Opinion ID: 1694962
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: state's duty to tailor a plan

Text: We interpret Sadie's argument to be that, even assuming the state proved she failed to make substantial improvement, termination is still not warranted because the state had a duty to tailor the case plan to her capabilities and failed to do so. The state replies that this argument attacking the reasonableness of the case plan comes too late. Apparently, the state's reply is premised on the statutory provisions requiring court approval of case plans as reasonable and foreseeable and permitting the parties to appeal such court approval when the plans are considered unreasonable. Explaining the requirement that the case plan be approved, the official comment to Article 1036(C), states that [La. Ch.C. art. 1015(5) ] now requires prior court approval of the reasonableness and feasibility of any case plan for services proposed by the department in an effort to achieve parental reformation and family reunification. La. Ch.C. art. 1036, Official Cmt. c. The comment also cross-references La. Ch. C. arts. 687-700, which set forth the requirements for submission and approval of an adequate case plan. Id. Finally, the comment cautions that in order to demonstrate lack of compliance with the conditions of a case plan as justification for the termination of parental rights [pursuant to La. Ch. C. art. 1015(5) ], the department must have secured prior judicial approval of its plan. Id. The latter point is expressly stated in La. Ch.C. art. 700, which also provides a right to appeal in Section B. [15] These statutory provisions thus shift the onus from OCS to the party directly affected by the case plan-a parent in Sadie's position-to object if that party deems the plan to be unreasonable or the plan fails to meet that party's particular needs. Moreover, if the trial court nonetheless approves the plan, that party is expressly given the right to appeal. La. Ch.C. art. 700 B; see also La. Ch.C. art. 710 C (providing right to appeal permanent placement plan). In this case, the trial court as early as December 1998 approved a case plan calling for termination. At that point, Sadie could have objected, appealed, or both, if she was dissatisfied with the case plan. She failed to do so. The trial court's decision to terminate her parental rights based on her failure to make substantial progress under that plan cannot now be collaterally attacked on the basis that the plan was not tailored to meet Sadie's particular needs. Furthermore, the record supports the conclusion that Sadie never expressed dissatisfaction with any of the other case plans, nor considered them unreasonable until the actual trial and appeal of her case. In fact, the evidence shows that Sadie's attitude towards the plans was one of total disinterest. More important, however, the record reflects that the chances were minimal that even a tailored plan would have made a difference. Even though on cross examination Dr. Lonowski admitted there was a possibility that Sadie could not live up to the guidelines in the OCS case plan, the possibility that a tailored plan would help her was very slight. Hence, we hold that the court of appeal was in error in reversing the trial court's termination judgment as to Sadie. There was no manifest error as to that court's ruling. Furthermore, although we have no disagreement with the argument that the state should tailor a case plan to meet the particular needs and capabilities of a mentally disabled parent, that parent should make his or her dissatisfaction known before the case is brought to trial. Sadie failed to do so.