Opinion ID: 2607111
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: qualified expert witnesses

Text: As required under 25 U.S.C. § 1912(f), the trial court considered whether continued custody of the child by the father is likely to result in serious emotional or physical damage to the child. The trial court concluded the evidence does not establish beyond a reasonable doubt that the father's continued custody is likely to result in serious physical damage to the child, but that the evidence does establish the father's continued custody of the child is likely to result in serious emotional damage to the child. The trial court recognized that this finding must be supported by evidence including testimony of qualified expert witnesses. 25 U.S.C. § 1912(f). On appeal, the tribe contends the adoptive parents failed to meet their burden of proof with testimony of qualified expert witnesses. This argument lacks merit. Neither the language nor purpose of ICWA require the testimony of more than one qualified expert witness. See, e.g., D.A.W. v. Alaska, 699 P.2d 340, 342 (Alaska 1985). D.A.W. is persuasive. In support of its holding, it quotes the Federal Rules of Construction Act, 1 U.S.C. § 1 (1947): In determining the meaning of any Act of Congress, unless the context indicates otherwise ... words importing the plural include the singular.... Id. at 342. D.A.W. also quotes, as did the trial court, 44 Fed.Reg. 67593 D(a), which states that removal: of an Indian child ... must be based on competent testimony from one or more experts qualified to speak specifically to the issue of whether continued custody ... is likely to result in serious physical or emotional damage to the child. (emphasis added). Accordingly, if at least one expert witness competently testified as to the emotional damage issue, the standard has been satisfied. The tribe has tacitly admitted that Mr. Floyd Wyasket, a Ute Indian and expert called by the adoptive parents, was a qualified expert witness under ICWA. Our review of Wyasket's trial testimony leads us to conclude that the trial court did not err in determining that Wyasket was a qualified expert witness. Among other things, Wyasket has an MSW degree from Utah State University, and was pursuing his PhD degree at Utah State. At the time of trial he was the Chief Appellate Judge for the Ute Indian Tribe; has been personally involved in several ICWA appeals; has worked as a counselor in foster and adoption cases on his reservation; he has placed Indian children outside their homes where the respective children were abused, neglected, and abandoned; he actually lived on Baby Boy Doe's father's reservation for a time; and he interviewed the child in this case and observed the bonding with the adoptive parents. Wyasket concluded in his professional opinion that permanent removal of the child from the adoptive home would likely result in serious emotional harm. Mr. Wyasket alone seems to satisfy the expert witness criterion under ICWA. Other witnesses called by attorneys for the adoptive parents and the child were qualified experts because of expertise in their specialties. The trial court found in particular that a Dr. John McGaha was a qualified expert witness. Dr. McGaha has a PhD degree in criminal justice and is on the faculty of Southeast Missouri State. He is a published author in his field, specializing in family dysfunction and its relationship to the juvenile justice system. He also continues to work in the juvenile justice field as a caseworker. The child's court appointed attorney called Dr. Cynthia Brownsmith as an expert witness. She is a licensed psychologist in the state of Idaho, and has a PhD in special education. She works exclusively with children, particularly emotionally disturbed children and their educational needs. Both Dr. McGaha and Dr. Brownsmith also concluded that the father's continued custody is likely to result in serious emotional damage to the child. Special knowledge of Indian life is not necessary where a professional person has substantial education and experience and testifies on matters not implicating cultural bias. In the Matter of N.L., 754 P.2d 863, 867 (Okla.1988); In re Krystle D., 30 Cal. App.4th 1778, 37 Cal.Rptr.2d 132, 145 (6 Dist. 1994); State ex rel. Juvenile Dept. v. Charles, 70 Or.App. 10, 688 P.2d 1354 (1984). We recognize that the tribe also called expert witnesses who would be qualified under ICWA, but the weight to be given to expert testimony is for the trier of fact. E.g., State v. Blair, 91 Idaho 137, 138, 417 P.2d 217, 218 (1966). We hold that the trial court's finding of likely serious emotional harm was supported by qualified expert witness testimony.