Weber v. Weber
Annotate this Case
January 1995 Term
_____________
No. 22291
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ROXIE ANNETTE WEBER,
Plaintiff Below, Appellant
v.
JEFFREY MICHAEL WEBER,
Respondent Below, Appellee
___________________________________________________________
Appeal from the Circuit Court of Wyoming County
Honorable John S. Hrko, Judge
Civil Action No. 92-C-363
REVERSED AND REMANDED
___________________________________________________________
Submitted: January 17, 1995
Filed: April 13, 1995
Joni Cooper Rundle, Esq.
Rundle & Rundle, L.C.
Pineville, West Virginia
Attorney for the Appellant
Jeffrey Michael Weber, Pro Se
The Opinion of the Court was delivered PER CURIAM.
JUSTICE BROTHERTON did not participate.
JUDGE FOX sitting by temporary assignment.
SYLLABUS BY THE COURT
1. "It is well established that the word 'shall,' in the
absence of language in the statute showing a contrary intent on the
part of the Legislature, should be afforded a mandatory
connotation." Syllabus Point 1, Nelson v. W. Va. Public Employees
Ins. Bd., 171 W. Va. 445, 300 S.E.2d 86 (1983).
2. "In considering visitation issues, the courts must be
mindful of their obligation to facilitate the right of the non-
custodial parent to a full and fair chance to continue to maintain
a close relationship with his or her children." Syllabus Point 9,
White v. Williamson, ___ W. Va. ___, 453 S.E.2d 666 (1994).
Per Curiam:
Roxie Annette Weber appeals the final divorce order of
the Circuit Court of Wyoming County ordering supervised visitation
for the parties' infant daughter by Jeffrey Michael Weber, her
former husband. On appeal, Ms. Weber maintains that the circuit
court's order concerning supervised visitation is too vague and the
circuit court failed to consider the qualifications of the persons
allowed to supervise the visitation. Because we agree that
visitation order is too vague and that additional consideration of
the supervised visitation is required, we reverse and remand this
case for further proceedings.
After about two and one-half years of marriage, Ms. Weber
sought a divorce alleging irreconcilable differences and physical
and mental cruelty. Stephanie Nicole, the parties' only child, was
born on January 28, 1992. The matter was heard by a family law
master who notified the parties of her recommended decision
indicating that objections to the decision must be filed by
September 13, 1993. According to the certificate of service, Ms.
Weber's lawyer mailed her objections to the visitation proposed in
the recommended order on September 10, 1993. By order dated
September 20, 1993, the circuit court adopted the family law
master's recommended decision. By letter dated October 26, 1993,
the circuit court affirmed his September 20, 1993 order.
Ms. Weber, as a fit person and the child's primary
caretaker, was awarded custody. Alleging Mr. Weber had limited
involvement with his young daughter and an unstable lifestyle, Ms.
Weber requested that Mr. Weber's visitation be limited to
supervised visitation at the child's home.See footnote 1 The need for
supervised visitation was not contested.See footnote 2 To supervise Mr. Weber's
visitation, Ms. Weber proposed several neighbors and Mr. Weber, who
later moved to New Jersey, proposed his brother, age 21 and a
friend who lives in New Jersey.See footnote 3 The circuit court awarded
visitation to Mr. Weber "on alternate Holidays and during the
summer vacation provided he gives twenty-four hours notice of his
intent to visit. . . [and] that one of the individuals in the
Defendant's Exhibit #1 be present during said visitation."
Alleging that the circuit court's order concerning Mr.
Weber's visitation was too vague and that no consideration had been
given to the qualifications of the visitation supervisors, Ms.
Weber appealed to this Court. Ms. Weber also alleges that the
circuit court failed to review her objections before entering a final order and that the court erred in granting the divorce on the
grounds of irreconcilable differences because such differences were
denied by Mr. Weber.
I
Although visitation has long been part of the relief
granted in a divorce, the legislature recently amended W. Va. Code
48-2-15(b)(1) [1993] to state that "the court shall specify a
schedule for visitation by the noncustodial parent. . . . [Emphasis
added.]"See footnote 4 The circumstances of each case must determine the detail
included in the visitation schedule. In cases where supervised visitation is ordered, the visitation schedule must, by necessity,
be more detailed.See footnote 5 See Honaker v. Burnside, 182 W. Va. 448, 388 S.E.2d 322 (1989)(requiring a phased-in visitation plan to
reestablish the relationship between a natural parent and his
child); James M. v. Maynard, 185 W. Va. 648, 657-58, 408 S.E.2d 400, 409-10 (1991)(special needs of the children required a gradual
transition period); Mary D. v. Watt, 190 W. Va. 341, 438 S.E.2d 521
(1992)(supervised visitation required because of allegation of
sexual abuse by noncustodial parent).
It is well established that the word
"shall," in the absence of language in the
statute showing a contrary intent on the part
of the Legislature, should be afforded a
mandatory connotation.
Syl. pt. 1, Nelson v. W. Va. Public Employees Ins. Bd., 171 W. Va.
445, 300 S.E.2d 86 (1983). Accord Syl. pt. 2, State ex rel. Billy
Ray C. v. Skaff, 190 W. Va. 504, 438 S.E.2d 847 (1993); Syl. pt. 1,
Lillen v. W. Va. Human Rights Com'n, 180 W. Va. 433, 376 S.E.2d 639
(1988). See Ash v. Raven Metal Product, Inc., 190 W. Va. 90, 94,
437 S.E.2d 254, 258 (1993).
Where the language of a statute is clear and
without ambiguity the plain meaning is to be
accepted without resorting to the rules of
interpretation.
Syl. pt. 2, State v. Elder, 152 W. Va. 571, 165 S.E.2d 108 (1968).
See also State ex rel. Laurel Mountain v. Callaghan, 187 W. Va.
266, 270, 418 S.E.2d 580, 584 (1992); Syl. pt. 1, Tanner v.
Workers' Compensation Com'r, 176 W. Va. 427, 345 S.E.2d 29 (1986).
In this case, the circuit court required supervised
visitation on alternate holidays and summer vacation, but failed to
"specify a schedule for visitation" as required by W. Va. Code 48-
2-15(b)(1)[1993]. The family law master's recommended order, which
was adopted by the circuit court, failed to state: (1) Where the
visitation should occur; (2) which party or parties are responsible
for transportation; and, (3) what is meant by "alternative
Holidays" and "summer vacation." Given that this case involves
supervised visitation between a child of tender years and a parent
who lives out-of-state, the order is too vague. Without a clear
visitation schedule order, a new battleground on visitation will
erupt until the noncustodial parent surrenders and another child is
denied a parent. To avoid the visitation battleground, the
different circumstances of each case must be reflected in the
visitation order.
II
Mrs. Weber maintains that neither the family law master
nor the circuit court considered the qualifications of the persons proposed to supervise the visitation, or the nature of supervision.
Mrs. Weber alleges that the court-approved supervisors have had
little or no contact with the child. However, because no hearing
was held on the proposed visitation supervisors, no information is
available concerning the proposed visitation supervisors' contact
with the child or their relative ability to supervise properly.
Recently in several cases discussing supervised
visitation, this Court noted two primary concerns: (1) the child's
emotional and physical well-being, and (2) the non-custodial
parent's right to a close relationship with his or her child. In
Mary D., we emphasized the child's emotional well-being and
required that "person(s) appointed to supervise the visitation . .
. have . . . some prior contact with the child." Syl. pt. 3, in
part, Mary D. (concerning allegations of sexual abuse by a parent
which must be considered prior to ordering supervised visitation).See footnote 6 In Syl. pt. 9, White v. Williamson, ___ W. Va. ___, 453, S.E.2d
666 (1994) (concerning allegations of alcohol consumption), we
stated:
In considering visitation issues, the courts
must be mindful of their obligation to
facilitate the right of the non-custodial
parent to a full and fair chance to continue
to maintain a close relationship with his or
her children.
In both Mary D. and White, the family law masters held
hearings to consider some visitation issues. See Mary D., 190
W. Va. at 343-44, 438 S.E.2d at 523-24; White, ___ W. Va. at ___,
453 S.E.2d at 677 (during the hearing, Mrs. White should "have been
allowed to develop her allegations regarding the need to impose
restrictions regarding alcohol consumption during . . .
visitation").
When supervised visitation is required, the family law
master must give the parties a fair opportunity to be heard on the
proposed visitation supervisors. Exceptional circumstances, in
cases such as Mary D., require a thorough examination of visitation
supervisors because the supervisors need to protect a child "from
further physical. . . and psychological harm." Mary D., 190 W. Va.
at 349, 438 S.E.2d at 529. However, ordinary cases involving simple child care do not require such extraordinary measures. But,
in all cases, the family law master must consider both the child's
needs and the non-custodial parent's right to visitation. In cases
involving simple child care, expert witnesses are not required and
the natural parents of a child are presumed to be capable of caring
for a young child.See footnote 7 See Syl. pt. 5, David M. v. Margaret M., 182
W. Va. 57, 385 S.E.2d 912 (1989) for the factors to be considered
when determining if a primary caretaker is a fit parent.
In this case, both parties proposed visitation
supervisors and without any hearing, Mr. Weber's proposed
supervisors were selected. On remand, the circuit court should
give the parties a fair opportunity to be heard on this issue.See footnote 8
Because the circuit court failed to "specify a schedule
for visitation by the noncustodial parent" as required by W. Va.
Code 48-2-15(b) [1993], and failed to consider both the child's
best interests in appointing visitation supervisors and the non-
custodial parent's right to "full and fair chance to continue to
maintain a close relationship", we reverse the circuit court and
remand this case for further proceedings.
For the above stated reasons, the decision of the Circuit
Court of Wyoming County is reversed and we remand this case for
proceedings consistent with this opinion.
Reversed and remanded.
Footnote: 1
Ms. Weber and her daughter live with Ms. Weber's parents.Footnote: 2
After the only hearing before the family law master, both
parties, pursuant to the family law master's request, submitted the
names of persons each proposed to supervise visitation. Mr.
Weber's list was designated "Defendant's Exhibit #1."Footnote: 3
The family law master noted that because the Dept. of Health
and Human Services was not already providing services for the
child, the Dept. was not available to supervise visitation.Footnote: 4
W. Va. Code 48-2-15 (b) [1993] states, in pertinent part:
Upon ordering the annulment of a marriage or
a divorce or granting of decree of separate
maintenance, the court may further order all
or any part of the following relief:
(1) The court may provide for the custody of
minor children of the parties, subject to such
rights of visitation, both in and out of the
residence of the custodial parent or other
person or persons having custody, as may be
appropriate under the circumstances. In every
action where visitation is awarded, the court
shall specify a schedule for visitation by the
noncustodial parent: Provided, That with
respect to any existing order which provided
for visitation but which does not provide a
specific schedule for visitation by the
noncustodial parent, upon motion of any party,
notice of hearing and hearing, the court shall
issue an order which provides a specific
schedule of visitation by the noncustodial
parent.Footnote: 5
In cases with an existing non-specific visitation order,
under W. Va. Code 48-2-15(b)(1) [1993], the circuit court can
reconsider visitation "upon motion of any party, notice of hearing
and hearing."Footnote: 6
Syl. pt. 3, Mary D. supra stated:
Where supervised visitation is ordered
pursuant to W.Va. Code, 48-2-15(b)(1) [1991],
the best interests of a child include
determining that the child is safe from the
fear of emotional and psychological trauma
which he or she may experience. The person(s)
appointed to supervise the visitation should
have had some prior contact with the child so
that the child is sufficiently familiar with
and trusting of that person in order for the
child to have secure feelings and so that the
visitation is not harmful to his or her
emotional well being. Such a determination
should be incorporated as a finding of the
family law master or circuit court.Footnote: 7
In cases where there is an objection by the non-custodial
parent to supervised visitation, it is the burden of the custodial
parent to prove that supervision is needed. In the instant case,
no such objection was made.Footnote: 8
Ms. Weber also alleges that the circuit court failed to
review her objections. Because the case is remanded for
consideration of the visitation schedule, this objection need not
be discussed. We do note that the number of domestic relation
cases have increased dramatically at the circuit court level and
constitute over one-third of the civil and more than one-fourth of
the total circuit court caseload. West Virginia State Court
System, Caseload Report for Fiscal Year 1994, W. Va. Supreme Court
of Appeals, Administrative Office, January 1995.
For the first time in her appeal to this Court, Ms. Weber
questions the grounds for her divorce. However, Ms. Weber waived
those claims when she failed to object to that part of the family
law master's recommended order. W. Va. Code 48A-4-18 [1993] states
that "[p]arts of the master's report not excepted to are admitted
to be correct."
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