Case Name: IN THE MATTERS OF: C.L.C., K.T.R., A.M.R., E.A.R., Minor Children
Court: North Carolina Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: North Carolina
Decision Date: 2005-07-19
Citations: 171 N.C. App. 438
Docket Number: No. COA04-471
Parties: IN THE MATTERS OF: C.L.C., K.T.R., A.M.R., E.A.R., Minor Children
Judges: Judge TIMMONS-GOODSON concurs.
Reporter: North Carolina Court of Appeals Reports
Volume: 171
Pages: 438–457

Head Matter:
IN THE MATTERS OF: C.L.C., K.T.R., A.M.R., E.A.R., Minor Children
No. COA04-471
(Filed 19 July 2005)
1. Termination of Parental Rights— jurisdiction — failure to comply with statutory time deadlines — failure to show prejudicial error
The trial court was not deprived of jurisdiction to terminate respondent mother’s parental rights even though the trial court and the Department of Social Services (DSS) failed to comply with the statutory time limitations with respect to the filing of the 28 February 2002 adjudication and disposition order, the scheduling of the first review hearing following the disposition, the filing of the permanency planing review orders for 6 June 2002, 12 September 2002, and 15 January 2003, and the filing of the petition to terminate parental rights because: (1) any challenge to the 28 February 2002 adjudication is not properly before the Court when the mother failed to appeal within 10 days from the order as required by N.C.G.S. § 7B-1001; (2) with respect to the other timing issues, time limitations in the Juvenile Code are not jurisdictional in cases such as this one and do not require reversal of orders in the absence of a showing by the appellant of prejudice resulting from the relatively limited time delays; and (3) with respect to the three-month delay of the petition for termination of parental rights, respondent does not explain in what manner the delay prejudiced her in light of the fact she chose not to take advantage of the opportunity to have visitation with her children and failed to have any contact with DSS between the time that DSS ceased reunification efforts and months later initiated termination proceedings.
2. Termination of Parental Rights— findings of fact — summarizing testimony
The trial court did not err in a termination of parental rights case by its findings of fact 31, 47, 48, 49, 50, and 51 even though respondent mother contends the trial court failed to make findings of fact but simply recited the testimony of witnesses at the hearing and made contradictory findings, because: (1) while the trial court did include findings of fact that summarized the testimony, the court also made the necessary ultimate findings of fact; (2) there is nothing impermissible about describing testimony so long as the court ultimately makes its own findings resolving any material disputes; and (3) although respondent contends there were inconsistencies in the testimony summaries regarding the date when the mother stopped consistently visiting her children, the trial court made a finding resolving this dispute.
3. Termination of Parental Rights— grounds for termination-willfully left child in foster care without showing reasonable progress — neglect—willful abandonment
Although respondent mother contends the trial court relied upon an incorrect standard when it found that grounds existed to terminate her parental rights under N.C.G.S. § 7B-llll(a)(2) since the statute has been amended so that the focus is no longer solely on the progress made in the twelve months prior to the petition, the error is immaterial because: (1) in this case the mother has not assigned error to the trial court’s other grounds for termination including neglect under N.C.G.S. § 7B-llll(a)(l) and willful abandonment under N.C.G.S. § 7B-llll(a)(7); and (2) either of the two unchallenged grounds for termination is sufficient to support the trial court’s order.
4. Termination of Parental Rights— best interests of child— abuse of discretion standard
The trial court did not abuse its discretion by determining that it was in the best interests of the children to terminate respondent mother’s parental rights because although the mother emphasizes that she has a strong bond with her children and that she had made progress in doing what the trial court ordered including completing most of her parenting classes and regularly visiting her children, the trial court was entitled to give greater weight to other factors including: (1) the mother’s repeated statements when she had custody that she could not handle the responsibility of parenting her children and her choice on two occasions to request that her children be placed in foster care; (2) the mother’s failure to obtain stable housing and employment at any time; (3) her failure to successfully complete her parenting classes; (4) her failure to comply with any recommendations arising out of her psychological assessment; (5) her failure to complete a substance abuse assessment; and (6) her failure after early October 2002 to visit her children, to send letters or gifts to her children, to pay support, or to have contact with DSS other than two phone calls.
Judge Tyson dissenting.
Appeal by respondent from judgment entered 15 October 2003 by Judge Marvin P. Pope in Buncombe County District Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 2 December 2004.
John C. Adams for petitioner-appellee.
Charlotte Gail Blake for respondent-appellant.
Judy N. Rudolph for appellee Guardian ad Litem.

Opinion:
GEER, Judge.
Respondent mother L.M. appeals from the judgment terminating her parental rights to her four children, C.L.C., K.T.R., A.M.R., and E.A.R. On appeal, the mother argues primarily that the judgment must be reversed because the trial court's and DSS' failure to comply with certain statutory time deadlines deprived the trial court of jurisdiction. Since, however, L.M. has failed to demonstrate prejudice from the missed deadlines and because we do not find her other arguments on appeal meritorious, we affirm.
Facts
This case began in March 2001 when the Buncombe County Department of Social Services ("DSS") received a report that L.M. ("the mother") was not properly supervising her four children, that the father of one child whipped him with a belt, that there was severe domestic violence between the mother and father, and that the mother failed to take her children to medical and dental appointments. After substantiating the report, DSS began working with the family. The mother frequently told a social worker that she could not handle the responsibility of parenting her children and asked that the children be placed elsewhere. On 26 July 2001, the mother voluntarily placed the children in the Angel Watch program.
The mother located appropriate housing and the children were returned to her on 1 November 2001. The mother agreed not to allow her boyfriend to be around the children until he completed substance abuse treatment. In addition, any visitation between the children and their father was required to be supervised because of the history of severe domestic violence between the mother and father. DSS learned, however, that the mother had, during the following two weeks, allowed her boyfriend to be around the children on at least three occasions and had allowed the father to have unsupervised contact with the children.
On 18 November 2001, the mother called the after-hours on-call social worker for DSS and told her that she could not handle caring for the children any more and that she wished to have the children placed in foster care. After subsequently stating the same thing to two other social workers, the mother again voluntarily placed her children with Angel Watch.
On 6 December 2001, DSS filed a petition alleging that the minor children were neglected and obtained non-secure custody of the children. The mother consented to the trial court's adjudication of her minor children as neglected based upon stipulated findings of fact. In its order filed 28 February 2002, following a hearing on 28 January 2002, the trial court determined that the children were neglected based on the fact that the children did not receive proper care and supervision and lived in an environment injurious to their welfare due to the domestic violence between the mother and father. The court ordered the mother to (1) complete parenting classes, (2) complete a substance abuse program and follow all recommendations, (3) obtain a psychological assessment and follow all recommendations, and (4) obtain stable employment and housing.
The mother has acknowledged that on 24 January 2002, she tested positive for opiates. Subsequently, the mother failed to complete the ordered substance abuse assessment. Although she began parenting classes in January 2002 and attended all but three classes, she failed to complete the remaining three classes over the next 15 months. A psychological assessment concluded: "[The mother's] ability to parent her children effectively is often clouded by the emotional issues resulting from a history of abuse, inadequate coping skills, and chaotic interpersonal relationships. [The mother] . . . has the potential to provide a safe, stable home for her children, but there are many issues that she needs help with before she is able to parent them effectively." Although the court had ordered that the mother comply with any recommendations arising out of the assessment — which included recommendations of therapy, assertiveness training, anger management, participation in a support group for battered women, and completion of parenting classes — the mother failed to do so.
Throughout the period prior to the filing of the petition, the mother failed to obtain stable employment and housing. Following July 2002, the mother refused two drug screen requests. She was convicted of writing worthless checks in October 2002 and had another charge of worthless checks pending that was in violation of her probation for possession of drug paraphernalia.
The mother visited with the children on a somewhat regular basis until early October 2002. Following July 2002, the mother did not send letters, cards, or gifts to the children. She did not pay any child support even after a child support order of $104.00 was entered; she acknowledged at the time of the hearing that she was in arrears in the amount of approximately $500.00.
At a permanency planning hearing held on 6 November 2002, the plan for the children was changed from reunification to adoption, although DSS was required to allow visitation if the mother requested it. The mother did not contact her social worker again until December 2002. At that time, she did not, however, request visitation with the children. The mother did not attend a permanency planning hearing on 2 December 2002 and the court's order indicates that the mother had had no contact with either her attorney or DSS. The court, therefore, discontinued all visitation.
The mother made no further contact with DSS with the exception of leaving a voice mail on 3 January 2003, saying that she had moved to Tennessee and that she would be supplying DSS with her new address and phone number. Between that message and the filing of the petition for termination of parental rights, DSS heard nothing further from the mother.
On 17 April 2003, DSS filed separate petitions to terminate the mother's parental rights to each of her four children. The petitions were served on 3 July 2003, the hearing was held on 2-3 September 2003, and the trial court filed a judgment terminating the mother's parental rights on 15 October 2003. In its order, the court concluded that the mother (1) neglected the children, (2) willfully left the children in foster care for more than 12 months without showing that reasonable progress had been made to correct the conditions that caused the removal of her children, and (3) willfully abandoned the children for at least six consecutive months immediately prior to the filing of the petition. After concluding that grounds for termination existed, the court further found that it was in the best interests of the children that their mother's parental rights be terminated.
I
The mother first contends on appeal that the trial court and DSS failed to comply with the statutory time limitations with respect to the filing of the 28 February 2002 adjudication and disposition order; the scheduling of the first review hearing following the disposition; the filing of the 6 June 2002, 12 September 2002, and 15 January 2003 permanency planning review orders; and the filing of the petition to terminate parental rights. The mother contends that "[t]he Court's failure to comply with these time lines in [the mother's] case deprived the Court of jurisdiction to terminate her parental rights [and] [therefore, the trial court should be reversed, and the petition to terminate her parental rights should be dismissed."
We first observe that any challenge to the 28 February 2002 adjudication is not properly before us. Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-1001 (2003), the mother had 10 days in which to appeal that order. In re Padgett, 156 N.C. App. 644, 647, 577 S.E.2d 337, 340 (2003) (adjudication and disposition order finding children to be neglected must be appealed within 10 days). With respect to the other timing issues, this Court has held that time limitations in the Juvenile Code are not jurisdictional in cases such as this one and do not require reversal of orders in the absence of a showing by the appellant of prejudice resulting from the time delay. See In re J.L.K., 165 N.C. App. 311, 316, 598 S.E.2d 387, 391 ("[W]e conclude that, on these facts, vacating the TPR order is not an appropriate remedy for the trial court's failure to enter the order within 30 days of the hearing. . . . Respondent has failed to demonstrate that he suffered any prejudice by the trial court's delay."), disc. review denied, 359 N.C. 68, 604 S.E.2d 314 (2004); In re E.N.S., 164 N.C. App. 146, 153, 595 S.E.2d 167, 172 ("[Although the order was not filed within the specified time requirement, respondent cannot show how she was prejudiced by the late filing."), disc. review denied, 359 N.C. 189, 606 S.E.2d 903 (2004).
In this case, it appears that the review hearing was only three days late, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-906(a) (2003) (requiring review hearing within 90 days of the dispositional hearing), although we also note that between the date of the adjudication and dispositional order and the review hearing, the court conducted a hearing on the placement of the children with a paternal grandmother. With respect to the permanency planning orders, they were late by approximately four days, 20 days, and 14 days respectively. See N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-907(c) (2003) (requiring that permanency planning hearing orders be entered no later than 30 days following the hearing). Since the mother has made no attempt to demonstrate any prejudice from these relatively limited delays, we find no error. See, e.g., In re A.D.L., 169 N.C. App. 701, 706, — S.E.2d —, —, 2005 N.C. App. LEXIS 797, at *6-*8 (April 19, 2005) (holding no prejudicial error when an order was 16 days late); In re J.L.K., 165 NC. App. at 315, 598 S.E.2d at 390 (holding no prejudicial error when an order was 89 days late). We continue, however, to caution courts and parties that by failing to comply with the legislature's mandates, they are disregarding the best interests of the children involved.
With respect to the timeliness of the petition for termination of parental rights, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-907(e) (2003) provides that DSS:
shall file a petition to terminate parental rights within 60 calendar days from the date of the permanency planning hearing unless the court makes written findings why the petition cannot be filed within 60 days. If the court makes findings to the contrary, the court shall specify the time frame in which any needed petition to terminate parental rights shall be filed.
In this case, the hearing at which the permanent plan changed took place on 6 November 2002. Neither the order resulting from that hearing nor the order resulting from the December 2002 permanency plan ning hearing contained any extension of DSS' deadline or any findings as to why the petition could not be filed within 60 days. The petitions should have been filed by 6 January 2003. They were not, however, filed until 17 April 2003, more than three months late.
In In re B.M., 168 N.C. App. 350, 354, 607 S.E.2d 698, 701 (2005), this Court held that "the time limitation specified in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-907(e) is directory rather than mandatory and thus, not jurisdictional." The Court then concluded that the respondents had failed to show that they were prejudiced by a petition that was 11 months late. The Court observed:
Respondents' right to appeal was not affected by the untimely filing. An order following a review hearing or permanency planning hearing that changes the permanency plan from reunification to termination of parental rights is a dispositional order that fits within the statutory language of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-1001. Respondents could have appealed from either the review hearing ceasing DSS's efforts to reunify the family or from the permanency planning order which changed the permanency plan for the juveniles to termination of parental rights, as they both constituted dispositional orders which were immediately appealable under the provisions of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-1001.
Id. at 354-55, 607 S.E.2d at 701 (internal citations omitted). The mother in this case could likewise have appealed from the permanency planning order entered 3 December 2002. The only prejudice that the mother identifies is that "DSS ceased reunification but waited many months to initiate termination proceedings." She does not explain in what manner the delay prejudiced her in light of the fact she chose not to take advantage of the opportunity to have visitation with her children during this period and failed to have any contact with DSS.
Since the mother has not pointed to any circumstances in this case that could distinguish her situation from In re B.M., that case, involving an 11-month delay, controls with respect to this case, involving a three-month delay. We, therefore, hold that the mother is not entitled to reversal of the trial court's termination of parental rights order based on the trial court's and DSS' failure to comply with the statutory deadlines.
II
The mother next assigns error to the trial court's findings of fact 31, 47, 48, 49, 50, and 51 on the grounds that the court "erred by failing to make findings of fact but simply recit[ed] the testimony of witnesses at the hearing and making findings that are contradictory." We disagree.
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1A-1, Rule 52(a)(1) provides in pertinent part: "In all actions tried upon the facts without a jury . . . the court shall find the facts specially and state separately its conclusions of law . . . ." N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1A-1, Rule 52(a)(1) (2003). The Supreme Court, in interpreting Rule 52(a)(1), noted that trial courts must make specific findings of the ultimate facts, but need not make findings regarding evidentiary and subsidiary facts:
[A] proper finding of facts requires a specific statement of the facts on which the rights of the parties are to be determined, and those findings must be sufficiently specific to enable an appellate court to review the decision and test the correctness of the judgment.
[W]hile Rule 52(a) does not require a recitation of the evidentiary and subsidiary facts required to prove the ultimate facts, it does require specific findings of the ultimate facts established by the evidence, admissions and stipulations which are determinative of the questions involved in the action and essential to support the conclusions of law reached.
Quick v. Quick, 305 N.C. 446, 451-52, 290 S.E.2d 653, 657-58 (1982) (internal citations omitted).
While the trial court did include findings of fact that summarized the testimony, the court also made the necessary ultimate findings of fact. There is nothing impermissible about describing testimony, so long as the court ultimately makes its own findings, resolving any material disputes. The testimony summaries were not the ultimate findings of fact; those findings were found elsewhere in the order.
The mother argues that there were inconsistencies in the testimony summaries, pointing only to a dispute regarding the date when the mother stopped consistently visiting her children. The witnesses variously stated that the date was July, September, or October 2002. The trial court, however, made a finding resolving this dispute. In finding of fact 31, the court found "[t]hat Respondent Mother visited with the minor children on a somewhat regular basis until early October 2002, when she began to fail to appear for visits . . . ." We, therefore, overrule this assignment of'error.
III
The mother next argues that the trial court relied upon the incorrect standard when it found that grounds existed to terminate her parental rights under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-llll(a)(2) (2003). In finding of fact 25, the court stated:
That pursuant to N.C.G.S. §7B-1111(2) [sic] the Respondent Mother has willfully left the minor children in foster care or placement outside the home for more than twelve (12) months without showing to the satisfaction of the Court that reasonable progress under the circumstances has been made within twelve (12) months in correcting those conditions which led to the removal of the minor children .
(Emphasis added.) The statute has, however, been amended to provide: "The parent has willfully left the juvenile in foster care or placement outside the home for more than 12 months without showing to the satisfaction of the court that reasonable progress under the circumstances has been made in correcting those conditions which led to the removal of the juvenile." N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-llll(a)(2) (emphasis added). The focus is no longer solely on the progress made in the 12 months prior to the petition.
Because this problem appears to occur with frequency, we urge the courts and counsel to take care to ensure that they are referring to the proper version of the statute. Nevertheless, because, in this case, the mother has not assigned error to the trial court's other grounds for termination — neglect under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-llll(a)(l) and willful abandonment under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-llll(a)(7) — the trial court's error is immaterial. "The finding of any one of the grounds is sufficient to order termination." Owenby v. Young, 357 N.C. 142, 145, 579 S.E.2d 264, 267 (2003). Either of the two unchallenged grounds for termination is sufficient to support the trial court's order.
IV
In her last assignment of error, the mother argues that even if grounds exist to terminate her parental rights, the trial court abused its discretion in deciding that it was in the best interests of the children to terminate those rights. After reviewing the record, we cannot perceive any basis for concluding that the trial court abused its discretion.
If at least one ground for termination is proven by clear, cogent and convincing evidence, then the trial court proceeds to the dis-positional phase and considers whether termination is in the best interests of the child. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-1110(a) (2003); In re Blackburn, 142 N.C. App. 607, 610, 543 S.E.2d 906, 908 (2001). "It is within the trial court's discretion to terminate parental rights upon a finding that it would be in the best interests of the child." In re Shermer, 156 N.C. App. 281, 285, 576 S.E.2d 403, 406-07 (2003). On appeal, we review the trial court's decision to terminate parental rights for an abuse of discretion. In re Anderson, 151 N.C. App. 94, 98, 564 S.E.2d 599, 602 (2002).
In support of her argument, the mother emphasizes that she has a strong "bond" with her children and that she had made progress in doing what the triál court ordered, such as completing most of her parenting classes and regularly visiting her children. The trial court was, however, entitled to give greater weight to other facts that it found, including: (1) the mother's repeated statements — when she had custody — that she could not handle the responsibility of parenting her children and her choice on two occasions to request that her children be placed in foster care; (2) the mother's failure to obtain stable housing and employment at any time; (3) her failure to successfully complete her parenting classes; (4) her failure to comply with any recommendations arising out of her psychological assessment; (5) her failure to complete a substance abuse assessment; and (6) her failure after early October 2002 to visit her children, to send letters or gifts to her children, to pay support, or to have contact with DSS other than two phone calls. It was up to the trial court to decide the degree of progress made by the mother and whether these facts outweighed the mother's bond with her children. Significantly, the court found that at the hearing — 2 1/2 years after DSS first became involved- — the mother "stated that it is best for the children to stay where they are until she shows 'what she can do.' "
Based on the trial court's findings of fact and the record, we hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in terminating the mother's parental rights. See In re Humphrey, 156 N.C. App. 533, 577 S.E.2d 421 (2003) (upholding termination order where evidence showed the mother failed to contact her child for a significant period and had withheld her love, care, and affection from the child); In re Leftwich, 135 N.C. App. 67, 518 S.E.2d 799 (1999) (affirming order terminating parental rights where the parent failed to enroll in a drug treatment facility and to make other improvements in her lifestyle that might help her to better care for her children).
The mother's remaining assignments of error were not argued in her brief. They are, therefore, deemed abandoned. N.C.R. App. P. 28(b)(6).
Affirmed.
Judge TIMMONS-GOODSON concurs.
Judge TYSON dissents in separate opinion.
. These petitions also sought to terminate the father's parental rights for K.T.R., A.M.R., and E.A.R. C.L.C.'s father was deceased.
. We are only able to approximate the filing dates since the mother, contrary to the Rules of Appellate Procedure, has not either ensured that the record on appeal contains legible date stamps indicating the filing date or typed the date of filing on the orders for which review is sought. N.C.R. App. P. 9(b)(3).