requests that we adopt a "more appropriate definition of stalking." However, "nothing may be read into a statute that is not within the manifest intent of the Legislature as derived from the act itself." Mich. Ed. Ass'n , 489 Mich. at 218, 801 N.W.2d 35 (cleaned up). "When the plain and ordinary meaning of [the] statutory language is clear, judicial construction is neither necessary nor permitted." Pace , 499 Mich. at 7, 878 N.W.2d 784. Therefore, we refuse to adopt a new definition of stalking under MCL 750.411h because it would be contrary to the language of the statute and the intent of the Legislature. Under the language of the statute, the trial court did not err when it concluded that respondent willfully engaged in the course of conduct of attending the basketball games.
The trial court also did not err in holding that the minor children experienced emotional distress as a result of respondent's harassment. Respondent had little to no contact with the children between 2015 and 2019. Respondent was acquitted in criminal court of five counts of CSC under the standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Nevertheless, the allegations underlying those charges were sufficiently proven by clear and convincing evidence such that respondent's parental rights to the minor children were terminated as a result of the CSC allegations in May 2018. Petitioner testified that before the November 2019 game, the children had not seen respondent since May 2018. Petitioner alleged that respondent stood in the stands during HP's basketball game and tried to intimidate HP and that respondent's behavior at the games caused both of the children mental distress. Petitioner stated that although respondent was found not guilty of the criminal CSC charges, the children had daily mental distress as a result of the alleged sexual abuse that he perpetuated against the children and that respondent's attendance and behavior at the games brought back "a lot of fear in [the minor children] ...."
After the November 2019 game, petitioner alleged that HP and RP were "in tears" and asked "when this will end[?]" Further, petitioner alleged that HP would not eat after the game, did not "say much" and put his head on the table, which was not normal behavior. Petitioner asserted that the children were distressed after each game that respondent attended. A photograph admitted at the hearing depicted HP with his head on a table during dinner after the November 2019 game. A photograph of RP, after she saw respondent at the February 2020 game, was also admitted during the hearing. Petitioner testified that the photograph showed RP's anxiety. Petitioner further testified that the children wanted the basketball season to "hurry up and be over with so they didn't have to deal with this" and that HP no longer wanted to play other sports because he feared that respondent would attend his games.
As indicated earlier, respondent did not dispute that he attended at least four basketball games on four separate occasions, that he stood in the stands, or that HP or RP actually saw him at the games. Respondent testified that he did not do anything at the basketball games with the intent to get the attention of HP, RP, or petitioner and that he only stood in the stands during halftime. Respondent speculated that his presence did not affect how HP played during the basketball games, and he did not believe HP felt there was any immediate danger. Respondent also testified that he only saw RP at the February 2020 game and speculated that RP did not appear to have "any angst" or "fear."
The trial court rejected respondent's cavalier rendition of how his conduct impacted the children. On the basis of the petition, hearing testimony, and photograph exhibits, the trial court concluded that respondent's intent was "to make his presence known, i.e., frighten, harass, intimidate, and threaten." The trial court also considered the sexual abuse allegations that led to the termination of respondent's parental rights and found that respondent's presence at the games caused harm to the children. As indicated, respondent did not dispute that his parental rights to the minor children had been terminated as a result of CSC allegations that involved the minor children. Regarding the immediacy of the harm, the trial court, considering the sexual abuse allegations and circumstances that led to the termination of respondent's parental rights, concluded that the moment that the children became aware of respondent's presence there was "immediate and irreparable" harm that affected the children. The trial court recognized that respondent testified that he only attended the games to watch HP play. However, the trial court found that petitioner's testimony was more credible. This Court defers to the trial court regarding the weight of the evidence and credibility of witnesses. MCR 2.613(C) ; see also In re Miller , 433 Mich. at 337, 445 N.W.2d 161 ("[T]he trier of fact has the advantage of being able to consider the demeanor of the witnesses in determining how much weight and credibility to accord their testimony."). Considering all the evidence presented at the hearing, we conclude that the trial court did not clearly err when it found that the minor children and petitioner did in fact experience, and that a reasonable person would also have experienced, significant mental distress as a result of respondent's conduct considering the circumstances.
Importantly, under MCL 600.2950(4), petitioner was not required to show that respondent actually committed one of the acts listed in MCL 600.2950(1), only that there was reasonable cause to believe that he may commit one of the acts. While respondent claims that petitioner was not credible, the trial court properly considered petitioner's statements in support of the petition and found petitioner credible. The trial court did not clearly err by finding reasonable cause to believe that respondent might commit one of the prohibited acts under MCL 600.2950(1). Additionally, given the circumstances, the trial court did not err by concluding that immediate and irreparable injury, loss, or damage would result from the delay required to give notice to respondent or abuse its discretion by granting the ex parte PPOs. MCL 600.2950(12).
In sum, the trial court's findings of fact were not clearly erroneous, and we are not left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been made. Arbor Farms, LLC , 305 Mich.App. at 386-387, 853 N.W.2d 421. The trial court's issuance of the ex parte PPOs and denial of respondent's motion to terminate the PPOs fell within the range of principled outcomes. Hayford , 279 Mich.App. at 325, 760 N.W.2d 503. Accordingly, the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it granted the ex parte PPOs, nor did it do so when it denied respondent's motion to terminate the PPOs. Id.
Affirmed.
Sawyer, P.J., and Stephens, J., concurred with Rick, J.