## COURT OFAPPEALS SECOND DISTRICTOF TEXAS FORT WORTH NO. 2 - 0 5 - 3 9 2 - CV I N T HE I NT E R E S TOFM . R . J . M . , A C HI L D

----- ----- -- F ROM COUNTY COURTAT L AW NO. 1 OF P ARKE R C OUNTY

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### OP I NI ON ON R E HEAR I NG

----- ----- -- I . I nt r oduc t i on T h e tr i a l co u rtte rm i n a ted the p a ren tal ri g h ts o f A p p e l l a n t M i c h a e l M . to hi s chi l d M . R . J. M . The t r i al courtden i e d M i c h a e l ’ s m ot i on f ornew t r i al aft er a hear i ng un derfam i l y code sect i on 2 63 . 40 5 an d si gned an or derf i ndi ng t hat a n ya p p e a l sfro m th e te rm i n a ti o n w o u l d b e fri v o l o u s . S eeTex. Fa m . Code A nn. § 263. 405 ( d) ( V er non 2008) . M i cha elap pea l ed fr om t hatf i ndi ng a nd f r om t he t r i al court ’ s j udg m entt er m i nat i ng hi s par ent al r i g h ts. I n an ear l i er o rd e r, w e h e l d t h a t th e t ri a l c o u rt a b u s e d itsd i s c re ti o n w h e n i t fo u n d M i c h a e l ’s1 ... M ot herpl eaded gu i l t y t o t w o f el ony co untsofi nj ur y t o a c h i l d af t er

h o s p it a l a u t h o r it ie sd is c o v e r e d t h a th e re ig h t -m o n t h -o ld t w in s h a d s k u ll f r ac t ur es , bl ac k e yes , an d o t he rs eri ousi nj ur i es . Herot hert w o c hi l dr en, i ncl udi ng M . R . J. M . , suf f er ed f r om ser i ous cases of head l i ce. M ot herbl am ed hert hen- boyfr i end f orabusi ng herchi l dr en and t est i f i ed t hatshe neversaw anyt hi ng. 2 app ea l f r i vol ous, and w e u l t i m at el y or der ed a c om pl et e r ec or d oft he pr oce edi ngsbe l ow . A ft err evi ew i ng t he r ec or d and al l br i ef s f i l ed, w e a f f i r m t he j udg m entt er m i nat i ng hi s par ent al r i ghts . I I . Fa ct ualan d Proce duralBac kground M . R. J. M . w asborn i n Sept em ber1999 ; s he w ass i x ye ar s ol d a tt he O ct ober20 05 t r i al . M . R . J. M . ’ s m ot her( “M ot her ”) w as si xt een w hen she m et a n d m o v e d in w it h M ic h a e l, t h e n a g e t h irt y -t h r e e . M o t h e rle ftM ic h a e l w h ile M . R . J. M . w as st i l l a baby, butM i chael al w ays knew w her e t o f i nd t hem . M o th e r ab u se d d rug s: m a rij u a n a an d co c a i n e w h e n s h e w a s w i th M i cha el ; m os t l y m et ham phetam i ne and m ar ij uan a b y t he t i m e M . R. J. M . an d M o t h e r ’s o t h e rc h ild r e n w e r e re m o v e d b yC h ild P r o t e c t iv e S e rv ic e s(“ C P S ” ) in 2004. 1 T h e fa th e r o f M o th e r’so th e r th re e c h i l d re n e x e c u te d a v o l u n ta ry af f i davi tofr el i nqu i shm entofhi s par ent al r i ghtsbef or e t r i al . M ot herexecut ed a vol untary af f i davi tofr el i nqu i shm entofherpar ent al r i ghts t o al l f ourchi l dr en bef or e cl osi ng ar gum ent s.3

T h e j u ry c h a rge i n d i c a ted tha t t o term i n a te M i c h a e l ’s p a ren tal ri g h ts to M . R . J. M . , t he j ur y had t o f i nd bycl earand convi nci ng evi dence t hat “atl east o n e o ft h e f o llo w in g ” h a d o c c u r r e d : t h a tM ic h a e l k n o w in g lyp la c e d o rk n o w in g ly al l ow ed M . R . J. M . to r em ai n i n cond i t i ons orsur r oun di ngs t hatendang er ed her p h y s ic a l o re m o t io n a l w e ll-b e in g ; t h a th e e n g a g e d in c o n d u c to rk n o w in g ly pl aced M . R . J. M . w i t h per sons w ho eng aged i n cond uctt hatenda n g e r ed her p h y s i c a l o r e m o ti o n a l w e l l -b e i n g ; o r th a t h e c o n s tru c ti v e l ya b a n d o n e d M .R .J .M . S ee T e x . F a m . C o d e A n n . § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(D ), (E ), (N ) (V e rn o n 2 0 0 8 ). T h e j u ry char ge a l so r equi r ed t hat , t o t er m i nat e M i chael ’ s par ent al r i ghts , t he j ur y had t o f in d b yc le a ra n d c o n v in c in g e v id e n c e t h a tt e r m i n a t io n o ft h e p a r e n t -c h ild r el at i onshi p w oul d be i n M . R . J. M . ’ s besti nt er est , and t he j ur y char ge l i st ed fa c to rsth a t th e j u ryc o u l d c o n s i d e r. S e ei d. § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (2 ). T h e a p p lic a t io n q u e s t io n s t a t e d , “ S h o u ld t h e p a r e n t -c h ild re la t io n s h ip b e tw e e n [M i c h a e l ] a n d t h e c h i l d , [M .R .J .M .] b e te rm i n a te d ? ” T h e j u ry r espond ed, “Yes. ” The t r i al courto rde red t er m i nat i on of M i chael ’ s par ent al ri g h ts i n ac c o rda n c e w i th the j u ry’s v e rdict.2 ... M i cha el ’ s st at em entofpoi nt s con t ai ns the fol l ow i ng: t hatt he

evi den cew asf ac t ual l y i ns uf f i ci entt o s upportt he j ury’ s f i ndi ngs on t he gr ounds f ort er m i nat i on un dersect i on 1 61 . 00 1( 1) ( D ) , ( E) , ( N ) , and ( 2) ; t hatt he tr i al courtm i si nf or m ed t he veni r e and com m ent ed on t he w ei ght oft he evi dence dur i ng vo i rd i r e; thatthe t r i al co urterr oneo usl y subm i t t ed t he char ge i n br oad f or m ; t hatsec t i on 26 3. 405 ( i ) vi ol at est he Separ at i on ofPow er s D oct r i ne; an d t h a t , t o t h e e x t e n ts e c t io n 2 6 3 .4 0 5 re q u i r e s a s h o w in g t h a ta n a p p e a l w o u ld not be f r i vol ous bef o re t he appeal m ay pr oceed, i tvi ol at es t he D ue Pr ocess C l aus e o ft he U ni t ed St at esConst i t ut i on.

3 ... M i cha elar gue d on r eh ea r i ng t hathi s app ea l co ul d notbef r i vol ous bec aus e, dur i ng t he pen den cy ofhi s app ea l , t hi s cou rtde ci ded t hats ec t i on 2 6 3 .4 0 5 (i ) w a sv o i d a sv i o l a ti n g s e p a ra ti o n o fp o w e rs . S e eInreD .W. , 249 4 M i c h a e l fi l e d a m o ti o n fo r n e w tr i a l , se tti n g o u t h i s state m e n t o f p o i n ts f o ra p p e a l. 2T h e t r ia l c o u rtd e n ie d M ic h a e l’s m o t io n f o rn e w t r ia l, f o u n d h im i ndi gen t , an d f ound hi s app ea l f r i vol ous . M i cha elap pea l ed. I n ouri ni t i alr evi ew ofM i cha el ’ s app ea l , w e o r der ed a r ec or d “ ofal l oft he e vi de nc e a dm i t t e d [ a t t r i a l ] . ” S e eInreM.R.J.M. ( M.R.J.M. I) , 193 S. W . 3d 670, 674 ( Te x. App . — Fo rt W ort h 2006, or de r ) ( e n ba nc ) . On M a r c h 28, 2008 , w e i ss ued an opi ni on a f f i r m i ng t he t r i alco urt ’ s f r i vol ous nes s f i ndi ng, an d M i c ha e l f i l e d a m ot i on f orr e he a r i ng . Su bs e qu e nt l y, w e w i t hd r e w t heM a r c h 28 opi ni on. W e i ss ued an or der on Sept em ber 9, 200 8, gr ant i ng M i cha el ’ s m ot i on f orr ehear i ng and or der i ng M i chael to f i l e a br i efo n t he m er i t s r egar di ng t hose i ssues notal r eady addr essed i n hi s st at em entofpoi nt s because w e agr eed t hat M i cha el ’ s i ss ue cha l l eng i ng t he con st i t ut i ona l i t y ofs ec t i on 263. 405 ( i ) w asnot f r i vol ous. 3I n ouror der , w e c onc l ude d t hatM i cha el ’ s app ea l pr es ent ed aS .W .3 d 6 2 5 , 6 4 0 (T e x . A p p .— F o rtW o rt h ) (h o ld in g t h a ts e c t io n 2 6 3 .4 0 5 (i) is

u n c o n s ti tu ti o n a l b e c a u s e i t u n d u l yi n te rfe re sw i th th e a p p e l l a te c o u rt’s s u b s ta n ti v e p o w e r to re h e a r a n d d e te rm i n e i s s u e so n th e m e ri t s t h a tw e re d e c i d e d i n th e c o u rt b e l o w ), pet. denied, 260 S. W . 3d 462 ( Tex. 2008 ) . And he ar gued t hath i s app eal co ul d not be f r i vol ous because t hi s cou rtgr ant ed an en b an c he ar i ng i n M.R.J.M. I . Th e St a t e c on c e de d on r e he a r i ng t ha tt hes e poi nt s w er e notf r i vol ous. 5 subst ant i al quest i on f orappel l a te r evi ew , and w e sust ai ned M i chael ’ s f i r st r ehe ar i ng i ssue , hol di ng t hatt he t r i alco urtab us ed i t s di sc r et i on byf i ndi ng M i cha el ’ s app ea l f r i vol ousan d r es t r i ct i ng t he app el l at e r ec or d t o t he se ct i on 263 . 405 ( d) he ar i ng. W e o r der ed t hat M i cha el w as ent i t l ed t o a ppe alf r om t he t r i alco urt ’ s t er m i nat i on or der and t hat he w as ent i t l ed t o a co m pl et e r ec or d of t he und er l yi ng pr oceedi ngs. I I I . D i sc us si on A . M i c h a e l ’s C o m p l a i n ts M i chael ’ s or i gi nal br i efcont ai ns t he f ol l ow i ng f ouri ssues: [ I ss ue 1 ] : Does se ct i on 263. 405 ( g) oft he Texa s Fam i l y Code u n const i t ut i onal l y i nt er f er e w i t h t hi s C ourt ’ s j ur i sdi ct i on un der se ct i on 6( a) ofart i cl e V oft he Texa s C ons t i t ut i on? [ I ssue 2] : To t he ext entsect i on 26 3. 40 5 r equi r es a s how i ng t hat an app ea l w oul d notbe fr i vo l ousbe f or e t he app ea l m ay pr oce ed, does i tvi ol at e t he D ue Pr ocess C l ause oft he U ni t ed S t at es C ons t i t ut i on? [ I ss ue 3] : The t r i alco urter r ed i n f i ndi ng t he app ea l f r i vol ous [ com pl ai ni ng t hats ec t i on 263. 405 ( i ) vi ol at ed t he se par at i on of pow er s doct ri n e , t he br oad- f or m j ur y char ge subm i ssi on w as6

im p r o p e r , th e t r ia l c o u rt m a d e a n im p r o p e r c o m m e n t d u r in g v o ir d ire , a n d th e e v i d e n c e w a sn o t fa c tu a l l ys u fficie n t to s u p p o rt g ro u n d s(D ), (E ), a n d (N ) a n d th e b e s t i n te re s t fi n d i n g ]. [ I ss ue 4] : The t r i alco urter r ed i n i ns t r uct i ng t he cou rtr epo rt ernot t o pr epar e a r ecor d oft he t r i al and by order i ng t h e c o u rtr eport er and t he cl er k t o pr epa r e r ec or dsoft he se ct i on 263. 405 ( d) he ar i ng onl y. M i cha el ’ s bri efi n s upportofhi s m ot i on f orr ehe ar i ng c ont ai nst he f ol l ow i ng f i ve i ssues: [ R ehear i ng I ssue 1] : T h e tri al courter r ed i n f i ndi ng t he appeal f r i vol ous and , i n t ur n, r es t r i ct i ng t he app el l at e r ec or d t o t he se ct i on 263. 405( d) h e a r i ng , h e l d on Nov e m be r22, 2005 . [ Rehea r i ng I ss ue 2] : The evi den ce i s f ac t ual l y i ns uf f i ci entt o s how [M i c h a e l ] k n o w i n g l yp l a c e d o r kn o w i n g l yall o w e d [ M .R .J.M .] to r em ai n i n cond i t i ons orsur r oun di ngs t hatendang er ed herem ot i onal orphy si ca l w el l

- bei ng. [ Rehea r i ng I ss ue 3] : The evi den cei s f ac t ual l y i ns uf f i ci entt o s how [M i c h a e l ] e n g a g e d i n co n d u c t or k n o w i n g l yp l a c e d M .R .J.M . w i th per so nsw ho e nga ged i n c onduc tt haten danger ed herphy si ca l or em ot i ona l w el l

- bei ng. [ Rehea r i ng I ss ue 4] : The evi den ce i s f ac t ual l y i ns uf f i ci entt o s how [ M i cha el ] con st r uct i vel y aba ndone d t he chi l d w ho ha d be en i n t he per m ane ntort em por ary m ana gi ng c ons ervat or sh i p oft he D epa rt m ent or an aut hor i z ed age ncy f or not l es s t han si x m ont hs a n d (a ) t h e D e p a rt m e n to ra u t h o r iz e d a g e n c yh a d m a d e re a s o n a b le ef f ort s t o r et urn t he ch i l d t o t he f at her , ( b) t he f at herha d not r egu l ar l y vi si t ed orm ai nt ai ned s i gn i f i ca ntco nt ac tw i t h t he chi l d, a n d (c ) t h e f a t h e rh a d d e m o n s t r a t e d a n in a b ilit yt o p r o v id e t h e c h ild w i th a s a fe e n v i ron m e n t. [ Rehea r i ng I ss ue 5] : The t r i alco urter r one ousl y s ubm i t t ed t he c h a r g e i n b r o a d f o r m.4 ... M i cha elar gue d t hatourr evi ew w ascu rt ai l ed bec aus e s ec t i on

26 3. 40 5( g) l i m i t ed t he content s oft he appel l at e r eco rd to the f r i vol ousness hear i ng r ecor d onl y, and he ar gued t hatouroppo rt uni t y t o r evi ew w as l i m i t ed by a l ac k o fbr i ef i ng on t he m er i t s. H ow eve r , w e det er m i ned i n M.R.J.M . I t hat a n a p p e lla t e c o u rth a st h e a u t h o r it yt o o r d e rt h e p r e p a r a t io n o fa re c o r d o fa ll th e e v i d e n c e i n a te rm i n a ti o n c a s e w h e n n e c e s s a r yt o r e v i e w a tri a l c o u rt’s det er m i nat i on t hat an appeal r ai si ng a f act ual suf f i ci ency com pl ai nti s f r i vol ous. 1 9 3 S .W .3 d a t6 7 4

– 7 6 . A n d s e c t i o n 2 6 3 .4 0 5 (g ) p r o v id e st h a tt h e c o u rt , in con si der i ng a n appea l oft he t r i alcourt ’ s f r i vol ous nes s f i ndi ng, m ay r equ i r e t he p a rti e s to fi l e a p p e l l a te b ri e fs o n th e i s s u e s p re s e n te d , a s w e d i d h e re . S eeTex. 7 M i chael st at ed thataft err evi ew i ng t he O ct ober1, 20 08 suppl em ent al re p o rte r’sre c o rd , h e h a d n o fu rth e r i s s u e sth a t h e w a n te d to ra i s e . B. M ooted I ssues Th e m ootnessdoct r i ne pr event s cou rt s f r om r ender i ng adv i sor y opi ni ons, w hi ch ar e outs i de t he j ur i sdi ct i on conf er r ed by art i cl e I I , sect i on 1 of t he T exas C o n s ti tu ti o n . S ee V al ley Bap ti

st Med. C tr. v. G onzalez , 33 S . W . 3d 821, 822 ( Tex. 2000 ) . An i ss ue m ay bec om e m ootw hen a part y see ksa r ul i ng on s om e m att ert hat , w hen r end er ed, w oul d no thave anypr ac t i ca l l ega l ef f ec ton a th e n -e x i s ti n g c o n tro v e rs y . S ee I n re H & RBlock Fi

n. A dvi sor s, I nc. , 262 S. W . 3d 8 9 6 , 9 0 0 (T e x . A p p .— H o u s to n [1 4 th D i s t.] 2 0 0 8 , o ri g . p ro c e e d i n g ); City of Far m er s Branch v. Ram os , 2 35 S. W . 3d 462 , 4 69 ( Tex. A pp. — D al l as2 007 , no p e t.). M i cha el ’ s ar gum ent s unde rI ss ue 1 w ere ef f ec t i vel y m oot ed by o ur ho l di ng i n M.R.J.M . I . 419 3 S . W . 3d at67 4– 76 . A nd hi s ar gum ent s underF a m . C o d e A n n . § 2 6 3 .4 0 5 (g ); M.R.J.M. I, 193 S. W . 3d a t674– 76. 5 ... O urS ept em ber9 or derackn ow l edg ed t hatM i cha el ’ s i ss ue cha l l eng i ng t h e c o n s t it u t io n a lit yo fs e c t io n 2 6 3 .4 0 5 (i) w a sn o tf r iv o lo u sa n d e f f e c t iv e ly m oot ed M i cha el ’ s com pl ai ntaboutsec t i on 13 . 003 ( b) oft he ci vi l pr ac t i cean d r em edi es code bei ng used as t he t r i al co urt ’ s st andar d f ordet er m i ni ng w het her h i sa p p e a l w a sfri v o l o u s . S eeTex. Fa m . C odeA nn. § 263. 405 ( d) ( 3) ; Tex. Ci v. P ra c . &R e m . C o d e A n n . § 1 3 .0 0 3 (b ) (V e rn o n 2 0 0 2 ).

6 ... I n I ss ue 2, M i cha el ar gue d t hats ec t i on 263. 405 ’ s r equ i r ed sh ow i ng t h a ta n a p p e a l isn o tf r iv o lo u sv io la t e sp r o c e d u r a l d u e p r o c e s sb e c a u s e it e m p h a si zes t he speed ofj udi ci al pr oceedi ngs overaccur acy and t he best i n tere st o f t h e c h i l d b y u n fai rl y req u i ri n g a p p e l l a te co u n se l to i d e n ti fy a p p e l l a te i ss uesan d a r guet he m er i t s oft hos e i ss uesw i t houtt he ben ef i tofa r ec or d. S eeTex. Fam . C ode A nn. § 2 63 . 40 5( f ) ( appel l at e r ecor d not due un t i l si x ty d a y sa fte r o rd e r); id . § 263. 405 ( b) ( st at em entofpoi nt s due w i t hi n f i ft ee n da ys a fte r o rd e r); id . § 263. 405 ( i ) ( app el l at e c ourtca nnotco ns i deran y i ss uesnot pr es ent ed i n t he st at em entofpoi nt s) . I n I ss ue 3, heco m pl ai ned t hats ec t i on 263 . 405 ( i ) , the st at em entofpoi nt s r equ i r em ent , vi ol at ed t he Separ at i on of P o w e r sD o c t r in e . H o w e v e r , w h ile a p a r e n t ’s rig h tt o re t a in c u s t o d yo fh is chi l d r en i s a const i t ut i onal l y pr ot ect ed l i bert y i nt er estt hatm ustbe af f or ded p r o c e d u ra l d u e p ro c e s s , s e eI nreG. C. , 66 S. W . 3d 517, 524– 25 ( Tex. A pp. — FortW ort h 2 002 , no p et . ) , M i cha elw asnotha r m ed her e b y t he sta tu to ry d e a d l i n e s be c a u se w e h a v e si n c e h e l d tha t t h e tr i a l co u rtab u se d i ts di sc r et i on byf i ndi ng hi s app ea l f r i vol ous , or der ed t he ent i r e t r i alr ec ord t o be pr odu ced f or hi m , and hel d t hat an appel l ant i s not l i m i t ed t o r ai si ng on appeal o n l y th o s e i s s u e s c o n ta i n e d i n th e s ta te m e n t o f p o i n ts . S e eD . W. , 249 S. W . 3d a t 6 4 0 ; s e ea l

s o M.R.J.M. I, 1 9 3 S .W .3 d at 6 7 4

– 7 6 ( h o l d i n g tha t ap p e l l a te c o u rt c a n o rd e r th e p re p a ra ti o n o f a re p o rte r’sre c o rd o f th e te rm i n a ti o n tri a l ). 8 Is s u e 4a n d p a rto fR e h e a r in g Is s u e 1 w e r e a ls o m o o t e d b yo u ro r d e rin M.R.J.M. I, a s w e l l a s b y o u r S e p te m b e r 9 o rd e r. 5 See i d. at676. I ss ue 2 and partofI ss ue 3 w er e a l so m oot ed: I ss ue 2 by o urSept em ber9 or der , an d I ss ue 3 by ou rhol di ng i n D .W. 6 249 S . W . 3d at6 40. W e n ow ad dr es s t he f ol l ow i ng9

ove r l app i ng i ss ues : t he r em ai nde rofI ss ue 3 and Rehea r i ng I ss ues2, 3, 4, an d 5. C . Tr i alCourt ’ s C om m ent I n I ss ue 3, M i cha elco m pl ai nst hat“ t he t r i alco urtt ol d t he ven i r epe r so ns th a t th e c a s e in v o lv e d in j u re d c h i l d re n th a t th e p a re n t h a d a l l e g e d l ya b u s e d .” Beca us e h i s dau ght er , M . R. J. M . , ha d notbe en i nj ur ed and t her e w er e n o a lle g a t io n st h a tM ic h a e l h a d h a r m e d h e r o ra n yo t h e rc h ild , h e a s s e rt st h a tt h is c o m m e n t w a sp rej u d i c i a l a n d i m p ro p e r. To pr eserve a co m pl ai ntf orappel l at e r evi ew , a part y m usthave pr esent ed t o t h e t r ia l c o u rta t im e lyr e q u e s t , o bje c t io n , o rm o t io n t h a ts t a t e st h e s p e c if ic gr oundsf ort he des i r ed r ul i ng, i ft heyar e n otap par entf r om t he con t extoft he r equ es t , obj ec t i on, orm ot i on. Tex. R. A pp. P. 33. 1( a) . I fa part y f ai l s t o do th i s , e rro r i sn o t p re s e rv e d , a n d th e c o m p l a i n t i sfo rfe i te d . Bushel l v. D ean , 803 S. W . 2d 711, 712 ( Tex. 1991 ) ( op. on r eh’ g) . The f ol l ow i ng c onve r sa t i on occur r ed dur i ng vo i rdi r e: [S tate ’s atto rne y ]: . . . B u t w e ’ve g o t f o u r ch i l d ren , ran g e s tw o to si x, an d w e n ee d e very on e o fyou t hatge t s cho se n t o l i st en t o t he evi den cean d de ci de doe s t hi s pa r en t ’ s r i ght s nee d t o be t er m i nat ed. An d i t ’ s notr ea l l y a boutt he par ent , i t ’ s abo utt he chi l dr en. I t ’ s al w aysab outt he chi l dr en. [ The Court ] : I t hi nktha tw e’ ve onl y ha d a l i t t l e d i sc us si on a bout ver bal abuse. A nd I thi nk i t ’ s i m port antf ort he panel t o know t hat7 ... F u rt h e r m o r e , a t r ia l c o u rth a sg r e a td is c r e t io n in t h e m a n n e rit

con duc t s a t r i al , an d i tpos se ss es“ t he aut hor i t y t o e xpr es s i t se l fi n e xer ci si ng t hi s br oa d di s c r e t i on. ” D o wCh em . Co . v. F ra n cis , 46 S . W . 3d 237, 240– 41 (T e x . 2 0 0 1 ). A n d t h e co m p l a i n i n g p a rt yfi rst m u st sh o w tha t t h e co m m e n ts w e re i m p ro p e r a n d th e n s h o w th a t th e i m p ro p e r c o m m e n ts p rej u d i c e d h im . Metzger

v. Seb ek , 892 S. W . 2d 20, 39 ( Te x. App . — Hous t on [ 1s tDi s t . ] 1994 , w ri t d e n i e d ), cert. denied, 5 16 U . S . 86 8 ( 19 95 ) . M i chael i s unabl e t o do t hat o n t h e re c o r d b e f o r e u s . T h e t r ia l c o u rt ’s c o m m e n tw a sn o tin a c c u r a t e a st h is case i nvol ved t er m i nat i on of par ent al r i ghtst o f ourchi l dr en— M . R . J. M . and her t hr eeyou nge rha l f

- si bl i ngs . Tw o oft hos e h al f

- si bl i ngsha d be en i nj ur ed, an d M o t h e r h a d p le a d e d g u ilt y t o c h a r g e s o f f e lo n y in ju ryt o a c h ild ; a tt h isp o in tin t he t r i al , she had not yetsi gne d a n a ffi davi tofr el i nqu i shm entofherpar ent al r i ghts . O urr e v i ew oft he r ecor d r eveal s no t est i m ony b y any w i t ness t hat M i c h a e l h a d p h y sica l l yab u se d M .R .J.M ., an d the j u ry w a s i n stru c ted to con si deronl y t he exh i bi t s and ev i den cei nt r oduc ed unde roa t h. 10 t he f ac t s t hatyou w i l l he arab outt hi s w ee k a r e m uch m or e s er i ous t han ver bal abuse. [S ta te ’sA tto rn e y ]: Y o u r H o n o r— [ The Court ] : A nd t hos e o fyou t hatar e t ak i ng i nt o a cc ountt he d if f ic u lt y , r e a liz e it ’s n o tv e r b a l. M ot her ’ s att or neyt he n r equ es t ed t o a ppr oac h t he ben ch and a con ver sa t i on w ashe l d of ft he r ec or d. Beca us e M i cha elf ai l ed t o obj ec t , he di d notpr es erve t hi s i ssue. 7 S eeT e x . R . A p p . P . 3 3 .1 (a ); Bush ell, 8 0 3 S .W .2 d a t 7 1 2 . W e ov e r r ul e t hi sp ort i on o fI s s ue3. D . Fact ualSu ff i ci ency I n I ss ue 3 and R ehe ar i ng I ss ues2 , 3 , and 4 , M i cha elcom pl ai nst hatt he evi den cei s f ac t ual l y i ns uf f i ci entt o suppo rtt he j ury’ s f i ndi ngson e nda nge r m ent11

a n d c o n s tru c ti v e a b a n d o n m e n t a n d i ts b e s t i n te re s t fi n d i n g . SeeT e x . F a m. C o d e A n n . § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(D ), (E ), (N ), (2 ). 1 . S ta n d a rd ofRev i ew A p a re n t’sri g h ts to h is c h i l d re n a re c o n s ti tu ti o n a l i n te re s ts . S e eInre M. S. , 115 S . W . 3d 534, 547 ( Tex. 2003 ) . Butw hi l e parental r i ght s ar e o f c o n s ti tu ti o n a lm a g n i tu d e , th e ya re n o t a b s o l u te . I nreC. H. , 89 S . W . 3d 17, 26 ( Tex . 20 02 ) . “Justas i ti s i m per at i ve f orco urt s t o r ecogn i ze t he const i t ut i onal und er pi nni ngs of t he par ent - chi l d r el at i onshi p, i t i s al so essent i al t hatem ot i onal and ph ysi cal i n tere sts o ft he chi l d not be sacr i f i ced m er el y t o pr eserve t hat r i ght. ” Id. I n a t er m i nat i on c a se , th e S tate seeks notj ustt o l i m i tpar ent al r i ghts but t o er ase t hem per m anentl y— t o di vest t he par ent and chi l d ofal l l egal r i ght s, pr i vi l ege s, dut i es , and pow er s nor m al l y e xi st i ng be t w ee n t hem , ex ce pt f ort he chi l d’ s r i ghtt o i nh er i t . Tex . Fa m . Code Ann. § 161. 206 ( b) ( V er non 2 0 0 8 ); Ho l

i ckv. Sm ith , 6 8 5 S . W . 2 d 1 8 , 2 0 ( T ex . 1 9 8 5 ) . W e str i ctl y sc r uti ni ze t er m i nat i on pr oceedi ngs and st r i ct l y const r ue i nvol untary t er m i nat i on st at ut es i n fa v o r o f th e p a re n t. Hol i ck , 685 S. W . 2d a t20–2 1; In reM. C. T. , 250 S .W .3 d 1 6 1 , 1 6 7 (T e x . A p p .— F o rt W o rth 2 0 0 8 , n o p e t.). I n pr oceed i ngs t o t er m i nat e t he par ent - chi l d r el at i onshi p br oug htunder se ct i on 161 . 001 of t he f am i l y cod e, t he pet i t i one rm us tes t abl i sh onegr ound l i st ed unde rs ubdi vi si on ( 1) oft he st at ut e and m us tal so pr ovet hatt er m i nat i on12

i s i n th e b e s t i n te re s t o f th e c h i l d . T e x . F a m . C o d e A n n . § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 ; I n re J. L. , 163 S. W . 3d 79, 84 ( Tex. 200 5) . Bot h el em ent s m us tbe estab l i sh ed; t er m i nat i on m ay not be based so l e l yo n the besti nt er estoft he chi l d as d e te rm i n e d b yth e tri e r o f fa c t. Tex. D ep’tof Hum an S ervs. v. Boyd, 727 S .W .2 d 5 3 1 , 5 3 3 (T e x . 1 9 8 7 ). Ter m i nat i on de ci si onsm us tbes uppo rt ed by c l ea ran d c onvi nci ng evi dence. Tex. Fam . C ode A nn. § § 1 6 1 .0 01 , 16 1. 20 6( a) . Evi dence i s cl ear and co nvi nci ng i fi t“ w i l l pr oduc e i n t he m i nd oft he t r i erof f ac t a f i r m be l i efor c o n v i c ti o n a sto th e tru th o f th e a l l e g a ti o n ss o u g h t to b e e s ta b l i s h e d .” Id. § 1 01. 007 ( V er non 200 2) . I n r evi ew i ng t he evi den cef orf ac t uals uf f i ci enc y, w e m us tgi ve duede f er enc e t o t he f ac t f i nde r ’ s f i ndi ngsan d nots uppl antt he v e rd i c t w i th o u r o w n . I nreH. R. M. , 2 0 9 S .W .3 d 1 0 5 , 1 0 8 (T e x . 2 0 0 6 ). W e m u s td e t e r m in e w h e t h e r , o n t h e e n t ir e re c o r d , a f a c t f in d e rc o u ld re a s o n a b ly f or m a f i r m co nvi ct i on orbel i eft hatt he par entvi ol at ed su bs ec t i ons( D ) , ( E) , or (N ) o fs e c t io n 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 ) a n d t h a tt h e t e r m in a t io n o ft h e p a r e n t -c h ild re l a ti o n s h i p w o u l d b e i n th e b e s t i n te re s t o f th e c h i l d . C. H. , 89 S. W . 3d a t28. If , in lig h to ft h e e n t i r e re c o r d , t h e d is p u t e d e v id e n c e t h a ta re a s o n a b le f act f i nder c o u l d not have cr edi t ed i n f avoroft he f i ndi ng i s so s i gni f i cantt hat a f ac t f i nde rcoul d notr ea so nab l y ha ve f or m ed a f i r m be l i eforco nvi ct i on i n t he13

tru th o f i ts fi n d i n g , th e n th e e v i d e n c e i sf a c tu a l l yi n s u fficie n t. H. R. M. , 209 S. W . 3d a t108. 2. Enda nge r m ent E n d a n g e rm e n t i sd e fi n e d a se x p o s i n g t o lo s so r in j u ry , to j e o p a rd i z e . In reJ. T . G. , 1 2 1 S .W .3 d 1 1 7 , 1 2 5 (T e x . A p p .— F o rt W o rth 2 0 0 3 , n o p e t.). U nde rs ubs ec t i on ( D ) , i ti s ne ce ssary t o e xam i ne evi den cer el at ed t o t he en v i r o n m e n t o f t h e c h i l d t o d e t e r m i n e i f t h e e n v i r o n m e n t w a s t h e s our ce of en da ng erm en t t o t he ch i l d’s ph ys i ca l or em oti on al w el l

- be i ng . I n reD. T. , 34 S .W .3 d 6 2 5 , 6 3 2 (T e x . A p p .— F o rtW o rt h 2 0 0 0 , p e t . d e n ie d ). A c h ild is end ang er ed w hen t he env i r onm ent cr ea t es a pot ent i alf orda nge rt hatt he par ent i sa w a re o f b u t d i s re g a rd s . Se e I n reS. M. L. , 1 7 1 S. W . 3d 472, 477 ( Tex. A pp. — H ous t on [ 14t h Di st . ] 2005 , no p et . ) . I nap pr opr i at e, ab us i ve, orunl aw f ul c o n d u c tb y p e rs o n s w h o l i v e i n th e c h i l d ’s h o m e o r w i th w h o m th e c h i l d is com pel l ed t o a ss oci at e o n a r egu l arba si s i n hi s hom e i s a p artoft he

“ c o n d i ti o n so r s u rro u n d i n g s ” o f th e c h i l d ’sh o m e u n d e r s e c ti o n 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(D ). Cas torenav. Tex. D ep’tof Protec tive & Regul atory Servs . , N o. 03- 02- 00653

- CV , 2004 W L903906, at*8 ( Te x. A pp . — Aus t i n Apr . 29, 2004 , n o p e t.) (m e m . o p .); s e ea l s o I n reW. S. , 8 99 S. W . 2d 7 72 , 7 76 ( Te x. A p p .— F o rtW o rt h 1 9 9 5 , n o w ri t) ( sta ti n g th a t “e n v i ron m e n t” refe rs n o t on l yto14

t he ac ce p t a b i l i t yo fl i v i n g c o n d i t i o n s , b u ta l s o t o a p a r e n t ’ sc o n d u c ti n t he h o m e ). U nder subsect i on ( E) , t he r el evant i nqu i ry i s w het her evi dence exi st s t hat t he endan ger m ento ft he chi l d’ s physi cal orem ot i onal w el l

- bei ng w as t he di r ect res u l t of th e p a ren t’ s c o n d u c t, i n c l u d i n g ac ts, om i ss i o n s, an d fa i l u res to a c t. J.T .G . , 12 1 S. W . 3d at 12 5. Term i nat i on un dersubsect i on ( E) m ustbe based on m or e t han a si ngl e a ctorom i ssi on; a vol unt ary, de l i ber at e, an d c ons ci ous c o u rs e o f c o n d u c t b yth e p a re n t i sre q u i re d . Id. ; D. T. , 34 S . W . 3d a t634. T o d e term i n e w h e th e r t e rm ina ti o n i s n e c e ss a ry, co u rt s m a yl o o kto p a re n ta l c o n d u c t o c c u rri n g b o th b e fo re a n d a fte r th e c h i l d ’sb i rth . I nreD . M. , 58 S. W . 3d 80 1, 81 2 ( Tex . A pp. — FortW orth 2 0 0 1 , n o pet . ) . The f act f i nder m ay i nf er f r om past cond uct endan ger i ng t he chi l d’ s w el l

- bei ng t h a t si m i l ar c o n d u c t w i l l re c u r i f th e c h i l d i sre tu rn e d to th e p a re n t. S e eI nreD. L . N. , 958 S .W .2 d 9 3 4 , 9 4 1 (T e x . A p p .— W a c o 1 9 9 7 , p e t. d e n i e d ), di sapproved o n other gro un dsb yJ. F. C. , 9 6 S .W .3 d a t 2 6 7 n .3 9 , a n d C. H. , 89 S. W . 3d at26. Dr ug abuse dur i ng pr egnan cy const i t ut es con duct t haten dang er s a chi l d’ s physi cal a n d e m o ti o n a l w e l l -b e i n g . Se eI n reW. A. B. , 979 S . W . 2d 804, 806– 07 ( Tex. A p p .— H o u s to n [1 4 th D i s t.] 1 9 9 8 , p e t. d e n i e d ) (u p h o l d i n g te rm i n a ti o n w h e re m o th e r u s e d i l l e g a l d ru g sd u ri n g a n d a fte r p re g n a n c y ), di sapproved o f

on other gro un ds, J. F. C. , 9 6 S .W .3 d a t 2 6 7 n .3 9 ; D upree v. Tex . D ep’tof Protective &15

Regul atory Servs ., 9 0 7 S .W .2 d 8 1 , 8 4(T e x . A p p .— D a l l a s1 9 9 5 , n o w ri t). C ond uctt hatsubj ect s a chi l d t o a l i f e ofuncert ai nt y and i nst abi l i ty al so e n d a n g e rsth e c h i l d ’sp h y s i c a l a n d e m o ti o n a l w e l l -b e i n g . S e eI nreS. D. , 980 S . W . 2 d 7 58 , 76 3 ( Tex . A pp. — S an A nt oni o 1 99 8, pet . deni ed) ( usi ng i l l egal d r u g sa n d v io la t in g p a r o lep r o v id e d s u f f ic ie n te v id e n c e o fe n d a n g e r m e n t ). W h ile i m pr i sonm ental one i s nota b a sis t o t er m i nat e a par ent ’ s r i ghts , i ti s an app r opr i at e f ac t ort o cons i derbeca us e w hen a par enti s i nca r ce r at ed, he ors he i s abs entf r om t he chi l d’ s dai l y l i f e a nd un abl e t o pr ovi de su pportt o t he chi l d, neg at i vel y i m pacti ng t he chi l d’ s l i vi ng e nvi r onm entan d e m ot i ona l w el l

- bei ng. S ee S. M. L. , 1 7 1 S .W .3 d at 4 7 8

– 7 9 . T o su p p o rta fi n d i n g o f en d a n g e rm e n t, t he par ent ’ s con duc t doe s not nec es sa r i l y ha ve t o bedi r ec t ed att he chi l d, nor i sth e c h i l d re q u i re d to s u ffe r i n j u ry . Boyd, 727 S. W . 2d a t533. B e c a u s e t h e e v id e n c e p e rt a in in g t o s u b s e c t io n s1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )( D ) a n d (E ) is i n te rre l a te d , w e m a yc o n d u c t a c o n s o l i d a te d re v i e w . M. C. T. , 25 0 S . W . 3d at 1 6 9 ; s e ea l

s o I n reM. R. , 243 S. W . 3d 807, 819 ( Te x. App.

— Fo rtW ort h 2007, n o p e t. ) (ho l d i n g tha t t h e re w a s l e g a l l yan d fac tu a l l ysu ffi c i e n t ev i d e n c e o f bo th endan ger m entgr oun ds w hen, am ong o th ert hi ngs, t he evi dence show ed t hat par entex pos ed chi l dr en t o dom es t i c v i ol enc e a nd r ef us ed t o part i ci pat e i n CPS s e rv i c e p l a n ).16

W it h re g a r d t o s u b s e c t io n s(D ) a n d (E ), M ic h a e l c o m p la in st h a tw h ile t her e w asev i den cet hathekn ew M ot herused m ar ij uan a a nd ot herdr ugsatone t i m e, t her e w asal so ev i den cet hathew asuna w ar e t hats he w as st i l l us i ng m ar ij uana, t hathe had no kno w l edge t hatM ot herhad r esum ed usi ng t he ot her d r u g s , a n d t h a t h e w a s n o t a w a r e t h a t M o t h e r w a s p h y s ic a lly o re m o t i o n a lly abu si ng a ny o ft he chi l dr en. M i chael al so acknow l e d g e d, how ever , t hatM ot herw as a dr ug add i ct w hen hem ether , and het es t i f i ed t hatheus ed dr ugsaft erM . R. J. M . w asbor n. M ot hert es t i f i ed t hats he sm oke d m ar ij uan a w hi l e p r egn antw i t h M . R. J. M . an d t hat M i c ha e l w a s pr e s e nt w he n s he di d. M ot he r t e s t i f i e d t ha t s he had nev er don e anyt hi ng af t erbr eaki ng up w i t h M i chael t o gi v e h i m t he i m pr essi on t hat s h e w a sn o lo n g e ru s i n g d ru g s . M i c h a e l te s ti fi e d th a t a fte r M o th e r h a d m o re chi l dr en, “I bel i eve t hati f she w as usi ng dr ugs, t he doctor s w oul d have t est ed h e r a n d th e k i d s[w o u l d ] h a v e b e e n re m o v e d . T h e yw e re n o t.” M ot hert es t i f i ed t hatM i cha elhi theronl y on ce , butt hats he w ashol di ng M . R . J. M . at t he t i m e. M i chael adm i t t ed t hat he hi tM ot her , buthe cl ai m ed t hat i tw as i n sel f

- def ense and t hatM ot herw as nothol di ng M . R . J. M . att he t i m e. M ot hert es t i f i ed t hats he al w aysi ni t i at ed vi si t s bet w ee n M . R. J. M . an d M i cha el , eve n t hough M i cha el kne w w her e t o f i nd t hem , and t ha tshe t ook M . R . J. M . t o vi si thi m thr ee o rf ourt i m es aft ert hey separ at ed but t hatM i chael8 ... M i cha el ’ s si st er t es t i f i ed t hat al t hough M i cha el has bac k p r obl em s, he

iss t ill c a p a b le o fw o r k in g . M ic h a e l t e s t if ie d , “ S o c ia l S e c u r it yd o e sn o tt e ll m e I have t o w o rk. . . . M edi car e w oul d m uch r at herm y heal t h be pl aced as a p ri o ri tyth a n b e p l a c e d i n a p o s i ti o n fo r w h e re I h a v e to w o rk .” 17 neversought M . R . J. M . outand he never br oug htf or m ul a o rd i aper s. M i chael agr eed t hathe al w ays knew w her e M otherl i ved. H e cl ai m ed t hathe cal l ed M . R . J. M . , spoke w i t h her“al m os t a l l t he t i m e, ” and i ni t i at ed pho ne contact 9 9 % o f th e ti m e a n d th a t h e w a l k e d tre m e n d o u sd i s ta n c e sto v i s i t M .R .J .M ., br i ng he rf ood, an d m ak e s ur e t hats he w ass af e. Butheal so t es t i f i ed t hathe n e v e rw e n tt o Mo t h e r ’ sh o u s e t o c h e c ko n M. R . J . M. M o t h e rt e s ti fi e d th a t M i c h a e l o n c e to l d h e r th a t h e w o u l d ra th e r l e t h is f am i l y st arve t han t o getoutand do any t hi ng. 8 M o th e r te s ti fi e d th a t M i c h a e l ’s si st erca l l ed C PS i n 1999 beca us e s he w asco nc erned a boutM . R. J. M . not bei ng f ed. M i chael ’ s si st er t est i f i ed t hat she saw M ot her and M i c h a e l feed M . R . J. M . w at eri nst ead of m i l k or f or m ul a w hen M . R . J. M . w as an i nf ant , t hat th e b a b yd i d n o t h a v e a n y fo o d , a n d th a t th e i r ho u se w a s d i rt yd u ri n g tha t vi sit . M o t h e rt e s t if ie d t h a tM ic h a e l’s p r i o r i t ie sa r e “ a ll a b o u th im a n d h is i nj ur i es. ” M i chael r ecei ves gover nm entdi sabi l i t y paym ent s f orhi s back i nj ur i es. M o th e r te s ti fi e d a sfo l l o w s w i th re g a rd to M i c h a e l ’sb e h a v i o r w h e n M .R .J .M . w asbor n:18

Q . W h a td id [M ic h a e l] t e ll y o u h e f e lta b o u tt h e d a yy o u w e r e in t h e h o s p it a l? A . W el l , pr i ort o [ M . R. J. M . ] be i ng bo r n t her e w asal w ays hos pi t alvi si t s. And t he days he w asbor n he’ d act ual l y m ade a st at em entt hathe coul dn’ tbel i eve I w as bei ng adm i tted i nt o t he hos pi t alw hen hew as n’ tove rhi s bac k i nj ur i es . And [ M . R . J. M . ] w as l ayi ng on the bed an d t he nur se w as i n t her e, and heac t ual l y gr abb ed hi s che st . H e ki nd of w entove r , but h e d id n ’tf a ll o n h e r , a n d w e m o v e d h e r . T h e n h e s t a y e d in t he hospi t al bed t he ent i r e t i m e, unt i l he w enthom e l at ert hat n i g h t. Q . I n yo urhos pi t albe d? A . Y e s , ma ’ a m. Q . W her e w er e y ou? A . O n t he cha i rw i t h t he bab y a nd m y f am i l y. M i c ha e l ’ sc on t r i bu t i on s t o M . R. J. M . ’ sf i na nc i a l w e l f a r e , o t he rt ha n $200 t hathes entt o he rove ra per i od off ourye ar s f r om he rbi rt h, b eg an w i t h a ded uct i on f r om hi s gove r nm ent di sa bi l i t y pay m ent s w hen s he w asar ound f our year s ol d. M ot hert est i f i ed t hatshe had t o paw n herst er eo t he day t hat M .R .J.M . w a s b o rn i n o rde r t o p a y th e e l e c tr i c b i l l , a n d th a t w h e n sh e w a s w i th M i cha el , t heyf r equ ent l y w entw i t houtel ec t r i ci t y orf ood. Bot h M i cha el an d M ot hert est i f i ed abou thi s pack- a- day ci gar et t e habi t , and M i chael tes t i f i ed t hat he l os tf ort y po undsi n a ye arbe ca us e h e d i d notha ve su f f i ci entm one y t o buy f ood.9 ... O ut si de t he j ur y’ s pr esence, t he t r i al courtco n fi rm e d the open

w ar r ant , an d M i cha elw asar r es t ed. 19 M ot hert es t i f i ed t hats he di d nott hi nk t hatM i cha elco ul d t ak e c ar e o f M .R .J .M ., sta ti n g , H e w as ol d eno ugh t hen t o t ak e c ar e o fus , t o t ak e c ar e o fhe r , an d he di dn’ t . And I don’ tt hi nk t hatca n c han ge now . I d on ’ tt hi nk s h e ’d b e s a f e t h e r e ; m e n t a lly , e m o t io n a lly . I d o n ’tt h in kh e is r es pons i bl e e nough t o t ak e c ar e o fhe r . . . . I don’ tkn ow i ft he hea t ’ s goi ng t o be on. I don’ tknow i ft he el ec t r i ci t y i s goi ng t o be on ever y t i m e. Addi t i on a l l y, a tt he t i m e o ft r i a l , M i c ha e l w a so n f e l on y pr ob a t i on f ora 2001 fo rg e ryc o n v i c ti o n , a n d h e te s ti fi e d th a t h e h a d k n o w n f o r o v e r a y e a r th a t th e re w asa w ar r antout forh i m be ca us e h e h ad notr epo rt ed i n on t hatpr oba t i on s in c e 2 0 0 2

— a l m o s tt h r e e y e a r sb e f o r e t r ia l. 9H e t est i f i ed t hati fhe had had M .R .J .M . w it h h im a n d h a d b e e n a r r e s t e d , h ed i d n o tb e lie v e t h a tt h isw o u ld hav e r i sk ed hers af et y a nd s ec ur i t y. Based on t he f or egoi ng and gi vi ng due def er ence t o t he j ur y’s fi ndi ngs, t h e ju ryc o u ld h a v e f o r m e d a f ir m b e lie fo rc o n v ic t io n t h a tM ic h a e l k n o w in g ly al l ow ed M . R. J. M . to r em ai n i n a n e nda nge r i ng e nvi r onm entw i t h M ot herby i gn o r i n g M o t h e r ’ s d r u g u s e a n d f a i l i n g t o c h e c k o n M . R. J . M . a n d t hathe eng age d i n e nda nge r i ng c onduc tby neg l ec t i ng M . R . J. M . an d hi s pr oba t i on r es pons i bi l i t i esan d by kno w i ngl y pl ac i ng M . R. J. M . w i t h M ot her , a per so n w ho10 ... Forexam pl e, M ot hert est i f i ed t hatM . R . J. M . ha d seen hersm oke

cr ack m or e t han on ce. 20 e n g a g e d i n en d a n g e ri n g co n d u c t. 10 S eeT e x . F a m . C o d e A n n . § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(D ), (E ); H. R. M. , 209 S . W . 3d at108. Ther ef or e, w e ove r r ul e t hi s port i on ofI ss ue 3 a nd Re he a r i ng I s s ue s2 a nd 3. 3. Const r uct i ve A ban donm ent A p a r e n tc o n s t r u c t iv e ly a b a n d o n s a c h ild w h e n (1 ) th e c h ild h a sb e e n in t he per m anent ort em por ary m anagi ng con servat or shi p oft he S t at e oran aut hor i zed ag ency f orn otl ess t han si x m onths, ( 2) t he S t at e ort he aut hor i zed age ncyha s m ader ea so nab l e e f f ort s t o r et ur n t he chi l d t o t he pa r en t , (3) t he par enthas notr egu l ar l y vi si t ed orm ai nt ai ned s i gni f i ca ntco nt ac tw i t h t he chi l d, a n d ( 4 ) th e p a ren t ha s d e m o n strate d an i n a b i l i ty to p rov i d e the ch i l d w i th a s a fe e n v i ro n m e n t. T e x . F a m . C o d e A n n . § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(N ); I n reA. S. , 261 S. W . 3d 76 , 88 –8 9 ( Tex . A pp. — H oust on [ 14 t h D i st . ] 20 08 , pet . deni ed ). M i c hael con t es t s t he se con d, t hi r d, an d f ourt h e l em ent s oft he con st r uct i ve aba ndonm entgr ound. The St at e’ s pr epa r at i on a nd a dm i ni st r at i on ofa se rvi cepl an f ort he par ent c o n s t it u t e s e v id e n c e t h a t t h e S t a t e m a d e r e a s o n a b le e f f o rt s t o r e t u r n t h e c h ild to th e p a re n t. Se e, e . g. , I n reK. M. B. , 9 1 S .W .3 d 1 8 , 2 5 (T e x . A p p .— F o rt W o rth 2 0 0 2 , n o p e t.); I n reS. S. , No. 11- 05- 00083

- CV , 2006 W L1285 125,11 ... Th e t r i al courtt ook j udi ci al not i ce oft he f actt hatm i l eage bet w een

A t hens and M abank i s 18 . 5 m i l es. I t to o kj udi ci al not i ce oft he f actt hat mi l e a g e b e t w e e n F o r n e y , wh e r e M i c h a e l wa ss u p p o s e d t o a t t e n d h i sM HMR asses sm ent , and M abankis 36 . 3 m i l es, and not t he 1 10 m i l es t hatM i chael c o m p l a i n e d o f. 21 a t * 2

– 3 (T e x . A p p .— E a s tl a n d M a y1 1 , 2 0 0 6 , n o p e t.) (m e m . o p .). M i c h a e l ’s a t t o r n e ys t ip u la t e d t h a tf iv e s e rv ic e p la n sw e r e p r e p a r e d f o rM ic h a e l. Furt her m or e, al t hou gh M i chael l i ved i n M abank, Texas, t he S t at e m ade speci al ar r angem ent s f orM i chael t o have par ent i ng cl assesnear by, i n A t hens, Texas. 11 A n d a C P S w o r k e rc a m e o u tt o M ic h a e l’s h o m e a n d d r o v e h i m t o h is psychol ogi cal asses sm ent . N onethel ess, M i chael f ai l ed t o com pl et e hi s servi ce pl an: hef ai l ed t o a t t end hi s dr ug , a l cohol , an d M H M R as se ss m ent s, an d he negl ect ed t o com pl et e t he par ent i ng cl asses . M ic h a e l h a d o n lyt w o v i s it sw it h M .R .J .M . o v e ra s e v e n t e e n -a n d -a -h a lf m o n t h p e r io d , c o m p la in in g t h a th e la c k e d m o n e ya n d t r a n s p o rt a t io n t o v is it m o re fre q u e n tl y . H i ss e c o n d v i s i t o c c u rre d e i g h t d a y sb e fo re tri a l . W i th re g a rd t o h is t r a n s p o rt a t io n p r o b le m s , M ic h a e l t e s t if ie d t h a titc o s th im $ 1 1 2 t o v is it M . R . J. M . and t hathe coul d not af f or d t haton t he am oun tofm oney h e r ecei ves f orhi s di sa bi l i t y. How eve r , hea l so testi f i ed t hathepa ys$67 perm ont h f or c a b l e a n d a p p rox i m a tel y$ 1 4p e r w e e k($ 5 6 p e r m o n th ) to su p p o rth i s c i g a rette h a b it . A n d t h e ju ryh e a r d t h e f o llo w in g t e s t im o n yf r o m M ic h a e l a tt r ia l:12 ... I n a l ett erda t ed N ove m ber3, 2004 , M i cha el ’ s C PS w or ke rs t at ed,

I cannot gi ve [ M . R . J. M . ] t hi s l et t erbeca u se i tw oul d not m ake m u c h s e n s e to [h e r]. T h e l e tte r ta l k s a b o u t th i n g sth a t y o u a re q u e s ti o n i n g th e s ta te a b o u t a n d n o t fo c u s i n g o n [M .R .J .M .]. [ M . R. J. M . ] ne eds a l ett er t hat enc our age s heran d t al ksab outhow y o u are d o i n g . Y o u h a v e i n the p a st w ri tten v e ry a p p rop ri a te l e tters a n d I am a sk i n g y o u to refl e c t o n th i s an d rew ri te a l e tter t o [M .R .J .M .]. 22 Q . Th e quest i on w as, [ M . R . J. M . ] has a r i ght t o expect t hat som eone w ho w ant s t o par enthercom es and vi si t s w i t h her and m a k e s a b o n d w i t h h e r e v e ry m o n t h , a t l e a s t . You hav en’ tdonet hat , ha ve you?

. . . . A . N o. Q . S o y o u h a v e n ’t h a d c o n s i s te n t c o n ta c t w i th h e r? A . N o. Q . You h ave n’ t m ai nt ai ned a si gni f i ca nt con t ac t w i t h her , ha ve you? A . N o. Q . A nd y ou ha ven ’ tvi si t ed r egu l ar l y? A . N o. M i c h a e l d i d w ri te t o M .R .J.M ., b u t o n e o f h i s t h ree l e tters th a t w a s e n tere d i n to evi den cew asde em ed i nap pr opr i at e b y CPS and no tde l i ver ed. 1223

M i cha elt es t i f i ed t hathean d hi s br ot herl i ved t oge t heran d t hats om eon e f r om CPS ha d vi si t ed hi s t r ai l erf ourorf i ve m onths bef or e t r i al , be f or e h e sta rt e d to re sto re th e tw e n ty-y e a r- o l d tr a i l e r. H e tes ti fi e d , “I r i sk e d m yl i fe to r es t or e m y ho m e, ” r ef er r i ng t o hi s phys i ca l di sa bi l i t i es , an d het es t i f i ed t hathe i n v e s te d a l l o f h i sm o n e yi n h i stra i l e r. A l t hough M i cha elt es t i f i ed t hathes pen t$3, 000 t o r es t or e t he i nt er i orof hi s t r ai l erand t o f i x a r oom f orM . R . J. M . , he adm i t t ed t hatal l o ft he el ect r i cal so c k e ts a n d p l u g s w e re n o t c o m p l e tel yi n sta l l e d an d tha t t h o se m i g h t co n sti tu te a h az ar d, head m i t t ed t hathew asnotf i ni sh ed w i t h t he r es t or at i on yet — i ncl udi ng M . R . J. M . ’ s bedr oom and bat hr oom , and he st at ed t hatt o f i ni sh t he r est or at i on w oul d t ake an addi t i onal t w o w eeks. B a sed on t he f or egoi ng and gi vi ng du e def er ence t o t he j ur y’ s f i ndi ngs, t he j ur y coul d have f or m ed a fi rm b el i eforconvi ct i on t hatM i chael c o n s t r u c t iv e lya b a n d o n e d M .R .J .M . b yf a ilin g t o re g u la r lyv is ito rm a in t a in sign i fi c a n t co n tac t w i th h e r, b yd e m o n strati n g an i n a b i l i ty to p rov i d e h e r w i th a s af e e nvi r onm ent , an d byf ai l i ng t o c om pl et e h i s se rvi cepl an des pi t e t he S ta te ’s re a s o n a b l e e ffo rts to re tu rn M .R .J .M . to h i m . S eeT ex. Fam . C odeA nn. § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(N ); H. R. M. , 2 0 9 S .W .3 d a t1 0 8 . T h e r e f o r e , w e o v e r r u le t h is po rt i on o fI s s ue3 a nd Re he a r i ng I s s ue4. 4. BestI nt er est o ft h eC h ild24

Ther e i s a st r ong pr es um pt i on t hatke epi ng a ch i l d w i t h a pa r enti s i n t he c h i l d ’sb e s t i n te re s t. I n reR. R. , 209 S . W . 3d 11 2 , 1 1 6 ( Tex. 2006 ) . Pr om pt and per m anent pl acem entoft he chi l d i n a saf e envi r onm ent i s al so pr esum ed t o bei n t he chi l d’ s bes ti nt er es t . Tex. Fa m . Code Ann. § 263. 307 ( a) ( V er non 200 2) . The f ol l ow i ng f ac t or s, am ong ot her s, sh oul d beco ns i der ed i n e val uat i ng th e p a ren t’ s w i l l i n g n e ss a n d a b i l i ty to pro v i d e th e c h i l d w i th a sa fe e n v i ron m e n t: t he chi l d’ s agean d phy si ca l an d m ent alvul ner abi l i t i es ; t he w i l l i ngne ssan d abi l i t y oft he chi l d’ s f am i l y t o seek out , ac ce pt , an d c om pl et e c ouns el i ng servi ces and t o coop er at e w i t h and f aci l i t at e an appr opr i at e agency’ s cl ose su pervi si on; t he w i l l i ng ne ssan d a bi l i t y oft he chi l d’ s f am i l y t o e f f ec tpos i t i ve env i r on m en t al an d pe r so nalch ang esw i t hi n a r ea so nab l e p er i od oft i m e; an d w het hert he chi l d’ s f am i l y de m ons t r at esad equ at e p ar ent i ng s ki l l s, i ncl udi ng p rov i d i n g the ch i l d w i th m i n i m a l l ya d e q u a te h e a l th an d n u tr i ti o n a l ca re, a s a fe phys i ca l hom e e nvi r onm ent , an d a n un de r st and i ng oft he chi l d’ s nee dsan d c a p a b i l i ti e s . Id. § 2 6 3 .3 0 7 (b ); R. R. , 209 S. W . 3d a t116. O t her , nonex cl usi ve f act or s t hatt he t r i eroff acti n a ter m i nat i on case m ay us e i n de t er m i ni ng t he bes ti nt er es toft he chi l d i ncl ude : t he des i r esoft he chi l d; t he em ot i ona l an d phy si ca l ne edsof t he chi l d now an d i n t he f ut ur e; t he em ot i onal and phy si cal dangert o t he chi l d now and i n t he f ut ur e; t he par ent al abi l i t i es oft he i ndi vi dual s seeki ng cust ody; th e p rogr am s avai l abl e t o assi st13 ... M c C a rtyte s ti fi e d th a t w h e n M .R .J .M . fi rs t c a m e t o s e e h e r, M .R .J .M .

w as havi ng pr obl em s w i t h sl eepw al ki ng and ni ghtm ar es. 25 t hes e i ndi vi dua l s t o pr om ot e t he bes ti nt er es toft he chi l d; the pl ans f ort he chi l d byt hes e i ndi vi dua l s orby t he age ncysee ki ng c us t ody; t he st abi l i t y oft he hom e o r p rop o se d pl acem ent ; t he act s orom i ssi ons oft he par entw hi ch m ay i ndi ca t e t hatt he exi st i ng par ent - chi l d r el at i ons hi p i s nota pr ope rone ; an d a ny e x c u s e fo r th e a c ts o r o m i s s i o n s o f th e p a re n t. Ho l le yv. A da ms , 544 S. W . 2d 36 7, 37 1– 72 ( Tex . 19 76 ) . These f act or s ar e notexhaust i ve; so m e l i st ed f a c t or s m a y be i na pp l i c a bl e t o s om e c a s e s ; ot he r f a c t or s no t on t he l i stm ay a l s o b e c o n s i d e re d w h e n a p p ro p ri a t e . C.H . , 89 S. W . 3d at27 . Furt her m or e, u n d i sp u ted ev i d e n c e o f j u st o n e fac to r m a yb e s u ffi c i e n t i n a p a rt i c u l a r ca se to s u p p o rt a fi n d i n g th a t te rm i n a ti o n i si n th e b e s t i n te re s t o f th e c h i l d . Id. O n t he ot herha nd, t he pr es enc e o fsca ntev i den cer el eva ntt o e ac h f ac t orw i l l not s u p p o rt s u c h a fi n d i n g . Id. M .R .J .M . re c e i v e sc o u n s e l i n g tw i c e a m o n th fro m a l i c e n s e d c o u n s e l o r, H ea t herBr oga n M cCart y, w ho sp ec i al i z es i n abu se d orne gl ec t ed chi l dr en, an d s h e h a d b e e n a t t e n d in g c o u n s e lin g f o ro v e ra y e a rb yt r ia l. 13O n e o f M i c h a e l ’s t w o vi si t s w i t h M . R . J. M . occur r ed w i t h M cC art y t her e. M cC art y t est i f i ed t hat M i cha elt ol d he rhi s goa l f ort hatvi si tw as t o se e i fM . R. J. M . w ant ed t o l i ve w i t h hi m and t hathe had br oug htM . R . J. M . som e pr esent s. She tes t i f i ed t hat14 ... M cCart y t es t i f i ed t hatoneoft he pr es ent s, a port abl e CD pl aye ran d

tw o C D ca se s, o n e o f w h i c h d i d n o t co n tai n a C D , w a s n o t an ag e -ap p rop ri a te g i ftf o rM. R . J . M.

15 ... M cC art y t est i f i ed t hatM i chael pr om i sed M . R . J. M . t hati fshe cam e t o l i ve w i t h hi m , s he w oul d m ai nt ai n c ont ac tw i t h he rs i bl i ngsan d t hathe w oul d enr ol l hernot onl y i n dance cl asses l i ke herf ost erpar ent s had, butt hat he “w oul d enr ol l her. . . i n ever y dance cl ass s he w ant ed t o t ake i fshe cam e t o l i ve w i t h hi m . ” M cCart y t es t i f i ed t hats he f ound t hatunl i ke l y, ba se d on M i chael ’ s f i nanci al and t r ansport at i on i ssues.

16 ... M cC art y t est i f i ed, “I t hi nk th a t [to separ at e M . R . J. M . f r om her si bl i ngs ] w oul d bevery det r i m ent alt o herem ot i ona l w el l

- bei ng a nd he rf ee l i ng 26 sh e i nf or m ed M i cha elt hat“ i tw asnotok ay f orhi m t o gi ve [ M . R. J. M . ] t he pr esent s pr i ort o aski ng herw her e she w ant ed t o l i ve so t hati tdi dn’ tseem l i ke a b r i be. ” H ow eve r , M i cha els t i l l ga ve M . R. J. M . t he pr es ent s pri ort o t al ki ng w i t h her abou t w her e she w ant ed t o l i ve. 14 M cC art y al so tes t i f i ed t hatM i chael m a d e a l o t o f p ro m i s e s to M .R .J .M . th a t s h e th o u g h t w e re u n l i k e l yto o c c u r. 15 She t es t i f i ed t hatatt he end ofthe s es si on, M . R. J. M . t ol d M i cha elt hats he w ant ed t o st ay w her e she w as. M c C a rt ya ls o t e s t if ie d t h a tM .R .J .M .’ sf o s t e r p a r e n t s h a d n o u n r e a lis t ic ex p e c t a t i o n sa b o u tM . R. J . M . a n d h e rs i b l i n g s , t h a tt h e yh a d g o o d p a r e n t i ng sk i l l s, and t hatshe had no conc er nsatal l aboutM . R. J. M . orhe rs i bl i ngsbe i ng i n th e fo s te r h o m e . M c C a rt yt e s t ifi e d th a t h e r c o n c e rn sa b o u t M i c h a e l w e re t hathew oul d not be abl e t o m ee t M . R. J. M . ’ s nee dsorf ol l ow t hr ough w i t h t he pr om i ses t hathe had m ade t o M . R . J. M . , i ncl udi ng hervi si t s w i t h hersi bl i ngs. 16o f s a fe tya n d s e c u ri ty .” 27

M i cha elad m i t t ed att r i alt hathe had notl ook ed i nt o w het herda ncecl as se s f or M . R . J. M . w er e avai l abl e i n hi s ar ea. W i t h r egar d t o M . R . J. M .’ s sibl i ngs, M i chael t est i f i ed t hathe never t h o u g h ta b o u twh a ti tmi g h td o t o M. R . J . M. t o t a k e h e rf r o m t h e f o s t e rh o me and aw ay f r om he rbr ot her s and s i st er s. He st at ed, The de ci si on i n r ef er enc e t o s pl i t t i ng t he chi l dr en up, I am ad am ant i n st at i ng t hatt hi s i s nota concer n ofm i ne i n r ef er ence t o t he w ay I sh o u l d v i e w i t. B e c a u se I kn o w tha t I ca n a l l o w [ M .R .J.M .] to vi si t t h e o t h e r c h i l d r e n . An d t h a t ’ s m y c o n t e n t i o n i s t h a tbe i ng [ M . R. J. M . ’ s] da d, I

— I s houl dn’ tha ve t o bede ni ed m y r i ghtt o be a d ad bec aus e t her e’ s ot herch i l dr en i nvol ved . M i chael ’ s si st ert est i f i ed t hatbef or e t r i al , M i chael cal l ed herand sa i d, “I unde r st and [ t hat ] you ’ r e g oi ng t o bes i t t i ng— you’ r e g oi ng t o beon t he si de of t he chi l dr en. ” She t est i f i ed t hatshe t r i ed t o expl ai n t o hi m w hy she f el ti tw as i n M . R . J. M . ’ s besti nt er estt o st ay w i t h hersi bl i ngs. Furt he r m ore, M othe r , M i ch ae l ’ s si ster , an d M i ch ae l hi m sel ft esti f i ed abou t M i cha el ’ s con sp i r ac y t heo r i es . M ot her t es t i f i ed t hatM i cha elw aspa r ano i d a nd sa w co ns pi r ac i es eve ryw her e, an d t hat“ [ w ] hen you ex pr es se d t o hi m t hatyou d id n ’tu n d e r s t a n d [h ist h o u g h t so n c o n s p ir a c y ], t h a tt h e yw [e r e ] o f ft h e w a ll, t hen you m us t be i n on i t t oo. ” M i cha el t es t i f i ed t hat he f el tt hatt he r ea so n t he S t at e had cust ody o fM . R . J. M . w as t hathe w as bei ng ext ort ed and t hati tw as17 ... M i chael st at ed, “Y ou w antt o j udg e m e as an i ndi vi dual t hat ’ s t r ash

f orw hi ch t he S t at e ofTexas i s supposed t o pr ot ect . I ’ m di sabl ed. C r i m es agai nstt he di sabl ed, I shoul d be pr ot ect ed of . I w oul dn’ tgo t o you , m a’ am , nort hat Chi l d Pr ot e c t i ve Se rvi c e s ov e r t he r e f or a ny a s s i s t a nc e be c a us e I k n [e ]w y o u w o u l d n ’t h e l p m e .” 28 “o ppr es si on t hr ough t he St at e o fTexa s f orcu st ody o fm y daught er , ” and he w o u l d n o t g o to th e S tate fo r a ss i sta n c e b e c a u se i t w o u l d n o t pro v i d e h i m w i th a s s i st ance. 17He al so t es t i f i ed abo uta gi r l w ho l i ved i n M aba nk t hatw ast he sa m e a ge asM . R. J. M . , t hathebe l i eve d t hatt he gi r l w asM . R. J. M . ’ s t w i n, an d t hathew ant ed a p at er ni t y t es tt o pr ovei t . H e gave t he f ol l ow i ng t es t i m ony w i th re g a rd to a J u l y2 0 0 4l e tte r th a t h e s e n t h i sC P S c a s e w o rk e r: Q . Le t ’ s l ookdow n a tt he b ott om , t ow ar dst he bott om oft he page, about th ree q uart er s oft he w ay. “[ M ot her ] i s notan h o n e s t i n d i v i d u a l a n d a l th o u g h I ’m th e p a re n t o f a c h i l d ,” quo t e, “‘ [ M . R . J. M . ] ?’ I have no r egr et s as the l et t er — as a l et t ershe w r ot e t o m e, w hi ch i s i ncl uded . [B ]el i eve herdad i s Ri cky, a nei ghb orofm i ne. M ay be w r ong . I fyou ever hav e a ch anc e t o w at ch t he m ovi e, ‘ La m boda , ’ Lo u Di am ond Phi l l i ps , t he sc eneatt he en d oft he m ovi e w i t h a pl ane w re c kw a si n re fe r e n c e t o m e . B o th T h o m a sa n d R i c k y , I b e l i e v e , to b e d o c to rs.” W h yi s th a t i m p o rt a n t? A . B e c a u s e I’ m g o i n g th ro u g h a c a s e p e rta i n i n g to [M .R .J .M .], a n d this i sn ’ta ru n a w a yj u ry ty p e o f ca se . T h i s p e rt a i n s to m y da ught er . Thi s doe sn ’ tpe rt ai n t o t oba cc o i ss uesort he l ung i ss uest hatI m i ghtha ve goi ng on i n m y he al t h. Q . O ka y. A . I k n o w t h a ts h e [a p p a r e n t ly , M o t h e r ] d o e sa s s o c ia t e h e r s e lf w i t h a t oba cc o c om pan y.29

Q . Let ’ s l ook att he n e x t p a g e att he bott om , i t ’ s t he l ast se nt enc e, “ I ne ver m ar r i ed [ M ot her ] , noram I de ad. Yett he C o w b o y sre c e i v e 4 0 0 m i l l i o n fo r a s ta d i u m re f e r re d to . . . E n ro n a rti c l e . I ’v e b e e n re fe rre d to a sm a n yp e o p l e fro m . . . Le nny, Joh n, Ron pl usm or e. ” [ W ] hy w ast he C ow boys sta d i u m i m p o rt a n t i n the co st? A . Beca us e t he m one y i n r ef er enc e t o t hatca ser i ghtt her e, f or w hi ch I have m ent i oned t o m y at t or ney, I bel i eve to be m y m one y. Q . “D epend s on t he [ S ] t at e. Th i s i sn’ tN i ght oft he Li vi ng D ead t o K el l y’ sv e r s i on o rCar e y i n O k l a ho m a . ” [ W ] ha td i d t hat r ef er ence? A . I’ m l i v i n g , o k a y . I m e a n , I l i v e a s i m p l e l i fe . O l d J o h n n yin A r l i ngt on i sn ’ tde ad. I m ea n— I m ea n, you gott o und er st and , peop l e have another i denti t y som et i m es or an al i as f orw hi ch y o u ma yn o ta l wa y sk n o w.

. . . . Q . . . . I w a n t to l o o k a t w h a tk in d o flo o k s lik e t h e t h ird par agr aph, i t ’ s a l i t t l e bi tabove t he m i ddl e of t he page. “ E i th e rw a y , a l th o u g h I a m c o n c e rn e d fo r th e c h i l d re n , I ’m l e a v i n g th e i n v e s ti g a ti o n to th e ,”q u o te , “‘fra u d u l e n t.’ Beli e ve t hey r ef ert o m e and t he i nj ur i es I have. Rem em ber L i s a i sB a rt’ss i s te r.”W a sth a t a n o th e r a tte m p t a t h u m o r? A . A c t u a l l y , L i s a K u d r o w isa re a l g o o d f r ie n d o fm in e . I w ill cl ar i f y t hi sr i gh tn ow . I d o k no w a L i s a Kud r ow , f orw hi ch sh e st ar s on “F r i end s. ” I dat ed heri n hi gh s cho ol . So, ye ah, I refer to h e r a l o t. Q . . . . [I ]n th i sl e tte r w h e n its a y s , “ r e m e m b e r L i s a i s B a rt’s si st er , ” you’ r e t al ki ng a boutLi sa Kudr ow ? A . Yes. I w antt o c l ar i f y t hi s r i ghtnow .30

Q . “ Y o u h a v e a c h a n c e t o r e v ie w a n a rt ic le b ya L is a S t e a d f e lt t he T hi r d. C hr i st oph eri s Bartan d I have i ncl uded a pr ess cl i ppi ng i n r ef er enc e t o Bar bar a a nd Chr i s. Thi s i nf r i nge s on con sp i r ac y a nd a pos si bl e a t t em pton m y l i f e. A l so I ha ve gi ven pos si bl e l ea ds t o t heft i nvol vi ng D oug. ” So you be l i eve t her e w er e t hr eat s on yourl i f e? A . I bel i evei n t he pas tI ’ ve had t hr ea t s upon m y l i f e, ye s. But I ’ m nots ayi ng a tt hi s poi nti n t i m e m y— m y— m y s i t uat i on r i ghtnow i s dan ger ousf or[ M . R. J. M . ] , bec aus e i t ’ s not . I ’ ve survi ved i n m y com m uni t y j ustf i ne f ort hr ee year s. W i t h r egar d t o a Januar y 20 05 l et t er t o hi s C PS w or ker , M i chael el abor at ed as f ol l ow s: Q . Look on t he se con d pa ge att he bott om , l as tpa r agr aph . “ L o v e [M .R .J .M .] , g la d y o u h a d t h e c h a n c e t o p a rt ic ip a t e in th i s. T h i s c o u l d b e a to b a c c o l a w su i t. M i g h t ha v e to ta l kto G ene H ackm an. ” W hatd i d t hatm ean? W hat ’ s t he t obacco l a w su i t? A . W el l , I bel i eve att hi s poi nti n t i m e I have l ung pr obl em s t hat a re b e i n g c o v e re d u p m e d i c a l l y . A n d I th i n kth e y ’re b e in g — ly in g a b o u tm ym e d ic a l c o n d it io n b e c a u s e in A r ka ns as , I t r ave l ed t o A r ka ns as . A nd I s oughtm edi ca l , an d th e yfou n d a b l o tch o n m yl e ft l u n g . S i n c e retu rn in g to T e x a s , I h a v e n o tb e e n a b le t o o b t a in a d o c t o rf o rw h ic h w ill vi ew t hatf i l m an d s ay you hav e an ythi ng w r ong w i t h yo ur l ung . But A r kansas cont est s t hatt her e i s. Q . W ho w asG eneH ac km an?

. . . . A . It w o u l d a p p e a r a sth o u g h h e ’sa l a w y e r.

. . . .31

Q . The ne xtpa r agr aph s ays , “ A tt hi s poi nt as A m er i ca vi ew s t he si t uat i on w e l ea r n a boutg ov er nm ent , ci vi l r i ght s and es pec i al l y par ent r i ght s. I s ugge stpa r ent s, m om s es pec i al l y, sh oul d ha ve ki dsath om e a nd no tata hos pi t al . Ki dsf or so m e r ea so n t end t o di sa ppe ar . ” W her e d o t heygo? A . O ne m or e t i m e, I ’ m ques t i oni ng t he m edi ca l pe rt ai ni ng t o m y d a u g h t e r . I me a n , I g u e s st h e t wi n sma yj u s tb e f a c t u a l . As sta ted b e fo re, t h e re’s a b e a u ti fu l li ttl e g i rli n m yco m m u n i ty t h a tish e rp r e c is e a g e . N o w , u n t il I c a n b e p r o v e n t h a tt h is w o m a n ’sD N A

— I’m s o rry , th i s g i rl ’s D N A i s n o t m yd a u g h te r, I w i l l cont estt hatshe i s m y daug ht erup unti l pr oven o th e rw i se b ythis co u rt .

. . . . Th e C o urt : So you’ r e r equest i ng t hi s C ourt t o or dera l i t t l e gi r l t hat l i vesi n Gol den A cr est o beD N A t es t ed? A . Y e s , ma ’ a m. M i c ha e l t e s t i f i e d a sf ol l ow sw i t h r e ga r d t o hi sl e t t e rda t e d Se pt e m be r14: Q . S o I ’ m about t hr ee quart er s of t he w ay dow n. A nd i tsays, “Quest i one d t he C hi l d Pr ot ec t i ve Se r vi ce s i n W ea t herf or d. Revi ew t he m edi ca l f i ndi ngsoft he ca sem ana geri nve st i gat or fo r w h i c h i s i n q u e sti o n h a v e a p a s t h is to ry p e rt a i n i n g to ille g a l a c t iv it y , w h e r e in v o lv e d in m yn e ig h b o r ’s c a s e . T h is i sn’ ta t obacco l aw sui t , or i s i t ?” Do you t hi nk ourcase i s a t oba cc o l aw su i tt oo? A . Y eah, I t h i nk— I t hi nk I need t o know w ho Jo hn G r i sham i s, t o be honest . I have no i dea. H as t hi s C ourt — has t hi s been i n r ef er enc e t o a ny o t herm at er i alatal l ot hert han m y d a u g h ter? Y e s, I am v e ry c o n c e rne d o f i ss u e s p e rt a i n i n g to t hi s. A nd i ft her e i s anyev i dence f orw hi ch w e’ l l f i nd t hat you p ert ai n e d in anyot herl egal pr oceedi ngs i nvol vi ng m e, t hen I w oul d ask t he C ourtt o r espectm y ci vi l r i ghts .32

Q . L e t’ s c o n tin u e . “If th i s i s, I h a v e n ’t b e e n p a i d . N o t sm a rt , y e tI h a v e c o mmo n s e n s e t o k n o w wh e n I s h o u l d p r o t e c tmy r i ghts . A s st at ed bef or e, Th om as, Ri ck and P h i l l i ps have a hi st ory, an d St eveM art i n j us tm i ghtbeLe e HarveyO sw al d. S tev e, D el or es and M ary— S t eve, D el or es and M ary have a hi st ory ofi nvol vi ng t hem se l vesi n c hi l dr en’ s l i ves . Abusi ng th e s y s te m , ‘R o s e m a ry ’s B a b y ,’ to S te v e M a rti n m o v [i e ] . . . i nvol vi ng t he chi l d he f oun d i n t he w ood s near a l ake. ‘ Bl ess t he C hi l d’ f am i l y on t he opp osi t e si de oft he st r eetf r om m e. The j udgei n ‘ I den t i t y’ w ast he j udgei n a r ec entm ovi e St eve M a rt i n p rod u c e d . A s state d b e fo re t h i s c a se ste m s b a c kto 2 0 0 1 .” A n d w e ’r e g o in g t o s k ip t h a t n e x t p a rt . Ify o u w o u ld g o t o w a r d st h e e n d , a n d I t h in ky o u ’r e a s k in g t h e J u d g e , “ if you as si stm e i n obt ai ni ng t hi s I w on’ ts i ng t he La m boda w h i l e I’ m h e re i n c o u rt.” A . Yeah. Ri ck y, I gue ssRi cha r d Pryor , Ri ck y a nd I , Ri ck y, w hat eve rhi s nam e i s, V al l ensorw hat eve r , hedoe s l i ve on t he r i ght si de of m e . S o , yeah, I guess I quest i on D ol or es Phi l l i ps [ hi s C PS w or ker ] havi ng kno w n t hi s i ndi vi dual , yes. M i chael ’ s l et t er s w er e adm i t t ed i nt o evi dence. M i c h a e l also tes ti fi e d tha t he e x p e c ted M .R .J.M . to res p e c t him , to bel i eve hi m , and t o be r ear ed accor di ng t o hi s bel i ef s. H e st at ed, “unt i l you can pr ovem e w r ong, an yt hi ng I ’ ve st at ed i n t hi s cou rtofl aw t oda y, I bel i evet o be r i ght. ” M ot hert es t i f i ed t hat , ev en i fM i cha elha d c om pl et ed hi s se rvi cepl an, s he w o u l d s t ill h a v e d o u b ts a b o u t h i sa b i l i tyto c a re a n d p ro v i d e fo r M .R .J .M ., st at i ng t hats he w oul d “ w or ry a bouthe rl i vi ng i n a carone da y. Goi ng w i t hout fo o d o r g ro c e ri e s .”33

T h e ev i d e n c e at tri a l d e m o n strate d tha t M i c h a e l lac k e d th e w i l l an d ab i l i ty to p rov i d e M .R .J.M ., the n ag e si x , w ith a sa fe e n v i ron m e n t: h e fai l e d to a c c e p t, co m p l e te, an d co o p e rate w it h the S tate ’s se rvi c e p l a n ; h e fai l e d to e ffe c tp e r s o n a l a n d e n v i ro n m e n ta l c h a n g e su n ti l o n l ya s h o rt ti m e b e fo re tr i a l

— th e l a st tw o m o n th s i n a s e v e n tee n -m o n th p roc e s s ; a n d h e fai l e d to d e m o n s tra te a d e q u a te p a re n ti n g s k i l l s . F u rth e rm o re , th e j u ryh e a rd h i sb i z a rre t est i m ony ab out hi s con spi r acy t heor i es, i ncl udi ng hi s t heor y t hatM . R . J. M . had a t w in t h a tliv e d a c r o s st h e s t r e e tf r o m h im . The j ury coul d havechos en t o be l i eveM . R. J. M . ’ s t her api st ’ s t es t i m ony t hatM . R. J. M . w ant ed t o st ay w i t h herf os t erf am i l y and w i t h hers i bl i ngsan d M ot her ’ s t est i m ony thatt he f ost erf am i l y pr ovi ded M . R . J. M . a n d the other chi l dr en w i t h t he st r uct ur e t hat nei t her she nor M i chael ever pr ovi ded. Because th e j u ryc o u l d h a v e f o rm e d a f i rm b e l i e f o r c o n v i c ti o n t h a t te rm i n a ti n g M i c h a e l ’s par ent al r i ghtst o M . R . J. M . w as i n M . R . J. M . ’ s besti nt er est , w e concl ude t hat th e e v i d e n c e i sfa c tu a l l ys u fficie n t. S ee H. R. M. , 2 0 9 S .W .3 d a t 1 0 8 ; C. H. , 89 S. W . 3d a t28. W e o ve r r ul e t hi sp ort i on o fI s s ue3. E. Br oad For m Jury Char ge Fi nal l y, M i cha el as se rt s i n I ss ue 3 and Rehea r i ng I ss ues1 and 5 t hathe c h a l l e n g e d th e tri a l c o u rt’sb ro a d f o rm s u b m i s s i o n o f th e ju ryc h a rg e . H o w e v e r, he adm i t t ed t hatt hi s chal l enge i s cont r adi ct ed b yc ontr ol l i ng T exas case l aw34

th a t s p e c i fi c a l l ya u th o ri z e sb ro a d fo rm s u b m i s s i o n i n p a re n ta l rig h ts c a s e s . S ee Tex. Dep ’to f

Hum a n Servs . v. E. B. , 802 S. W . 2d 647, 649 ( Tex. 1990 ) ( op. on re h ’g ); s e ea l

s o J. T . G. , 121 S . W . 3d at128– 29 ( app l yi ng E. B. to u p h o l d j u ry fi n d i n g so n g ro u n d s fo r te rm i n a ti o n w h e n m u l ti p l e g ro u n d sfo r te rm i n a ti o n w e re s ou gh tan d the t r i al co urtsub m i t t ed t he i ssu e u si ng a b r oa d form qu esti on ). Furt her m or e, havi ng f oun d no er r orw i t h r egar d t o hi s f act ual suf f i ci ency cha l l eng es , i ti s unne ce ss ary f orust o c ons i derw het herdi sj unc t i ve su bm i ss i on w a sh a rm fu l . S e e, e .g ., I nreJ.M.M. , 80 S. W . 3d 232, 245, 248– 50 ( Tex. A pp. — FortW ort h 2 00 2, pet . deni ed) ( r eachi ng sam e concl usi on on si m i l ar fa c ts ), d

i sapp ro ve d

o f o no th er

gro un ds, J. F. C. , 96 S. W . 3d a t267 n. 39. Ther ef or e, t hi s i ss ue i s m oot . W e o ver r ul e t hi s l ast p ort i on ofI ss ue 3 and Re he a r i ng I s s ue5. I V . Concl us i on H a v i n g o v e rru l e d a l l o f M i c h a e l ’si s s u e s , w e a ffir m th e tri a l c o u rt’s j u d g m e n t te rm i n a ti n g M i c h a e l ’sp a re n ta l ri g h ts to M .R .J .M .

B OBM CC OY J U S T I C E PA N EL: GA RD N ER, W A LKER, an d M C C O Y, JJ. DEL I VERE D: F e br ua ry 26, 2009