Opinion ID: 6353692
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: jurisdiction

Text: Mrs. H. argues that District of Columbia law does not provide a private right of action for a non-parent to sue a parent for custody of the latter’s child outside the context of an adoption or neglect proceeding. She contends that private actions cannot be used to circumvent the existing statutory scheme governing adoption and neglect proceedings. In response, Mr. H. argues that the court’s authority to award custody of a child stems from equity, rather than any particular statute. He contends that there is no law limiting the court’s equitable authority to entertain such actions and that this court has recognized the ability of third-party caregivers to obtain custody of children in their care. The arguments that Mr. H. makes were resolved against him in W.D. v. C.S.M., 906 A.2d 317 (D.C.2006). In W.D., this court considered “whether the trial court had authority to grant permanent custody of a minor child, who was under the court’s jurisdiction in a neglect case, to third parties in a proceeding filed by them under Chapter 9 (‘Divorce, Annulment, Separation, Support, etc.’) of the domestic relations law.” Id. at 321. After considering the statutory scheme, this court concluded that there is no reason to believe that the legislature intended to extend the reach of the court’s domestic relations jurisdiction and its standards and procedures into an area where it had provided for extensive procedures specifically designed to protect abused and neglected children. The court’s general powers to adjudicate matters involving children under other sections of the Code ... do not support [the] argument that these provisions were intended to be used, or can be used, as a vehicle to bypass the operation of the neglect statutes. The statutory procedures governing abused and neglected children are comprehensive and extensive.... The question is whether the legislature has sought to limit the court’s inherent authority.... In this area, we conclude that the legislature has preempted the power of the court to exercise its inherent authority to override the procedures established for determining the future of abused and neglected children. 906 A.2d at 325 (citations and footnotes omitted). See also T.S. v. M.C.S., 747 A.2d 159, 163-64 (D.C.2000) (holding that the domestic relations court could not remove children from their mother’s custody without instituting neglect proceedings). When a child is adjudicated neglected, the court is authorized by statute to place the child with someone other than a parent, if in the child’s best interest. See D.C.Code § 16-2320(a)(3)(C), (a)(5) (2001) (authorizing, respectively, placement of a neglected child with “a relative or other individual who is found by the Division to be qualified to receive and care for the child,” or “such other disposition as is not prohibited by law and as the Division deems to be in the best interests of the child”). The Foster Children’s Guardianship Act, codified at D.C.Code § 16-2381 et seq. (2003 Supp.), provides for the creation of a “permanent guardianship” and the appointment of a non-parent where: “(1) [t]he permanent guardianship is in the child’s best interests; (2) [a]doption, termination of parental rights, or return to parent is not appropriate for the child; and (3) [t]he proposed permanent guardian is suitable and able to provide a safe and permanent home for the child.” See D.C.Code § 16-2383(c)(l)-(3) (2007 Supp.). 8 However, a permanent guardianship may be ordered only where there is a prior adjudication that the child is neglected. See D.C.Code § 16-2383(a) (2007 Supp.) (“A guardianship order may not be entered unless the child has been adjudicated to be neglected pursuant to section 16-2317 and has been living with the proposed permanent guardian for at least 6 months.”). “Thus, the [Permanent Guardianship] Act provides this additional option to the Family Court by which it can achieve permanency for the neglected child while ensuring the fundamental rights of all parties.” W.D., supra, 906 A.2d at 326 (citation and footnote omitted). The trial court recognized the court’s authority to appoint a permanent guardian for the child under this act, but declined to apply it, noting this court’s decision in G.H., supra, in which it stated that the evidence was insufficient to support a finding that G.H. had been neglected. See G.H., 797 A.2d at 686. Thus, the trial court failed to give preclusive effect to the trial court’s decision adjudicating G.H. to be a neglected child even though the judgment was final as to Mrs. H., who failed to appeal the decision. Since the child’s status as a neglected child or not is determinative of the options available to the court’s further action, we consider Mr. H.’s argument that the trial court abused its discretion by failing to give preclusive effect to the neglect finding in the neglect case.