L., Sheila v. M., Ronald
Annotate this Case
September 1995 Term
_________
No. 22794
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SHEILA L., ON BEHALF OF RONALD M.M.,
AN INFANT,
Petitioner Below, Appellant
V.
RONALD P.M.,
Respondent Below, Appellee
____________________________________________________________
APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF WETZEL COUNTY
HONORABLE JOHN T. MADDEN, JUDGE
CIVIL ACTION NO. 93-P-13M
REVERSED AND REMANDED
_____________________________________________________________
Submitted: September 12, 1995
Filed: October 27, 1995
George J. Cosenza
Parkersburg, WV
Attorney for the Appellant
No appearance by the Appellee
JUSTICE CLECKLEY delivered the Opinion of the Court.
RETIRED JUSTICE MILLER sitting by temporary assignment.
JUSTICE ALBRIGHT did not participate.
SYLLABUS BY THE COURT
1. "The Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act of 1980, 28 U.S.C. § 1738A
(1982), extends full faith and credit principles to child custody decrees and requires every
state to enforce sister state custody determinations that are consistent with the act." Syllabus
Point 1, Arbogast v. Arbogast, 174 W. Va. 498, 327 S.E.2d 675 (1984).
2. Under the Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act of 1980, 28 U.S.C. §
1738A(d), a court may continue its jurisdiction if it has made a child custody determination
consistent with the provisions of this section, if it maintains jurisdiction under its law, and
if either the child or a contestant continues to reside in the state. A custody determination
is defined in 28 U.S.C. § 1738A(3) as a judgment, decree, or other order of a court providing
for the custody or visitation of a child, and includes permanent and temporary orders, and
initial orders and modifications.
3. To assume jurisdiction in an emergency situation under the Parental
Kidnapping Prevention Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1738A(c)(1) and (2)(C), a state must have
jurisdiction under its own law, the child must be physically present in the state, and the child
must be either abandoned or in an emergency situation that necessitates action to protect the
child being subjected to or threatened with mistreatment or abuse.
4. Unsubstantiated statements of a parent that a child is being subjected
to or threatened with mistreatment or abuse, by themselves, cannot serve as a basis to invoke
jurisdiction of a court to enter or modify a permanent custody award under the Parental
Kidnapping Prevention Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1738A(c). A parent is not precluded merely
because of unsubstantiated statements from raising allegations of mistreatment or abuse in
a court that has jurisdiction to enter or modify a permanent custody award on other grounds;
nor is that court prevented from considering such unsubstantiated statements in entering a
temporary order to protect a child from an emergency situation of abuse.
5. It is consistent with the intent of the Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act
of 1980, 28 U.S.C. § 1738A, that a court without jurisdiction on other grounds may invoke
temporary emergency jurisdiction if its exercise of jurisdiction is consistent with the laws of
the state where the court is located, the child is physically present in that state, and the child
is in need of protection as a result of being subjected to or threatened with mistreatment or
abuse. 28 U.S.C. § 1738A(c)(1) and (2)(C).
6. If emergency jurisdiction is based upon the unsubstantiated statements
of a parent, additional evidence should be gathered as quickly as reasonably possible to
either affirm or negate the allegations. Temporary jurisdiction should last only so long as
the emergency exists or until a court that has jurisdiction to enter or modify a permanent custody award is apprised of the situation and accepts responsibility to ensure that the child
is protected.
7. Emergency custody matters should be among those cases given priority
by our court systems and should be resolved as quickly as is reasonably feasible.
Cleckley, Justice:
This appeal is brought by the petitioner below and appellant herein, Sheila L.,See footnote 1
who requests this Court to reverse the order of the Circuit Court of Wetzel County filed on
November 9, 1994, which dismissed her petition for custody of her son, Ronald M.M. The
circuit court dismissed her petition after determining it is required to give full faith and credit
to a final order entered on June 10, 1994, by the Court of Common Pleas of Jefferson
County, Juvenile Division, for the State of Ohio. The final order issued in Ohio awarded
legal custody of Ronald M.M. to his biological father, Ronald P.M., who was the respondent
below and is the appellee herein.See footnote 2
I.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
This case represents yet another tragic situation of a child who has fallen prey
to the increasing problems associated with interstate custody disputes. Ronald M.M. was
born May 2, 1990, in Ohio. His parents were not married at the time of his birth, but they
both resided in Ohio. In a home study dated June 9, 1994, conducted by Mariann Price, the
Assistant Director of Admissions for the Florence Crittenton Home & Services located in Wheeling, West Virginia, the petitioner reported that she and the respondent lived together
for approximately five months after Ronald M.M.'s birth.
On August 27, 1990, Sheila L. filed a parentage action against the respondent
in the Ohio Court of Common Pleas of Jefferson County. The respondent denied paternity
until genetic testing was performed. On February 11, 1992, the respondent acknowledged
paternity. According to the petitioner's brief, it appears that Ronald M.M.'s custody was
never at issue in the parentage action and a formal custody award was not made to either
parent. Nevertheless, it is evident that Ronald M.M. continued to reside with the petitioner.
During the fall of 1992, the petitioner moved to West Virginia with Ronald
M.M. and another son, Joshua, who was approximately four years old. The respondent is
not the biological father of Joshua, and custody of Joshua is not in dispute.
According to Ms. Price's home study, problems arose when both Ronald M.M.
and his half-brother Joshua were visiting the respondent at his house. During this visit,
which appears to have occurred in May of 1993, the respondent's wife discovered the
children "engaged in some sexual exploration." When the petitioner was informed of the
behavior, she asked the children where they learned it. Ronald M.M. made a reference to
the petitioner's stepfather, but Joshua denied the occurrence.
The petitioner took the appropriate action by terminating contact between her
sons and her stepfather and contacted Northwood Health Systems to obtain counseling for
the boys. By letter dated August 5, 1993, Sherry A. Croasmun, a child therapist, confirmed
she saw Ronald M.M. on May 26, 1993; June 7, 1993; and June 16, 1993. She stated that
Ronald M.M. "was not able to verbalize or confirm any information in regards to the alleged
abuse . . . [and she] recommend[ed] that a qualified evaluation be conducted to make a
determination regarding the occurrence of abuse."
In late June of 1993, the petitioner took Ronald M.M. to Ohio for an intended
one-week visit with the respondent. On July 1, 1993, Ronald P.M. requested and received
an emergency ex parte order from the Ohio Court of Common Pleas granting him temporary
custody of Ronald M.M. By affidavit, Ronald P.M. informed the Ohio Court of Common
Pleas that he had learned Ronald M.M. was the victim of sexual molestation that directly
involved Sheila L. or a member of her family. He further averred that he believed Ronald
M.M. was in "eminent [sic] danger of physical harm," was previously abused, and would
"suffer physical injury and future potential sexual abuse" if a temporary order was not
granted. In his petition, he also requested permanent custody of Ronald M.M.See footnote 3
On or about July 2 or 3, 1993, Sheila L. returned to Ohio to pick up Ronald
M.M., but instead she was given the papers awarding temporary custody to Ronald P.M.
Therefore, she was unable to bring Ronald M.M. back to West Virginia with her.
On July 19, 1993, Sheila L. filed a petition for custody of Ronald M.M. with
the circuit court in West Virginia. On August 18, 1993, the circuit court entered an order
which stated, inter alia, that in accordance with the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act,
W. Va. Code, 48-10-1, et seq.,
"it is in the best interest of the child that a Court in the State of
West Virginia assume jurisdiction because the child and his
mother have a significant connection with this State and there is
available in this State, substantial evidence concerning the
child's present and future care, protection, training and personal
relationships."
The order further requested the Ohio Court of Common Pleas to stay any further proceedings
and permit the circuit court in West Virginia to adjudicate the issues in controversy.
By letter dated September 14, 1993, the Honorable Judge Samuel W. Kerr of
the Court of Common Pleas responded to the action in West Virginia by stating that the
Court of Common Pleas would retain continuing jurisdiction of the matter as a result of the
original parentage action filed by Sheila L. Judge Kerr also wrote that under Ohio law the
best interests of the child required continuing jurisdiction in Ohio and Ohio would proceed
to determine the custody issue.
On October 8, 1993, an evidentiary hearing was held in Ohio. At that hearing,
Sheila L. appeared, but she asserts that she did not consent to jurisdiction. As evidenced by
the court referee's report dated May 23, 1994, testimony was taken from Sheila L. and
Ronald P.M. at that hearing. The referee's report also indicates a second evidentiary hearing
was held on May 6, 1994.
At the second hearing, the referee was advised that the State of West Virginia
would not conduct a home study of Sheila L. in spite of a court order by Ohio and "proper
documentation regarding the interstate compact on home studies outside the state of Ohio .
. . had all been completed and sent to proper authorities in West Virginia." Sheila L.'s
counselSee footnote 4 apparently informed the referee that West Virginia no longer conducts interstate
home studies in private matters such as this case. Due to the lack of a home study on Sheila
L., her counsel requested the court grant a continuance until a home study could be
completed. This request was denied, even though he stated that Ms. Price would conduct a
home study and he submitted a letter from her. The hearing proceeded with testimony taken
from Ronald M.M.'s babysitter and additional testimony from Sheila L.
Even without the favorable home study conducted on Sheila L.,See footnote 5 in his report,
the referee made several conclusions of law that supported her, including "there can be no
finding that the child, Ronald [M.M.] is an abused, neglected, or dependent child," and "it
was not established that the mother, Sheila [L.], is an unfit mother." The referee then
continued by finding Sheila L. had sole legal custody of the child and Ronald P.M. did not
participate in child rearing until the time emergency custody was given to him. As a result
of these findings, the referee stated he was treating the case as if it was a proceeding to
modify or change the parental rights of the parties. In this light, the referee cited various
Ohio statutes and case law and found that since July of 1993 Ronald M.M. had become
integrated with the Ronald P.M. and his family. Therefore, the referee concluded "it is for
the best interest of the child to change [custody] . . . and let the child live in a stable
environment with [Ronald P.M.]; he having previously led a nomadic life moving from
apartment to apartment with his mother."
The referee apparently made his conclusions without regard to the fact that the
child was living with Ronald P.M. based upon unsubstantiated allegations in the emergency petition. In fact, as previously mentioned, the referee himself found insufficient evidence to
show Sheila L. was unfit or Ronald M.M. was abused, neglected, or dependent. Moreover,
the referee seemed to give no weight to the fact that Sheila L. lived what he referred to as a
"nomadic life" because Ronald P.M. appears to have provided her with a woefully
inadequate amount of child support.See footnote 6 Indeed, even in the facts of his report, the referee
states:
"[Sheila L.] gave a satisfactory explanation as to why she moved
from place to place, the reason primarily was financial; she
worked, she received welfare, there were times when she did not
work and she did not receive welfare and it was very difficult
for her to maintain any type of living quarters including rent and
utilities, as well as groceries for her and her two children. The
witness relates that there were also medical bills and medicine
during these periods of time."
After making his conclusions of law, the referee recommended legal custody be committed
to Ronald P.M. with visitation granted to Sheila L. On June 10, 1994, the Court of Common
Pleas approved and adopted the referee's report. See footnote 7 This decision was not appealed and
became a final order.
On August 3, 1994, Sheila L. filed an amended petition for custody with the
circuit court in West Virginia and attached the completed home study performed by Ms.
Price. Without knowledge that a legal custody award was made in Ohio to Ronald P.M., the
circuit court issued an ex parte order on that same day that stated custody of Ronald M.M.
should be with the petitioner pending a hearing. The respondent filed a motion to dismiss
the amended petition with the circuit court on the basis that the custody issue already was
resolved in Ohio and res judicata applied. Upon learning of the June 10, 1994, custody
order, the circuit court, by order dated August 19, 1994, vacated its order dated August 3,
1994, except as to the extent a hearing was scheduled on the matter.
A hearing was held before the circuit court on October 7, 1994. By order
entered November 9, 1994, the circuit court determined it was required to give full faith and
credit to the Ohio order. Therefore, it granted the respondent's motion to dismiss and the
petitioner brings this appeal.
II.
DISCUSSION
The issue before this Court is whether, in light of the "home state," continuing,
and emergency jurisdiction provisions of the Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act of 1980
(PKPA), 28 U.S.C. § 1738A, the circuit court erred when it determined it must give full faith
and credit to the Ohio order. The petitioner relies upon the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act (UCCJA), which is the state-enacted predecessor to the federal PKPA, to
argue that the circuit court was not required to give the Ohio order full faith and credit
because the Ohio court's claim of jurisdiction is inconsistent with the UCCJA.See footnote 8 Therefore,
the petitioner maintains her amended petition for custody should not have been dismissed.
This case involves mixed questions of law and fact that require the consideration of legal
concepts and statutory construction. Therefore, our review is plenary. See Burnside v.
Burnside, ___ W. Va. ___, ___, 460 S.E.2d 264, 266 (1995).
We begin our analysis with a few preliminary points. Prior to our adoption of
the UCCJA in 1981, West Virginia applied the Full Faith and Credit Clause in Section 1 of
Article IV of the United States ConstitutionSee footnote 9 to the child custody arena. In Stewart v.
Stewart, 169 W. Va. 1, 4, 289 S.E.2d 652, 654 (1980), we identified the two primary goals
of the full faith and credit doctrine that previously were set forth by the United States
Supreme Court.See footnote 10 "First, it acts as a nationally unifying force to keep the various states from ignoring judicial decrees rendered outside their border." 169 W. Va. at 4, 289 S.E.2d at 654,
citing Sherrer v. Sherrer, 334 U.S. 343, 355, 68 S. Ct. 1087, 1092-93, 92 L. Ed. 1429, 1438
(1948). "Second, it is designed to bring about an end to litigation, thereby giving finality to
court proceedings." 169 W. Va. at 4, 289 S.E.2d at 654, citing Riley v. New York Trust Co.,
315 U.S. 343, 348-49, 62 S. Ct. 608, 612, 86 L. Ed. 885, 891 (1942).
These goals are important and essential to our administration of justice.
However, as we said in Stewart, "a state need not blindly accept the jurisdictional assertions
contained in the judgment of the sister state." 169 W. Va. at 5, 289 S.E.2d at 654.
Jurisdictional issues can be challenged to the extent they were not fairly litigated in the sister
state. 169 W. Va. at 5, 289 S.E.2d at 654, citing Durfee v. Duke, 375 U.S. 106, 111, 84
S. Ct. 242, 245, 11 L. Ed. 2d 186, 191 (1963).See footnote 11 In recognizing the importance of the full faith and credit doctrine, but also its jurisdictional limits, we reiterated in Stewart the first three
Syllabus Points of State ex rel. Lynn v. Eddy, 152 W. Va. 345, 163 S.E.2d 472 (1968):
"'1. Under Article IV, Section 1, of the
Constitution of the United States, a valid judgment of a court of
another state is entitled to full faith and credit in the courts of
this State.'
"'2. "Full faith and credit must be given to the
judgment or decree of a sister state if it is not successfully
attacked on jurisdictional grounds." Point 4, syllabus, Brady v.
Brady, 151 W. Va. 900, 158 S.E.2d 359 [(1967)].'
"'3. By virtue of the full faith and credit clause of
the Constitution of the United States, a judgment of a court of
another state has the same force and effect in this State as it has
in the state in which it was pronounced.'"
Thus, it is clear that even prior to our adoption of the UCCJA, it was the practice in West
Virginia not to apply the full faith and credit doctrine if we found the foreign court lacked
jurisdiction and did not fully and fairly litigate the issues.
Historically, the Full Faith and Credit Clause proved to be unsuccessful in
curbing the increasing problems associated with interstate conflicts over child custody cases.
Consequently, in 1968, the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws
and the American Bar Association approved the UCCJA. The Prefatory Note to the model
UCCJA, 9 U.L.A. 118 (1988), in part, explains:
"The Act is designed to bring some semblance of
order into the existing chaos. It limits custody jurisdiction to the
state where the child has his home or where there are other
strong contacts with the child and his family. See Section 3 [W.
Va. Code, 48-10-3]. It provides for the recognition and
enforcement of out-of-state custody decrees in many instances.
See Sections 13 and 15 [W. Va. Code, 48-10-14, and 48-10-16].
Jurisdiction to modify decrees of other states is limited by
giving a jurisdictional preference to the prior court under certain
conditions. See Section 14 [W. Va. Code, 48-10-15]. Access
to a court may be denied to petitioners who have engaged in
child snatching or similar practices. See Section 8 [W. Va.
Code, 48-10-8]. Also, the Act opens up direct lines of
communication between courts of different states to prevent
jurisdictional conflict and bring about interstate judicial
assistance in custody cases."
As described in the Prefatory Note, the purpose of the jurisdictional prerequisites and
requirements contained within the UCCJA is to prevent conflicts and promote cooperation
among states that become entangled in the same custody dispute.
As part of its design, the UCCJA provides a statutory basis for the recognition
and enforcement of out-of-state decrees. Whether this State shall recognize an out-of-state
decree is contained in W. Va. Code, 48-10-14 (1981), which provides:
"The courts of this State shall recognize and
enforce an initial or modification decree of a court of another
state which had assumed jurisdiction under statutory provisions
substantially in accordance with this article or which was made
under factual circumstances meeting the jurisdictional standards
of this article, so long as this decree has not been modified in
accordance with jurisdictional standards substantially similar to
those of this article."
W. Va. Code, 48-10-14, virtually is identical to Section 13 of the model UCCJA.See footnote 12 The
Comment following Section 13 of the model UCCJA explains that states are not necessarily
required to recognize and enforce out-of-state custody decrees under the Full Faith and
Credit Clause. However, under Section 13 of the UCCJA, it becomes "a matter of state law,
that custody decrees of sister states will be recognized and enforced" in those states that
adopt the Act so long as the sister state complies with the jurisdictional standards of the
Act.See footnote 13 9 U.L.A. 276.
In Arbogast v. Arbogast, 174 W. Va. 498, 502, 327 S.E.2d 675, 679 (1984),
we held that the UCCJA "provides that foreign states' custody decrees are to be recognized
and enforced by West Virginia courts if they accord with statutory provisions substantially
similar to those of the UCCJA or meet UCCJA jurisdictional standards." (Footnote omitted).
However, the UCCJA is not the only statutory scheme applicable to interstate custody
disputes in West Virginia. Indeed, the PKPA plays a vital role in child custody disputes.
Similar to the UCCJA, we stated in Syllabus Point 1 of Arbogast:
"The Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act of 1980,
28 U.S.C. § 1738A (1982), extends full faith and credit
principles to child custody decrees and requires every state to
enforce sister state custody determinations that are consistent
with the act."See footnote 14
In spite of some similarities, the UCCJA and the PKPA are not identical acts.
In Arbogast, 174 W. Va. at 502, 327 S.E.2d at 679, we found the PKPA was
not merely a codification of the UCCJA. The PKPA "'is more rigid, allows less judicial
discretion, and has attempted to provide more certainty as to the jurisdiction of courts. It
eliminates many instances of concurrent jurisdiction which can, and did, occur under the
uniform act . . . .' Mitchell v. Mitchell, 437 So. 2d 122, 126 (Ala. Civ. App. 1982)." 174 W.
Va. at 502, 327 S.E.2d at 679. Where the UCCJA and the PKPA differ, we held that the PKPA preempts state laws by virtue of the Supremacy Clause,See footnote 15 and, therefore, must be
consulted first when deciding if a judgment of a foreign court should be enforced.
It is important to understand that the PKPA applies to more than instances of
child kidnapping. As the Supreme Court of Georgia in Wilson v. Gouse, 263 Ga. 887, 889,
441 S.E.2d 57, 60 (1994), recently explained, the PKPA was adopted as a result of the
failures of the UCCJA. "[C]ourts differed in their interpretation of the UCCJA's
jurisdictional requirements and many states that adopted the UCCJA made substantive
modifications which diluted the uniformity the UCCJA was intended to promote." 263 Ga.
at 889, 441 S.E.2d at 59. This history combined with a "complete absence of any language
restricting the applicability of the PKPA to circumstances in which a child is kidnapped,"
indicates that "the PKPA was intended not only to apply where a child was abducted by a
parent and removed to another state but to remedy what was widely considered to be the
inapplicability of the full faith and credit statute to child custody orders."See footnote 16 263 Ga. at 889, 441 S.E.2d at 60, citing Thompson v. Thompson, 484 U.S. 174, 181, 108 S. Ct. 513, 517,
98 L. Ed. 2d 512, 521 (1988).
In the present case, the relevant language of the PKPA is found in 28 U.S.C.
§ 1738A(c), (d), and (g). These subsections state:
"(c) A child custody determination made by a
court of a State is consistent with the provisions of this section
only if--
"(1) such court has jurisdiction under the law of
such State; and
"(2) one of the following conditions is met:
"(A) such State (i) is the home State of the child
on the date of the commencement of the proceeding, or (ii) had
been the child's home State within six months before the date of
the commencement of the proceeding and the child is absent
from such State because of his removal or retention by a
contestant or for other reasons, and a contestant continues to
live in such State;
"(B) (i) it appears that no other State would have
jurisdiction under subparagraph (A), and (ii) it is in the best
interest of the child that a court of such State assume
jurisdiction because (I) the child and his parents, or the child
and at least one contestant, have a significant connection with
such State other than mere physical presence in such State, and
(II) there is available in such State substantial evidence concerning the child's present or future care, protection,
training, and personal relationships;
"(C) the child is physically present in such State
and (i) the child has been abandoned, or (ii) it is necessary in an
emergency to protect the child because he has been subjected to
or threatened with mistreatment or abuse;
"(D) (i) it appears that no other State would have
jurisdiction under subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or (E), or another
State has declined to exercise jurisdiction on the ground that the
State whose jurisdiction is in issue is the more appropriate
forum to determine the custody of the child, and (ii) it is in the
best interest of the child that such court assume jurisdiction; or
"(E) the court has continuing jurisdiction pursuant
to subsection (d) of this section.
"(d) The jurisdiction of a court of a State which
has made a child custody determination consistently with the
provisions of this section continues as long as the requirement
of subsection (c)(1) of this section continues to be met and such
State remains the residence of the child or of any contestant.
* * *
"(g) A court of a State shall not exercise
jurisdiction in any proceeding for a custody determination
commenced during the pendency of a proceeding in a court of
another State where such court of that other State is exercising
jurisdiction consistently with the provisions of this section to
make a custody determination."
As is evident by the above language, the PKPA gives distinct priority to the "home-State"
jurisdiction of a child over another state that may have a "significant connection" to the child
or have "substantial evidence" with regard to "the child's present or future care, protection,
training, and personal relationships[.]" 28 U.S.C. § 1738A(c)(2)(A) and (B). The phrase "home State" is defined in 28 U.S.C. § 1738A(b)(4), in relevant part, as "the State in which,
immediately preceding the time involved, the child lived with his parents, a parent, or a
person acting as parent, for at least six consecutive months[.]" Upon review, we find no such priority is afforded to the "home-State" under the UCCJA.See footnote 17 Thus, the PKPA would preempt the UCCJA in this respect.
It has been recognized by some states, however, that the PKPA only directly
applies to modifications of prior custody awards. It does not directly apply to situations
where there arise a controversy as to which state has jurisdiction to make an initial custody
award. For instance, in Columb v. Columb, 161 Vt. 103, ___, 633 A.2d 689, 692 (1993),
the Supreme Court of Vermont held "the PKPA governs the enforceability of one state's
custody order in another state and the other state's power to modify that order; it does not
purport to control the jurisdiction to issue an initial order." (Citation omitted). Nevertheless,
the Vermont court proceeded to construe the UCCJA consistently with the PKPA "home-
State" preference to avoid potential conflict with the home state.
Similarly, in Glanzner v. State, Department of Social Services, Division of
Child Support Enforcement, 835 S.W.2d 386, 389 (Mo. App. E.D. 1992), the Missouri Court
of Appeals held "[t]he PKPA does not grant or deny initial jurisdiction to a state. . . . Rather,
it governs only the enforcement and modification of foreign decrees and the treatment of
concurrent proceedings." (Footnote and citations omitted). The court explained, however,
that the issue presented to the court was not whether an initial decree made in California
violated the UCCJA or the PKPA when it was entered, but whether it was entitled to
enforcement in Missouri. 835 S.W.2d at 393.
Under the facts of Glanzner, the Missouri court found the California order was
not entitled to enforcement because Missouri was the child's "home State" before the
proceedings were filed, Missouri did not decline to exercise its jurisdiction, and California
did not act consistently with any of the other requirements in 28 U.S.C. § 1738A(c)(2). In
so holding, the Missouri court quoted the following passage from Russell M. Coombs',
Interstate Child Custody: Jurisdiction, Recognition, and Enforcement, 66 Minn. L. Rev. 711,
788-89 (1982):
"'Although possessing jurisdiction under its own law, a court in
which an initial custody proceeding is filed may consider
whether the exercise of that jurisdiction would be consistent
with section 1738A. The resulting decree would be entitled
under the federal statute to interstate enforcement only if made
consistently with section 1738A.'" 835 S.W.2d at 393.
(Footnotes omitted and emphasis supplied in Glanzner).
Thus, even if California had issued its order consistent with its statutes and the UCCJA,
Missouri was not bound to enforce it unless it was made consistently with the provisions of
the PKPA. See also Atkins v. Atkins, 308 Ark. 1, 6-7, 823 S.W.2d 816, 819 (1992) (the
Arkansas Supreme Court determined that "[a]lthough the PKPA only applies directly to
modification proceedings, it also indirectly governs initial custody determinations . . .
[because] if a custody decree fails to conform to the requirements of the PKPA, it will not
be entitled to full faith and credit in another state." (Citations omitted)).See footnote 18
In West Virginia, we also have acknowledged the practical necessity of
applying the PKPA to an initial custody determination. In Sams v. Boston, 181 W. Va. 706,
712, 384 S.E.2d 151, 157 (1989), we said:
"[T]he Federal PKP Act gives distinct priority to the state court
exercising 'home-state' jurisdiction to enter an initial custody
decree [over a state that bases its jurisdiction on a 'significant
connection' and 'substantial evidence' test. 28 U.S.C.
§ 1738A(c)(2)(A) and (B)]. Therefore, the Federal PKP Act
makes it judicially imprudent for a state court in one state to
exercise jurisdiction to enter an initial custody decree when a
state court in another state has 'home-state' jurisdiction and has
not declined to exercise that jurisdiction; if conflicting decrees
were issued, only the custody decree of the 'home-state' court
would be entitled to full faith and credit under the Federal PKP Act. Mancusi v. Mancusi, 136 Misc. 2d 898, 901-04, 519 N.Y.S.2d 476, 478-79 (Fam. Ct. 1987)."See footnote 19
Therefore, with the foregoing considerations, we analyze the petitioner's claim that the Ohio
decree should not be afforded full faith and credit in West Virginia under the PKPA.
There is no doubt in this case that West Virginia was the "home State" of
Ronald M.M. prior to the initiation of the custody proceedings and West Virginia did not
decline to exercise its jurisdiction.See footnote 20 Moreover, although the letter dated September 14, 1993, from the Ohio Court of Common Pleas to the circuit court in West Virginia stated
Ohio had continuing jurisdiction based upon the parentage action, Ohio had not entered an
initial custody decree on which it could assert continuing jurisdiction under the PKPA, 28
U.S.C § 1738A(d).
Under 28 U.S.C. § 1738A(d), a court may continue its jurisdiction if it has
made a "child custody determination consistent with the provisions of this section," if it
maintains jurisdiction under its law, and if either the child or a contestant continues to reside
in the state. A "custody determination" is defined in 28 U.S.C. § 1738A(3) as "a judgment,
decree, or other order of a court providing for the custody or visitation of a child, and
includes permanent and temporary orders, and initial orders and modifications[.]" The
parentage action in Ohio was not a "custody determination" as defined by the PKPA. In fact,
Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3111.13(C) (Anderson 1993), provides, in part: "After entry of the
judgment or order, the father may petition that he be designated the residential parent and
legal custodian of the child or for visitation rights in a proceeding separate from any action
to establish paternity."See footnote 21 (Emphasis added). It is obvious that the custody action in the present case was separate from the parentage action. Custody did not become an issue until
the emergency petition was filed--nearly seventeen months after the respondent
acknowledged paternity.
Without "home-State" preference or continuing jurisdiction, the only other
basis Ohio could argue it had jurisdiction under the present facts is by virtue of the
emergency petition filed by the respondent. To assume jurisdiction in an emergency
situation under the PKPA, 28 U.S.C. § 1738A(c)(1) and (2)(C), a state must have jurisdiction
under its own law, the child must be physically present in the state, and the child must be
either abandoned or in an emergency situation that necessitates action to protect the child
being "subjected to or threatened with mistreatment or abuse[.]" However, we find these
sections must be interpreted and applied narrowly to fulfill the goals of the PKPA and the
UCCJA. Section 1738A(c)(2)(C) of the PKPA virtually is identical to Section 3(a)(3) of the
model UCCJA.See footnote 22 See W. Va. Code, 48-10-3(a)(3) (1981); Ohio Rev. Code Ann. §
3109.22(A)(3) (Anderson 1991).
In this case, according to the original ex parte order dated July 1, 1993, the
Court of Common Pleas granted temporary custody to Ronald P.M. based upon the totally
unsubstantiated and self-serving statements made in his pleadings and his personal
appearance, along with his wife's appearance, before the court to give testimony. To
interpret these facts as a sufficient basis to establish jurisdiction to make a permanent custody
award,See footnote 23 without more, would be contrary to the intent of the PKPA and the UCCJA. To
hold otherwise would be a license for every unscrupulous would-be custodial parent in the
country to take their children and make false allegations of emergency situations in states
where favorable custody decisions may result. See Ex parte J.R.W. (Re: S.C. v. J.R.W.),
___ Ala. ___, ___, ___ So. 2d ___, ___ (1994 WL 84130), as modified; rev'd on other
grounds, ___ Ala. ___, ___ So. 2d ___ (1995 WL 413904) ("[a]llowing a state court to
modify 'permanently' a prior custody determination of another court solely on the basis of
the 'emergency' provision of § 1738A(c)(2)(C) would thwart the very purposes for which the
PKPA was enacted." Such an interpretation would cause "havoc . . . given the frequency
with which allegations of abuse, particularly allegations of sexual abuse, become part of
child custody litigation").
As further explained in David C. Minneman's annotation, Abandonment and
Emergency Jurisdiction of Court under § 3(a)(3) of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act (UCCJA) and the Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act (PKPA), 28 USCS §
1738A(c)(2)(C), 5 A.L.R.5th 788, 806-07 (1992):
"In establishing that an emergency exists sufficient
to invoke emergency jurisdiction under § 3(a)(3)(ii) of the
Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act, self-serving statements
of one parent regarding the welfare of the child while in the
custody of the other parent can be expected to be insufficient to
establish jurisdiction. In such a case the testimony will
probably be based almost totally upon hearsay statements of the
noncustodial parent, who is claiming to relate statements made
to him by the child regarding the child's circumstances with the
custodial parent. In such a situation there is often no other
support for the claim that the child is in bad circumstances while
in the custody of the other parent, and the testimony of the
noncustodial parent is generally disputed by the custodial
parent." (Footnotes omitted).
See also In the Matter of Lemond, 274 Ind. 505, 532-33, 413 N.E.2d 228, 245 (1980) (Per
curiam) ("[o]nly where there is substantial evidence, not simply conclusory assertions, of an
emergency, can emergency jurisdiction . . . be invoked").
Based upon these principles, we hold that unsubstantiated statements of a
parent that a child is being "subjected to or threatened with mistreatment or abuse,"See footnote 24 by
themselves, cannot serve as a basis to invoke jurisdiction of a court to enter or modify a
permanent custody award under the PKPA. We make it clear that a parent is not precluded
merely because of unsubstantiated statements from raising allegations of mistreatment or abuse in a court that has jurisdiction to enter or modify a permanent custody award on other
grounds; nor is that court prevented from considering such unsubstantiated statements in
entering a temporary order to protect a child from an emergency situation of abuse.
By our holding, we in no way mean to downplay the necessity of emergency
custody orders. Such orders are absolutely critical in a world where children are subjected
to mistreatment and abuse. In fact, we unequivocally hold that a court without a sufficient
reason to invoke jurisdiction on other grounds is not powerless in an emergency situation.
Although we interpret § 1738A(c)(2)(C) of the PKPA narrowly to adhere to the overall goals
of the Act, we hold it is consistent with the intent of the PKPA that a court without
jurisdiction on other grounds may invoke temporary emergency jurisdiction if its exercise
of jurisdiction is consistent with the laws of the state where the court is located, the child is
physically present in that state, and the child is in need of protection as a result of being
"subjected to or threatened with mistreatment or abuse[.]" 28 U.S.C. § 1738A(c)(1) and
(2)(C). We also are aware that emergency situations often initially do not provide a parent
or a court with sufficient time to gather additional evidence beyond the mere statements of
a parent; therefore, we further hold that a court may rely upon unsubstantiated statements to
invoke emergency jurisdiction if the court finds it necessary to protect the child from actual
or threats of mistreatment or abuse. If emergency jurisdiction is based upon the
unsubstantiated statements of a parent, additional evidence should be gathered as quickly as
reasonably possible to either affirm or negate the allegations. Moreover, temporary jurisdiction should last only so long as the emergency exists or until a court that has
jurisdiction to enter or modify a permanent custody award is apprised of the situation and
accepts responsibility to ensure that the child is protected.
The necessity for allowing courts to invoke temporary emergency jurisdiction
also was articulated by the Supreme Court of Mississippi in Curtis v. Curtis, 574 So. 2d 24,
28 (1990), when it stated:
"We are sensitive to the practical plight of a . . .
judge presented with an emergency petition such as this. He or
she will necessarily hear but one side of the matter. The
consequences of declining jurisdiction where a true emergency
exists far outweigh the harm that may be inflicted where the
court assumes a temporary jurisdiction which in time appears
improvident."
However, the court in Curtis further explained that "[e]mergencies by definition do not last
and to say that the [court] had temporary emergency subject matter jurisdiction in no way
precludes plenary inquiry into the [court's] permanent subject matter jurisdiction of the
court." 574 So. 2d at 28. A "court should assume 'temporary jurisdiction only for the
duration of the emergency and [should terminate] its jurisdiction after the emergency has
passed.'" In the Matter of E.H., 612 N.E.2d 174, 185 (Ind. App. 2 Dist. 1993), quoting In
the Matter of Lemond, 274 Ind. at 534 n.15, 413 N.E.2d at 246 n.15. See also Ex parte
J.R.W. (Re: S.C. v. J.R.W.), ___ Ala. at ___, ___ So. 2d at ___ (1994 WL 84130) ("[t]o
avoid seriously abrogating the PKPA's clear and otherwise uncompromising provisions governing modification of custody determinations, any construction of 'emergency' authority
under the PKPA . . . would undoubtedly have to limit this authority to those temporary
modifications necessary to protect the child from substantial and imminent harm").
Therefore, even if we assume that Ohio was presented with sufficient facts to
"temporarily" take jurisdiction to protect Ronald M.M. from abuse, Ohio should have
terminated its temporary jurisdiction once West Virginia asserted its jurisdiction. Emergency
custody matters should be among those cases given priority by our court systems and should
be resolved as quickly as is reasonably feasible. See, e.g., Syl. pt. 1, In the Interest of Carlita
B., 185 W. Va. 613, 408 S.E.2d 365 (1991). A child should not be set to languish in the
custody-dispute abyss for months or years while a temporary custody order is disputed.
This Court acknowledges it does not have the transcripts from the evidentiary
hearings held in Ohio after Ohio "assumed its jurisdiction"; however, it appears from even
what is contained within the referee's report that this case is an outrageous example of how
one parent who did not participate in child rearing until the time of emergency custody
manipulated the legal system to obtain permanent legal custody. We do not dispute the child
may have integrated himself into Ronald P.M.'s family; however, it is abhorrent that the
reason why the integration occurred is because this child was separated from his mother and
half-brother for nearly a year based upon unsubstantiated claims in an "emergency" custody
petition that ultimately resulted in a permanent custody award to Ronald P.M.
III.
CONCLUSION
In sum, we find the Ohio order entered on June 10, 1994, is not entitled to full
faith and credit under the PKPA because the Ohio court did not enter its order consistent
with the PKPA. We also find West Virginia had priority in exercising its jurisdiction as the
"home State" of Ronald M.M. under the PKPA; Ohio did not have continuing jurisdiction
based upon the parentage action under the PKPA; and Ohio did not have subject matter
jurisdiction to enter a permanent custody order pursuant to the emergency provisions of the
PKPA.
For the foregoing reasons, we reverse the November 4, 1994, order of the
Circuit Court of Wetzel County which dismissed the petitioner's amended petition for
custody and afforded full faith and credit to the Ohio order. This case, therefore, is
remanded for further proceedings as to the permanent custody of Ronald M.M.See footnote 25
Reversed and remanded.
Footnote: 1
We follow our traditional practice of protecting the identities of the parties in cases
involving sensitive facts. See In re Jonathan Michael D., W. Va. , 459 S.E.2d 131
(1995); State v. Derr, 192 W. Va. 165, 451 S.E.2d 731 (1994).Footnote: 2
Neither counsel for the respondent nor the respondent, Ronald P.M., made an
appearance or filed pleadings before this Court. Footnote: 3
Ronald P.M.'s request for "permanent" custody was treated as a request for
commitment of legal custody under the laws of Ohio. This distinction does not affect the
outcome of this opinion. Footnote: 4
Sheila L. is represented by different counsel on appeal.Footnote: 5
At the end of the hearing, testimony was closed, subject to being reopened when a
home study on Sheila L. was concluded. As previously mentioned the referee's report
was filed on May 23, 1994, while the letter attached to the home study performed by Ms.
Price was dated June 9, 1994. The referee stated in his report that if the parties desired to
cross-examine the person who conducts the home study, they should do so promptly as
the Court of Common Pleas is obligated to review his report and make a decision after
fourteen days. Footnote: 6
The referee's report contains statements that imply Sheila L. received child support
ranging from nothing per month to an average high of $97 per month in 1993. In
addition, the petitioner asserts in her brief to this Court that while Ronald P.M. was
ordered to pay $201 per month in child support, he only made such payments for two
months prior to receiving emergency custody of the child. Footnote: 7
There is no mention in the order that the Court of Common Pleas reviewed Ms.
Price's home study dated June 9, 1994.Footnote: 8
Both West Virginia and Ohio adopted the UCCJA. It is codified in W. Va. Code, 48-
10-1, et seq., and in Ohio Rev. Code §§ 3109.21 through 3109.37.Footnote: 9
Section 1 of Article IV states, in part: "Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each
State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State."Footnote: 10
In Stewart, we were asked by certified question "whether a decree by a Virginia
court that permitted a second husband to adopt his wife's child over the objection of her
former husband, the natural father, is entitled to full faith and credit in this State." 169
W. Va. at 2, 289 S.E.2d at 653. The trial court apparently determined the Virginia decree
was not entitled to full faith and credit because it was based upon an unconstitutionally
vague Virginia statute. We reversed the circuit court's answer to the certified question on
the grounds that Virginia's judgment could not be attacked in West Virginia under full
faith and credit principles by arguing it was based upon an unconstitutional statute going
to the merits of the action rather than going to the jurisdiction of Virginia to enter a
judgment. See Syl. pt. 4, Stewart, supra. The natural father did not contest personal or
subject matter jurisdiction in Virginia nor did he assert Virginia assumed jurisdiction by
fraud.Footnote: 11
We quoted the following passage from Durfee, 375 U.S. at 111, 84 S. Ct. at 245, 11
L.Ed.2d at 191:
"'[W]hile it is established that a court in one State, when
asked to give effect to the judgment of a court in another
State, may constitutionally inquire into the foreign court's
jurisdiction to render that judgment, the modern decisions of
this Court have carefully delineated the permissible scope of
such an inquiry. From these decisions there emerges the
general rule that a judgment is entitled to full faith and credit-
-even as to questions of jurisdiction--when the second court's
inquiry discloses that those questions have been fully and
fairly litigated and finally decided in the court which rendered
the original judgement.'" Stewart, 169 W. Va. at 5, 289 S.E.2d at 654. Footnote: 12
The only difference between W. Va. Code, 48-10-14, and the model Act is the
substitution of the word "article" for "Act." Footnote: 13
For a modification of a prior custody award, we stated in Syllabus Point 2 of In the
Interest of Brandon L.E., 183 W. Va. 113, 394 S.E.2d 515 (1990):
"Notwithstanding their intent to require states
adopting the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act to
recognize custody decrees entered by sister states, the Act's
drafters in no uncertain terms provided jurisdiction to both the
original 'custody court' and other courts to determine whether
modification of the initial custody decree is in the best
interest of the child."Footnote: 14
28 U.S.C. § 1738A(a) provides: "The appropriate authorities of every State shall
enforce according to its terms, and shall not modify except as provided in subsection (f)
of this section, any child custody determination made consistently with the provisions of
this section by a court of another State."Footnote: 15
U.S. Const. art. VI, cl. 2.Footnote: 16
As further support, the Georgia court said in note 2, in part:
"This statute [28 U.S.C. § 1738A], although commonly
referred to as the PKPA, is codified under the title 'Full faith
and credit given to child custody determinations' and is an
addendum to the more general full faith and credit statute
requiring states to give preclusive effect to the judicial
proceedings of sister states, 28 U.S.C. § 1738. See
Thompson, 484 U.S. at 183, 108 S. Ct. at 518[, 98 L.Ed.2d at
522] (language and placement of § 1738A alone is strong
proof that it is intended to have the same operative effect as
the full faith and credit statute)." 263 Ga. at 889, 441 S.E.2d
at 60.Footnote: 17
The relevant section of the UCCJA is found in W. Va. Code, 48-10-3 (1981), which
provides:
"(a) A court of this State which is competent to
decide child custody matters has jurisdiction to make a child
custody determination by initial or modification decree if:
"(1) This State (i) is the home state of the child
at the time of commencement of the proceeding or (ii) has
been the child's home state within six months before
commencement of the proceeding, the child is absent from
this State because of his removal or retention by a person
claiming his custody or for other reasons and a parent or
person acting as parent continues to live in this State; or
"(2) It is in the best interest of the child that a
court of this State assume jurisdiction because (i) the child
and his parents, or the child and at least one contestant, have a
significant connection with this State, and (ii) there is
available in this State substantial evidence concerning the
child's present or future care, protection, training and personal
relationships; or
"(3) The child is physically present in this
State, and (i) the child has been abandoned, or (ii) it is
necessary in an emergency to protect the child because he has
been subjected to or threatened with mistreatment or abuse or
is otherwise neglected or dependent; or
"(4)(i) It appears that no other state would have
jurisdiction under prerequisites substantially in accordance
with subdivision (1), (2) or (3) of this subsection, or another
state has declined to exercise jurisdiction on the ground that
this State is the more appropriate forum to determine the
custody of the child, and (ii) it is in the best interest of the
child that this court assume jurisdiction.
"(b) Except under subdivisions (3) and (4) of
subsection (a), physical presence in this State of the child, or
of the child and one of the contestants, is not alone sufficient
to confer jurisdiction on a court of this State to make a child
custody determination.
"(c) Physical presence of the child, while
desirable, is not a prerequisite for jurisdiction to determine his
custody."
This section is substantially similar to Section 3 of the model UCCJA. Ohio also adopted
a similar, but not identical provision in Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3109.22 (Anderson 1991).Footnote: 18
In Atkins, the Arkansas court applied the PKPA to an initial custody controversy.
The court determined that under the PKPA, Arkansas was the child's "home State" and,
thus, had exclusive jurisdiction over the initial custody determination even if under the
UCCJA Louisiana and Arkansas might have had concurrent jurisdiction based on the
child's "significant connection" with Louisiana and "substantial evidence" there. 823 S.W.2d at 819.Footnote: 19
In Mancusi, the Family Court of New York held the PKPA does not control
jurisdiction to make an initial decree. "However, for a state's initial custody decree to be
entitled under federal law to enforcement and nonmodification in another state, that state
court must have exercised jurisdiction consistent with the PKPA (28 U.S.C. §
1738A[a])." 136 Misc. 2d at 902, 519 N.Y.S.2d at 478.Footnote: 20
In the circuit court's order filed November 9, 1994, dismissing Sheila L.'s original
and amended petitions for custody, the circuit court stated:
"9. The Judge of this Court communicated with
Samuel W. Kerr, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of
Jefferson County, Ohio Juvenile Division, who advised the
Judge of this Court that the Ohio Court had obtained first
jurisdiction by virtue of the underlying paternity action and
also by virtue of the action instituted by Ronald P.[M.] to
obtain emergency custody. The Circuit Court of Wetzel
County did not enter an order memorializing the agreement of
the two Judges that Ohio should retain jurisdiction. A letter
memorializing the conversation between the two Judges was
filed in this action on September 20, 1993. The Ohio Court
declined to stay further proceedings and an evidentiary
hearing was held in the Ohio Court on October 8, 1993[.]"
We find these statements reasonably cannot be interpreted as the circuit court declining to
exercise jurisdiction in West Virginia. It is especially evident in light of the fact the
circuit court had further proceedings on the case. Footnote: 21
This quite from Section 3111.13(C), in part, remains similar to the way it was
when it was enacted in 1982. The only difference between the 1982 and 1993 versions is
the phrase "the father may petition that he be designated the residential parent and legal
custodian" originally merely provided "the father may petition for custody[.]" Footnote: 22
The primary difference between the UCCJA and the PKPA is the exclusion of the
language "or is otherwise neglected or dependent" as a condition of an emergency
situation in the PKPA.Footnote: 23
As previously mentioned, it was considered a commitment of legal custody in
Ohio. See note 3, supra. Footnote: 24
28 U.S.C. § 1738A(c)(2)(C).Footnote: 25
During oral argument, counsel for the petitioner conceded there is insufficient
evidence in the record to determine custody. Thus, we make no recommendation as to
whom permanent custody should be awarded other than the best interests of Ronald
M.M. must prevail. We also commend petitioner's counsel for his pro bono work on this
case.
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