Kernozek v. Hershey

46 Mich. App. 393 | Mich. Ct. App. | 1973

O’Hara, J.

This is an appeal of right from an order of the trial judge denying visitation privileges to the grandparents of two grandchildren aged eight and nine. They are the children of the grandparents’ deceased daughter. Their father has remarried.

We have deep sympathy for the children who are caught in a cross fire resulting from the apparent irreconcilable differences between the stepmother, the father, and the grandparents.

To what end do we quote the testimony of the parties with its religious and ethnic crimination and recrimination? The grandparents allege and doubtless it is so that they miss seeing the children. The parents counter that after visits to them the children are upset and disturbed.

To what end do we quote the cold print of the statute¹ which permits the grant of visitation subject to the overriding best interests of the children?

At best this case becomes a test of credibility of the witnesses and the weight of the testimony. The trial judge observed all who testified. He assessed weight and credibility. He concluded it was not in the children’s best interests to order visitation privileges. It would be ill-considered of us to substitute our judgment for his. We are hopeful that the unpleasantness and tension will abate as the children grow older in years and the contesting parties will substitute wisdom and charity for ill-will.

We find no basis to reverse the trial court.

Affirmed — costs to the appellees.

V. J. Brennan, J., concurred. Levin, P. J., did not participate.

1 MCLA 722.27a; MSA 25.312(7a)