ROBERT E BOWERS V JENNIFER K VANDERMEULEN-BOWERS
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
ROBERT E. BOWERS,
FOR PUBLICATION
March 25, 2008
9:00 a.m.
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v
JENNIFER K. VANDERMEULEN-BOWERS,
Defendant-Appellant.
No. 274377
Mecosta Circuit Court
LC No. 02-015357-DM
Advance Sheets Version
Before: Wilder, P.J., Saad, C.J., and Smolenski, J.
PER CURIAM.
Jennifer VanderMeulen-Bowers appeals by leave granted the trial court's order vacating a
temporary restraining order, which had prohibited Robert E. Bowers from removing the parties'
son Calin from enrollment at Hillcrest Elementary School and from moving Calin's residence by
more than 100 miles. At a hearing held two days after it had entered the restraining order, the
trial court found that Robert's proposed change in legal residence would not exceed the 100-mile
limit imposed by MCL 722.31. Because the change in legal residence would not exceed the 100mile limit, the trial court determined that Robert did not need permission to make the move and
vacated the restraining order. The trial court did not address Jennifer's disagreement with the
proposed change in schools. We conclude that the trial court properly determined that the 100mile limitation imposed by MCL 722.31 refers to radial miles rather than road miles,1 and did
not err when it found that the distance between Robert's current residence and his proposed
residence was less than 100 miles. However, because we conclude that the trial court
prematurely vacated the restraining order before resolving the parties' dispute over the change in
schools, we reverse the trial court's decision to vacate the restraining order, and remand for a
hearing to address whether the change in schools is in Calin's best interest.
I. Facts and Procedural History
1
As used in this opinion, "road miles" refers to the distance between two points along the
shortest route of public travel. "Radial miles" refers to the distance between two points as
measured along a straight line. See Lash v Traverse City, 479 Mich 180, 183 n 1; 735 NW2d
628 (2007).
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Robert and Jennifer married in 1999. A year later, Jennifer gave birth to Calin, who was
their only child. In 2004 Robert and Jennifer divorced. The judgment of divorce provided for
joint legal custody of Calin, but awarded sole physical custody to Robert. The judgment of
divorce provided Jennifer with "reasonable and liberal parenting time." At the time of the
divorce, Robert lived in Big Rapids and Jennifer lived in Grand Rapids.2
In August 2006, Robert moved for sole legal custody of Calin on the ground that Jennifer
refused to cooperate with plaintiff on medical decisions, interfered with Calin's education, and
refused to discuss Robert's possible move to a new residence.
In October 2006, Jennifer moved ex parte for a temporary restraining order to prevent
Robert from removing Calin from Hillcrest Elementary School and from moving Calin's
residence to Byron. The trial court granted the motion and entered the restraining order on
October 25, 2006. The trial court scheduled a hearing on the merits of Jennifer's motion for
October 27, 2006.
At the hearing, the trial court stated that it had entered the restraining order on the basis
of Jennifer's representation that Calin's new residence would be more than 100 miles from Big
Rapids, but had since determined that there was a question of fact concerning whether Byron was
more than 100 miles from Big Rapids. The trial court indicated that the hearing would be limited
to determining the distance between the proposed new residence and Big Rapids.
Thereafter, Robert testified about his current residence and his intention to move to a
location near the village of Byron. On cross-examination, Robert testified that he calculated the
distance between his current residence and the proposed residence near Byron by measuring the
distance between the two locations along a straight line using a ruler and a map. After Jennifer's
counsel began to question Robert about the road miles between the two locations, the trial court
interrupted:
I believe [Jennifer's counsel's] position in this matter, is that the hundred
miles should be calculated by using Map Quest or a map, and utilizing the route
that [] would commonly be traveled or the shortest distance that would be traveled
in an automobile. Understanding that his position is that between two points in
Michigan, there is no such thing as a straight line in the sense that if you're
traveling, the distance would be according to how you would normally drive a
car.
Jennifer's counsel confirmed that this was her position, given the legislative history of MCL
722.31.
The trial court then summarized Robert's position:
2
All the locations at issue are in Michigan.
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And [Robert's counsel's] position, I think is reflecting, likely a ruling that I
have made in other cases in this county, wherein I've indicated that we simply
take a ruler to a map and measure. Now, that's not a court rule . . . that is a ruling
I have made in similar cases.
Following the summation of the parties' positions on how the distance should be
calculated, Jennifer's counsel noted that, where parties with joint legal custody of a child
disagree about a change in school districts, the disagreement must be resolved by a trial court
before the change can occur. For that reason, Jennifer's counsel argued that, even if the court
were to conclude that the move was within the 100-mile limit, the court should bar Robert's
move pending a hearing to determine whether the change in residence was in Calin's best
interest.
After this discussion, the trial court determined that the proper method for calculating the
distance between the current legal residence and the proposed residence was to measure the
distance in a straight line. Using this method, the court had the parties measure the distance on a
map. The measurement showed that the distance between the two locations was less than 100
miles. Because the move was within the 100-mile limit set by MCL 722.31, the trial court
elected to vacate the restraining order. The court also stated that it would not resolve the
disagreement over the change in schools. But it did acknowledge that if the parties were unable
to agree on the change, they could return and seek guidance.
On the same day as the hearing, the trial court entered an order setting aside the
restraining order of October 25, 2006.
This appeal followed.
II. The 100-Mile Limit Under MCL 722.31
Jennifer first argues that the trial court erred when it used radial miles to calculate the
distance between Robert's Big Rapids residence and the proposed residence near Byron. Jennifer
contends that, under MCL 722.31(1), the trial court must calculate the distance using road miles.
We disagree.
This Court reviews de novo questions of statutory interpretation. State Farm Fire &
Casualty Co v Corby Energy Services, Inc, 271 Mich App 480, 483; 722 NW2d 906 (2006).
"The goal of statutory interpretation is to give effect to the Legislature's intent as expressed in the
statutory language." Id. In examining the language of a statute, this Court will normally give the
words used in the statute their plain and ordinary meaning. Wolfe-Haddad Estate v Oakland Co,
272 Mich App 323, 325; 725 NW2d 80 (2006). If the statute is unambiguous, it must be
enforced as written. Id. at 324.
In the present case, the judgment of divorce gave Robert and Jennifer joint legal custody
over Calin. As a result, Calin has a legal residence with each parent. MCL 722.31(1). And
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neither Robert nor Jennifer may change "a legal residence" to a location that is more than 100
miles from "the child's legal residence at the time of the commencement of the action" in which
the court entered the order governing custody, see MCL 722.31(1), without first obtaining
permission from the court or consent from the other party, MCL 722.31(2).3 Therefore, if the
proposed residence near Byron is more than 100 miles from Calin's legal residence in Big
Rapids, Robert could not make the change without first obtaining Jennifer's consent or
permission from the court.
Using radial miles, the trial court found that the distance between the proposed new
residence with Robert and the current legal residence was less than 100 miles. In order to
determine whether the trial court properly calculated the distance between the two residences, we
must determine the meaning of the term "100 miles," as used in MCL 722.31(1). Although no
court has examined the meaning of this term, in Lash v Traverse City, 479 Mich 180; 735 NW2d
628 (2007), our Supreme Court examined an analogous provision found in MCL 15.602.
In Lash, our Supreme Court examined the meaning of the term "20 miles," as used in
MCL 15.602. On appeal, the defendant argued that the term "20 miles" was ambiguous because
it could be measured in road miles or radial miles. Id. at 188. The defendant further argued that
this ambiguity should be resolved by looking to the purpose of the statute, which defendant
argued was to ensure that travel times were not too long. Id. Our Supreme Court rejected the
notion that the term "20 miles" was ambiguous:
As an initial matter, the plain meaning of the word "mile" is a
measurement of a distance totaling 5,280 feet. Nothing in the ordinary definition
of the word indicates that this distance is to be measured along available routes of
public travel. Certainly, had the Legislature desired that the permissible residency
restriction be measured in "road miles" or along roadways it surely could have
said so. We presume that the Legislature intended the common meaning of the
words used in the statute, and we may not substitute alternative language for that
used by the Legislature. Because inserting the word "road" before "miles" in the
statute subverts the plain language of the statute, defendant's preferred
interpretation fails. [Id. at 188-189.]
After rejecting the defendant's argument on the basis of the plain meaning of "20 miles," our
Supreme went on to note that this interpretation of "20 miles" was consistent with the context
and purpose of the statute. Id. at 189-190. Nevertheless, it is clear that the Supreme Court
expressly concluded that "20 miles" does not mean "20 road miles." For the same reasons, we
conclude that the term "100 miles," as used in MCL 722.31(1), does not mean "100 road miles."
Rather, the 100 miles must be measured using radial miles.
3
We note that the judgment of divorce did not contain an agreement regarding a change in
residence. Rather, the judgment of divorce only contained the language required by MCR
3.211(C). Hence, the exception stated in MCL 722.31(5) does not apply. Likewise, the
exceptions stated under MCL 722.31(3) do not apply to the facts of this case.
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Furthermore, although Jennifer clearly disagrees with the trial court's use of a map and a
ruler to determine the distance between the two residences, we do not agree that this method for
calculating the distance is inherently suspect. The use of a map and a ruler is but one of many
possible ways for determining the distance between two points. And Jennifer has not presented
any evidence that the map used was inaccurate or otherwise of insufficient scale to make an
accurate measurement. She also has not alleged that the actual measurement was inaccurately
calculated beyond her argument that the distance should have been measured using road miles
rather than radial miles.4 Therefore, we cannot conclude that the trial court's finding was against
the great weight of the evidence. MCL 722.28; Grew v Knox, 265 Mich App 333, 339; 694
NW2d 772 (2005).
The trial court did not err when it concluded that MCL 722.31(1) did not bar Robert's
proposed move.
III. Change in School Districts
Jennifer next argues that the trial court abused its discretion when it vacated the
temporary restraining order of October 25 without first conducting a hearing to determine
whether Robert's proposed change in school districts was in Calin's best interest. We agree.
A trial court has discretion to vacate or modify a previously entered temporary restraining
order. MCR 2.604(A). A trial court abuses its discretion when it selects an outcome that is not
within the range of reasonable and principled outcomes. Borowsky v Borowsky, 273 Mich App
666, 672; 733 NW2d 71 (2007).
Although Robert has sole physical custody of Calin, Robert shares joint legal custody of
Calin with Jennifer. When parents have joint legal custody of a child, the "parents shall share
decision-making authority as to the important decisions affecting the welfare of the child." MCL
722.26a(7)(b); Lombardo v Lombardo, 202 Mich App 151, 157; 507 NW2d 788 (1993).
Because Calin's placement in a particular school district is an important decision affecting his
welfare, both Robert and Jennifer must agree on that decision. Lombardo, supra at 157-159. If
they are unable to agree, the trial court must resolve the dispute according to Calin's best interest.
Id. at 159.
In the present case, Jennifer's motion for a temporary restraining order clearly stated that
she also wanted the court to enjoin Robert from changing Calin's school district without first
submitting the matter to the court to determine whether the change was in Calin's best interests.
Further, Jennifer's counsel brought this same matter to the court's attention during the October 27
hearing. Although Jennifer had not yet moved for a hearing on the change, in light of the
4
We note that the distance to be measured under MCL 722.31(1) is the distance between the
actual current residence and the actual proposed residence; it is not the distance between the
centers of the two nearest municipalities. Nevertheless, unless a finding based on an erroneous
measurement is against the great weight of the evidence, it will not warrant reversal. MCL
722.28.
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pleadings and statements at the October 27 hearing, the court was clearly aware of Jennifer's
disagreement with the change in school districts and also understood that it would likely have to
resolve the dispute. Nevertheless, the court still determined that it would be appropriate to
vacate the entire temporary restraining order—including the provision barring a change in school
districts. The court came to this decision based solely on its conclusion that Robert's move was
not barred under MCL 722.31(1). However, the fact that Robert could properly move Calin's
legal residence does not relieve a trial court of its duty to resolve disputes regarding important
decisions affecting the welfare of a child according to the best interests of the child. See, e.g.,
Grew, supra at 336-338 (noting that, even after a determination regarding a parent's decision to
move under MCL 722.31, a court may not make a change in custodial arrangements without
conducting a best-interest hearing). By vacating the temporary restraining order, the court
implicitly authorized Robert to make the change in school districts—even if on a temporary
basis—without examining whether that change was in Calin's best interest. This decision did not
fall within the range of reasonable and principled outcomes. The court should have modified the
temporary restraining order to permit Robert's move while maintaining the prohibition on the
change in schools pending resolution of the dispute. For this reason, we reverse the court's
decision to vacate the temporary restraining order and remand for a hearing on whether the
change in school districts is in Calin's best interest.
IV. Judicial Bias
Finally, Jennifer argues that the trial court is biased and asks this Court to remand this
case to a different judge. After careful review of the record, we find no indication that the trial
court was biased or partial. See Cain v Dep't of Corrections, 451 Mich 470; 548 NW2d 210
(1996). Therefore, we decline to remand this matter to a different judge.
V. Conclusion
We reverse the trial court's October 27, 2006, decision and order vacating the temporary
restraining order of October 25, 2006, and remand this matter to the court for a hearing on
whether the proposed change in school districts is in Calin's best interest.
Reversed and remanded for further proceedings. We do not retain jurisdiction.
/s/ Kurtis T. Wilder
/s/ Henry William Saad
/s/ Michael R. Smolenski
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