SECOND DI VI SI ON

A NDREWS, P. J.

, M I LLER and BRA NCH, 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 ls .us /r ule s /

Jul y 9, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A0 29 5 . IN THE INTEREST OF L. R. M

. , a ch i l d

.

M I LLE R , J u d ge.

Aft er th e j u v en i l e co u rt fo u n d L. R. M

. d ep ri v ed

, t h e p at ern al g ran d m o t h er

fi led a m o t i o n t o i nt erv en e s eek i n g cu s t o d y o f an d v i s it at io n wi t h t h e ch i l d

. Th e

ju v en i l e co u rt d e n i e d t h e g ran d m o t h er’ s m o t i o n t o i n t erv en e, an d s h e ap p eal s ,

co n ten d in g t h at t h e ju v en i l e co u rt erred in den y i n g h e r m o t i o n b ecau s e s he h ad an

ab s o lu t e ri g h t to i n t erv en e u n d er OCGA § 1 9 -7 -3 (b ) (1 ), t h e Gran d p aren t Vi s i t at i o n

St at u t e. T h e g ran d m o th er al s o co nt en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g h er

m o ti o n o n t h e m eri t s b ecau s e i t ap p l i ed t h e wro n g l eg al s t an d ard an d fai l ed to

co n si d er t h e b es t i n t eres t s o f t he ch i l d . Fo r t h e reas o n s t h at fo l l o w, we affi rm

.“ On ap p eal

, w e rev i ew t h e ev i d en ce i n th e l i gh t m o s t fav o rab le t o th e ju v en i l e

co u rt ’ s ord er.” (Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed .) In th e In t er es t o f S .K.

, 2 4 8 Ga. Ap p

. 1 2 2 (5 4 5 SE2 d

6 7 4 ) (2 0 0 1 ).

So v iewed

, t h e ev i d en ce s h o ws t h at L. R. M

. was b o rn i n Ju n e 2 0 1 2 an d l i v ed

wi t h h i s m o t h er an d fat h er 1 at t h e p at ern al g ran dm o t h er’ s h o u s e. In M ay 2 0 1 3

, aft er

t h e fat her was in carcerat ed fo r p o s s es s i o n o f m et h am p h et am in e an d t h e f

t

, L. R. M

.

co n ti n u ed t o l i v e wi t h h i s m o t h er at t h e g ran dm o t h er’ s h o u s e. Du ri n g t h is t i m e, t h e

g ran d m o t h er cared fo r t h e ch i l d an d p ro vi d ed fi n an ci al as si st an ce to p ay fo r t h e

ch i l d ’ s d ay

care, d i ap ers , an d fo o d

.

In J u l y 2 0 1 3, t he Di v i si o n o f Fam i l y an d Ch i ld ren Serv i ces (“ DFCS”) fi l ed a

d ep ri v at i o n pet i t i on ag ai n s t t he m o t h er, wh o h ad an act iv e cas e p lan fo r d ru g u s e an d

i n ad eq u at e s u p erv is i o n , al l eg i n g t h at t h e m o t h er had u n res o lv ed s ub s tan ce ab u s e

p ro b lem s an d was i n ad eq u at el y s u perv i s i n g her c h il d ren , in cl ud i ng L. R. M

. In

Au g u s t 2 0 1 3

, t h e ju v en i l e c o u r t en t ered an em erg en cy o rd er au t ho ri zi n g DFCS to

rem o v e t he ch i l d ren fro m t he g ran d m o th er’ s h o m e an d g ran t i n g t em p o rary cu s t o dy

1 At t h e t im e p ro ceed i n gs were co m m en ced

, th e fat her was l i s t ed as t h e p u t at i v e fat h er o f L. R. M ., b u t h e l eg i t i m at ed t h e ch i l d i n Feb ru ary 2 0 1 4

.

2t o DFCS. DFCS th en p laced L. R. M

. an d h i s s ib l i n g s i n t h e h o m e o f a m a t e r n a l

s i st er.

In Oct o b er 2 0 13

, t h e ju v en i l e co u rt fo u n d th at L. R. M

. was d ep ri v ed b as ed o n

t h e m o t h er’ s su b s t an ce ab us e p ro b l em an d th e m o t h er’ s an d t h e i ncarcerat ed fat h er’ s

i n ab i l i ty t o p ro v i de ad eq u at e s u p erv i s io n , h o u s i n g , an d s u p p o rt fo r t h e ch i l d

. Th e

ju v en i l e co u rt o rd ered DFCS to d ev el o p a cas e pl an t o reu n i t e L

. R. M

. wi t h t h e

m o th er. T h e m ot h er’ s cas e p l an req u i red her t o , am o n g o t h er t h i n g s , o b t ai n a

s u b s t an ce ab u s e as s es s m en t

, co m p l et e a d ru g t reat m en t p ro g ram , rem ai n dru g free fo r

s i x m o n t h s , s u b m i t t o ran d o m d ru g s creen s , o b t ai n st ab l e h ou s i ng an d i n co m e, p ay

ch i l d s u p p o rt , an d at t en d al l s ch ed u led v i s i t s

. 2

Fo l l owi n g L. R. M .’s r e m o v al fro m h er ho m e, t h e g ran d m o t h er was al l o wed

t wo h o u rs o f s up erv i s ed v i s i t at i on e v e r y o t h er week

. By Feb ru ary 2 01 4

, t h e

g ran d m o t h er was al l o w e d t o h av e o v ern i g h t v i s i t s , an d s h e was aware t h at s h e was

n o t to al l o w t h e m ot h er t o h av e u ns u p erv i s ed v i s i t s w i t h L. R. M

. In Ap ri l 2 0 1 4,

h o wev er, DFCS t erm i n at ed her u n s u p erv i sed vi s i t s b ecau s e o f co n cern s t h at t h e

g ran d m o t h er was al l o wi ng t h e m o t h er t o h av e un s u p erv i s ed v i si t s wi t h L. R. M

., an d

2 As p art o f h i s cas e p l an g o al s , th e fat h er was req u i red t o o b t ai n st ab l e h o u s i n g

an d at t en d v i si t at i o n u po n h i s rel eas e fro m co n fi n em en t.

3b ecau s e t h e m ot h er h ad b een arres t ed

. Reg ard i ng th e m o th er’ s arres t

, t h e e v i d en ce

s h o wed t h at t h e m o t h er was arres t ed o n an o u t st an d in g ben ch warran t d u ri n g a d ru g

b u s t wh i le i n th e co m

p an y o f t h e g ran dm o t h er’ s o t her s o n, wh o had b een recen t l y

rel eas ed fro m pri s o n

. Th e m o t her was in jai l fo r ap pro x i m at el y 1 5 d ay s , an d aft er h er

rel eas e, s h e was arres t ed a s eco n d t i m e fo r d i s o rd erl y co n d u ct

.

Aro u n d t h at t im e, t h e g ran d m o t h e r f i l ed t h e i n s t an t m o t i o n t o i nt erv en e,

s eek i n g v i s i t at i o n an d cu s to d y of L. R. M

. u n d er OCGA § 1 9 -7 -3

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

h el d a h eari n g o n t h e g ran d m ot h er’ s m o t i o n

. Du ri n g t h e h eari n g, t h e m o t h er t es t i fi ed

t h at s h e wan t ed t h e g ran d m ot h er t o h av e cu s t o d y o f L. R. M . u n t i l s h e co u l d reg ai n

cu s t o d y , p ro v i d ed t h at s h e w as ab l e t o v i s i t t h e ch i ld

. Th e m o t h er ad m i t t ed t h at s i nce

h er ch i l d ren w ere rem o v ed

, s h e h ad n o t at t en d ed an i np at i en t d ru g t reat m en t p ro g ram

as reco m m en d ed

. Th e ev i den ce al s o s h o wed t h at t h e g ran d m ot h er w o rk ed as a t ru ck

d ri v er, an d t h at s h e to o k care of h er d i sab l ed m o t h er w h o l i v ed wi t h h er. Al t h o u g h t h e

m o th er an d g ran d m o th er b o t h cl ai m ed t hat th ey h ad n o t l i v ed to g et h er si n ce Au g u s t

2 0 1 3

, ot h er ev i d en ce s h o wed t hat t h e m o t her h ad b een l i vi n g wi t h t h e g ran d m o t h er.

Th e DFCS cas e m an ag er t es t i fi ed t h at L. R. M

. w as d o i n g wel l i n h i s cu rren t

p l acem en t

, an d sh e d i d n ot wan t t o s ep arat e h im fro m h is s i b l i n g s

. Th e cas e m an ag er

al s o h ad co n cern s ab o u t L. R

. M. l i v i n g wi t h t h e g ran d m o t h er b ecau se s h e al l o wed

4h er ad u l t ch i l d r e n a n d L

. R

. M .’ s m o t h er t o h av e acces s t o t h e h o us e an d t h e

g ran d m o t h er’ s ch i l dren an d th e m o t h er were n ot p o s i t i v e i nf lue nc es an d m i gh t ex p o s e

L. R. M. t o cri m i n al act i vi ty

. Th e cas e m an ag er, ho wev er, was am en ab l e t o res u m i n g

u n s u perv i s ed v i s i t at io ns aft er a p eri o d o f s u p erv i s ed v i s i t at i o n

.

Fo l l owi n g t h e h eari ng , t he ju v en i l e co u rt d en i ed t h e g ran d m o t h er’ s m o t i o n to

i n t erv en e, fi n d i n g t h at OCGA § 1 9 -7 -3 d o es n o t p ro v i d e an u nco n di t i o n al ri g h t to

i n t erv en e, al l o w i n g p erm i s s i v e i n t erv en t i o n wo u l d p reju d i ce t h e ad ju d i cat i o n o f t h e

cas e, an d p l aci n g L. R. M

. ou ts i d e th e cu s t od y of DFCS wo u l d i m p ed e t h e cas e p l an

t o reu n ify t h e ch i l dren

. Th e ju v en i l e co u rt al s o d en i ed t h e g ran d m o t h er’ s req u es t fo r

v i s i t at i o n b ecau s e s h e h ad no ri g h t t o v is i tat i on an d s h e fai l ed t o es t ab l i s h t h at t h e

h eal t h o r wel fare of L. R. M

. wo u l d be h arm ed u n l es s v i si tat i o n was g ran t ed o r t h at

t h e ch i l d ’ s b es t i n teres t wo u l d b e s erv ed b y v i s i t at i o n

. Th e ju v en i le co urt p ro v i d ed

,

h o we v e r, t h at DFCS was au t h o ri zed

, b u t n o t req u i red

, t o o ffer v i s i t at io n t o t h e

g ran d m o t h er. Th i s ap p eal fo l l o wed

.

1 . Befo re ad d res s i n g t h e m eri t s o f t h e g ran dm o t h er’ s en u m erat i o n s o f erro rs ,

we m us t ad d res s w h et h er we h av e ju ri s d i c t i o n t o co n s id er t h is d i rect ap p eal

. See

M a u e r v. P a r

ker Fi b er n et

, LLC

, 3 0 6 Ga. Ap p

. 1 6 0

, 1 61 (7 0 1 SE2 d 5 9 9 ) (2 0 1 0 )

5(“ [A] n ap p el la t e c o u r t h as a du t y t o rai s e t h e q u es t i o n o f ju ri s d i ct i o n i n al l cas es

wh ere t h ere m ay

b e d o u b t ab o ut i ts ex i s t en ce.”) (ci t at io n s o m it t ed ).

Gen eral ly

, th e d en i al o f a m o t i o n to i n t erv en e i s n o t a fi n al ju dg m en t an d t h u s ,

i s rev i ewab l e u n d er t h e i n t erl o cu t o ry ap p eal p ro ced u re. See Da vi s v. Deu ts ch e Ba n k

Na t

. Tr u st Co

. , 2 8 5 Ga. 2 2, 23 (6 7 3 SE2 d 2 2 1 ) (2 0 0 9). Pl ead i n gs an d m o t i o n s ,

h o wev er, are co n s t ru ed acco rd i n g to t h ei r s u b s t an ce an d fu n ct i o n an d n o t m erel y by

n o m en cl at u re. See F

o r es t Ci t y Gu n Cl u b v. Ch a th a m Co u n ty

, 28 0 Ga. Ap p

. 2 1 9

, 2 2 0

(6 3 3 SE2 d 6 2 3 ) (2 0 0 6 ).

In t h is cas e, t h e g ran d m o t h er fi l ed h er m o t i o n t o i n t erv en e s eek i n g cu s t o d y an d

v i s i t at i o n u n d er OCGA § 1 9 -7 -3 aft er t h e ju ven i l e co u rt en tered i ts d ep ri v at io n o rd er

i n w h i c h i t g av e D FCS t em po rary cu s t o dy of L. R. M

. Un d er OCGA § 5 -6 -3 4 (a)

(1 1 ), a d i rect ap p eal i s au t h o ri zed fro m ”[a] l l ju d g m en ts o r o r d e rs i n ch i l d cu s t o dy

cas es award i n g , refu s i ng t o ch an g e , o r m o d i fy i ng ch i l d cu st od y o r h o l d i n g o r

d ecl i n i n g t o h o l d p ers o ns i n co n t em p t o f s u ch ch i ld cu s t o dy

ju d g m en t o r o rd ers [.] ”

Th i s Co urt h as h el d t h at ord ers res u l t i n g fro m p et i t io n s fo r g ran d p aren t v is i tat i o n an d

cu s t o d y are d i rect l y ap p eal ab l e u n d er OCGA § 5 -6 -3 4 (a) (1 1 ). See, e.g ., Ha r g et t v.

Di ckey

, 3 0 4 Ga. Ap p

. 3 8 7

, 3 8 8 (1 ) (6 9 6 SE2 d 3 3 5 ) (2 0 1 0 ); s ee al so In t h e In t er es t of

J.N.

, 3 0 2 Ga. A p p. 6 3 1

, 6 3 4 (1 ) (6 91 SE2 d 3 9 6 ) (2 0 1 0 ) (a ju v en i l e co u rt ’ s o rd er

6d en y i n g a m o t i o n s eek in g a cu s t o d y m o d i fi cat i o n b as ed o n ch an g ed ci rcu m s tan ces in

a d ep ri v at i on m at t er was a fi n al d i rect l y ap p eal ab l e ju d g m en t u n d er OCGA § § 5 -6 -3 4

(a) (1 ) an d 1 5 -1 1 -3 ). Si n ce t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed t h e g r an dm o t h er’ s p et i t i o n fo r

cu s t o d y an d vi si t at i o n , t h e d en ial o f t h e g ran d m o t h er’ s m o t i o n i s di rect l y ap peal ab l e.

2

. Th e g ran d m ot h er co nt en d s t h at t h e tri al co urt erred in ru li n g t hat s h e d i d n ot

h av e an un co n d i t i o n al ri gh t to i n t erv en e u n d er OCGA § 1 9

- 7 -3 (b ). Pret erm i t t i n g

wh et h er t h e ju v en i l e co urt erred i n ru li n g t h at t h e g ran d m ot h e r d i d n o t hav e a ri g ht

t o i n t er v en e, t h e g ran d m o t her h as fai l ed t o es t ab l i s h rev ers i b l e erro r. No t ab l y ,

al t h o u g h t h e ju v en i l e co u rt t ech n i cal l y den ied h er m o ti on t o i n t erv en e, t he ju v en i l e

co u rt h el d a h eari n g i n w h i ch t h e gran d m o t h er was al l o wed to p res en t ev i d en c e in

s u p p ort o f h er req u es t fo r v is i t at i o n an d cu s t o d y , an d i t fu l ly co n s id ered t h e m eri t s o f

h er cl ai m s b efo re d en y i n g her m o t i o n

. See O ’Nea l v. O xen d i n e , 2 3 7 Ga. Ap p

. 1 7 1,

1 7 7 (3 ) (5 1 4 SE2 d 9 0 8 ) (1 9 9 9 ) (n o rev ers i b l e erro r s h own ev en t ho u g h t ri al co u rt

d en ied p et i t i o n er’ s m ot i o n t o i n t erv en e, b ecau s e p et i t i o n er was n ev ert h el es s al l o wed

t o p art ici p at e i n h eari n g ).

As t o t h e m eri t s o f h er m o t i o n, t h e g ran d m o t her h as fai l ed t o s h o w t hat t h e t ri al

co u rt erred i n d en y i n g h er req u es t fo r v i s it at io n an d cu s t o d y

. Th e g r a n d m o t h er

co n ten d s t h at t h e tri al co u rt erred b ecau s e, i n det erm i n in g th at t h e h eal th an d wel fare

7o f L. R. M

. wo u l d n o t b e h arm ed b y t h e l ack o f vi s i t at i o n u nd er OCGA § 1 9 -7 -3 (c),

t h e t ri al co u rt fai l ed t o co n s i d er t h e fact th at L. R. M

. l iv ed w i t h t h e gran d m o t h er, t h e

g ran d m o t h er p ro v i d ed fi n an ci al s u p p o rt

, an d t h e g ran d m o t h er es t ab li s h ed a p at t ern

o f reg u lar care an d v i s i t at i o n wi t h t h e ch i l d

. Th e g ran d m o t her al s o co n ten d s t h at t h e

t ri al co u rt i g no red p ro v i s i on s o f OCGA § 19 -7 -3 (c) an d (d ) req u i ri n g t h e t ri al co u rt

t o g i v e d eferen ce t o t h e p aren t s’ wi s h es t h at t h e g ran d m o t her h av e v i s i t at i o n

.

Th e d eci s io n t o g ran t o r d en y a g ran d p aren t ’ s p et i t i o n fo r v is i tat i o n i s wi t h in

t h e di s cret io n o f th e t ri al co u rt

, an d we wi l l affi rm t he co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n ab s en t an

ab u se of th at di s cret i o n

. See S r a d er v. Mi d ki f f

, 3 03 Ga. Ap p. 51 4

, 5 1 6 (1 ) (6 9 3 SE2 d

8 5 6 ) (2 0 1 0 ). W h ere t h ere i s an y ev i d en ce t o s u pp o rt t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g , we can n ot

s ay t h ere was an ab u s e o f d i s cret io n

. See V i n es v. V i n es , 2 9 2 Ga. 5 5 0

, 5 5 2 (2 ) (7 3 9

SE2 d 3 7 4) (2 0 1 3).

U n d e r OCGA § 1 9 -7 -3 (c), a t ri al co u rt m ay g ran t vi s i t at i o n ri gh t s t o a

g ran d p aren t i f t h e co u rt fi n d s t h at t h e h eal th an d w el fare o f t h e ch i l d wo u l d b e

h arm ed u n l es s v i s i t at i o n is g ran t ed

, 3 an d i f t he b es t i n t eres t s o f th e ch i l d wo u l d b e

3

In co n si d eri n g wh et h er t h e h eal t h o r wel fare o f t he ch i l d wo u l d b e h arm ed w i t ho u t s u c h v i si t at i o n , t h e co u rt s h al l co ns i d er an d m ay fi n d

t h a t h a r m t o t h e ch i l d i s reas o n ab l y l i k el y t o res u l t wh ere, p ri o r t o th e

o ri g in al act io n o r i n t erv en t i on :

8s erv ed b y s u ch v i s i tat i o n

. Al th o u g h t h e g ran d m o t h e r arg ues t hat s u b s ect i o n (c)

ap p li es , t he m o re p ert i nen t s t an d ard g o v ern i n g t h is cas e i s s et fo rt h i n su b sect i o n (d )

b ecau s e t h e fat h er was i ncarcerat ed

.

Un d er OCGA § 1 9-7 -3 (d ),

i f o n e o f t h e p a r e n t s o f a m i n or ch i l d d i es , is i ncap aci t at ed

, o r i s i n carcerat ed

, t h e co u rt m ay awar d t h e p aren t o f t h e d eceas ed

, i n cap aci t at ed

, o r i n carcerat ed paren t of s uch m i n o r ch i l d reas o n ab l e

v i s i t at i o n t o s u c h c h i l d d u ri n g h i s o r h er m i n o ri t y i f t he co u rt i n i t s d i s cret i o n fi n d s th at s u ch v i s i t at i on wo ul d b e i n t h e b es t i n t eres t s o f th e ch i l d

. Th e cu s t o d i al p aren t ’ s ju dg m en t as to th e b e s t i n t e res t s o f th e ch i l d reg ard i n g v is i t at i on s h al l b e g i v en d eferen ce b y t he co u rt b u t sh al l

n o t b e co n cl u s i v e.

OCGA § 1 9 -7 -3 (d ).

(A) Th e m i n o r ch i l d res i d ed wi t h t he g ran d p a r e n t fo r s i x m o n t h s o r

m o re;

(B) Th e g ran d p aren t p r o v i d ed fi n an ci al s u p p o rt fo r t h e b as i c n eed s o f

t h e ch il d fo r at l eas t o n e y ear;

(C) Th ere was an es t ab l i s h ed p at t ern o f reg u l ar v i s i t at i o n o r ch i l d care b y t h e g ran d p aren t wi t h t h e ch i l d ; o r

(D) A n y o t h er ci rcu m s t an ce ex i s t s in d i cat i n g t h at em ot i o n al o r p hy s i cal

h arm wo u ld b e reas on ab l y l i k el y t o res u l t i f s uch vi s ita t ion i s not gr a nted

.

OCGA § 1 9 -7 -3 (c).

9In t h i s cas e, al t h o u g h t h e t ri al co u rt was req u i red t o g i v e s o m e d eferen ce t o t h e

m o th er’ s d es i re t o l et t he g ran d m o t h er h av e c u s t o d y an d v i si t at io n , t h e m o t h er’ s

ju d g m en t ab o u t t h e b es t in t eres ts o f L. R. M

. was n o t co n cl u s i v e, an d t h e t ri al co urt ’ s

reject i o n o f t h e m o t h er’ s req u es t w a s s u pp o rt ed b y t h e ev i d en ce p res en t ed at t h e

h eari n g

. Th at ev i d en ce s h owed t h at DFCS t o o k L. R. M

. i n t o cu s t o d y w h i l e t h e ch i ld

was l i v i n g wi t h t h e gran d m o t h er an d m ot h er, an d th ere is s o m e e v i d en ce t h at t h e

m o th er co n t i n ues t o l i v e wi t h t h e g ran d m o t h er d es p i t e t h ei r p ro t es t at i o n s ot h erwi s e.

Th e co n d i t io n s p reci pi tat i n g DFCS’ s i n v o lv em en t h av e rem ai n ed

, as t h e m o t h er h as

n o t m ad e an y p ro g res s wi t h h er DFCS cas e p l an , co n t i n u es t o u s e d ru g s , an d h as

fai l ed t o at ten d a d ru g t reat m en t p ro g ram . Ad di t io n al ly , t h e g ran d m o t h er k n ew t h at

t h e m o th er was n o t al l o w ed t o h av e u n s u perv i s ed vi si t at i o n w i t h L. R. M

., y et t h e

g ran d m o t h er i g n o red th is res tri ct i o n an d al l o wed t h e m o t her t o h av e s u ch v i s i t at i o n

wh i le L. R. M

. was i n t h e gran d m o t h er’ s care. Fi n al l y , t h e D FCS cas e m an ag er was

co n cern ed ab o u t h av i n g L. R. M

., wh o was d o i n g wel l i n hi s cu rren t p l acem en t

, l i v e

wi t h t h e g ran dm ot h er becau s e t h e g ran d m o t h er a l l o w ed t h e m o t h er, wh o h ad

u n reh ab il i t at ed s u b s t an ce ab u s e i s s u es , t o hav e acces s t o h er h ou s e. In l i g h t o f t h es e

ci rcu m s t an ces , t here w as n o ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n i n d en y i n g t he g ran d m o t h er’ s req u es t

fo r cu s t o d y

an d v i s i t at i o n.

10Ju d

g men t a f f i r m ed . An d

r ews , P. J., a n d

Br an ch , J., co n cu r

.

11