Rеspondent John David Pickering appeals as of right an order denying his motion to rescind a personal protection order (ppo) issued ex parte at the request of petitioner Stephanie Doris Pickering, respondent’s wife. This case requirеs us to address two issues that confront circuit courts daily, namely: (1) who has the burden of persuasion in an evidentiary hearing held on a motion to rescind an ex parte PPO; and (2) whether the facts presented in a husband-wife dispute occurring amidst divorce proсeedings are sufficient to warrant the entry of an ex parte ppo that removes one of the parties (respon dent) from the marital home. For the reasons that follow, we hold that the party who petitioned for the ex parte ppо has the burden of persuasion in a hearing held on a motion to rescind and, on the facts of this case, that the entry and maintenance of the ex parte PPO was proper. Accordingly, we affirm.
I. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
This case arises out of a PPO that was issued against respоndent on February 15, 2001. At the time the ppo was entered, petitioner and respondent were residing together in the marital home, but were in the process of obtaining a divorce. The ppo was issued after an incident in which respondent threatened tо break down a door that petitioner had braced shut with a chair while she worked on the family computer. After petitioner obtained the ex parte ppo, respondent filed a motion to rescind.
At the commencement of the hearing, the fоllowing colloquy regarding the burden of proof took place between the court and counsel for both parties:
Mr. Bosch [respondent’s counsel]: Just a procedural matter. Is the court going to require my client to put on proofs to set aside the ppo or is the Court going to put the burden of proof on the petitioner?
The Court: What do you think?
Mr. Bosch: My thoughts would be that the petitioner has to prove there’s reasonable cause that the ppo stay in place.
The Court: Mr. Beatty.
Mr. Beatty [petitioner’s counsel]: My preference, of сourse, Your Honor, would be that the defendant prove that it ought to be dissolved and I was trying to remember the last hearing we did whether that was the Court’s approach or not.
The Court: Well, the ppo is in effect under statute and the respondent wishes to modify it or terminate, so I think the respondent at least has the burden of going forward with the evidence. [Emphasis added.]
Each party presented witnesses during the hearing and then made their closing arguments to the court.
On conclusion of the evidentiary hearing, the trial court denied respondent’s motion, finding that the ppo was justified bеcause reasonable cause existed to believe that respondent caused petitioner to have a reasonable apprehension of violence. This appeal followed.
H. BURDEN OF PROOF
Respondent first argues that the trial court erred in ordering that the burden of proof was on him, rather than petitioner, to establish the propriety of the ppo. Which party bears the burden of
We have previously held, consistent with the statutes and the court rules, that a petitioner bears the burden of proof when seeking to obtain an ex parte ppo.
Kampf v Kampf,
At a hearing on a motion to dissolve a restraining order granted without notice, the burden of justifying continuation of the order is on the applicant for the restraining order whether or not the hearing has been consolidated with a hearing on a motion for a preliminаry injunction or an order to show cause. [MCR 3.310(B)(5) (emphasis added).]
Clearly an ex parte PPO constitutes a “restraining order granted without notice” under MCR 3.310(B)(5), because it is issued ex parte and restrains a respondent from committing certain acts. MCL 600.2950(30). In addition, MCR 3.310 applies to a statutory action for an injunction “only to the extent that it does not conflict with special procedures prescribed by the statute or the rules governing the special action.” MCR 3.310(1). Because the ppo statute and court rules are silent on the issue of the burden of proof in a hearing on a motion to rescind or terminate, the procedures in MCR 3.310(B)(5) do not conflict with the PPO statute or court rules, and therefore are controlling in this case.
Petitioner argues that MCR 3.310(B)(5) does not apply because the ppo statute is clear and comprehensive on its face, and it does not specifically state that the court rule applies. However, it is not necessary for a statute to invoke a court rule to make it applicаble. Rather, the Michigan Court Rules generally govern matters of procedure in all Michigan courts, MCR 1.103, and the rules in chapter three of the Michigan Court Rules specifically apply in the circuit court. MCR 3.001. Furthermore, as noted, neither the statute nor the court rules address the allocation of the burden of proof in a hearing regarding a motion to rescind or terminate a PPO, and hence MCR 3.310(B)(5) applies by its plain terms. MCR 3.310(I).
In Michigan, “[t]here are two aspects of the ‘burden of proof — the burden of persuasion аnd the burden of going forward with the evidence.”
Satterfield v Grand Rapids Pub Schs Bd of Ed,
Accordingly, we hold that under MCR 3.310(B)(5) the burden of justifying continuation of a PPO granted ex parte is on the applicant for the restraining order. Hence, the petitioner will have the burden
In this case, the trial court specifically ruled that respondent had the “burden of going forward with the evidence.” However, as previously noted, the burden of proof encompasses two separate concepts. Thus, although the trial court placed the burden of going forward with the evidence on respondent, it did not place the burden of persuasion on respondent.
Satterfield, supra.
See, also,
Triple E Produce Corp v Mastronardi Produce, Ltd,
HI. RESPONDENT’S MOTION TO RESCIND THE PPO
Respondent also argues that the trial court erred in denying his motion to set aside the PPO because the evidence failed to establish reasonable cause to believe that respondent would commit one or more of the acts referenced in the PPO statute, MCL 600.2950(1).
2
We disagree. A PPO is an injunctive order. MCL 600.2950(30)(c). The granting of injunctive relief is within the sound discretion of the trial court and will not be reversed on appeal absent an abuse of discretion. Ker
nen v Homestead Dev Co,
The trial court did not abuse its discretion when it denied respondent’s motion to rescind the PPO. Under MCL 600.2950(4), the trial court is required to issue a PPO if it determines that “there is reasonable cause to believe that the individual to be restrained or enjoined may commit 1 or more of the acts listed in subsection (1).” The acts listed in subsection 1 include “[a]ny other specific act or conduct that imposes upon or interferes
In this сase, respondent argues that the trial court erred in failing to set aside the PPO issued against him on the ground that the conduct alleged by petitioner, which formed the basis for entry of the PPO, did not rise to the level of conduct necessary to establish “reasonable cause” for issuance of a PPO. Contrary to respondent’s argument, there was testimony presented at the evidentiary hearing demonstrating reasonable cause to believe that respondent engaged in conduct that caused petitioner a reasonable apprehension of violence. MCL 600.2950(1)(j). Respondent
threatened to break down a door that petitioner had braced shut with a chair. In doing so, respondent shouted at petitioner with a “rage in his voice,” continued to shove the door, and attempted to dislodge the chair by poking a yardstick under the door, ripping his watch off his wrist in the process. This conduct left petitioner afraid, “visibly shaken,” and “hysterical.” Petitioner also testified regarding other acts of anger and rage еxhibited by respondent in the past that caused her to fear him. The trial court expressly found the testimony of petitioner, petitioner’s brother, and the responding police officer credible, and this Court defers to the trial court in that determination.
Lumley v University of Michigan Bd of Regents,
Affirmed.
Notes
Although the trial court did not offend MCR 3.310(B)(5) by placing the burden of first coming forward with evidence on respondent, we believe it wоuld be more appropriate in these hearings to have the petitioner — who has the burden of justification throughout the proceedings— to also be the party to first come forward with evidence.
In reaching our conclusion, we do not considеr the February 23, 2001, correspondence from the Michigan Head Pain and Neurological Institute, which was appended to respondent’s brief on appeal. The trial court sustained petitioner’s objection to admission of the exhibit, and thus, the documеnt is not a part of the lower court record. It therefore cannot be considered by this Court.
Butler v Ramco-Gershenson, Inc,
We recognize that the facts of this case present a “close call” regarding whether the ppo should have been initially entered or continuеd. It is also true, as the trial court noted, that ppos can be inappropriately utilized in a divorce or custody proceeding by parties attempting to obtain some perceived advantage, such as removing one parent from the hоme. However, we believe trial courts are well positioned to determine if a party is acting in such an inappropriate fashion. First, the trial court is in the best position to determine the credibility of the parties, which will obviously include the testimony, demеanor, and motive of the petitioner. Second, if a divorce or custody proceeding already exists when the ppo is filed, the ppo will be assigned to the judge presiding over the custody or divorce proceeding. MCR 8.111(D)(1). Presumably the judge who is handling the divorce or custody proceeding will have sufficient knowledge of the parties’ circumstances to determine in most cases whether the petitioner is inappropriately seeking a tactical advantage by obtaining the ppo. See
Brandt v Brandt,