DaShanda G. v. Shane G.
Court
Intermediate Court of Appeals of West Virginia
Decided
June 27, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Importance
45%
Practice Areas
Case Summary
IN THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS OF WEST VIRGINIA FILED June 27, 2025 DASHANDA G., ASHLEY N. DEEM, CHIEF DEPUTY CLERK Respondent Below, Petitioner INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS OF WEST VIRGINIA v.) No. 24-ICA-432 (Fam. Ct. Jefferson Cnty. Case No. FC-19-2023-D-242) SHANE G., Petitioner Below, Respondent MEMORANDUM DECISION Petitioner DaShanda G.1 (“Mother”) appeals the Family Court of Jefferson County’s September 30, 2024, final divorce order that awarded Respondent Shane G. (“Father”) equal 50-50 custody of their children.2 Father filed a response in support of the family court’s order. Mother filed a reply. This Court has jurisdiction over this appeal pursuant to West Virginia Code § 51- 11-4 (2024). After considering the parties’ arguments, the record on appeal, and the applicable law, this Court finds that there is error in the family court’s decision but no substantial question of law. For the reasons set forth below, a memorandum decision vacating and remanding for further proceedings is appropriate under Rule 21 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure. The parties were married in September of 2005 and had five children during their marriage. The children were born in 2007, 2009, 2012, and 2014.3 The parties separated in April of 2018 and Father filed for divorce in November of 2023. On August 6, 2024, the family court held a final divorce hearing. The parties testified that they had no set parenting plan during their separation and parenting time was based on their work schedules. The court informed the parties that there was a rebuttable presumption that they would be awarded 50-50 custody. At the conclusion of the hearing, 1 To protect the confidentiality of the juveniles involved in this case, we refer to the parties’ last name by the first initial. See, e.g., W. Va. R. App. P. 40(e); State v. Edward Charles L., 183 W. Va. 641, 645 n.1, 398 S.E.2d 123, 127 n.1 (1990). 2 Mother is represented by Christopher T. Pritt, Esq. Father is self-represented. 3 The children born in 2007 are twins. 1 the court instructed the parties to subsequently submit an agreed 50-50 parenting plan. Based on the record, there was never an agreed parenting plan submitted to the court. On September 6, 2024, Father’s attorney filed a letter informing the family court that the proposed order had been electronically filed. However, while the letter was filed under the correct case number, the case referred to in the letter involved a different Jefferson County Family Court case.4 On September 26, 2024, Mother filed her proposed final divorce order, which she titled as Final Divorce Order Response. On September 30, 2024, the family court entered a final divorce order, divorcing the parties and awarding them 50-50 custody of the children pursuant to their supposed agreement. It is from this order that Mother now appeals. When reviewing the order of a family court, we apply the following standard of review: When a final order of a family court is appealed to the Intermediate Court of Appeals of West Virginia, the Intermediate Court of Appeals shall review the findings of fact made by the family court for clear error, and the family court’s application of law to the facts for an abuse of discretion. The Intermediate Court of Appeals shall review questions of law de novo. Syl. Pt. 2, Christopher P. v. Amanda C., 250 W. Va. 53, 902 S.E.2d 185 (2024); accord W. Va. Code § 51-2A-14(c) (2005) (specifying standards for appellate court review of family court orders). On appeal, Mother raises four assignments of error. Because the first two are closely related, we will consolidate them for our discussion below. See generally Tudor’s Biscuit World of Am. v. Critchley, 229 W. Va. 396, 402, 729 S.E.2d 231, 237 (2012) (stating that “the assignments of error will be consolidated and discussed accordingly”). In her first and second assignments of error, Mother asserts that the family court’s order contained insufficient findings of fact and conclusions of law because the parties had not reached a custody agreement. In support of her argument, Mother maintains that the court clearly erred by indicating that the parties had reached an agreement as the record is devoid of any evidence of an agreed parenting plan. We agree. West Virginia Code § 48-9-206(d) (2022) provides that “[i]n the absence of an agreement of the parents, the court’s de
Case Details
Case Details
Legal case information
Status
Decided
Date Decided
June 27, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Court Type
federal
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Case Summary
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Case Overview
Case Name: DaShanda G. v. Shane G.
Court: Intermediate Court of Appeals of West Virginia
Date: June 27, 2025
Citation: Unknown
Jurisdiction: SA
In the case of DaShanda G. v. Shane G., the Intermediate Court of Appeals of West Virginia reviewed a custody dispute stemming from a divorce proceeding. The primary focus was on the Family Court of Jefferson County's decision to award 50-50 custody of the couple's five children to both parents despite the absence of an agreed parenting plan.
Key Legal Issues
- Custody Agreement: Whether the Family Court erred in presuming an agreement on custody that did not exist.
- Due Process: Whether the court provided both parties with a meaningful opportunity to present evidence during the custody determination.
- Final Order Validity: The appropriateness of the Family Court's final order in light of procedural errors.
Court's Decision
The Intermediate Court of Appeals found that the Family Court had erred in its decision by:
- Presuming an agreement on custody without evidence.
- Failing to allow both parties to present their cases adequately.
The court vacated the Family Court's September 30, 2024, final divorce order and remanded the case for further proceedings.
Legal Reasoning
The court's decision was based on the following legal principles:
- West Virginia Code § 48-9-206(d): This statute requires a final hearing with evidence presentation in the absence of a parenting agreement.
- Due Process Rights: The court emphasized the importance of allowing both parties to be heard, as mandated by Rule 2.6(A) of the West Virginia Code of Judicial Conduct.
The court noted that the Family Court's final hearing lasted only nine minutes, with insufficient opportunity for either party to present their arguments or evidence. This lack of due process was a critical factor in the decision to vacate the order.
Key Holdings
- The Family Court clearly erred by finding an agreement on custody that did not exist.
- The Family Court abused its discretion by not allowing the parties to present evidence at the final hearing.
- The case was remanded for a new hearing where both parties could present their cases fully.
Precedents and Citations
- Heather M. v. Richard R., 242 W. Va. 464, 836 S.E.2d 431 (2019): Cited for the principle that courts cannot presume facts without evidence.
- Christopher P. v. Amanda C., 250 W. Va. 53, 902 S.E.2d 185 (2024): Established standards for reviewing family court orders.
Practical Implications
This case underscores the importance of due process in family law proceedings, particularly in custody disputes. Legal practitioners should ensure that:
- All parties are afforded the opportunity to present evidence and arguments.
- Courts adhere to statutory requirements regarding custody determinations.
- Proper documentation and agreements are submitted to avoid misunderstandings in custody arrangements.
The ruling also highlights the need for clear communication and procedural adherence in family court to protect the rights of all parties involved, especially the children.
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Case Details
Legal case information
Status
Decided
Date Decided
June 27, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Court Type
federal
Legal Significance
Case importance metrics
Metadata
Additional information
Quick Actions
Case management tools