Case Name: C.W., the Mother of K.L.B., Jr., a Child, Appellant, v. DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 2002-04-10
Citations: 814 So. 2d 488
Docket Number: No. 1D01-1710
Parties: C.W., the Mother of K.L.B., Jr., a Child, Appellant, v. DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, Appellee.
Judges: BENTON, J., concurs with opinion; ERVIN, J., concurs and dissents with opinion.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 814
Pages: 488–498

Head Matter:
C.W., the Mother of K.L.B., Jr., a Child, Appellant, v. DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, Appellee.
No. 1D01-1710.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, First District.
April 10, 2002.
Joyce Sibson Dove, Tallahassee, for Appellant.
Avron Bernstein, Child Welfare Attorney, Department of Children and Families, Tallahassee, for Appellee.

Opinion:
POLSTON, J.
Appellant C.W. appeals the final order terminating her parental rights to K.L.B. Jr., her fifth child. C.W. argues that: (i) her due process rights were violated because the trial judge watched two police videotapes outside the presence of the parties and all counsel, (ii) the videotapes were inadmissible as evidence pursuant to section 90.410, Florida Statutes (2000), (iii) the videotapes were inadmissible as evidence pursuant to section 90.403, Florida Statutes (2000), (iv) the trial court improperly shifted the burden of proof from ap-pellee Florida Department of Children and Families to her by overruling the judgments of the guardian ad litem and expert with no factual findings other than the trial court's own "common sense," and (v) she "has never abused, neglected nor abandoned any child."
We affirm.
I. Videotapes
The trial court did not err by viewing the videotapes outside the presence of the parties and all counsel. When scheduling the remainder of the trial, the trial judge asked whether there was any objection to her viewing the videotapes alone. C.W.'s counsel stated that "we have no objection to that," thereby affirmatively waiving any due process rights to be present during the viewing. See Hanks v. State, 786 So.2d 634, 635-86 (Fla. 1st DCA 2001)(holding that defense counsel's agreement to the publication of a deposition to the jury, although the defendant was not present when the deposition was taken, was an affirmative waiver of the defendant's constitutional right to confront the witness; a personal on-the-record waiver by the defendant himself was not required).
The arguments that the videotapes were inadmissible as evidence pursuant to sections 90.410 and 90.403, Florida Statutes (2000) were not preserved by objection to the trial court. See Tallahassee Furniture Co. v. Harrison, 583 So.2d 744, 754 (Fla. 1st DCA 1991)("[A]n appellate court may consider only the objections to admissibility of evidence on the grounds specifically stated at trial, and will not consider those objections to admissibility urged for the first time on appeal.").
II. Burden of Proof
The trial court did not improperly shift the burden of proof from the Department to C.W. by "overruling" the "judgments" of the guardian ad litem and expert. The trial court acknowledged and considered both the reports of the guardian ad litem and the expert testimony of Dr. Knobbe, but made its decision by considering all of the evidence and the manifest best interests of the child pursuant to section 39.810, Florida Statutes (2000). The trial court may reject the recommendation of the guardian ad litem and give weight to expert testimony in consideration of all the evidence. The guardian ad litem and the expert do not render legal judgments that have effect until overruled — that is the function of the trial judge.
The trial court, in her final order terminating parental rights, listed the various evidence that she considered:
The Court heard testimony from: Tory Wilson of Camelot Care and formerly with the Department of Children and Families; Melinda Wills, Tallahassee Police Department; Lisa Johnson, Tallahassee Police Department; Dr. Thomas Truman, M.D.; Melinda King, Child Protective Investigator; Kanya Irving of Camelot Care and formerly with the Department of Children and Families; Kimberly Ellis, Child Protection Team; Dot Binger, Guardian Ad Litem; Cherelle Medley; Angie Hughes; Dr. Thomas Knobbe, Ph.D.; Jennifer Thompson; Jeanne Robbins, Department Protective Services Supervision; and Carolyn Williams. The Court has received into evidence and considered twelve (12) exhibits (a composite exhibit of photographs; the Termination of Parental Rights order in case number DP 96-1034 and the Per Curiam Affirmed opinion reflecting the appeal; a composite exhibit of photo graphs; another composite exhibit of photographs; a videotape; an additional videotape; Judgment—State of Florida v. Carolyn Williams, Case No. 99-3599; Judgment and Sentence—State of Florida v. Kenneth Bryant, Case No. R 1999-3600A; composite exhibit of medical records; mediation agreement in DP 99-598; additional composite exhibit of photographs) submitted by the Department; and three (3) exhibits (psychological assessment of Dr. Thomas Knobbe; composite of Family Builders weekly progress reports; composite exhibit of photographs) submitted by the mother and Guardian Ad Litem.
The trial court then stated that her findings in the final order were supported "by dear and convincing evidence." See § 39.809(1), Fla. Stat. (2000)("In a hearing on a petition for termination of parental rights, the court shall consider the elements required for termination. Each of these elements must be established by clear and convincing evidence before the petition is granted."); In re Adoption of Baby E.A.W., 658 So.2d 961, 967 (Fla.1995)("To terminate a parent's right in a natural child, the evidence must be clear and convincing.").
The trial court found:
5. [C.W.'s] parental rights to three (3) siblings of the above-named minor child have been terminated involuntarily. 39.806(l)(i), Florida Statutes (2000). [C.W.] had yet another minor child regarding whom [C.W.] surrendered her parental rights. [C.W.] failed to remedy the reasons for dependency regarding her other children, to whom her parental rights were terminated, despite the provision of services. Provision of prior services to [C.W.] regarding the three siblings to whom [C.W.'s] parental rights were terminated is proven by some of the testimony of Tory Wilson as well as the exhibits (prior Termination of Parental Rights Order and the Per Curiam Affirmed opinion of the First District Court of Appeal on the direct appeals of that order). 39.806(l)(c), Florida Statutes (2000). The prior order sets out findings as to the services previously offered to [C.W.] as well as her failure to comply with those services. The prior Termination of Parental Rights order was admitted into evidence pursuant to 39.814(6)(a), Florida Statutes (2000).
6. On or about August 30, through September 1, 1999, while in the custody of his natural mother (with [Mr. B.] in the home), [T.G.], a sibling of the above-named minor child, suffered burns to his neck, arm and legs, bruises and welts on the buttocks and legs and a red circular mark on his head. [T.G.] also sustained severe injuries to his liver, pancreas, and kidney. [T.G.'s] head did not suffer serious trauma. The mother failed to protect the child from [Mr. BJ's abuse. The shelter order of August 3, 1999 specifically prohibited the natural mother from leaving [T.G.] alone with other people, and this included [Mr. B.]. The mother was in direct violation of the order when she left [T.G.] with [Mr. B.]. The mother pled nolo contendere to two (2) counts of child neglect, a third degree felony and has been adjudicated guilty. Given the mother's entire history with her children, involvement with the Department, the services, and Court orders, the mother's conduct was egregious and deplorable, flagrant, and outrageous conduct. By virtue of her conduct, the natural mother had the opportunity and capability to prevent and knowingly failed to prevent egregious conduct that threatens the life, safety, or physical, mental, or emotional health of [T.G.], a sibling to the above-named minor child. 39.806(l)(f), Florida Statutes (2000).
The standard of our review of the trial court's finding of clear and convincing evidence was explicitly stated by the Court in E.A.W.:
[0 ]ur task on review is not to conduct a de novo proceeding, reweigh the testimony and evidence given at the trial court, or substitute our judgment for that of the trier of fact. Instead, we will uphold the trial court's finding "[i]f, upon the pleadings and evidence before the trial court, there is any theory or principle of law which would support the trial court's judgment in favor of terminating . parental rights." Kingsley v. Kingsley, 623 So.2d 780, 787 (Fla. 5th DCA 1993), review denied, 634 So.2d 625 (Fla.1994).
Our review of the record shows substantial competent evidence to support the trial judge's finding of clear and convincing evidence that G.W.B. abandoned Baby E.A.W.
Id. at 967. Moreover, "a trial court's determination that evidence is clear and convincing will not be overturned unless it may be said as a matter of law that no one could reasonably find such evidence to be clear and convincing." In the Interest of D.J.S., 563 So.2d 655, 662 (Fla. 1st DCA 1990). Under these standards, we do not overturn the trial court's determination that the Department presented clear and convincing evidence supporting termination.
III. History of C.W. and Her Children
C.W. states that she "has never abused, neglected nor abandoned any child." Regarding her first three children, the trial court explicitly found that C.W. and the father had "abandoned or neglected and have continued to abandon or neglect their children pursuant to Section 39.01(1) and (36), and Section 39.464(l)(f) and (c), Florida Statutes (1997)." Subsequently, C.W. pled nolo contendere and was adjudicated guilty of two counts of child neglect, a third-degree felony, relating to T.G., her fourth child. C.W.'s statement that she "has never abused, neglected nor abandoned any child" completely ignores the record.
The termination of parental rights to siblings because of abuse or neglect may serve as grounds for terminating the parent's rights in a different child. See § 39.806(l)(f) and (i), Fla. Stat. (2000); Padgett v. Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, 577 So.2d 565, 571 (Fla.1991). We echo the view by the Court in Padgett: "While we are loath to sanction government interference in the sacrosanct parent-child relationship, we are more reluctant still to forsake the welfare of our youth. Florida's children are simply too important." Id.
AFFIRMED.
BENTON, J., concurs with opinion; ERVIN, J., concurs and dissents with opinion.
. The recommendation of the guardian ad litem is one of eleven different relevant factors listed within section 39.810, Florida Statutes (2000), for consideration by the trial court.