Opinion

Brown v. Denny

  • 72 Ohio App. 3d 417
  • 594 N.E.2d 1008
  • 1991 Ohio App. LEXIS 493
Court
Ohio Court of Appeals
Filed
Feb 8, 1991
Status
Published
Author
Wilson
On the bench
Fain, Brogan, Wilson
Cited by
26 cases

holding that grandparents tortiously interfered with parental relationship by taking, keeping, or harboring parent’s children

How later courts described this case

  • holding that grandparents tortiously interfered with parental relationship by taking, keeping, or harboring parent’s children
  • “[N]ot every wrongful act is outrageous. Only the most extreme wrongs, which do gross violence to the norms of a civilized society, will rise to the level of outrageous conduct.”

Written by the judges who cited it.

The opinion

*424

Wilson, Judge,

concurring in judgment.

I agree with the majority in its disposition of the first and second assignment of error for the reasons stated. In my view, a claim for tortious interference with the visitation rights of a noncustodial parent should also be denied based upon “public policy and fear that it would encourage a multitude of claims for petty infractions.” Kark, Domestic Torts: Family Violence, Conflict and Sexual Abuse (1989) 221, Section 5.17.

The Dennys aided, abetted, and subsidized their daughter in denying the plaintiff a “possessory interest” in his children. However, this activity is not the basis of a civil action under R.C. 2307.50 unless the minor is a victim of a “child stealing crime.” In my view, a person who aids a custodial parent in depriving a noncustodial parent of a possessory interest in his children has not committed a child stealing crime.

I would overrule the third assignment of error.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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