Opinion ID: 2362970
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Shifting Burden

Text: The respondent also contends that the trial justice erred as a matter of law when, in denying his motion for a directed verdict at the close of DCYF's evidence, she allocated to him the burden of proving that he was a fit parent. Assuming without deciding that a motion for directed verdict is appropriate in a nonjury case (as opposed to a motion to dismiss), In re Diana P., 656 A.2d 620, 623 (R.I.1995), we believe that respondent has misconstrued the trial justice's assessment that at the time of his motion, DCYF had presented evidence sufficient to require [him] to present a case. The trial justice was merely placing the burden of going forward on respondent, which is where it properly belonged once she had determined that DCYF had made out a prima facie case of cruel or abusive conduct toward any child. See In re Jarvis R., 766 A.2d 395, 399 (R.I.2001). In Jarvis R., a mother appealing a termination order contended that the trial court had erred in assigning to her the burden of proving her mental impairment. Id. at 398. This Court's explanation of burden shifting in that context is instructive here as well: The trial justice simply referred to the burden of going forward with this evidence. This is quite different from shifting the burden of proof. To raise an issue, a party must establish sufficient evidence to create the issue for the Court to consider. Although the burden of proof never shifts from the state, the burden of going forward with the evidence may indeed shift from side to side, and this same burden may properly devolve upon a defendant once the state has developed a prima facie case and has adduced evidence sufficient to make it just that the defendant be required to challenge the proof with excuse or explanation.' Id. at 399 (quoting State v. Neary, 122 R.I. 506, 511-12, 409 A.2d 551, 555 (1979)). We are satisfied that DCYF had made out a prima facie case under § 15-7-7(a)(2)(ii), and we find no error in the trial justice's shifting to respondent the burden of presenting his own evidence concerning his parental fitness. [3]