Case Name: IN RE EMERALD C.
Court: Connecticut Appellate Court
Jurisdiction: Connecticut
Decision Date: 2008-07-01
Citations: 108 Conn. App. 839
Docket Number: AC 28573
Parties: IN RE EMERALD C.
Judges: 
Reporter: Connecticut Appellate Reports
Volume: 108
Pages: 839–871

Head Matter:
IN RE EMERALD C.
(AC 28573)
Bishop, McLachlan and Gruendel, Js.
Argued March 24
officially released July 1, 2008
Marcia McCormack, for the appellant (respondent father).
Philip Miller, assistant attorney general, with whom, on the brief, were Richard Blumenthal, attorney general, and Susan Quinn Cobb, assistant attorney general, for the appellee (petitioner).
Trudy Condio, for the minor child.
In accordance with the spirit and intent of General Statutes § 46b-142 (b) and Practice Book § 79-3, the names of the parties involved in this appeal are not disclosed. The records and papers of this case shall be open for inspection only to persons having a proper interest therein and upon order of the Appellate Court.

Opinion:
Opinion
GRUENDEL, J.
The respondent father appeals from the judgment of the trial court terminating his parental rights with respect to E, his minor child. He claims that the court (1) improperly considered his noncompliance with requirements mandated by the department of children and families (department), (2) improperly found that the department made reasonable efforts to reunify him with E and (3) improperly found that he had failed to achieve a sufficient degree of personal rehabilitation pursuant to General Statutes § 17a-112 (j) (3). We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
E was bom on June 14, 2003. Weighing a mere three pounds, she spent her first month clinging to life at Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford due to her mother's admitted substance abuse while E was in útero. E's mother had a history of involvement with the department regarding substance abuse, prostitution, physical neglect, medical neglect and risk of injury concerning her four older children. She also had a history of depression and suicidal ideation for which she required hospitalization. As a result, an order of temporary custody and a petition alleging that E was neglected and uncared for was filed on her behalf when she was bom. On March 25, 2004, E was adjudicated neglected and was committed to the care and custody of the petitioner, the commissioner of children and families. The order of temporary custody was sustained shortly thereafter.
For the first ten months of her life, the identity of E's father was unknown. On April 29, 2004, a paternity test confirmed that the respondent was E's father.
The respondent was bom in the African nation of Ghana. In 2000, he relocated to the United States. At that time, the respondent had two daughters in Ghana, aged two and four. As the court found, "[wjhen he left Ghana, [the respondent] abandoned his daughters . . . and has not seen them since." The respondent met E's mother in the summer of 2002. The respondent maintained that their relationship never was serious, describing it as "nothing more than a sexual relationship on a few occasions that led to the conception of [E]."
In an effort to gain custody of E, the respondent on August 19, 2004, voluntarily agreed to comply with thirteen specific steps issued by the court. That court order required the respondent (1) to keep all appointments set by or with the department and to cooperate with department home visits, announced or unannounced, and visits by E's court-appointed attorney or guardian ad litem; (2) to keep E's whereabouts and his own whereabouts known to the department, his attorney and the attorney for E; (3) to participate in counseling and to make progress toward the "identified treatment goals" regarding his parenting skills; (4) to submit to substance abuse assessment and to follow recommendations regarding treatment; (5) to submit to random drug testing, the time and method of which shall be at the department's discretion; (6) to engage recommended service providers for parenting, individual and family counseling, in-home support services or substance abuse treatment; (7) to sign releases authorizing the department to communicate with service providers to monitor attendance, cooperation and progress toward identified goals, and for use in future proceedings before the court; (8) to secure or maintain adequate housing and legal income; (9) to have no substance abuse; (10) to have no involvement with the criminal justice system; (11) immediately to advise the department of any changes in the composition of the household so as to ensure that the change does not compromise the health and safety of E; (12) to maintain E within the state of Connecticut for the duration of this case except for temporary travel out of state with the authorization of the department or the court in advance; and (13) to visit E as often as the department permits.
In its memorandum of decision, the court chronicled the various efforts made by the department to reunify the respondent with E: "From April 29, 2004, to April 22,2005, the following service providers were contacted on the [respondent's] behalf: Family Development Center, Community Child Guidance Center, New Hope and Planned Parenthood. [The respondent] was either unable or unwilling to adjust his work schedule to accommodate an intake for any of these services; therefore, these services could not be put in place. [The respondent] began having supervised visits with [E] at [the department] in July, 2004. From July 2, 2004, to April 8, 2005, these visits continued even though they were reported as being detrimental to the well-being of [the] child. On December 8, 2004, [the mother] was seen in [the respondent's] apartment. On December 17, 2004, [the respondent] was instructed by [the department] that he was not to have contact with [the mother] and [that] if he were to continue to maintain contact, it would jeopardize reunification efforts with [the] child. On April 29, 2005, [the respondent] was asked if he had any contact with [the mother], but he denied such contact. He was aware that any contact with [the mother] would jeopardize his reunification with [the] child.
"From April 22,2005, to February 8,2006, [the respondent and E] engaged in reunification and parenting programs with Abundant Families and [the Parent Infant Program]. Abundant Families characterized [E] as being 'hysterical' but reported that the interaction was appropriate. The Parent Infant Program reported visits between [E and the respondent] as being appropriate. These reports appear to be contradictory. On February 8, 2006, [E] was reunified with [the respondent]. On March 14, 2006, [the respondent and the mother] were involved in domestic violence, and [the respondent] was arrested for disorderly conduct and unlawful restraint. On March 15, 2006, [E] was removed from the care of [the respondent]. From April 19 to May 25, 2006, [the respondent] submitted to one urine screen out of eight.
"After [E] was removed from [the respondent's] care on March 15, 2006, she and [the respondent] engaged in four supervised visits in the community. Two social workers and [E's] attorney were present for three out of the four visits. These visits were observed as being extremely detrimental to the well-being of [the] child. On June 8, 2006, the Juvenile Court in Hartford ceased visitation between [the] child and [the respondent] because the child was having significant adverse reaction to the visits. On June 9, 2006, it was reported to [the department by R, one of the mother's older children], that [the respondent and the mother] were living together and planning on getting married at the time of [the respondent's] reunification with [E]. [The respondent] was fully aware that any contact with [the mother] would jeopardize reunification efforts with [E] and yet he chose to withhold this information from [the department]."
On June 23, 2006, the petitioner filed a petition for termination of parental rights as to both the respondent and the mother. The ground for the petition was the failure to achieve sufficient rehabilitation pursuant to § 17a-112 (j) (3) (B) (ii). The court held a trial on November 13 and 17, 2006. At trial, the petitioner submitted five exhibits and six witnesses, and eight exhibits were submitted on behalf of E. The respondent submitted two exhibits and testified on his own behalf.
In its January 31, 2007 memorandum of decision, the court found that the department had made reasonable efforts to reunify the petitioner and E, and that the respondent had failed to achieve a sufficient degree of personal rehabilitation pursuant to § 17a-112 Q) (3) (B). It further found that termination of the respondent's parental rights was in the best interest of E. Accordingly, the court granted the petition and this appeal followed.
I
Although not a model of precision, the respondent's first claim appears to be that because he "completed all of the steps required," the court improperly considered his noncompliance with additional requirements mandated by the department. For two reasons, that claim is flawed.
First, the court never found that the respondent fully complied with the court-ordered specific steps. Rather, it made multiple findings to the contrary. For example, the court found that although he was required to submit to random drug testing conducted at the discretion of the department, the respondent failed to submit to several urine tests. The court found that although the petitioner was required to participate in counseling and to make progress toward the identified treatment goal of improving his parenting skills, "he was either unable or unwilling to adjust his work schedule to accommodate an intake" for multiple services initiated by the department, including those offered by the Family Development Center, Community Child Guidance Center, and New Hope and Planned Parenthood. The court found that although he was required to visit E "as often as the department permits," the respondent did not comply. Instead, "[w]hen visits were increased from one hour to two hours on December 21, 2004, [he] cancelled the first two visits, and, thereafter, he did not adhere to the increased hours. He either arrived one hour late or left one hour early." The respondent also cancelled scheduled visits with E on May 11 and June 1, 2006. Although he was required to secure and to maintain adequate housing, the respondent refused to provide the department with a copy of his apartment lease to verify occupancy and refused to provide his landlord's telephone number to verify rent information. The respondent additionally was required to have no involvement with the criminal justice system. Nevertheless, on March 14, 2006, he was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and unlawful restraint stemming from the domestic violence dispute with the mother in which " [a]fter a night of drinking and domestic violence, [the respondent] was stabbed by the mother in the presence of [E]." See footnote 2. In light of the foregoing, the respondent's claim that he complied fully with all of the required steps is untenable.
Furthermore, to the extent that the petitioner contends that the court could not properly consider his noncompliance with additional requirements mandated by the department, his argument is contrary to Connecticut law. As this court observed in In re Vincent D., 65 Conn. App. 658, 783 A.2d 534 (2001), "[i]n determining whether a parent has achieved sufficient personal rehabilitation, a court may consider whether the parent has corrected the factors that led to the initial commitment, regardless of whether those factors were included in specific expectations ordered by the court or imposed by the department." (Emphasis added.) Id., 670. In that case, the respondent mother "had received explicit advice from the department, which she understood, that regaining custody of her child depended on her living apart from [the child's] father until he was drug free." Id. On appeal, this court held that the trial court properly considered the respondent mother's noncompliance with that requirement in finding that she had not achieved a sufficient degree of personal rehabilitation. Id.
It is undisputed that the department repeatedly instructed the respondent that he was not to have any contact with the mother. The department further instructed the respondent not to allow E to have any contact with the mother. At trial, the respondent testified that he was aware of those restrictions and the fact that his failure to comply therewith could jeopardize his reunification with E. The court was free to consider the evidence of his noncompliance with those requirements in evaluating his rehabilitation. His claim, therefore, is without merit.
II
The respondent next claims that the court improperly found that the department made reasonable efforts to reunify him with E. We conclude that there was adequate evidence in the record to support the court's determination.
"In order to terminate parental rights under § 17a-112 (j), the department is required to prove, by clear and convincing evidence, that it has made reasonable efforts . to reunify the child with the parent, unless the court finds . . . that the parent is unable or unwilling to benefit from reunification. . . . [Section 17a-112] imposes on the department the duty, inter alia, to make reasonable efforts to reunite the child or children with the parents. The word reasonable is the linchpin on which the department's efforts in a particular set of circumstances are to be adjudged, using the clear and convincing standard of proof. Neither the word reasonable nor the word efforts is, however, defined by our legislature or by the federal act from which the requirement was drawn. . . . [Reasonable efforts means doing everything reasonable, not everything possible. . . . The trial court's determination of this issue will not be overturned on appeal unless, in light of all of the evidence in the record, it is clearly erroneous." (Citation omitted; internal quotation marks omitted.) In re Samantha C., 268 Conn. 614, 632, 847 A.2d 883 (2004). "A finding is clearly erroneous when either there is no evidence in the record to support it, or the reviewing court is left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been made. . . . On appeal, our function is to determine whether the trial court's conclusion was factually supported and legally correct. . In doing so . . . [g]reat weight is given to the judgment of the trial court because of [the court's] opportunity to observe the parties and the evidence. . . . We do not examine the record to determine whether the trier of fact could have reached a conclusion other than the one reached. . . . [Rather] every reasonable presumption is made in favor of the trial court's ruling." (Citations omitted; internal quotation marks omitted.) Id., 627-28.
In its memorandum of decision, the court found that the department made reasonable efforts to reunify the respondent with E. The court detailed various efforts, including procuring services from the following providers: "Family Development Center, Community Child Guidance Center, New Hope and Planned Parenthood, the Vernon Family Center, Abundant Families, Preschool Intervention Program, psychological and interactional evaluations, ADRC and Genesis." That finding is supported by the department's social study for termination of parental rights that was offered into evidence at trial.
In addition, the court had before it evidence that the department arranged supervised visits between the respondent and E that began in July, 2004, and continued for more than one year. When those visits proved unproductive, the department implemented additional services that provided even more time for the respondent to interact with E. The department also scheduled unsupervised overnight visits at the respondent's home. Furthermore, on February 8, 2006, while maintaining custody of E, the department reunited her with the respondent. The department arranged for day care on behalf of the respondent and agreed to pay half of that expense. The department also contacted Abundant Families, which provided the respondent with furniture for his apartment.
When the petitioner removed E from the respondent's care one and one-half months later in the wake of the domestic violence dispute, the department continued its attempt at reunification by arranging multiple supervised visits with E. The department did so despite consistent reports that the visits were detrimental to E's well-being and that no meaningful bond between E and the respondent existed. As the attorney for the minor child emphasized in her statement filed pursuant to Practice Book § 67-13, "[t]he department worked with [the respondent] for nineteen months, well beyond the suggested time frame spelled out in the Adoption and Safe Families Act, 42 U.S.C. § 620 et seq. . . ."
The respondent faults the department for failing to offer him "any services regarding his position as the victim in a domestic violence situation." The record indicates, however, that the respondent was a perpetrator of domestic violence. The court specifically found that on March 14, 2006, the respondent "drank a pint of gin and several beers, then engaged [the mother] in a physical altercation. This altercation included [the respondent's] punching, pushing and screaming at [the mother and the mother's] stabbing [the respondent], all with [E] present." That finding is supported by the report filed by the Manchester police department following his arrest and introduced into evidence. By his actions, the respondent violated the department's instructions that he was not to have any contact with the mother and that he was to prohibit any contact between E and the mother. Notwithstanding that conduct, the department thereafter continued its efforts to reunify the respondent and E.
As we earlier noted, "[reasonable efforts means doing everything reasonable, not everything possible." (Internal quotation marks omitted.) In re Samantha C., supra, 268 Conn. 632. Examining the department's efforts in light of the particular circumstances of the present case, we conclude that there was adequate evidence from which the court could have concluded that the department made reasonable efforts to reunify the respondent with E. That determination is not clearly erroneous.
Ill
The respondent contends that the court improperly found that he failed to achieve a sufficient degree of personal rehabilitation pursuant to § 17a-112 (j) (3) (B) (ii). We disagree.
"On appeal, we review a trial court's finding that a parent has failed to rehabilitate herself in accordance with the rules that apply generally to a trier's finding of fact. We will overturn such a finding of fact only if it is clearly erroneous in light of the evidence in the whole record. . . . We do not examine the record to determine whether the trier of fact could have reached a conclusion other than the one reached. . . . [0]n review by this court every reasonable presumption is made in favor of the trial court's ruling." (Citation omitted; internal quotation marks omitted.) In re Vincent D., supra, 65 Conn. App. 669.
Failure to achieve a sufficient degree of personal rehabilitation is one of the seven statutory grounds on which parental rights may be terminated under § 17a-112 (j) (3). Section § 17a-112 (j) permits a court to grant a petition to terminate parental rights "if it finds by clear and convincing evidence that . . . the child . . . has been found by the Superior Court . to have been neglected . in a prior proceeding . . . and the parent of such child has been provided specific steps to take to facilitate the return of the child to the parent . . . and has failed to achieve such degree of personal rehabilitation as would encourage the belief that within a reasonable time, considering the age and needs of the child, such parent could assume a responsible position in the life of the child . . . ." In making that determination, the proper focus is on the parent's demonstrable development in relation to the needs of the child. As we have observed: "[I]n assessing rehabilitation, the critical issue is not whether the parent has improved [her] ability to manage [her] own life, but rather whether [she] has gained the ability to care for the particular needs of the child at issue." (Internal quotation marks omitted.) In re Alejandro L., 91 Conn. App. 248, 260, 881 A.2d 450 (2005). Furthermore, our courts are required to construe liberally the provisions of § 17a-112 in the best interest of the child for whom a petition has been filed, rather than the parent thereof. See General Statutes § 17a-112 (q).
" 'Rehabilitate' means 'to restore [a handicapped or delinquent person] to a useful and constructive place in society through social rehabilitation.' Webster, Third New International Dictionary." In re Juvenile Appeal (84-3), 1 Conn. App. 463, 477, 473 A.2d 795, cert. denied, 193 Conn. 802, 474 A.2d 1259 (1984). Likewise, "[failure to rehabilitate is defined as the failure of a parent to achieve expectations following the adjudication and disposition of the prior neglect petition." In re Jessica M., 49 Conn. App. 229, 248, 714 A.2d 64 (1998), appeal dismissed, 250 Conn. 747, 738 A.2d 1087 (1999). Our review of the record reveals that the evidence credited by the court supports its conclusion that the respondent failed to attain a degree of rehabilitation sufficient to warrant the belief that at some time in the foreseeable future, he would be capable of assuming a responsible position with respect to the care of E.
The respondent's paternity was discovered months after the birth of E, her adjudication as a neglected child and her commitment to the custody of the petitioner. Both the respondent and the petitioner acknowledge that the term "reunification" is something of a misnomer, as E has been in the care of the department since she was one month old. Upon confirmation of his paternity of E, the respondent told the department that "he could not care for her due to his work schedule but would speak to his family about caring for her." At that time, the respondent had abandoned two daughters in Ghana and had no relationship with E. He thereafter voluntarily entered into an agreement with the department to take certain steps to improve his ability to care for E. Indulging every presumption in favor of the court's ruling, as we must, the court reasonably could determine that in agreeing to comply with the specific steps in light of the aforementioned parenting history, the respondent sought to restore himself to the position of a capable parent. Pursuant to General Statutes § 46b-129 (j), the court provided the respondent with specific steps that included measures targeting the "identified treatment goals" regarding his parenting abilities.
The record indicates that the respondent's efforts largely were unsuccessful. As previously noted, the respondent failed to comply fully with several of the specific steps ordered by the court. See part I. That determination finds support in the social study for termination of parental rights that was offered into evidence and the testimony adduced at trial. In addition, the respondent failed to comply with the department's instructions that he was not to have any contact with the mother and that he was not to allow E to have any contact with the mother. The respondent testified that he was aware of the mother's drug addiction and history with the department and the fact that failure to comply with the department's instructions could jeopardize his reunification with E. He nevertheless ignored those instructions. The court also had before it the statement of R, one of the mother's older children, that the respondent and the mother "were living together and planning to get married at the time of the respondent's reunification with E." Similarly, in the police report introduced into evidence, the mother referred to the respondent as "her boyfriend" and stated that she had her own key to the respondent's apartment.
In addition, the respondent exposed E to domestic violence. The police report indicated that on the evening of that dispute, E was removed from the apartment after the altercation between the respondent and the mother. Also, E's foster mother testified that in the days following the domestic violence dispute, E recounted how her "daddy was screaming" because "he was bleeding." That testimony belies the respondent's statement that E was not present during the stabbing. Further, it supports the court's finding that the respondent "exhibited poor judgment in the upbringing of [E]."
The court was presented with ample evidence documenting the respondent's inability to interact with E. As social worker Lourdes Gerena testified, during the supervised visits prior to the domestic violence dispute, E "would shut down. She didn't show any emotion; she wouldn't interact with the respondent. She wouldn't look at him or really even let him touch her hand or anything." Multiple social workers present at those supervised visits confirmed that E cried throughout the visits and was unresponsive to the respondent.
Following the domestic violence dispute, the department arranged five supervised visits between the respondent and E. The respondent cancelled the visits scheduled on May 11, 2006, and June 1, 2006. During the visits that he attended, E exhibited a fear of the respondent. A social worker present at one of those visits stated that E "totally shut down and cried in the respondent's presence. She appeared frightened, uneasy, would not respond and would not interact with the respondent throughout the visit. E shook her head 'no' when asked if she wanted to have any more visits with the respondent." Another social worker described the visits to the court as "the saddest visits I've ever seen."
The court also was presented with evidence concerning the respondent's children in Ghana, whom it found he had abandoned in 2000 and "has not seen them since. " In assessing rehabilitation, the court is required to obtain a historical perspective of the respondent's child caring and parenting abilities. In re Daniel C., 63 Conn. App. 339, 354, 776 A.2d 487 (2001). The court heard detailed testimony from the respondent regarding his relationship with his daughters. As it stated in its memorandum of decision: "[T]he court questioned [the respondent] at length with regard to his relationship with his two daughters who are living in Ghana with their maternal grandmother. [The respondent] left Ghana in 2000 when his daughter, [J], was two years old and is now eight years old and his daughter, [P], was four years old and is now ten years old. He has not seen these children in six years, talks to them occasionally on the telephone and from time to time sends small sums of money to them. While he has had an income since 2000 and has seemingly had no obligation to anyone other than himself until August 18,2004, when his paternity of [E] was determined, he has offered little, if any, support to those two children. He never attempted to bring his daughters to this country even for a visit nor saw fit to visit with them in Ghana." In light of that historical perspective, the court concluded that "[i]t is remarkable to the court that [the respondent's] inattention to his two daughters in Ghana can be reconciled with a serious intention to father [E]."
The court also heard the testimony of psychologist Kelly F. Rogers. "Courts are entitled to give great weight to professionals in parental termination cases." In re Christina V., 38 Conn. App. 214, 221, 660 A.2d 863 (1995); see also In re Shyliesh H., 56 Conn. App. 167, 176, 743 A.2d 165 (1999) ("[psychological testimony from professionals is appropriately accorded great weight in termination proceedings"). Rogers evaluated the respondent and E in July, 2005, during which he conducted interactional studies of the child with the respondent, as well as with her foster parents. Rogers testified that although he originally recommended reunification of the respondent with E in August, 2005, he opposed it at the time of trial. Rogers based his opinion on a variety of factors that included (1) the respondent's lack of a relationship with E, (2) the respondent's ongoing relationship with the mother, (3) the domestic violence dispute, (4) the respondent's substance abuse that was documented in the police report, (5) E's strong bond with her foster family and the "risk of trauma of another removal," (6) his concerns about E's long-term emotional and social development, and (7) his concerns about the respondent's credibility and "ability to correctly report to authorities on the status of his daughter." As a result, Rogers testified that he questioned the respondent's fitness as a parent.
In its summary of the adjudicatory findings, the court stressed the respondent's "inability to parent E even after extensive participation in the services made available" and his "poor judgment in the upbringing" of E. It found that "[t]he clear and convincing evidence indicates that [the respondent has] failed to improve [his] parenting ability to acceptable standards. . . . [D] espite [the department's] efforts on [his] behalf and [his] own efforts, [the respondent remains] incapable of providing a safe and nurturing environment for [his] child. When one considers the level of care, patience and discipline that children require from their caregivers, it is patently clear that [the respondent is] not in a better position to parent [E] now than [he was] at any other time during these proceedings, and that [he remains] without the qualities necessary to successfully parent [E]." It therefore found that considering E's age, needs and special needs, the respondent could not within a reasonable time assume a responsible position in the child's life.
It is well settled that the critical issue in assessing rehabilitation is whether the parent has gained the ability to care for the particular needs of the child at issue. In re Halle T., 96 Conn. App. 815, 836, 902 A.2d 670 (2006); In re Alejandro L., supra, 91 Conn. App. 260; In re Kristy A., 83 Conn. App. 298, 317, 848 A.2d 1276, cert. denied, 271 Conn. 921, 859 A.2d 579 (2004); In re Ashley M., 82 Conn. App. 66, 72, 842 A.2d 624 (2004); In re Victoria B., 79 Conn. App. 245, 255, 829 A.2d 855 (2003); In re Amneris P., 66 Conn. App. 377, 384, 784 A.2d 457 (2001); In re Gary B., 66 Conn. App. 286, 292, 784 A.2d 412 (2001); In re Daniel C., supra, 63 Conn. App. 354; In re Sheila J., 62 Conn. App. 470, 480, 771 A.2d 244 (2001); In re Sarah Ann K., 57 Conn. App. 441, 448, 749 A.2d 77 (2000); In re Shyliesh H., supra, 56 Conn. App. 180; In re Danuael D., 51 Conn. App. 829, 840, 724 A.2d 546 (1999). The record amply supports the conclusion that the respondent has not gained that essential ability. Indulging every reasonable presumption in favor of the court's ruling, as our standard of review requires, we conclude that the evidence credited by the court supports its conclusion that the respondent failed to attain a degree of rehabilitation sufficient to warrant the belief that at some time in the foreseeable future, he would be capable of assuming a responsible position with respect to the care of E, as required by § 17a-112 Q) (3) (B) (Ü).
The judgment is affirmed.
In this opinion BISHOP, J., concurred.
The court also terminated the parental rights of E's mother, whom we refer to by that designation. Because she has not appealed, we refer in this opinion to the respondent father as the respondent.
We also note that pursuant to Practice Book § 67-13, the attorney for the minor child filed a statement adopting the brief of the petitioner in this appeal.
As the court recounted: "[0]n March 15, 2006, [E] was removed from [the respondent's] care due to a traumatic domestic violence situation between [the respondent and the mother at the respondent's] apartment on March 14, 2006. According to the Manchester police department report, [E] was present as [the respondent] drank a pint of gin and several beers, then engaged [the mother] in a physical altercation. This altercation included [the respondent's] punching, pushing and screaming at [the mother and the mother's] stabbing [the respondent], all with [E] present."
General Statutes § 17a-112 (j) provides in relevant part: "The Superior Court . . . may grant a petition [to terminate parental rights] if it finds by clear and convincing evidence that . . . the child . . . has been found by the Superior Court . to have been neglected . in a prior proceeding . and the parent of such child has been provided specific steps to take to facilitate the return of the child to the parent . . . and has failed to achieve such degree of personal rehabilitation as would encourage the belief that within a reasonable time, considering the age and needs of the child, such parent could assume a responsible position in the life of the child
The mother was not present at trial and a default entered for failure to appear.
Only the adjudicative phase of the proceeding is at issue in this appeal.
In evaluating the reunification efforts made by the department, the court noted the respondent's "proven inability to fully comply with court-ordered specific steps . . . ."
The department's social study for termination of parental rights that was offered into evidence at trial indicated that the respondent failed to submit to urine tests on April 19 and 24, and May 2, 9, 15 and 23, 2006, all of which were scheduled after the March 14, 2006 domestic violence dispute.
Although the respondent initially participated in certain parenting services, once he reunified with E, "he was not compliant" and failed to keep his scheduled appointments with the reunification worker at Abundant Families. As a result, Abundant Families closed the respondent's file.
It is well established that review of a trial court's determination that a parent has failed to achieve rehabilitation is governed by the clearly erroneous standard. See, e.g., In re Jeisean M., 270 Conn. 382, 397, 852 A.2d 643 (2004); In re Samantha C., supra, 268 Conn. 627; In re Eden F., 250 Conn. 674, 705, 741 A.2d 873, reargument denied, 251 Conn. 924, 742 A.2d 364 (1999). "Appellate review of a factual finding . is limited both as a practical matter and as a matter of the fundamental difference between the role of the trial court and an appellate court." (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Gorton v. Gorton, 80 Conn. App. 52, 55, 832 A.2d 675 (2003). "The trial court's findings of fact are entitled to great deference and will be overturned only on a showing that they were clearly erroneous." State v. Moreno-Cuevas, 104 Conn. App. 288, 291, 934 A.2d 260 (2007), cert. denied, 287 Conn. 901, 947 A.2d 344 (2008). "Under this deferential standard, [w]e do not examine the record to determine whether the trier of fact could have reached a conclusion other than the one reached." (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Cadlerock Properties Joint Venture, L.P. v. Ashford, 98 Conn. App. 556, 560-61, 909 A.2d 964 (2006). Rather, "[i]n making this determination, every reasonable presumption must be given in favor of the trial court's ruling." (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Blow v. Konetchy, 107 Conn. App. 777, 788, 946 A.2d 943 (2008).
Although the dissent concedes in a footnote that the clearly erroneous standard of review is the applicable standard by which an appellate court reviews a trial court's determination that a parent has failed to achieve rehabilitation, its analysis does not apply that deferential standard. In granting review to the respondent's unpreserved due process challenge to the court's determination that he failed to achieve a sufficient degree of personal rehabilitation, the dissent frames its analysis in terms of the respondent's "liberty interest" and, relying on Justice Thomas' concurring opinion in Troxel v. Granville, 530 U.S. 57, 80, 120 S. Ct. 2054, 147 L. Ed. 2d 49 (2000), strictly scrutinizes the record in a light most favorable to the respondent.
Appellate review of the respondent's due process challenge is unwarranted and improper. At no time did the respondent distinctly allege a due process claim before the trial court. See Practice Book § 60-5 (court not bound to consider claim "unless it was distinctly raised at the trial"). Rather, during closing argument, counsel for the respondent generally alleged that "his rights, as guaranteed by the fourteenth amendment to the United States constitution, have been violated." Indeed, the words "due process" never were uttered at trial, nor were they discussed in any motion or memorandum of law submitted to the court. Under our rules of practice, "[a]ny party intending to raise any question of law which may be the subject of an appeal must either state the question distinctly to the judicial authority in a written trial brief under Section 5-1 or state the question distinctly to the judicial authority on the record before such party's closing argument and within sufficient time to give the opposing counsel an opportunity to discuss the question. If the party fails to do this, the judicial authority will be under no obligation to decide the question." Practice Book § 5-2; see also Weinstein v. Weinstein, 275 Conn. 671, 743, 882 A.2d 53 (2005). The respondent failed to comply with that rule of practice.
Most importantly, the trial court did not address the respondent's alleged due process claim in its memorandum of decision. The respondent thereafter did not seek an articulation of that decision. See Practice Book § 66-5 and 61-10. "We have repeatedly held that this court will not consider claimed errors on the part of the trial court unless it appears on the record that the question was distinctly raised at trial and was ruled upon and decided by the court adversely to the appellant's claim." (Emphasis added; internal quotation marks omitted.) McGuire v. McGuire, 102 Conn. App. 79, 87, 924 A.2d 886 (2007); see also Crest Pontiac Cadillac, Inc. v. Hadley, 239 Conn. 437, 444 n.10, 685 A.2d 670 (1996) (claims neither addressed nor decided by trial court are not properly before appellate tribunal); Keating v. Glass Container Corp., 197 Conn. 428, 431, 497 A.2d 763 (1985) (same); State v. Simms, 170 Conn. 206, 208, 365 A.2d 821 (same), cert. denied, 425 U.S. 954, 96 S. Ct 1732, 48 L. Ed. 2d 199 (1976); State v. Kelly, 100 Conn. 727, 729, 125 A. 95 (1924) ("so far as the record before us shows, the trial court never passed on the motion, and although assigned among the errors it is not properly before us"); Atwood v. Jarrett, 81 Conn. 532, 533, 71 A. 569 (1909) ("[t]he record nowhere . . . discloses that the claim embodied in the remaining assignment of error was . . . passed upon by the court below [and] therefore [it is] not properly before us for consideration"). Our Supreme Court has held that this rule "applies to constitutional issues." Statewide Grievance Committee v. Whitney, 227 Conn. 829, 846, 633 A.2d 296 (1993); Berry v. Loiseau, 223 Conn. 786, 828, 614 A.2d 414 (1992). Accordingly, the respondent's due process challenge to the court's determination that he failed to achieve a sufficient degree of personal rehabilitation is not properly before this court.
In reaching this unpreserved constitutional claim, the dissent ignores the fact that (1) the respondent did not distinctly raise the claim at trial as required by Practice Book § 5-2, (2) the trial court did not rule on that claim, (3) the respondent did not file either a motion for articulation with the trial court or a motion for review with this court, (4) the respondent has not requested review of the claim pursuant to State v. Golding, 213 Conn. 233, 239-40, 567 A.2d 823 (1989), and (5) the respondent has not requested review under the plain error doctrine. See Practice Book § 60-5. "Connecticut law is clear that a party seeking review of unpreserved claims under either the plain error doctrine; Practice Book § 60-5; or State v. Golding, [supra, 239-40], must affirmatively request such review." State v. Wheatland, 93 Conn. App. 232, 243-44, 888 A.2d 1098, cert. denied, 277 Conn. 919, 895 A.2d 793 (2006); see also State v. Ramos, 261 Conn. 156, 171, 801 A.2d 788 (2002) ("[a] party is obligated . . . affirmatively to request review under [the Golding or plain error] doctrines"). As a result, "we do not engage in a level of review, such as Golding or plain error, when it has not been requested by a party." State v. Longo, 106 Conn. App. 701, 709, 943 A.2d 488 (2008). The dissent offers no explanation for its departure from those well established prerequisites to appellate review.
In its memorandum of decision, the court found that the respondent had "informed the department on two separate occasions that he may have relatives who would be willing to adopt [E]. Each time [the respondent] was asked for their names and contact information, he stated that he would need a few weeks to get the information together. Each time [the respondent] said he would obtain the information needed, he did not follow through." That finding is supported by the social study for termination of parental rights.
In his appellate brief, the respondent questions precisely from what was he to be rehabilitated, a refrain repeated in the dissent. Under our rules of practice, it is the sole responsibility of the appellant to provide this court with an adequate record for review. Practice Book § 61-10. Practice Book § 66-5 permits an appellant to seek an articulation by the trial court of the factual and legal basis on which it rendered its decision. "[A]n articulation is appropriate where the trial court's decision contains some ambiguity or deficiency reasonably susceptible of clarification. . An articulation may be necessary where the trial court fails completely to state any basis for its decision . or where the basis, although stated, is unclear. . . . The purpose of an articulation is to dispel any . . . ambiguity by clarifying the factual and legal basis upon which the trial court rendered its decision, thereby sharpening the issues on appeal." (Citations omitted; internal quotation marks omitted.) Fantasia v. Milford Fastening Systems, 86 Conn. App. 270, 283, 860 A.2d 779 (2004), cert. denied, 272 Conn. 919, 866 A.2d 1286 (2005). Nevertheless, despite his puzzlement, the respondent failed to seek an articulation of the trial court's decision in the present case.
We disagree with the dissent's factual finding attributing to the respondent a "clean record." First and foremost, "this court does not find facts." Branford v. Van Eck, 86 Conn. App. 441, 447, 861 A.2d 560 (2004), cert. denied, 272 Conn. 922, 867 A.2d 839 (2005). Second, the trial court found that prior to the birth of E, the respondent abandoned two minor children in Ghana, a finding the respondent does not contest on appeal. The court further found that months before the termination petition was filed, the respondent was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and unlawful restraint stemming from the domestic violence dispute and that he engaged in substance abuse at that time. See footnote 2.
In its memorandum of decision, the court indicated that it did not find the respondent's testimony credible. It stated: "The court questioned [the respondent] extensively during the trial and is mindful of the examination by others. At that time and also prevailing throughout the court's viewing of the evidence, the court has observed a reluctance of [the respondent] to respond in a forthright, positive manner. Rather, he responded in most instances reluctantly with an inordinate amount of hesitation, pausing to seemingly prepare a response that he felt would curry favor in the particular situation but not necessarily truly factual. This was the distinct impression of the court, and this character of [the respondent] to somewhat fabricate, explains the impression this man had given to [department] workers and supervisors, counsel for the department and others to lead them down a path for proposing reunification for a long period. He put on a good facade for all, but beyond the front there was lacking a firm resolve to accomplish the satisfactory completion of the services in order to be able to serve as a safe, responsible and nurturing parent within a reasonable time."
We note that the police report indicates that on the evening of the domestic violence dispute, the respondent averred that the dispute was with "his girlfriend," who he claimed attacked him in his apartment. The respondent further stated that the mother was "not at his home when this argument happened." At trial, the respondent acknowledged that his statements were not truthful.
We agree with the dissent's observation that the evidence in the record suggests the lack of an ongoing parent-child relationship. Although we agree that "punctilious adherence to procedural guidelines" is required in termination proceedings; In re Vincent D., supra, 65 Conn. App. 668; we are also mindful that "whether to terminate parental rights is a highly fact-specific process." In re Shane P., 58 Conn. App. 244, 254, 754 A.2d 169 (2000). In the present case, our analysis is predicated on a multitude of factors, including (1) the respondent's abandonment of his two minor children in Ghana; (2) the fact that upon confirmation of his paternity of E, the respondent told the department that "he could not care for her due to his work schedule"; (3) the respondent's failure to comply fully with several of the specific steps ordered by the court; (4) the respondent's failure to comply with the department's instructions that he was not to have any contact with the mother and that he was not to allow E to have any contact with the mother; (5) the fact that the respondent and the mother were planning to get married at the time of the respondent's reunification with E; (6) the fact that the respondent exposed E to domestic violence; (7) the respondent's inability to interact with E; and (8) the testimony of psychologist Kelly F. Rogers, who opined that he questioned the respondent's fitness as a parent. Considering those factors under the applicable standard or review, which requires this court to make every reasonable presumption in favor of the trial court's ruling; In re Vincent D., supra, 669; we cannot say that it was clearly erroneous for the court to conclude that the respondent had failed to attain a degree of rehabilitation sufficient to warrant the belief that at some time in the foreseeable future, he would be capable of assuming a responsible position with respect to the care of E.
The respondent has not disputed that factual finding on appeal and made no mention of his Ghanaian children in either his appellate brief or at oral argument before this court. In questioning, sua sponte, that finding in footnote 6 of its opinion, the dissent fails to accord appropriate deference to the trial court as "the appropriate forum for the resolution of factual disputes"; First National Bank of Litchfield v. Miller, 285 Conn. 294, 302, 939 A.2d 572 (2008); in derogation of the "well established [principle] that [appellate] review is limited to claims raised by the parties in their briefs." Payton v. Payton, 103 Conn. App. 825, 841, 930 A.2d 802 (Schaller, J., concurring), cert. denied, 284 Conn. 934, 935 A.2d 151 (2007). In so doing, the dissent credits the testimony of the respondent despite the fact that the trial court, as the sole arbiter of credibility, found him not credible. See footnote 13 of this opinion; see also In re Davonta V., 285 Conn. 483, 488-89, 940 A.2d 733 (2008) (appellate tribunal does not retry facts or pass on credibility of witnesses); Gallo v. Gallo, 184 Conn. 36, 38, 440 A.2d 782 (1981) ("[w]eighing the evidence and judging the credibility of the witnesses is the function of the trier of fact and this court will not usurp that role"); Highstead Foundation, Inc. v. Fahan, 105 Conn. App. 754, 762, 941 A.2d 341 (2008) (" [i]t is the function of the trial court to weigh the evidence and the credibility of the parties and to find the facts; we cannot retry the case on appeal" [internal quotation marks omitted]); Feen v. New England Benefit Cos., 81 Conn. App. 772, 780, 841 A.2d 1193 ("[i]n recognition of its superior position to evaluate those factors as they coalesce at trial and the disparate ability of a reviewing court to glean such things from the written record, we have held that the trial court is vested with the sole discretion to make credibility assessments and to assign the weight to be given testimony"), cert. denied, 269 Conn. 910, 852 A.2d 739 (2004). Although the dissent states that the record does not provide enough information about the circumstances of the respondent and his family in Ghana to determine whether his abandonment of the minor children "is relevant to his ability to raise E," the trial court expressly concluded otherwise.
After acknowledging the "limited parenting skills" of the respondent, the dissent opines that "this is not a condition from which he had to be rehabilitated." It cites no authority to support that assertion. If the inquiry under § 17a-112 (j) (3) (B) (ii) centers on whether "considering the age and needs of the child, such parent could assume a responsible position in the life of the child," we perceive no reason why the inability to parent a child cannot, in certain circumstances, constitute such a condition.