THI RD DI VI SI ON

ELLI NGTON, P. J.

, DI LLA RD and M C FA DDEN, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

M ar ch 29, 2016



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A2 01 5

, A1 5 A2 0 16

. IN THE INTEREST OF S. P., a ch i ld (t wo

cas es ).

M C F A D D E N , J u d g e.

In t h es e ap p eal s

, t h e m o t h er o f m i n o r ch i l d S. P. ap peal s fro m t wo o r d ers o f

t h e ju v en i l e co u rt : an o rd er t erm i n at i n g h er p aren t al ri g h t s an d award i n g p erm an en t

cu s t o d y to t h e Dep art m en t of Fam i l y an d Ch i l d ren Serv i ces (“ D FCS”) to be p l aced

fo r ad o p t i o n (Cas e No

. A1 5 A2 0 1 6 ), an d an o rd er d ecl i n i n g t o a p p o i n t th e g i rl ’ s

m at ern al g ran d m o t h er as h er p erm an en t gu ard i an (Cas e No

. A 1 5 A2 0 1 5 ). Sh e arg u es

t h at t he ev id en ce co m

pel l ed d ifferen t ru li n gs fro m t h e ju v en i l e co u rt

. Becau s e t h e

ev i d en ce au t h o ri zed b ot h ru l i n g s , we affi rm

.

As an i n i ti al m at ter, we n o t e t h at Geo rg i a’ s n ew J u v en i l e Co de, w hi ch ap p li es

t o ju v en i le p ro ceed i n g s co m m en ced o n o r aft er J an u ary 1

, 20 1 4

, s ee Ga. L. 2 0 1 3

, p.2 9 4

, § 5 -1

, ap p l i e s t o th es e cas es

. Cas e No

. A1 5 A2 0 16 co n cern s a t erm i n at i o n

p ro ceed in g t h at co m

m en ced o n J u l y 3

, 2 01 4

, wh en DFCS fi l ed a p et i ti o n t o t erm i n at e

t h e m o t h er’ s p aren t al ri g h t s

. See In t h e In t er es t of C. J. V.

, 33 3 Ga. A p p

. 8 4 4, 8 4 8 (2 )

(7 7 7 SE2 d 6 9 2 ) (2 0 1 5) (ap p l y i n g n ew J u v en i l e Co d e t o t erm in at i o n d eci s i o n b ecau s e

t erm i n at i o n p et i t io n was fi l ed i n 2 0 1 4 ). See a l s o OCGA § 1 5-1 1 -1 6 (a) (3 ) (a

p ro ceed in g u n d er t he n ew J u v en i l e Co d e “ m ay be co m m en ced

. . . b y t h e fi l i n g o f a

co m p l ai n t o r a p et i t io n as p ro v id ed i n Art icl e[]

. . . 4

. . . o f [t h e n ew J u v en il e Co d e] ,”

am on g ot h er way s ); OCGA § 1 5-1 1 -2 8 0 (s ect i o n wi t h i n Art i cl e 4 o f th e new J u v en i l e

Co d e p ro v id i n g fo r t h e fi l i ng o f a p et i t i o n t o t erm in at e p aren tal r i g h t s ). Cas e No

.

A1 5 A2 01 5 co n cern s a th i rd p art y ’ s m o ti o n to in t erv en e i n th at t e r m i n a t i o n

p ro ceed in g fo r t h e p u rp o s e of b ei n g ap p o in t ed p erm an en t g u ar d i an of t he ch i l d.

Co m p are In t he In t er es t o

f J. M. L.

,

_

_ G a

. Ap p

.

_

_ (_

_ SE2 d

_

_ ) (Cas e No

.

A1 5 A2 35 9

, deci d ed M arch 2 9

, 2 0 1 6 ) (o ld Ju v en il e Co d e ap p li ed t o p erm an en t

g u ard i an s h i p d e c i s i o n m ad e in res p o n s e t o m o t io n fi led i n 2 0 1 4 i n dep ri v at i o n

p ro ceed in g t h at h ad b een co m m en ced b efo re J an u ary

1 , 2 0 1 4 ).

1

. Fa ct s a n d p r o ced

ur a l h i s to r y.

“ On ap p eal fro m a ju v en i l e co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n t o t erm in at e paren t al r i g h t s

, we

rev i ew t h e ev i d en ce i n t h e l i g ht m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e co u rt ’ s d eci s io n an d d et erm i n e

2wh et h er an y rat i o n al t ri er o f fact co u l d h av e fo u n d cl ear an d co n vi nci n g ev i d en ce t h at

t h e p aren t al ri g h t s s h ou l d be term i n at ed .” In t h e In t er es t o f C. S

. , 3 1 9 Ga. Ap p

. 1 3 8,

1 3 9 (7 3 5 SE2 d 1 4 0) (2 0 1 5 ) (ci tat i o n o m i t t ed ). Ou r Su prem e Co u rt has s t res s ed t h at

,

“ [i ] n th e ap p el l at e rev i e w o f a b en ch t ri al [s u ch as

, i n t h i s cas e, t he ev i d en ti ary

h eari n g s o n t h e m ot i o n s fo r t erm i n at i o n o f p aren t al ri g h t s an d ap p o i n t m en t o f a

p erm an en t g u ard i an ]

, . . . d u e d eferen ce m u st be g i ven t o th e t ri al co u rt

,

ack n owl ed gi ng t h a t i t h as t h e o p p o rt u n i ty t o ju d g e th e cred ib i l i t y of wi t n es s es .”

S t r i ckl a nd v. S tr i ckl an d

,

__ Ga.

_ _ ,

_ _ ( 1 ) (_

_ SE2 d

_ _ ) (Cas e No

. S1 5 G1 0 1 1,

d eci d ed March 7 , 2 0 1 6 ) (ci t at i on s o m i t t ed ).

Vi ewed i n t h e li g h t m os t fav o rab l e t o t h e ju ven i l e co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n

, t h e

ev i d en ce s ho wed t h at S. P. was b o r n o n J an u ary 1 4

, 2 01 1

. At t h e t im e, h er m o t h er

was i n carcerat ed fo r a p ro bat i o n v i o l at i o n on a fo rg ery co n v ict i o n

, an d u p o n h er b irt h

S. P. wen t t o li v e wi t h h er m at ern al g ran d m o th er. W h en S. P. was 2 0 m o n t h s o l d

, h er

m o th er was rel eas ed fro m i n carcerat i o n an d m o v ed i n to t h e h ou s eh o ld wi t h S. P. an d

h er g r an d m o t h er. Fo ur m on t h s l at er, i n J an uary 2 01 3

, t h e m o t her was arres t ed an d

i n carcerat ed aft er an al t ercat i on i n t h e ch i l d ’ s p r es en ce b et ween t h e m o t h er, t h e

g ran d m o t h er, an d an au n t (t h e m o t h er’ s h al f-s i s t er). Up o n th e m o t h er’ s arres t

, DFCS

o b t ai n ed cu s t o dy o f S. P. b ecau s e t h e m o t h er refu s ed t o en ter i n t o a s afet y p l an t h at

3wo u l d p erm i t t h e gi rl t o rem ai n wi t h t h e g ran d m o t h er. (DFCS lat er d ecl i n ed to

ap p ro v e t h e g ran d m o t h er’ s h o m e as a p lacem en t fo r S. P. fo l l o wi ng a h o m e

ev al u at i on

. ) Fi n d i n g n o o t h er rel at i v e wh o co u l d care fo r S. P., 1 DFCS p l aced t h e gi rl

i n t o fo s t er care. Aft er an i n i t i al p l acem en t wi t h an o th er fam i l y

, i n M ay 20 1 3 S. P. was

p l aced in t o care wi th t h e fo s t er fam i l y wi t h wh o m s h e c u r ren t l y res i d es

. Her fo s t er

p aren t s wo u ld l i ke t o ad o pt h er.

Th e ju v en i l e co u rt ad

ju d i cat ed S. P. d ep ri ved i n Feb ru ary 2 0 1 3 i n an

u n ap peal ed o rd er t o wh i ch t h e m o t h er, wh o was rep res en t ed b y co u n s el

, s t i p u l at ed

.

In t h at o rd er, am on g o t h er t h i n g s

, t h e ju ven i l e co u rt s t at ed t h at S. P. was d ep ri v ed d u e

t o th e m o th er’ s i n carcerat io n

, t h e m o t h er’ s hi s t o r y o f s u b s t an ce ab u s e, an d t h e

i n ci d en t of d o m es t i c vi o l en ce b et ween t he m o t h er an d th e g ran d m o t her. Th e ju v en i l e

co u rt al s o en t ered an o rd er i n co rp o rat i ng a reu n i fi cat i o n c a s e p l a n fo r t h e m o t h er,

w h i c h r e q u i red t h at s h e: (1 ) co m p l et e a d ru g an d al co h o l as s es s m en t

, fo l l o w an y

reco m m en d at i o ns m ad e, s u b m it t o ran d om d ru g s creen s

, an d es t ab l i sh s i x m o n t h s o f

cl ean s creen s ; (2 ) co m pl et e a p s y ch o l o g i cal ev al u at io n an d fo l l o w an y

reco m m en d at i o ns m ad e; (3 ) o b t ai n an d m ai n t ai n s afe an d s t ab l e ho u s i n g ; (4 ) o b t ai n

1 S. P.’ s b io l o g i cal fat h er i n fo rm ed D FCS t h at he was n o t in t eres ted i n cu s t o dy

an d s ub s eq u en tl y

v ol u n t ari l y s urren dered h is p aren t al ri g h t s t o t h e g i rl

.

4an d m ai nt ai n a s t ab l e, l eg al i n co m e; (5 ) co m p l et e ag e-ap p ro p ri at e p aren t i n g cl as s es

a n d d em o n s t rat e s k il l s l earn ed ; (6 ) res o l ve al l p en d i n g l eg al i s s u es an d co m m i t n o

fu rt her v io l en ce o f t h e law; (7 ) refrai n fro m co m m i tt i ng o r ex p o s i n g S. P. t o d o m es t i c

v i o l en ce; (8 ) es t ab l i s h an d m ai n t ai n a b o n d wi t h S. P. t h ro ug h reg u lar v i si t s u p o n t h e

m o th er’ s rel eas e fro m i n carcerat i o n ; (9 ) p ro v i d e a s p eci fi ed am o u n t o f ch i l d s u p p o rt

t o DFCS b eg i n n i n g n o l at er t h an 6 0 d ay s fro m h er rel eas e fro m i n c a r c e r a ti o n ; (1 0 )

rei m b u rs e t h e ju ven i l e co u rt fo r at t o rn ey fees i n a s p ec i fi ed am o u n t ; an d (1 1 )

co o perat e wi th DFCS an d al l o t her ag en ci es pro v i di n g s erv i ces t o h er, i n cl u d i n g

noti fy i n g DFCS o f ch an g es t o h er ad d res s

, t el ep h on e n u m b er, an d em

p l o y m en t w ithin

4 8 h o u rs o f t h e ch an g e.

Th e m o t h er b eg an wo rk i n g o n t h e reu n i fi cat i o n cas e p l an wh i l e s h e was

i n carcerat ed

, o b tai n i n g a p s y ch o l o g i cal ev al u at i o n i n wh ich s h e was d i ag no s ed wi th

an t i -s o ci al p ers o n al it y d i s ord er an d as p ect s o f d ep en d en t p ers o n al i t y di so rd er. Aft er

s h e w as rel eas ed fro m i n carcerat i o n

, sh e b eg an wo rk i ng o n ot h er as p ect s o f h er cas e

p l an

. Fo r a p eri od o f t i m e s he o b t ai n ed ho u si n g an d p art -t i m e, bu t n o t fu l l -t i m e,

em pl o y m en t

. Sh e al s o in i t i al ly p art i ci p at ed i n vi s i t s an d j o i n t t h erap y wi th S. P. an d

recei v ed i n d i v i d u al co u n sel in g, b u t as t i m e p as sed s h e b ecam e i n co n s i s t en t an d b eg an

m i s s i n g ap p o i n tm en t s

.

5In s ev eral i n t eri m o rd ers d u ri n g t hi s ti m e p eri o d, th e ju v en i le co u rt fo u n d t h at

t h e m o t h er’ s ps y ch ol og i cal co n d i t i o n s were i m p ed i n g h er ab il i ty t o m eet h er cas e p l an

g o al s

. In an Oct o b er 2 01 3 o rd er fo l l o wi ng a ci t i zen p an el rev i ew, th e ju ven i l e co u rt

s t at ed t h at S. P. wo u l d r e m a i n at ri s k u n t i l th e m o th er ad d res s ed h er p sy ch o l o g i cal

an d l eg al i s s u es an d ex p res s ed co n cern ab o u t “ t h e m ot h e r ’s n o n-co m p l i an ce wi th

s u b s t an ce ab u se t reat m en t .” In a J an u ary 2 0 1 4 t em p o rary d i s po s it i o n o rd er, t h e

ju v en i l e co u rt ad

ju di cat ed S. P. d ep en d en t

, n o t i n g th at t h e m o t h e r s t i l l n eed ed to

ad d r es s h er p s y ch o l o gi cal co n di t i o n an d t h at t h e m o t h er h ad co ns en t ed t o t h e ch i ld

rem ai n i n g i n DFCS cu s t o d y

. An d i n an u n ap p eal ed Ap ri l 2 0 1 4 o rd er o f di s p o s i t i o n

an d p erm an en cy

, wh i ch fo l l owed ev i d en t iary h eari n g s

, th e ju v en i l e co u rt h el d t h at S.

P. rem ai n ed dep en d en t b ecau s e, al t ho u g h t h e m ot h er h ad co m p l i ed wi t h s o m e as p ect s

o f h er cas e p l an , s h e n eed ed ad d i t i o n al wo rk o n h er s tab i li t y an d s i g n i fi can t m en t al

h e a l t h i s su es

. Th e o rd er o f d i s p o s i t i o n an d p erm an en cy l i s t ed reu n ifi cat i o n an d

ad o pt i o n fo l l o wi n g t erm i n at i o n o f p aren t al ri gh t s as co n cu rren t g o al s

.

In t h e ord er of d i s p o si t i on an d p erm an en cy

, t h e ju v en i l e co u rt fo u nd t h at an

u n h eal t h y rel at i o n s h i p ex i s ted b et ween th e m o t h er an d g ran d m o t h er t h at affect ed t h e

m o th er’ s ab i l i t y

t o ad d res s h er p s y ch o lo g i cal co nd i ti o n s an d w o rk o n h er cas e p l an

g o al s

. Th e j u v en i le co u rt p o i n t ed t o ev i d en ce t h at t h e rel at i o n s h i p b et w een t h e m o t h er

6an d g ran d m o t h er was “ t o x i c” an d th at t h e g ran d m o t h er was a co n t ro l l i n g i n d i v i d u al

wh o h ad ab u s e d t h e m o t h e r b o t h as a ch il d an d ad u l t ; t h at th e m o t h er n eed ed to

es t ab l i s h b o u nd ari es t o p ro t ect b o th h ers el f an d S. P. fro m an un h eal t h y rel at i o n s h ip

wi t h t h e gran d m o t h er; t h a t t h e m o t h er k n ew h er fai lu re t o res o l v e t h is i s s u e “ co u ld

b e a b a r r i er to h er b ei n g reu n i fi ed wi t h [S. P.] ; an d th at t h e m o t h er n ev ert h el es s

rem ai n ed d ep en d en t u po n t h e g ran d m ot h er an d “ h a[d ] b een u n a b l e t o i m p l em en t

b o u n d ari es wi t h [h er] .” In an earl i er i n t eri m o rd er, t h e ju ven i l e co u rt h ad fo rb i d d en

t h e g ran d m o t h er’ s p res en ce at v i s i t s b et w een S. P. an d t h e m ot h er, an d i n t h e o rd er

o f d i s p o s i t i o n an d p erm an en cy th e ju v en i le co u rt s t at ed t hat s h e “ rem ai n [ed ]

i n cred i b l y co n cern ed ab o u t t h e m o t h er’ s al l o wi n g t h e ch i ld t o h av e an y co n t act wi th

[t he g ran d m o t h er] .”

Aft e r t h e h eari n gs t h at l ed to t he Ap ri l 2 0 1 4 o rd er o f d i s po s it i o n an d

p erm an en cy

, t h e m o t h er was arres ted t wi ce, fi rs t o n b ad ch eck ch arg es an d t h en o n

s h o p li ft i n g an d dru g ch arg es

. Du ri ng t h i s t i m e s h e al s o was jai l ed i n co n n ect i o n wi th

u n p ai d p ark i n g t i ck et s

, cau s i n g h er t o l o s e h er jo b

. In carcerat i o n p rev en ted h er fro m

at t en di n g h er jo i n t t h erap y s es s i o n s an d v i si t at i o n wi t h S. P.

On J u l y 3

, 20 1 4

, DFCS p et i t i o n ed t o t erm i nat e t h e m ot h er’ s p aren t al r i g ht s

.

Th e t erm i n at i o n p et it i o n al l eg ed

, am o n g o t h er t h i n g s

, t h at t h e m o t h er h ad n ot r e solv ed

7h er p s y ch o lo g i cal i s s u es

, th at s he h ad m i s s ed co u n s el i n g s es s i o n s

, t h at s h e co n t i n u ed

t o en g ag e i n des t ru ct i v e rel at io ns h i ps an d ri s k -t ak i n g b eh av i o r, t h at s h e fai l ed t o m eet

h er cas e p l an g o al o f res o l v i n g p en d in g l eg al is s ues a nd co m m it t in g n o fu rt h er

v i o l at i o n s o f t h e l aw, t h at s he fai l ed t o m ai n tai n an d es tab l i s h a b on d wi t h S. P., t h at

s h e m is s ed v i si t at i on wi t h t he g i r l d u ri ng p eri o d s o f i n carcerat i o n an d fo r o t h er

reas on s

, an d t h at s he fai l ed t o p ay ch i l d s u p p o r t o n a reg u lar an d co n s i s t en t b as i s

.

Su b s eq u en t l y

, t h e g ran dm o t h er m o v ed t o i n t erv en e i n t h e term i n at i on pro ceed i n g an d

p et i t i o n ed t o b e ap p o i n t ed S. P.’ s p erm an en t g u ard i an

.

Th e ju v en i l e co u rt h el d a s er i es o f ev i d en t i ary h eari n g s o n t h e p et i ti o n s an d

m o ti o n

. At t h o s e heari n g s

, t h e m o t h er ack n o wl ed ged t h at s h e had fai l ed t o co m p l et e

h er c a s e p l an go al of res o l v i n g al l p en d i n g l eg al i ss u es an d co m m i t t i n g no fu rt h er

v i o l at i o n s o f t h e l aw. At t h e t i m e o f t h e s eco n d h eari n g, s h e was ag ai n i n carcerat ed

o n pen d i n g s h o p l ift i ng an d d ru g ch arg es

. Earl i er i n t h e y ear s he h ad b een jai l ed fo r

o u t s t an d i n g traffi c t i ck et s an d arres t ed fo r wri t i ng a b ad ch eck

. Sh e al s o ad m i t t ed t h at

s h e h a d a l o n g an d ex t en si v e cri m i n al h i s to ry an d had b een arres t ed m o re t h an 1 5

t i m es o v er h er li fet i m e fo r a v ari et y o f o ffen s es

. At ti m es

, i n carcerat i o n k ep t h er fro m

v i s i t i n g S. P.

8W h en a s k ed wh y s h e co n t i n u ed t o b reak t h e l aw, k n o wi n g th at t h i s h i n d ered

h er effo rt s t o reu n i t e wi t h S. P., t h e m o th er s tat ed t h at s h e h as “ b o u t s o f n o t b ei n g ab l e

t o m ai nt ai n fo r l o ng p eri o d s o f t i m e I t h i n k as a m ean s o f su rv i v al .” T h i s i n ab i l i t y to

m ai n t ai n an ap p r o p r i at e l ev el o f m en t al fi t n es s fo r l o n g peri o d s o f t i m e was a

recu rri n g t op i c i n th e m o t h er’ s h eari n g t es t im o n y

, wh i ch i n cl u d ed h er s tat em en t s t h at

s h e “ ju s t g o [es ] i n t o d eep b o u t s o f d ep res s i o n [an d ] can ’ t m ai n t ai n t hro u g h a cert ai n

am ou n t o f t i m e”; t h at s h e “ co u l d n o t

. . . m ai n t ai n [h er] l i fe fo r l on g p eri o d s o f t i m e”;

t h at s h e wo u l d ach i ev e s o m e o f h er cas e p l an g o al s b u t t h en “ ju s t ki n d o f f[a] l l ap art ”

an d wi n d u p b ack i n jai l ; an d t h at s h e n eed ed “ s o m e t i m e t o g et [h er] s el f t o g et h er as

f a r as b ei n g ab l e t o m ai n t ai n [h er] l i fe,” w h i ch s he ag reed wo u l d t ak e a l en g t h y

am ou n t o f t i m e.

Ev i d en ce at t h e h eari n g s s h o wed t h at t h e m o t her h ad n o t m et ot h er cas e p l an

g o al s

, as wel l

. Sh e in i t i al l y o bt ai n ed s t ab l e h o u s i n g b u t was n o t ab le t o m ai n t ai n i t

.

Sh e w as i n carcerat ed at t h e t i m e o f t h e h eari n g s an d an t i ci pat ed m o v i n g i n t o a

s u b s t an ce ab u se reh ab i l i t at i o n faci li t y as a co n di t i o n o f b o n d . Sh e h ad n o t o b t ai n ed

fu l l -t i m e em

p l o y m en t a n d h ad t wi ce b een t erm i n at ed fro m p art -t im e em p l o y m en t

( o n c e fo r m i s s i n g t o o m

uch wo rk an d o n ce wh en s h e was i n j ai l ). Sh e h ad n o t p a i d

al l o f h er ch i l d s u p po rt o b l ig at i o n s wh i l e S. P. was i n fo s t er care.

9At t h e h eari n g s, th e ju v en i l e co u rt recei v ed ex pert t es t i m o ny fro m t h e cl i n i cal

p s y ch o lo g i s t wh o i n i t i al l y ev al u at ed t h e m o t h er. He des cri b ed h er d i ag n o s es

(an t i so ci al p ers o n al i ty d i s o rd er an d d ep en den t pe r sona li t y di s o rd er) an d t es ti fi ed t h at

,

am on g ot h er t h i ng s

, t h e m o t h er was s el f-cen t ered an d h ad p oo r i n t ern al co n t ro l s

. Th e

cl i n i cal p s y ch o l o gi s t ex p l ai n ed t h at a p ers o n wi t h th e m ot h er’ s d i ag n o s es wo u ld

p erfo rm b et t er wi th ex t ern al co n t ro l s (e.g

., u n d er co urt o r D FCS s u p erv i s i o n ) an d

wo u l d “ h av e p eri o d s o f n orm al cy

, b u t o v er t i m e i t gen era l l y c o l l a p s es .” He fu rt h er

ex p lai n ed t h at s u ch co n d i t i o n s g en eral l y are l es s am en ab l e t o t reat m en t becau s e t h ey

refl ect b eh av i o rs l earn ed o ver t i m e t h at are v ery d i ffi cu l t t o ch an g e

. T h e c l i n i cal

p s y ch o lo g i s t t es t i fi ed t hat t h e m o t h er h ad d es cri b ed t o h i m her u n h eal t h y rel at i o n s h ip

wi t h t h e g ran d m o th er, i n cl u d i n g a h i s t o ry o f t h e gran d m o t h e r v e rb al l y ab u s i n g t h e

m o th er, an d sh e h ad t o l d h i m t h at s h e s p eci fi cal l y req ues t ed t h at S. P. b e p l aced wi th

DFCS rat h er t h an th e g ran d m o t h er wh en t h e m o t h er was arres t ed i n J an u ary 2 0 1 3.

Bas ed o n t he m ot her’ s d i ag n o s es

, t h e cl in i cal p s y ch o l o g i s t o p i n ed th at t h e co n fl i ct

b et ween t h e m o t her an d t h e g ran d m o t h er was l i k e l y t o c o n t i n ue an d wo u l d b e

d et ri m en t al to a ch i l d ; t h at h er reg u l ar i n carcerat i o n s refl ect ed a “ co nt i n u ed p at t ern ”

t h at wo u ld b e d i ffi cu l t fo r h er t o ch an g e; an d t h at it was u n li k el y s he wo u l d b e ab l e

10t o m eet S. P.’ s n eed s fo r p erm an en cy

, g i v en t h at s h e had es s en t ial l y m i s s ed fo u r y ears

o f b o nd i n g wi t h t he ch il d an d rem ai n ed i n carcerat ed

.

A DFCS em

p l o y ee al s o t es t i fi ed ab o u t t h e d eci s i o n n o t t o p l ace S. P. wi t h t h e

g ran d m o t h er wh en t h e m o t h er w as arres t ed

. Sh e s tat ed : “ W e t ri ed t o s afet y p l an [S.

P.] wi t h [t h e g ran d m o th er] wh en s h e fi rs t en t ered care, an d [t h e m o t h er] st at ed t h at

s h e d i d n ’ t wan t [S. P.] p laced t h ere, t h at s h e was v i o l en t an d s he was afrai d t h at s h e

wo u l d n ’ t k eep h er ch il d s afe.” Th ere w as ev id en ce t h at t h e m o t h e r v i e wed h er

rel at i o n s h i p wi t h th e g ran d m o th er as “ t o xi c ” a n d a t o n e p o in t aft er S. P. was t ak en

i n t o c a r e t h e m o t h er h ad co n t em p l at ed g et ti n g a p ro t ect i v e o rd er ag ai n s t t h e

g ran d m o t h er o r d i s t an ci ng h ers el f fro m t h e g ran d m o t h er i n ot h er way s

. N ev ert h el es s

,

wh en t h e m o t h er was rel eas ed fro m i ncarcerat i o n aft er h er J an u ary 2 0 1 3 arres t

, s h e

ret u rn ed t o l i v e wi t h t he gran d m o t h er. Th ere w as n o ev id en ce o f an y fu rt h er d o m es t i c

v i o l en ce i n v o l v i ng t h e m o th er an d h er fam i ly m em b ers aft er S. P. was t ak en i n t o care.

Th e ju v en i l e co u rt recei v ed ex p ert tes t i m o n y fro m t h e m o t h er’ s co un s el o r, wh o

d es cri b ed t h e m o t h er’ s i n co ns i s t en t co m m i t m en t t o co u n s el in g

. Th e m o t h er b eg an

co u ns el i n g i n N ov em

b er 20 1 3 an d reg u larl y k ep t h er ap po i nt m en t s an d co m p l et ed

as s i g n m en t s u nt il J an u ary

, wh en s h e b eg an t o g et i n co n s is t en t

. As 2 0 14 p ro g res s ed

,

t h e m o t h er was m o re s po rad i c ab o ut m ak i n g an d k eep i ng co u n s el i n g ap p o i n t m en t s

.

11Sh e b eg an m i s s i n g ap p o in t m en t s an d

, at t h e t i m e o f t h e t erm i nat i on h eari n g

, h ad n ot

k ep t an ap p o i n tm en t wi t h th e co u n s el o r i n s ev eral m o n t h s

, wh i ch t h e co u n s el o r fo u n d

“ t ro u b l in g .” Th e co u ns el o r had co n cern s ab o u t t h e m o th er’ s ab i l i t y t o rai s e S. P. d u e

t o h e r i n ab i l i t y t o b e co n si s t en t

. Sh e t es t i fi ed t h at th e m o t her h ad a p at t ern o f

“ p h y s i cal l y

n o t bei n g t h ere” to rai s e h er ch i l d

. Sh e al s o t es ti fi ed ab o u t t h e m o t h er’ s

u n h eal t h y rel at i o n s h i p wi t h t he g ran d m o t h er, wh i ch h ad b een a s i g n i fi can t fo cu s in

t h e m o t h er’ s i n d i v i d ual th erap y

. Th e m ot h er t o ld her co u n s el o r t h at t h e g ran d m o t h er

was v erb al l y an d em o t io nal l y ab u s i v e t o h er an d t h at sh e wan t ed t o p ro t ect S. P. fro m

t h e g ran d m o th er. Bas ed s t ri ct ly o n h er t h erap y wi t h t h e m o t h e r

, t he co un s el or t es t i fi ed

t h at s he wo ul d h av e co n cern s ab o u t p l aci ng S. P. wi t h t he g ran d m ot h er. I n t h e

co u ns el o r’ s o p i n i o n, t h e m o th e r w o u l d n e ed at l eas t a y ear o f t h erap y b efo re t h e

co u ns el o r co u ld d et erm in e wh et h er s h e was m ak in g l as t i n g ch an g es

.

S. P.’ s p s y ch ol o g i s t al s o g av e ex p ert t es t i m o n y at th e h eari n gs

. In Ap ri l 2 0 1 3,

s h e b eg an t reat i n g th e g irl

, wh o i n i t ial l y d i s p l ay ed an x i et y an d s o m e d ev el o p m en t al

d el ay s b u t q u i ck ly m a d e s ig n i fi can t p ro g res s ; t h e p sy ch o l o g i s t at t ri b u t ed S. P.’ s

p ro g res s t o t h e s t ab il it y an d co n s is t en t s u p p o rt o f t h e g i rl ’ s fo st er fam i l y

. Th e

p s y ch o lo g i s t t es t ifi ed t h at S. P. n eed ed co n s i s t en cy an d fam i li ari t y

, t h at t h e l ack o f

t h es e th i ng s m ad e h er s cared an d an x i o u s , an d t h at “ peo p l e b ei n g i n an d o u t fo r h er

12. . . wo u ld b e v ery t rau m at i c.” Th e p s y ch o l og i s t an t i ci p at ed t h at i f S. P. rem ai n ed in

h er cu rren t h o m e wi t h h er fo s t er fam i l y s h e wo u ld o n l y n eed th erap y fo r a few m o re

m o nt h s

.

S. P.’ s p s y ch o lo g i s t co n d u ct ed j o i n t t herap y s es s i o ns t o g i v e t h e m o t h er an

o p p o rt u ni t y

t o b o n d wi t h t h e g i rl

. A t t h e h eari n g s

, s h e d es cri b ed i n s t an ces i n wh i ch

t h e m o t h er i m

p ed ed th e d ev el o p m en t o f a b o n d b et ween t h e t w o an d cau sed t h e gi rl

co n fu s i o n

, s t res s

, an d an x i et y b ecau s e s he was u n wi l l i n g o r u n ab le t o fo l l o w t h e

p s yc ho l o g i s t’ s i n s t ru ct i o n s reg ard i n g t h e jo i n t t h erap y s es s i on s

. Th e ps y ch o l o g i s t

t es t i fi ed t h at t h e m ot her d i d n o t s eem t o ap p reci at e t h e p ro bl em

.

Th e p s y ch o l o g i st al s o t es t i fi ed ab o u t t h e m o t h er’ s i n co n s i s t en cy i n at t en d i n g

t h e jo i n t t h erap y s es si o n s

. In i t i al l y s h e was d i l i g en t, b u t i n M a y 2 01 4 s h e b eg an

m i s s i n g ses s i o n s

, oft en wi t h ou t n o t i fy i n g t h e p s y ch o lo g i s t

. On o n e o ccas i o n

, t h e

m o th er cal led t h e p s y ch o l o g i s t t o ap o l og i ze fo r m i s s i n g a t h e rap y s es si o n

, an d t h e

p s y ch o lo g i s t n ot i ced th at t h e m o t h er’ s v o i ce was ex t rem el y s l urred an d t h at s h e “ d id

n o t s o u n d li k e h ers el f.” Th e m o t h er al s o m i s s e d s es si on s b ecau s e s h e was

i n carcerat ed

.

Th e p s y ch o lo g i s t t es t i fi ed t h at t h e m o t h er an d S. P. i nt eract ed i n a p o s i t i v e way

d u ri n g t h e t h erap y ses s i o n s b u t d i d n o t a p p e a r t o h av e a p aren t -ch i l d b o n d

. In t h e

13p s y ch o lo g i s t ’ s o p in i o n

, S. P. h ad a s t ro n g er b on d wi t h h er fo s t er p aren ts an d wi t h t h e

p e r s o n a s s ig n ed t o d ri v e h er t o an d s u p erv is e v i s i t s t h an s h e d i d wi th t he m o th e r

.

W h en th e m o t h er s t op p ed at t en d i n g s es si o n s b ecau s e s h e was i n carcerat ed

, S. P. d id

n o t a s k t o s ee t h e m o t h er bu t d i d as k t o s ee t h e d ri v er/ s u p erv i s o r. A cco rd i n g t o t h e

p s y ch o lo g i s t

, S. P. “

ju s t s ees [t h e m o t h er] as a fri en d l y p ers on s h e k n o ws wh o s h e h as

fu n wi t h wh en s h e’ s wi t h h er b u t n o t in t h e careg i v er cap aci ty .” Th e ps y ch o l o g i s t

t es t i fi ed t h at S. P. was i n secu re aft er u n s u p erv i s ed v i s i t s wi t h t h e m o t h er an d t o l d t h e

p s y ch o lo g i s t “ t h at [t h e m o t h er] was t el l i n g her s h e was g o i n g t o l i v e wi t h h er fo rev er,

an d sh e d i d n’ t wan t t o l i ve w i t h h er fo rev er.” Her fo s ter m ot h er g av e s i m i l ar

t es t i m o ny , t h at aft er v i s it s wi th t h e m o t h er S. P. act ed o u t an d b ecam e cl in g y

.

Th e ju v en i l e co u rt al s o recei v ed rep o rt s fro m a g u ard i an ad l it em

an d a co u rt

ap p o i n t e d s p eci al ad v o cat e, wh o b ot h reco m m en d ed th at t h e co u rt t erm i n at e t h e

m o th er’ s p aren t al r i g h t s

. T h e co u rt fo u nd t h at S. P. was a d ep en d en t ch i l d

, t h at

t erm i n at i o n o f paren tal ri g h t s a n d ad op t i on were i n h er b es t i n t eres t

, an d t h at t h e

g ran d m o t h er co u l d n o t p ro v i d e S. P. a s afe, s t ab le, an d p erm an en t h o m e, s peci fi cal l y

ci t i n g t h e g ran d m o t h er’ s d iffi cu l t an d u n h eal t h y rel at i on s hi p wi t h th e m o t h er an d

s t at i n g t h at i t was cl ear t o t h e co u rt t h at “ t h e m en t al heal t h d i s o rd ers o f t h e m o t h er are

[a] d irect refl ect i o n o f h er l i fel o n g en v i ro nm en t [wi t h t h e g ran d m o t h er] .”

14On J an u ary 2 7

, 2 01 5

, t h e ju v en i l e co u rt en t ered an o rd er gran t i n g t h e

g ran d m o t h er’ s m ot io n t o i n t e r v en e b u t d en y i n g t h e p et it i on t o ap p o i n t her S. P.’ s

p erm an en t g u ard i an

. Al s o on t h at d at e, t h e ju v en i l e c o u rt g ran t ed t h e pet i t i o n to

t erm i n at e t he m o th er’ s p aren tal ri g h t s . Th e t ri al co u rt fo u n d

, as det ai l ed b el o w, t h at

t h e s t at u t o ry g ro u nd fo r t erm i n at i o n s et fo rt h i n O CGA § 1 5 -1 1 -3 1 0 (a) (5 ) h ad b een

m et an d t h at t erm i n at i on w as i n S. P.’ s b es t i n t eres t as req u i red b y OCGA § 1 5 -1 1

-

3 1 0 (b ). In t h e t erm i n at i o n o rd er, t h e ju v en i le co u rt award ed p erm an en t cu s to d y of S.

P. t o DFCS t o b e p l aced fo r ad o p t i o n . Th e m o t her ap peal s fro m b o t h ru l in g s

.

2

. Ter mi n a t i o n o

f p ar en t a l r i g h t s (Ca s e No . A1 5

A2 0 1 6).

Li k e t h e fo rm er J u ven i l e Co d e, G eo rg i a’ s n ew J u v en i l e Co d e p r o v i d e s f o r a

t wo -s t ep p ro ces s t h at m

u s t b e fo l l o wed i n d et erm i n in g w h et h er t o t erm in at e p aren t al

ri gh t s. OCGA § 15 -1 1 -3 0 1 (a) req u i res t h at t he ju v en i l e co u rt “ fi rs t d et erm i n e

wh et h er o n e o f [s ev eral s p eci fi ed ] s t at u t ory g ro u nd s fo r term i n at i o n o f p aren t al ri g h t s

h as b een m et [.] ” Th e s t at u t o ry g ro un d p ert i n en t t o t h i s ap peal p ro v i des :

A ch i l d i s a d ep en d e n t c h i l d d u e t o lack o f p ro p er paren t al care o r

co n t ro l b y h is o r h er p aren t

, reas o n a b l e effo rt s t o rem ed y th e

ci rcu m s t an ces h av e b een u n s u cces sfu l or w ere n ot req ui red

, s u ch cau s e

o f d ep en d en cy

i s l i k el y to co n t i n u e or wi l l n o t l i k el y b e rem ed i ed , an d

t h e co n ti n u ed d ep en d en c y w i l l cau se o r i s li k el y t o cau s e s eri o u s

p h y s i cal , m en t al , em o t io n al , o r m o ral h arm t o s u ch ch i l d

.

15OCGA § 1 5-1 1 -3 0 1 (a) (5 ). “ If an y o f t h e s t at u to ry g ro u n d s fo r term i n at i o n h as b een

m et , t h e [ju v en i l e] co u rt s h al l t h en co ns i d er wh et h er t erm i n at i on i s i n a ch i l d ’ s b es t

i n t eres t [ ] aft er co n s i d eri ng [s ev eral s p eci fi ed ] fact o rs [.] ” O CGA § 1 5 -1 1 -3 0 1 (b ). “ In

a l l p r o ceed i n g s u n d er t hi s art i cl e, t h e s t an d ard o f p ro o f t o be ad d u ced to t erm i n a t e

p aren t al ri g h t s s h al l b e b y cl ear an d co n v in ci ng ev i d en ce.” OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -3 0 3

.

Th e m ot h er arg u es t hat t h ere was n o t cl ear an d co n v i n ci ng ev i d e n c e o f t h e

fo l l o w i n g fact ors : t hat S. P. was p res en t l y d ep en d en t

, t h at th e d ep en d en cy w as l i k el y

t o c o n t i n u e, t h at t h e d ep en den cy was l i kel y t o harm S. P., an d t h at t erm in at i o n o f

p aren t al ri g h t s was i n S. P.’ s b es t i n teres t . W e d i s ag ree.

(a) Pr es en t

d ep en den cy ca u s ed

b y l a ck o f p r op er p a r en t al ca r e o r co n t r o l

.

Th e ju v en il e co u rt fo u n d t h at S. P. was a dep en d en t ch i l d d ue t o lack o f p ro p er

p aren t al care o r co n t ro l b y t h e m o t h er. Th e n ew J u v en i l e Co d e d efi n es a d ep en d en t

ch i l d as “ a ch i l d w h o

. . . [h ] as b een ab u s ed or n eg l ect ed an d i s i n n eed o f t h e

p ro t ect i o n o f th e co u rt [; ]

. . . [h ] as b e e n p l a c e d fo r care o r ad o p t io n i n v i ol at i o n o f

l aw; o r

. . . [i ] s wi t h o u t h i s o r h er p aren t

, g uard i an

, or l eg al cu s t o di an .” O CGA § 1 5

-

1 1 -2 (2 2 ). Th is d efi n i t io n i s s i m i l ar al t h o ug h n ot id en t i cal to t h e defi n i t i o n o f a

d ep ri v ed ch i l d u n d er o u r fo rm er J u v en i l e Co de. See fo rm er OCGA § 1 5

- 1 1 -2 (8 ).

Li k ewi se, b ot h t h e new an d fo rm er Co d es s et f o r t h s i m i l ar b u t n ot i d en t i cal

16co n si d erat io n s fo r t he ju v en i l e co u rt t o d et erm i n e wh et h er a ch i l d i s wi t h o u t p ro p er

p aren t al care an d co n tro l. See OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -3 1 1 ; fo rm er OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -9 4 (b ) (4 )

(B), (C). M an y o f t he pri n ci p l es ex p res s ed i n d eci s i o n s u n d er o u r fo rm er Co d e are

h el p fu l i n d et erm i n i n g wh et her d ep en d en cy h as b een s h o wn f o r p u r p o s es o f

t erm i n at i n g p aren t al ri g ht s.

Th e m o t h er arg u es t h at t h ere was n o t cl ear an d co n v i n ci n g ev i d en ce of S. P.’ s

p res en t d ep en d en cy

. See In t h e In ter es t o f M. T. F

. , 3 1 8 Ga. Ap p. 13 5

, 1 4 5 (1 ) (7 3 3

SE2 d 4 3 2 ) (2 01 2 ) (“ DFCS was req u i red t o p res en t at t h e t erm i n at i o n h eari n g

ev i d en ce o f pr es en t d ep ri v at i o n

, n o t p as t o r p o t en t i al fu t u re d ep ri v at i o n ”) (ci t at i on s

o m it t ed ; e m

p h as i s in o ri g i nal ). Th e ju v en i l e co u rt ’ s term i n at i o n o rd er m ak es cl ear,

h o wev er, t h at t h e d ep en d en cy fi n d in g was b as ed o n pres en t

, n o t p as t

, u n fi t n es s o n t h e

p art o f t h e m o t h er

– t h e m ot her’ s o n g o i n g an d un ad d res s ed ps y ch o l o g ical co n d i t i o n s

,

h er i n co n s i s t en t co m

m i t m en t t o h er o wn t h erap y an d t o jo i nt t h e rap y an d v i s i t at i o n

wi t h S. P., h er co n t i n u i n g cri m i nal i n f r a c t i o n s (i n cl u d in g p en d i n g d ru g -rel at ed

o ffen s es fo r wh i ch s h e was i n carcerat ed at t h e t i m e o f o n e o f t h e t erm i n at i o n

h eari n g s ), h er co n t i nu ed i n ab i li t y t o s et bo u n d ari es wi t h an d beco m e i n d ep en d en t o f

t h e g ran d m o th er, t h e co n ti n u ed l ack of s t ab i l i t y i n h er l i fe (i n cl u di n g em p lo y m en t an d

17h o u s in g ) as a res u lt o f h er rep eat ed i n carcerat i o n s

, h er fai l u re t o pay h er ch i l d s u p p o rt

o b l i g at i o n, an d h er co n t i n u ed i n ab i l i t y t o es t ab l i s h a p aren t al b on d wi th S. P.

I n earl i er o rd ers

, t h e ju v en i l e co u rt h ad ad ju d i cat ed S. P. d ep ri v ed a n d

d ep en d en t fo r m an y o f t h es e s am e g ro u n d s. In J an u ary 2 01 4

, fo r ex am p l e, t h e

ju v en i l e co u rt ad

ju di cat ed S. P. d ep en d en t on t he g ro u n d s t h at t h e m o t h er

“ co n t i n ue[d ] t o need to ad d res s h er p s y ch ol o g i cal d i ag n o s i s ; n eed [ed ] t o co nt i n u e to

ad d res s an ab i l i t y t o ap p ro p ri at el y p aren t ; [an d ] n eed [ed ] to es t ab l i s h co n t i n u ed

s t ab i li t y

. ” Th e m o th er, wh o was rep res en t ed b y co u n s el

, co n s en t ed t o t h i s ru l i n g “ t h at

t h e ch i l d rem ai ned d ep en d en t as t o h er, as s h e n eed ed t o m ai n t ai n s t ab il i ty an d rem ai n

i n co un s el i n g t o ad d res s her m en t al h eal t h n eed s .” Becau s e t h e m o th er d i d n ot

ch al l en g e t h e earl i er ru l i n gs o n ap p eal

, s h e can n o t n o w ch al l en g e a co n cl u s i o n t h at

t h o s e gro u n d s co n s t i t u t ed d ep ri v at i o n o r d ep en d en cy at t h e t i m e of t h o s e ru l i n g s

. See

In t h e In t er es t o

f P. D

. W

. , 2 9 6 Ga. Ap p

. 1 8 9, 1 9 2 (1 ) (a) (6 7 4 SE2 d 3 3 8) (2 0 0 9 )

(u n ap p eal ed o rd er ad

ju d i cat i n g ch i l d d ep ri v ed b i n ds p aren t t o fi n d i n g t hat at t i m e o f

o rd er ch i l d was d ep ri v ed fo r reas o n s gi v en t h erei n )

. Si n ce th e earl i er ru l i n g s

, t h e

m o th er’ s ci rcu m s t an ces h av e g o t t en wo rs e

, n o t b et ter, an d m an y of t h e g ro u n d s o f

d ep ri v at i on o r d ep en d en cy i d en t i fi ed i n t h e earl ier ru l in g s p ers i s t

. T h e ev i d en ce

au t h o ri zed t he ju ven i l e co u rt t o fi n d t h at S. P. was p res en tl y d ep ri v ed

.

18Th e m o t h er al s o arg u es t h at th e ju v en i l e co u rt i m p ro p erl y b as ed h er

d ep en d en cy fi nd i n g o n t h e m o th er’ s p o v ert y an d m en t al d i s ab i l i t y

, ci t i n g o u r

s t at em en t i n In t h e In t er e s t o f S

. R

. R.

, 3 30 Ga. Ap p

. 8 1 7, 8 2 1 -8 22 (7 6 9 SE2 d 5 6 2 )

(2 0 1 5), t h at we “ wi ll n o t s us t ai n t h e t erm i n at i o n o f a m o t h er’ s ri g h t to rai se h er ch i l d,

b as ed o n ei t her h er po v ert y o r h er p h y s i cal d is ab i l i t i es

, w h en n ei t h er ren d ers h er

i n cap ab le o f cari n g fo r h er ch il d .” (Ci t at i o n o m it t ed .) W e do no t di s cern fro m t h e

ju v en i l e co u rt ’ s o rd er t h at s h e fo u n d po v ert y to b e at t h e ro o t o f t h e m ot h er’ s fai l u re

t o co m pl et e h er cas e p l an o r an y o t her cau s e o f S. P .’ s d ep en d en cy ; rat h er, t h e

ju v en i l e co u rt fo u n d t h at t h e m o t h er d i d n o t m eet h er cas e p l an g o al s b ecau s e o f h er

i n ab i l i t y o r u n wi l l i n g nes s t o ad d res s h er p sy ch o l o g i cal i s s u es an d refrai n fro m

co m m i t t i n g cri m i n al act s

. See In th e In t er es t o f B. A. S

. , 2 5 4 Ga. Ap p

. 4 3 0

, 4 3 5 -4 3 6

(3 ) (5 63 SE2 d 1 41 ) (2 0 0 2 ) (i n carcerat ed p aren t ’ s h i s t o ry o f rep eat ed i n carcerat i on s

fo r co m m i s s io n of cri m in al o ffen s es was fact o r t hat ju v en i le co u rt co u l d co n s i d er in

d et erm i n i n g wh et h er ch i l d was p res en t l y w i t ho u t p ro p er p aren t al care an d co n t ro l ).

An d u n l i k e t h e ev id en ce i n In t he In t er es t o f S

. R. R

. , h ere th ere was ev id en ce t h at t h e

m o th er’ s p s y ch o l o g i cal co n d i t i o n s were h arm fu l t o S. P. an d o t h erwi s e ren d ered t h e

m o th er i n cap ab l e o f cari n g fo r t h e ch i l d. Th e ju v en i l e co u rt ’ s fi nd i n g s as t o p res en t

d ep en d en cy

were n o t cl earl y

erro n eo u s

.

19(b ) Li kel i ho o d o f d ep en d en cy t o co n t i n u e.

Th e ju v en i l e co u rt fo u n d t h at t h e cau s e o f S. P.’ s d ep en d en cy was l i k el y to

co n ti n u e an d n o t l i k el y t o b e r e m e d i ed

, s at i sfy i n g o n e o f t h e fact o rs s et fo rt h in

OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -3 1 0 (a) (5 ). Ou r fo rm er J u ven i l e Co d e co nt ai n ed a s i m i l ar fact o r, s ee

fo rm er OCGA § 1 5 -1 1

- 9 4 ( b ) ( 4 ) (A) (i ii ), an d acco rd i n g l y we wi l l l o o k t o cas es

i n t erp ret i n g o u r fo rm er Co d e fo r g u i d an ce.

Ag ai n

, t h e m o t h er arg ues t h at t h e ev id en ce d em o n s t rat ed pas t

, no t p res en t

,

u n fi t nes s

. W h i l e “ ev i d en ce o f p as t u n fi t n es s

, s t a nd i n g al o n e

, i s in s u ffi ci en t to

t erm i n at e t h e ri g h t s o f a p aren t i n h er n at u ral ch i l d ,” In t h e In t er es t o f D. D. B. , 2 8 2

Ga. Ap p

. 4 1 6

, 4 1 8 (1 ) ( 6 3 8 SE2 d 8 4 3 ) (2 00 6 ) (ci t at io n an d pu n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ;

em ph as i s s u p pl ied ), t h e ju ven i l e c o u r t was p erm i t ted to co n s i d er ev i d en ce o f t h e

m o th er’ s p as t co n d u ct i n d et erm i n i n g w h et h er t h e d ep en d en cy was l i k el y t o co n t i n ue.

In t h e In t er es t o

f M. L.

, 2 9 0 G a. Ap p

. 4 3 7

, 4 4 1 (3 ) (6 5 9 SE2 d 8 0 0 ) (2 0 0 8 ); In t h e

In t er es t o f C. R. G.

, 2 7 2 Ga. Ap p

. 1 6 1

, 1 6 4 (6 1 1 SE2 d 7 84 ) (2 0 05 ). An d as d i s cu s s ed

ab o ve, ev i d en ce o f t h e m o th er’ s p res en t un fi t n es s was p res en t ed t o t h e j u v en i l e co u rt

.

Th e m ot h er al s o p o i n t s t o ev i d en ce o f h er at t em p t s t o fo rm a b o n d wi t h S. P.

an d ad d r e s s h er p s y ch o l o g i cal i s s u es as g ro un d s fo r rev ers i ng t h e ju v en i l e co urt ’ s

ju d g m en t

. D es p i t e t h e m o th er’ s s p o r ad i c effo rt s

, h o wev er, t h e ev i d en ce au t h o ri zed

20t h e ju v en i l e co u rt to fi n d t h at s h e h ad n o t b een ab l e t o es t ab li s h a p aren t al b on d wi th

S. P., an d t h at h er recu rri n g i n carcerat i o n s an d u n wi ll i ng n es s o r i n ab i l it y t o fo l l o w t h e

reco m m en d at i o ns o f S. P.’ s p sy ch o l o g i s t co n t ri b u t ed to t h is pro b l em

. Th e l ack o f

s u ch a b o n d s u p p o rt s a fi n d in g o f co n t i n u ed d ep en den cy

. In th e In t er es t o f D. D. B.

,

2 8 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 41 9 (1 ) (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ). Sev eral ex p ert wi tn es s es al s o t es t i fi ed

t h at t h e m o t h er had a lo w l i k e l i h o o d o f res o l v i ng h er ps y ch o l og i cal i s s ues an d t h e

acco m pan y i n g p a tt ern of i n s t ab i l i t y an d in carcerat i o n

. E vi d en ce o f t h e m o t h er’ s

fai l u re to res o l v e h er p s y ch o l o g i cal i s s u es an d ev i den ce o f h er hi s t o ry o f i n carcerat i o n

fo r rep eat ed o ffen s es su p po rt ed t h e ju v en i l e c o u r t ’ s fi n di n g th at d ep en d en cy was

l i k e l y t o co n t i n u e. See In t h e In t er es t o f O. M. J.

, 2 9 7 Ga. Ap p

. 2 0

, 2 7 (2 ) (b ) ( 6 7 6

SE2 d 4 2 1) (2 0 0 9); In t h e In t er es t o f P. A. T. L.

, 26 4 Ga. Ap p

. 9 01

, 9 0 3 (1 ) (5 9 2 SE2 d

5 3 6 ) (2 0 0 3 ).

Th e m o th er’ s d eci s i on

, d u r i n g t he co u rs e o f t h e t erm in at i o n p ro ceed i n g s

, to

en t er a reh ab il i tat i o n p ro g ram as a b o n d co n d it i on m ay refl ect a ren ewed co m m i t m en t

t o ward ad d res s i n g t h e i ss u es t h at hav e m an i fes t ed in h er cri m in al act s an d o t h er

u n h eal t h y b eh av i o rs

. Bu t “ recen t i m p ro vem en ts d o n o t es t ab l i s h t h at t h e p aren t i s

cap ab l e o f m ai n tai n i n g t h e p ro g res s .” In t h e In t er es t o f M. L.

, 2 9 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 4 1 (3 )

(ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n o m i t t e d ). “ In co n s id eri n g a p aren t ’ s cl ai m s o f recen t

21i m

p ro v em en t

, t he t ri al co u rt

, n o t t h e ap pel l at e co u rt

, d et erm i n es wh et h er a p aren t ’ s

co n du ct warran t s h o p e o f reh ab i l i t at i o n .” In th e In t er es t o f D. D. B.

, 2 8 2 Ga. Ap p

. at

4 1 9 (1 ) (ci tat i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted ). See al so In t h e In t er es t o f N. M. H. , 2 5 2

Ga. Ap p

. 3 53

, 35 6 (5 5 6 SE2 d 4 5 4 ) (2 0 0 1 ) (i t was fo r t h e ju v en i l e co urt t o ju d g e t h e

cred i b i l i t y o f t he m o th er’ s co n t en t i o n t h at “ s h e i s n ow wi l l i n g t o tak e s t ep s t o b e a

p ro p er paren t ”). “ Bas ed u p on t h e r e co rd

, t h ere was s u ffi ci en t cl ear an d co n v i n ci n g

ev i d en ce t o su p p o rt a fi n d in g t hat t h e m o t h er’ s i n ab i l it y or u n wi ll i ng n es s t o res o l v e

t h e p ro b l em s wh i ch h av e cau s ed [S. P.’ s d ep en d en cy ] i s l i kel y t o co nt i n ue an d wi l l

n o t be rem ed ied .” In t h e In t er e s t o f D. L. T.

, 2 8 3 Ga. Ap p

. 2 2 3

, 2 2 8 (1 ) (6 4 1 SE2 d

2 3 6 ) (2 0 0 7 ) (ci t at io n s om i t t ed ). See In t h e In ter es t o f K. A. C.

, 2 9 0 Ga. Ap p

. 3 1 0

, 3 1 3

(3 ) (6 5 9 SE2 d 7 0 3 ) (2 0 0 8) (“ Th e ev i d en ce au t h o ri zed a fi n d in g t h at t h e m o t her’ s p as t

act i o n s [ a n d pat t ern s ] wo u l d l i k el y co nt i n ue an d cau s e [S. P’ s d ep en d en cy ] .”)

(ci t at i o n o m i tt ed ); In t h e In t er es t o f G. L. H. , 2 0 9 Ga. Ap p . 1 4 6 , 1 5 0 (2 ) (4 3 3 SE2 d

3 5 7 ) (1 9 93 ) (u n d er fo rm er J u v en i l e Co d e

, c o u r t m ay co n s i d er p aren t’ s fai l u re to

p art i ci p at e i n co urt -o rd ered m en t al h eal t h co u n s el i n g wh en det erm i n in g wh et h er t h e

ch i l d ’ s d ep ri v at i o n i s l i k el y t o co n t in u e o r wi l l n o t b e rem ed i ed ).

(c) Ha r m ca u s ed

b y d ep en d en cy.

22Th e ju v en i l e co u rt fo u n d t h at S. P.’ s co n t in u ed d ep en d en cy wo u ld cau s e o r was

l i kel y t o cau s e h er s eri o u s p h y s i cal

, m en t al

, em o t i o n al

, o r m o ral h arm

, as req u i red by

OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -3 1 0 (a) (5 ). Ou r fo rm er J uv en i l e Co d e co n t ai n ed a si m i lar fact o r, s ee

fo rm er OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -9 4 (b ) (4 ) (A) (i v), an d acco rd i n gl y w e w i l l l o o k t o cas es

i n t erp ret i n g o u r fo rm er Co d e fo r g u i d an ce.

As t h e m o t h er co rrect ly n o t es

, a “ m o t h er’ s in ab i l i t y t o care fo r h er ch i l d ren

d o es n o t n eces s ari l y m ean t h at h er cu rren t rel at i o ns h i p wi t h t h em i s d et ri m en t al .” In

t h e In t er es t o

f J. S

. B.

, 27 7 G a. Ap p

. 6 6 0, 66 3 (2 ) (d ) (6 2 7 SE 2 d 4 0 2 ) (2 0 0 6 )

(ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i on o m i t ted ). Sh e al s o cri ti ci zes th e ju v en i l e co urt ’ s

co n si d erat io n of S. P.’ s n eed fo r p erm an en ce i n d et erm i n i ng t h at s h e was l i k el y t o b e

h arm ed b y co n t i n u ed d ep en d en cy

. Pret er m i t t i ng wh et h er, u nd er t h e n ew J u v en i l e

Co d e, a ch i l d ’ s n eed fo r p erm an en ce rem ai n s a f act o r i n d et erm i n i n g wh et h er t h e

ch i l d is l i k el y t o be h arm ed b y co n t i n u e d d ep en d en cy

, as wel l as a fact o r in

d et erm i n i n g t he ch il d ’ s b es t i nt eres t

, s ee OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -3 1 0 (b ) (3 ) (i d en t i fy i n g a

ch i l d ’ s n eed fo r p erm an en ce am o n g t h e fact o rs fo r t h e ju ven il e co u rt t o co n s i d er in

d et erm i n i n g wh et h er t erm i n at i on i s i n t h e ch i l d ’ s b es t i n t eres t ), t h e ev i den ce i n t h i s

c as e s u p p o rt ed t h e ju v en i l e co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g th at S. P.’ s co n t i n ued d ep en d en cy was

l i kel y t o h arm h er.

23Ev i d en ce s u p p o rt i n g th e ju v en ile c o ur t’ s f i nding inc luded ex p ert t es t i m o n y t h at

S. P. n eed ed t he t y

p e o f s t ab i l i t y an d co ns i s ten cy p ro v i d e d b y h er fo s t er fam i l y to

t h ri v e; ex p ert t es t i m o n y t h a t t h e m o t h er was u nl i kel y to res o lv e t h e p sy ch o l o g i cal

i s su es t h at res u l t ed i n h er p at t ern o f i n carcerat i on an d p rev en t ed h er fro m d ev el o p i n g

a paren t al b o n d w i t h t h e gi rl an d p ro v i di n g s t ab i l it y t o h er; ev i d en ce t h at t h e m o t h er’ s

fai l u re t o fo l l o w t h e r e c o m m en d at i o ns o f S. P.’ s p s y ch o l o g i s t d u ri n g t hei r jo i nt

t h erap y an d v i s i tat i o n co n fu s ed an d u p set t he g i rl ; an d ev i d en c e t h a t d u ri n g

u n s u perv i s ed v i si t s

, t h e m o t h er cau s ed S. P. s i gn i fi can t d is t res s b y t el l i n g h er t h at s h e

m i g h t leav e h er fo s t er fam il y an d ret u rn t o l i ve wi t h t h e m ot h er. Th i s ev i d en ce o f t h e

i m p act u po n S. P. o f t he m o t h er’ s recu rri n g p s yc h o l o gi cal p ro b l em s an d rep eat ed

i n carcerat i on s

, an d h er ad m i t t e d i n ab i l it y t o m an ag e h er o wn l i fe, s u p p o rt ed t h e

ju v en i l e co u rt ’ s d et erm i n at i on

. See In t h e In t er es t o f A. K.

, 2 7 2 Ga. Ap p

. 4 2 9

, 4 3 8 (1 )

(d ) (6 12 SE2 d 5 81 ) (2 0 0 5 ).

W h i l e i t i s n o t au t om at i cal l y t ru e t h at a fi n d i n g t h at [d ep en d e n c y] i s

l i kel y t o co n ti n u e wi l l su p p o rt a fi n d i n g t h at co nt i n u ed dep ri v at i o n wi l l

h arm t h e c h i l d

, i n t h i s cas e t h e tri al co u rt was au t h o ri zed t o co n cl u de

t h at t h e m o t h er’ s in co n s i s t en t effo rt s in t h e p as t t o s t ay [o ut o f jai l ]

, lead

a s t ab l e l i f

e, [ad d res s h er m en t al h eal t h n eed s ]

, an d [fo l l o w th e

reco m m en d at i o ns of S. P.’ s p sy ch o lo g i s t ] s o t h at s h e co u l d dev el o p a

b o n d wi t h h er had cau s ed t h e ch il d t o s u ffer em o t i o n al d i ffi cu l ti es [.]

. .

24. Th e ev i d en ce al s o s h o wed t h at [S. P.] had o v erco m e m a n y o f h er

p ro b l em s wh i l e i n fo s ter care an d t h at al t h o u g h s h e h ad n o b o n d w i t h

h er m o th er sh e h ad bo n d e d wi t h h er fo s t er p aren t [s ] wh o d es i red t o

ad o p t h er. W e hav e p rev i o u s l y h el d t h at wh ere ev id e n c e s h o ws n o

p a r e n tal b o n d b et ween paren t an d ch i l d, t h e ch i l d h as ad ap t ed wel l t o

fo s t er care, an d t h e fo s ter p aren t s wi s h t o ad op t

, th is i s s u ffi c i en t t o

s u p p o rt t h e co n cl u s io n t h at co n t i n u ed [d ep en d en cy ] is l i k el y t o h arm th e

ch i l d

.

In t h e In t er es t o

f D

. D. B.

, 2 82 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 19 -4 2 0 (1 ) ( c i t at i o ns an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ). See In t h e In t er es t o f P. A. T. L.

, 26 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 9 0 4 (1 ) (fi n d in g cl ear an d

co n vi n ci n g ev id en ce t h at ch i ld was l i kel y to b e s eri o u s l y h arm ed b y c o n t i n u ed

d ep ri v at i o n wh ere m ot her h ad rep eat ed cri m in al co n v i ct i o n s an d i n carcerat io n s

, h ad

fai l ed t o co m

p l y wi t h h er reu n i fi cat i o n cas e p l an s

, an d h ad fai l ed t o es t ab l i s h a

p aren t al b o n d wi t h her ch i l d ); In t h e In t er es t o f M

. J. G.

, 2 88 Ga. Ap p

. 7 5 4

, 7 5 6 (6 5 5

SE2 d 3 33 ) (2 0 0 7) (ev i d en ce s u p p o rt i n g term i n at i o n o f p aren tal ri g ht s i n cl u d ed

t es t i m o ny fro m ch i l d ’ s ev al u at in g p sy ch o l o g is t t h at ch i l d “ co u l d n o t t o l erat e b ei n g

ab an do n ed ag ai n ”). Cf. In t h e In t er es t o f N. T.

, 3 3 4 Ga. Ap p

. 7 3 2

, 7 4 4 (4 ) (7 8 0 SE2 d

4 1 6 ) (2 01 5 ) (s p ecu l at i o n t h at ch i l d m i g h t be up s et an d b eg i n act i ng o u t i f he l earn ed

o f p o s s i b i l i t y o f b ei n g rem o v e d f ro m fo s t er care was no t ev i d en ce t h at p aren t ’ s

p res en t rel at io n s h i p wi t h ch i l d was h arm fu l ).

25(d ) Bes t i n t er es t

.

Th e ju v en i l e co u rt fo u nd t h at t erm i n at io n o f t h e m o th er’ s p aren t al ri g h t s was

i n S. P.’ s b es t i n teres t

, ci t i n g t h e g i rl ’ s n eed s fo r p erm an en ce, h er ex pres s ed d es i re to

i n t eract wi th an d be a p art o f h er fo s t er fam i l y

, t h e j u v e n i l e co urt ’ s d et erm i n at i on s

t h at S. P. w o u l d b e h arm ed i f rem o v ed fro m h er cu rren t p lacem en t an d t h at t h e

g r an d m o t h er wo u ld no t be an ap p ro p ri at e careg i v er fo r t he g irl

, an d t h e

reco m m en d at i o ns o f b o th th e g u ard i an ad l it em an d co u rt ap p oi n t ed s peci al ad v o cat e

i n fav o r o f t erm i n at i o n

. Th e n ew J u v en i l e Co d e req u ires a ju v en i le co u rt t o co n s i d er

t h e fo l l owi n g fact ors i n d et erm i n i n g wh et h er t erm i n at i o n is i n a ch i l d ’ s bes t i n t eres t :

( 1 ) Su ch ch i l d ’ s s en s e o f at t ach m en t s, i n cl u d in g h i s or h er s en s e o f

s ecu ri t y an d fam i l i ari t y , an d t h e co n t i n u i t y o f affect i o n fo r s uch ch i l d ;

(2 ) Su ch ch i l d ’ s wi sh es an d l o n g -t erm g oal s ;

(3 ) Su ch ch i l d ’ s n eed fo r p erm an en ce, i n cl u d i n g h i s o r h er n eed fo r

s t ab il i t y an d co n t i nu i t y o f rel at i o n s h i p s wi t h a p aren t

, s i b li n g s, an d o t h er

rel at iv es ; an d

(4 ) An y o t h er fact o rs

, i n cl u d i n g t h e fact o rs s et fo rt h i n Co d e Sect i o n 1 5

-

1 1 -2 6

, co n s i d ered b y t h e co u rt t o b e rel ev an t a n d p ro p er t o i t s

d et erm i nat i o n

.

26OCGA § 1 5-1 1 -3 1 0 (b ). Th i s Co d e Sect i o n is m o re s p eci fi c t h an fo rm er OCGA § 1 5

-

1 1 -9 4 (a), wh i ch pro v i ded t h at t h e ju v en i l e co u rt in i t s b es t in t eres t an al y si s co n s i d er

“ t h e p h y s i cal

, m en t al

, em o t i o n al

, an d m oral co n d i t i o n an d n eed s of th e ch i l d wh o i s

t h e s u b ject of t h e p ro ceed i n g

, i n c l u d i n g t h e n eed fo r a secu re an d s t ab l e h o m e.”

Nev ert h el es s , d eci s i on s u n d er o u r fo rm er Co d e are i n s t ru ct i v e.

Th e m o t h er’ s arg u m en t t h at t h e j u v en i l e co u rt erred i n her b es t i n t eres t

d et erm i n at i o n r e s t s o n t h e m ot h er’ s co n t en t io n t h at t h e ev i d en ce s h o wed s h e h ad a

b o n d wi t h S. P. an d was m ak i n g p ro g res s o n h er cas e p l an

. Th e j u v en il e co u rt

,

h o wev er, co ns t ru ed th e ev i den ce o t h erwi s e, a n d s h e w as au t h o ri zed t o co n s i d er S.

P.’ s n eed fo r p erm an en ce an d em o t i o n al s t ab i l i t y i n m a k i n g t h e b es t i n t eres t

d et erm i n at i o n

. See In t h e In t er es t o f B. J. F.

, 2 7 6 Ga. Ap p

. 4 3 7

, 4 4 3 (2 ) (6 2 3 SE2 d

5 4 7 ) (2 00 5 ). “ A ft er rev i ewi n g t h e reco rd an d g i v i ng t h e [ju v e n i le] co u rt ’ s fi n d i ng s

o f fact t h e req u i red d eferen ce, we can n ot co n cl ud e t h at t h es e f a ct u al fi nd i n g s are

cl earl y erro n eo u s.” S t r i ckl a n d

, _

_ Ga. at

_

_ (1 ) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ).

3

. Awa r d o

f cu st o d y o f S

. P. t o DFCS t o be p l a c e d f o r a d o p t i on (Ca s e No

.

A1 5 A 2 0 1 6 ).

In t h e t erm in at i o n o rd er, t h e ju v en i le co u rt award ed cu s t o d y o f S. P. to DFCS

t o b e pl aced fo r ad o p t i o n, fi n d in g th e p l acem en t t o be i n t h e g i rl ’ s b es t i n t eres t

. Th e

27ju v en i l e co u rt s t at ed t h at

, i n m ak in g t h i s p lacem en t, s h e co ns i d ered t h e fact o rs s et

fo rt h i n OCGA § 1 5-1 1-3 21

, wh i ch i n cl u d e “ [t ]h e v a l u e o f bi o l o g i cal an d fam i l i al

co n nect io n s [.] ” O CGA § 1 5 -1 1 -3 2 1 (a) (4 ). Th e ju v en i l e co u rt s t at ed t h at

, wh i l e s h e

“ reco g n i zes t h e v al ue o f b i o l o g i cal fam i l y , [s h e] fi n d s t h at [S. P.] wo ul d b e h arm ed

i f m o v ed fro m

h er cu rren t p l acem en t ” an d t h at s he “ d oes n o t fi n d t h at t here are an y

b i o l o g i cal rel at i v es t h at are ap p ro p ri at e.”

Th e m ot h er arg ues t h at t h e ev i d e n c e co m p el l ed t h e j u v en i l e co u rt to reach a

d i fferen t c o n c l u s i o n an d t o pl ace S. P. wi t h t h e g ran d m ot h er. Sh e ch al l en g es t h e

ju v en i l e co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g t h at t h e rel at i o n s h i p b et ween t h e g ran d m o t her an d m o t h er

was u n heal t h y

, as s ert i ng t h at t h e ju v en i l e co u rt s h ou l d n o t h av e cred i t ed t h e m o t h er’ s

o wn st at em en t s ab o u t t h at rel at i o n s h i p or co n st ru ed fro m t h e e v i d en ce t h at t h e

rel at i o n s h i p b et ween t h e m ot h er an d g ran dm o t h er wo u l d p u t S. P. at ri s k

. “ W e wi l l

n o t d i s t u rb a t ri al co urt ’ s d et erm i n at i o n t h at p l acem en t wi t h a rel at i v e i s n o t i n t h e

b es t i n t eres t o f t h e ch i ld ab s en t an ab u s e o f d i scret i o n[.] ” In th e In t er es t o f A. L. S

. S

. ,

2 6 4 Ga. Ap p

. 3 18

, 3 2 4 (2 ) (5 9 0 SE2 d 7 6 3) (2 00 3 ) (ci t at i o n o m i t t e d )

. Gi v en t h e

ev i d en ce reco u n t ed ab ov e, we fi n d n o ab u se o f d is cret i o n h ere.

4

. Per ma n en t

g u a r di an s hi

p (Ca s e No . A1 5

A2 0 1 5).

28In h e r en u m erat i o n s o f erro r, t h e m o th er o ffers t wo arg um en t s fo r wh y t h e

ju v en i l e co u rt erred i n d e c l i n i ng t o ap p o i nt t h e gran d m o th er as S. P.’ s p erm an en t

g u ard i an : b ecau se t here was ev i d en ce o f t h e g ran d m o t h er’ s s u i t ab i l i t y as a g u ard i an

t h at co m pel l ed th e ju v en i l e co u rt t o g ran t t h e pet i t i o n ; a n d b ecau s e t h ere was n ot

ev i d en ce t h at DFCS had m ad e reas o n ab l e effo rt s t o pl ace S. P. wi t h a rel at i v e. Bo th

arg u m en t s es sen t i al l y c ha lle nge the suf f i ci en cy o f t he ev id en ce to s u p p o rt t h e ju v en i l e

co u rt ’ s d et erm i n at i on n o t t o ap p o i n t t h e g ran dm o t h er as p erm an en t g uard i an

.

Th e n ew J u v en i l e Co d e v es t s t h e ju v en i l e co u rt wi t h j u ri s d i ct io n t o ap p o i n t a

p erm an en t g u ard i an fo r a ch i l d ad ju d i cat ed as a d ep en d en t ch i l d

. OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -2 4 0

(a). To ap p o i n t t he g ran d m o t her as S. P.’ s p erm an en t g u ard i an

, OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -2 4 0

(a) (2 ) req ui red t he ju v en i le co u r t t o fi n d t h at t erm i n at i o n of p aren t al ri g h t s an d

ad o pt i o n was n o t in t h e g i rl ’ s b es t i n t eres t

. As d i s cu s s ed ab o v e, t h e ev i d en ce

au t h o ri zed t h e ju v en il e co u rt ’ s co n t rary fi n d i n g, th at t he term i n at i o n of th e m o t h er’ s

p aren t a l r i g h ts an d t he award o f t h e g i rl ’ s p erm an en t cu st o d y t o DFCS t o p l ace fo r

ad o pt i o n wer e i n S. P.’ s b es t in t eres t. A cco rd i n g ly

, we fi n d n o m eri t i n t h e m o t h er’ s

ch al l en g e t o t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f th e ev i d en ce s u p po rt i n g t h e ju ven i l e co u rt ’ s d en i al o f

t h e p erm an en t g u ard ian s h i p ap p o i n tm en t

.

5

. Un en umer a ted

er r o r (Ca s e No . A1 5

A2 0 1 5 ).

29In ad d i t i o n, t h e m ot h er s t at es i n t h e arg u m en t sect i o n o f her ap p el l at e b ri ef t h at

t h e ju v en i l e co u rt erred b y no t req u i ri n g h er an d t h e gran d m o t h er “ t o w a i v e an y

p o t en t i al co n fl i ct fro m h av i n g [t h e s am e co u n s el ] rep res en t b o t h o f t h em

. ” Sh e d i d n ot

en u m erat e t h i s as erro r, h owev er

, an d s h e can no t ex p an d h er en u m erat i o n o f erro r

t h ro u g h h er bri ef. See Veo l i a En v i r o n m e n t a l S er vs

. v. Vi ck

, 3 0 9 Ga. Ap p

. 6 5 8

, 6 6 0

(2 ) (7 11 SE2 d 4 0) (2 01 1 ).

Ju d g men t s a f f ir med

. E l l i n g t o n

, P. J., co ncu r s a n d Di l l a r d

, J., co n cu r

s i n t h e

j u d g men t o n l y

.

30A1 5 A2 01 5 , A1 5 A2 0 16 . IN THE INTEREST OF S.P., a ch i l d

.

D I LLA R D , J u dg e, co n cu rri n g i n ju d g m en t o n l y

.

I co ncu r in ju d g m en t o n l y b e c a u s e I d o no t ag ree wi th al l t h at i s s ai d i n t h e

m ajo ri ty o p i n i o n

. As a res u l t

, t h e m ajo ri t y ’ s o p i n i o n d eci d es o nl y t h e i s s u es p res en t ed

i n t h e cas e s u b j u d i ce an d m ay n o t b e ci t ed as bi n d i n g p re c e d e n t

. S e e Co u rt o f

Ap p eal s Ru l e 3 3 (a).