Court Opinion

ID: 4429517
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-08-20 19:25:24.044244+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:50:57.613745
License: Public Domain

RECORD IMPOUNDED

                                NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE
                               APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION
        This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court." Although it is posted on the
     internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R. 1:36-3.

                                                         SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
                                                         APPELLATE DIVISION
                                                         DOCKET NO. A-4823-17T1

NEW JERSEY DIVISION
OF CHILD PROTECTION
AND PERMANENCY,

          Plaintiff-Respondent,

v.

F.F., Jr.,

          Defendant-Appellant,

and

J.A.,

     Defendant.
_____________________________

IN THE MATTER OF THE
GUARDIANSHIP OF J.L.F.,

     a Minor.
_____________________________

                    Submitted January 14, 2019 – Decided January 25, 2019

                    Before Judges Fasciale and Gooden Brown.
            On appeal from Superior Court of New Jersey,
            Chancery Division, Family Part, Camden County,
            Docket No. FG-04-0144-18.

            Joseph E. Krakora, Public Defender, attorney for
            appellant (Ruth A. Harrigan, Designated Counsel, on
            the briefs).

            Gurbir S. Grewal, Attorney General, attorney for
            respondent (Melissa H. Raksa, Assistant Attorney
            General, of counsel; Amy M. Young, Deputy Attorney
            General, on the brief).

            Joseph E. Krakora, Public Defender, Law Guardian,
            attorney for minor (Meredith A. Pollock, Deputy Public
            Defender, of counsel; Margo E.K. Hirsch, Designated
            Counsel, on the brief).

PER CURIAM

      Defendant appeals from a June 7, 2018 order terminating his parental

rights to his son, J.L.F. (the child), born in November 2016. He contends that

the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (the Division) failed to prove

the four prongs of the statutory best interests test by clear and convincing

evidence, and that the judge erred in admitting hearsay evidence in order to

render her decision. We disagree and affirm.

                                      I.

      N.J.S.A. 30:4C-15.1(a) requires the Division to prove by clear and

convincing evidence the following four prongs:

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                                      2
            (1) The child's safety, health, or development has been
            or will continue to be endangered by the parental
            relationship;

            (2) The parent is unwilling or unable to eliminate the
            harm facing the child or is unable or unwilling to
            provide a safe and stable home for the child and the
            delay of permanent placement will add to the harm.
            Such harm may include evidence that separating the
            child from [her] resource family parents would cause
            serious and enduring emotional or psychological harm
            to the child;

            (3) The [D]ivision has made reasonable efforts to
            provide services to help the parent correct the
            circumstances which led to the child's placement
            outside the home and the court has considered
            alternatives to termination of parental rights; and

            (4) Termination of parental rights will not do more
            harm than good.

The four prongs of the test are not "discrete and separate," but "relate to and

overlap with one another to provide a comprehensive standard that identifies a

child's best interests." In re Guardianship of K.H.O., 161 N.J. 337, 348 (1999).

"The considerations involved in determinations of parental fitness are 'extremely

fact sensitive' and require particularized evidence that address the specific

circumstances in the given case." Ibid. (quoting In re Adoption of Children by

L.A.S., 134 N.J. 127, 139 (1993)).

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      "Because of the family courts' special jurisdiction and expertise in family

matters, appellate courts should accord deference to [the judge's] fact[-]finding."

Cesare v. Cesare, 154 N.J. 394, 413 (1998). Thus, the judge's findings of fact

are not disturbed unless they are "so manifestly unsupported by or inconsistent

with the competent, relevant and reasonably credible evidence as to offend the

interests of justice." Id. at 412 (quoting Rova Farms Resort, Inc. v. Inv'rs Ins.

Co., 65 N.J. 474, 484 (1974)). Here, the judge's findings are supported by

substantial credible evidence in the record.

      "When a biological parent resists termination of his or her parental rights,

the [trial judge]'s function is to decide whether that parent has the capacity to

eliminate any harm the child may already have suffered, and whether that parent

can raise the child without inflicting any further harm." N.J. Div. of Youth &

Family Servs. v. R.L., 388 N.J. Super. 81, 87 (App. Div. 2006). The judge's

factual findings, "should not be disturbed unless 'they are so wholly

insupportable as to result in a denial of justice,' and should be upheld whenever

they are 'supported by adequate, substantial and credible evidence.'"        In re

Guardianship of J.T., 269 N.J. Super. 172, 188 (App. Div. 1993) (quoting Rova,

65 N.J. at 483-84). "[T]he conclusions that logically flow from those findings

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of fact are, likewise, entitled to deferential consideration upon appellate

review." R.L., 388 N.J. Super. at 89.

                                     II.

      As to the first prong, the judge relied on testimony from Dr. Linda Jeffrey,

who performed a psychological evaluation of defendant and a bonding

evaluation of defendant and the child and the foster parents – his paternal aunt

and uncle – and the child. The judge explained how Dr. Jeffrey noted that

defendant "had an inability to relate to others in a reality, orderly based way,"

and this restricted his ability to "provide a psychological or physically safe

environment for the child." Dr. Jeffrey said that defendant's "disorganized,

schizophrenic thought or speech affects his ability to form therapeutic alliances

for the child. He may work the child into his delusions. He focuses on himself

not his child's needs. He can't convey normal developmental information and

doesn't focus on the child's normal development needs." The judge felt that

based on a "reasonable degree of psychological certainty," Dr. Jeffrey concluded

that "the results of the psychological evaluation and the bonding evaluation

indicat[ed] that [defendant] was not prepared to provide a minimal level of sa fe

parenting." The judge explained that

            Dr. Jeffrey opined that the child would likely be placed
            at risk of harm in [defendant's] care and that a minimal

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             level of safe parenting just meant that the child could
             make normal, developmental progress, that the
             caregiver can detect that the child has problems and
             seek the necessary intervention, and based on her
             evaluation[,] . . . [defendant] could not do that.

      Additionally, the judge stated that

             there was not even an affectionate tie between [the
             child] and his father. There was no attachment
             whatsoever, and because there was no attachment[,]
             essentially [defendant] was a stranger and that [the
             child] displayed chronic distress in proximity to
             [defendant].      [Defendant] displayed no child
             management services and [the child is] likely to be
             placed at risk in [defendant]'s care and, in fact,
             severance of that bond will not cause serious and
             enduring harm [to the child] because there is no bond.

In contrast, the child was "happy in his comfort zone," with the aunt and uncle.

Dr. Jeffrey felt that severing the child's secure attachment with the aunt and

uncle would place the child at risk for "serious and enduring harm, particularly

during this critical period of attachment formation." Dr. Jeffrey also stated the

child had a "critical need for permanency in order to meet his milestones and

flourish."

      The focus of this prong should be on "the effect of harms arising from the

parent-child relationship over time on the child's health and development."

K.H.O., 161 N.J. at 348. "Mental illness, alone, does not disqualify a parent

from raising a child. But it is a different matter if a parent refuses to treat

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his mental illness [or] the mental illness poses a real threat to a child . . . ." N.J.

Div. of Youth & Family Servs. v. F.M., 211 N.J. 420, 450-451 (2012). The

judge considered that Dr. Jeffrey concluded defendant "was not prepared to

provide a minimal level of safe parenting" to the child. Dr. Jeffrey opined that

defendant "did not display an ability to engage in realistic appraisal of his child's

needs" and that it was possible that defendant could "work the child into [his]

delusions," or "perceive the child as a threat." Additionally, the judge concurred

that the child would suffer harm if separated from the aunt and uncle.

      As to prong two, our Supreme Court has opined that

             the second prong may be met by indications of parental
             dereliction and irresponsibility, such as the parent's
             continued or recurrent drug abuse, the inability to
             provide a stable and protective home, the withholding
             of parental attention and care, and the diversion of
             family resources in order to support a drug habit, with
             the resultant neglect and lack of nurture for the child.

             [K.H.O., 161 N.J. at 353.]

Here, the judge said that defendant is unwilling or unable to eliminate the harm

             because he has not availed himself of the services . . .
             despite transportation and re-referrals and re-referrals
             and re-referrals and he's got an answer every time about
             why he's not going to services and he's in denial to a
             large extent and he's not truthful about what he needs
             or what he's participating in.

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Defendant feels that he "complied with the insufficient services that were

offered when he could."       But there were many instances when defendant

willingly chose not to attend programs or provided excuses for why he was

unable to attend. He also told psychological professionals and hospital staff

members that he did not need assistance and would not comply with resources

that were available to him.

      As to prong three, the judge found that the Division demonstrated by clear

and convincing evidence that it offered "more than reasonable services" to

defendant, but that defendant did "not avail[] himself" of those services. As of

the trial, defendant did not "say he was engaging in any mental health therapy,

no [domestic violence] services, no [psychological] therapy, no parenting skills

programs, [and did] not report[ that] he was on medication for mental health."

The judge emphasized that defendant was "either in denial or just does not want

the help and will not avail himself of the necessary treatment."

      Because of his mental health issues, defendant claims that he is entitled to

reasonable accommodations for services under the Americans with Disabilities

Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101 to 12213. He cites to L.A.S., 134 N.J. at 139,

in which our Supreme Court stated that, the considerations involved in

determinations of parental fitness are "extremely fact sensitive" and require

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                                        8
particularized evidence.    He also claims that the Division failed to timely

provide him with the proper three-zone bus passes that he would have needed to

see psychologist Dr. Larry Seidman, and attend other services. He further

argues that the Division failed to provide the mental health professionals with

collaterals or records.

      For the first time on appeal, defendant argues that the Division violated

the ADA. Under Title II of the ADA, the Division qualifies as a "public entity,"

and the Division's services constitute "services, programs, or activities." 42

U.S.C. §§ 12131(1), 12132. Defendant feels that the Division's "cookie-cutter

approach" resulted in its failure to make reasonable efforts to provide services

to help defendant. "'Reasonable efforts' may include consultation with the

parent, developing a plan for reunification, providing services essential to the

realization of the reunification plan, informing the family of the child's progress,

and facilitating visitation." N.J. Div. of Youth & Family Servs. v. M.M., 189

N.J. 261, 281 (2007). But, "[t]he diligence of [the Division]'s efforts on behalf

of a parent is not measured by their success." In re Guardianship of D.M.H.,

161 N.J. 365, 393 (1999). "These efforts must be assessed against the standard

of adequacy in light of all the circumstances of a given case." Ibid.

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                                         9
      Defendant cites to New Jersey Division of Child Protection & Permanency

v. T.D. (In re M.G.), 454 N.J. Super. 353, 382-83 (App. Div. 2018) in claiming

that the Division is mandated to tailor its services based on an individual

defendant's medical needs. In T.D., we stated that the Division failed to provide

the defendant, who had multiple sclerosis, with adequate transportation

assistance. Ibid. Yet here, the Division provided passes and also gave defendant

rides to visits, appointments, and even to see the mother in the hospital. He was

also specifically told to inform the Division if he needed a ride to an

appointment.   In T.D., the defendant attempted to inform the Division of

problems with her accommodations and requested that the Division provide

more reasonable measures, all while still actively involved in Division sessions

and classes. But here, defendant refused to participate in its programs and

mandated treatment.

      In New Jersey Divison of Youth & Family Services v. A.G., 344 N.J.

Super. 418, 424 (App. Div. 2001), we affirmed the termination of parental rights

of a mother with mental illness. "The majority of the courts that have considered

the issue have concluded that the ADA does not provide a defense to a

termination of parental rights proceeding." Id. at 442. We stated that applying

the ADA "to constitute a defense to a termination proceeding would improperly

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                                      10
elevate the rights of the parent above those of the child." Ibid. Moreover, we

explained that, "[t]he Division's efforts in providing classes and parenting

programs must by their very nature take into consideration the abilities and

mental conditions of the parents." Ibid.

      Additionally, the third prong requires the judge to have "considered

alternatives to termination of parental rights." N.J.S.A. 30:4C-15.1(a)(3). The

aunt and uncle have stated numerous times that they intend to adopt the child.

      The fourth and final prong under N.J.S.A. 30:4C-15.1(a) requires the

Division to prove that "[t]ermination of parental rights will not do more harm

than good." It has been described as, "a fail-safe against termination even where

the remaining standards have been met." N.J. Div. of Youth & Family Servs. v.

G.L., 191 N.J. 596, 609 (2007). This prong

            cannot require a showing that no harm will befall the
            child as a result of the severing of biological ties. The
            question to be addressed under that prong is whether,
            after considering and balancing the two relationships,
            the child will suffer a greater harm from the termination
            of ties with [his] natural parents than from the
            permanent disruption of [his] relationship with [his]
            foster parents.

            [K.H.O., 161 N.J. at 355.]

The judge noted that terminating defendant's parental rights does not mean that

defendant does not love the child or that the child does not love defendant, but

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                                      11
instead the focus is on whether the Divison has demonstrated that termination

of parental rights will not do more harm than good.

      Our Supreme Court has explained that, "[t]he risk to children stemming

from the deprivation of the custody of their natural parent is one that inheres in

the termination of parental rights and is based on the paramount need the

children have for permanent and defined parent-child relationships."        In re

Guardianship of J.C., 129 N.J. 1, 26 (1992).       Courts should consider "the

testimony of a well[-]qualified expert who has had full opportunity to make a

comprehensive, objective, and informed evaluation of the child's relationship

with the foster parent." Id. at 19. This is precisely what the judge did, despite

defendant's suggestion that nothing in the record "conclusively establishes that

[defendant] could not safely raise [the child]."

                                       III.

      A judge's evidentiary rulings are entitled to deference absent a showing of

an abuse of discretion. Estate of Hanges v. Metro. Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co., 202

N.J. 369, 382 (2010). A parent has a right to effective assistance of counsel in

a termination of parental rights case. N.J. Div. of Youth & Family Servs. v.

B.R., 192 N.J. 301, 306 (2007). For a defendant to obtain relief based on

ineffective assistance grounds:

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                                       12
            (1) counsel's performance must be objectively deficient
            – i.e., it must fall outside the broad range of
            professionally acceptable performance; and (2)
            counsel's deficient performance must prejudice the
            defense – i.e., there must be "a reasonable probability
            that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result
            of the proceeding would have been different."

            [Id. at 307 (quoting Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S.
            668, 694 (1984); accord State v. Fritz, 105 N.J. 42, 58
            (1987) (adopting the Strickland standard in New
            Jersey)).]

Defendant argues that trial counsel's "failure to object to the admission of

hearsay in medical records from Cooper University Medical Hospital [(CUH)],

Dr. [Alexander] Iofin and Dr. [Carissa] Ferguson-Thomas without requiring

expert testimony constituted ineffective assistance of counsel . . . ."

Alternatively, he claims that admitting these records without expert testimony

was plain error.

      Although defendant claims that trial counsel did object to information

provided during a Division worker's testimony from the CUH records, he feels

that counsel was ineffective because at that time, counsel did not even know that

the records were already in evidence. Thus, counsel should have properly

objected when the records were initially introduced.        When counsel was

informed that the records were already admitted, he withdrew his objection. He

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                                      13
then objected a second time, but the judge allowed the testimony as a foundation

for additional follow-up questions.

      Rule 5:12-4(d) permits "reports by staff personnel or professional

consultants" into evidence, subject to the requirements of N.J.R.E. 803(c)(6) and

N.J.R.E. 801(d). Under N.J.R.E. 801(d), a "business" "includes every kind of

business, institution, association, profession, occupation and calling, whether or

not conducted for profit, and also includes activities of governmental agencies."

N.J.R.E. 803(c)(6) governs records of regularly conducted activity and states:

            A statement contained in a writing or other record of
            acts, events, conditions, and, subject to [N.J.R.E.] 808,
            opinions or diagnoses, made at or near the time of
            observation by a person with actual knowledge or from
            information supplied by such a person, if the writing or
            other record was made in the regular course of business
            and it was the regular practice of that business to make
            it, unless the sources of information or the method,
            purpose or circumstances of preparation indicate that it
            is not trustworthy.

N.J.R.E. 808 provides:

            Expert opinion which is included in an admissible
            hearsay statement shall be excluded if the declarant has
            not been produced as a witness unless the trial judge
            finds that the circumstances involved in rendering the
            opinion, including the motive, duty, and interest of the
            declarant, whether litigation was contemplated by the
            declarant, the complexity of the subject matter, and the
            likelihood of accuracy of the opinion, tend to establish
            its trustworthiness.

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Here, the circumstances established the trustworthiness of the records.

      In the context of abuse and neglect, we have explained that:

                   To be admissible as a business record of the
            Division, a Division report must meet the requirements
            of N.J.R.E. 803(c)(6), whether the report is offered
            under N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.46(a)(3), Rule 5:12-4(d), or In re
            Guardianship of Cope, 106 N.J. Super. 336 (App. Div.
            1969). If a Division report is admissible under N.J.R.E.
            803(c)(6) and meets the requirements of N.J.S.A. 9:6-
            8.46(a)(3), Rule 5:12-4(d), or Cope, the court may
            consider the statements in the report that were made to
            the author by Division staff personnel, or affiliated
            medical, psychiatric, or psychological consultants, if
            those statements were made based on their own first-
            hand factual observations, at a time reasonably
            contemporaneous to the facts they relate, and in the
            usual course of their duties with the Division.
            However, whether the Division report is offered under
            N.J.R.E. 803(c)(6), N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.46(a)(3), Rule 5:12-
            4(d), or Cope, statements in the report made by any
            other person are inadmissible hearsay, unless they
            qualify under another hearsay exception as required by
            N.J.R.E. 805. Expert diagnoses and opinions in a
            Division report are inadmissible hearsay, unless the
            trial court specifically finds they are trustworthy under
            the criteria in N.J.R.E. 808, including that they are not
            too complex for admission without the expert testifying
            subject to cross-examination.

            [N.J. Div. of Child Prot. & Permanency v. N.T., 445
            N.J. Super. 478, 487 (App. Div. 2016).]

In N.T., because we felt that the diagnoses and opinions were "central to the trial

[judge]'s finding of abuse or neglect," admitting the psychologists' diagnoses

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                                       15
and opinions in her evaluation was not harmless. Id. at 503. There, the trial

judge "ascribed almost determinative significance to [the psychologist's]

opinion, which went to the heart of the case." Ibid. (quoting Neno v. Clinton,

167 N.J. 573, 587 (2001)). "A hearsay error mandates reversal where it appears

'the error led the [factfinder] to a result it otherwise might not have reached.'"

Ibid. (alteration in original) (quoting Neno, 167 N.J. at 586). We also felt that

"overruling the hearsay objection prevented [the psychologist]'s diagnoses and

opinions from being tested by cross-examination.           Thus, their improper

admission constituted a manifest denial of justice and was 'clearly capable of

producing an unjust result,' requiring reversal." Ibid. Here, though, because the

judge relied on Dr. Jeffrey's testimony in rendering her decision under the four

prongs, there was not a "manifest denial of justice" requiring reversal.

       "[W]hen the expert is not produced as a witness, the rule requires the

exclusion of his or her expert opinion, even if contained in a business record,

unless the trial judge makes specific findings regarding trustworthiness." Id. at

501.

                  In any event, "[a]n expert medical opinion
            contained in a report is generally inadmissible under
            [N.J.R.E. 808's] test because of the complexity of the
            analysis involved in arriving at the opinion and the
            consequent need for the other party to have an
            opportunity to cross-examine the expert." Similarly,

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                                       16
            psychological evaluations generally "entail[] the
            exercise of subjective judgment rather than a
            straightforward, simple diagnosis based upon objective
            criteria or one upon which reasonable professionals
            could not differ."

            [Ibid. (alterations in original) (citations omitted).]

We have stated that:

                   In the event that such reports contain conclusions
            drawn from the facts stated in them, the reports may
            still be admitted, but they should be treated as no more
            than prima facie evidence of the validity of the
            conclusions contained in them. If the parent produces
            evidence refuting such conclusions, petitioner would
            then have the burden of producing live testimony in
            order to establish their validity.

                  In the case of conclusionary statements, the
            author should be a person qualified to give an opinion
            on the subject under discussion (e.g., a psychiatrist or
            psychologist for diagnosis of mental disease or
            impairment), and no conclusion should be received
            unless the report contains a statement of the facts or
            procedures upon which it is based.

            [Cope, 106 N.J. Super. at 344.]

In N.T. we said that,

            whether a Division report is offered under N.J.R.E.
            803(c)(6), N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.46(a)(3), Rule 5:12-4(d), or
            Cope, expert opinions and diagnoses in the report are
            inadmissible hearsay unless the trial court specifically
            finds they are trustworthy under the criteria in N.J.R.E.
            808, including that they are not too complex for
            admission without the expert testifying subject to cross-

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                                       17
            examination. Because the trial [judge] made no such
            finding, and because [the psychologist]'s diagnosis and
            opinion in the [e]valuation are complex, admitting them
            over [defendant]'s hearsay objection was "wide of the
            mark."

            [445 N.J. Super. at 502.]

      Here, the judge did not make a specific finding regarding trustworthiness

of the CUH records and of Dr. Iofin's or Dr. Ferguson-Thomas's reports, but she

did not extensively cite them in rendering her opinion on each of the four prongs.

Instead, the judge referenced the CUH records to show that defendant was

admitted to the psychiatric unit, why he went to the hospital, and what symptoms

he reported. She referenced Dr. Iofin's and Dr. Ferguson-Thomas's reports in

two brief moments in her oral opinion – as demonstration of defendant's history

of noncompliance with the Division, not as evidence of a complex diagnoses.

These three records did not provide the basis of her decision.

      Thus, defendant has failed to show a "reasonable probability that, but for

counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been

different." B.R., 192 N.J. at 307. Instead, even if the judge would not have

admitted the CUH record and the two doctors' reports into evidence, based on

Dr. Jeffrey's testimony, she still would have come to the same conclusion.

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      Defendant has failed to meet both prongs of Strickland. He has not proven

that trial counsel's performance was deficient, or so egregious that he was not

functioning as defendant's constitutionally guaranteed counsel. Trial counsel

did object to the admission of this evidence, but the judge chose to allow the

records in and afford them due weight. Second, defendant has not proven that

counsel's deficient performance prejudiced the defense, or that "but for counsel's

unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different."

Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694.        Even if the documents would have been

inadmissible, the judge still based her decision on Dr. Jeffrey's testimony, thus

rendering any error harmless and unworthy of reversal.           Thus, defendant's

ineffective assistance of counsel claim must fail.

      Defendant also claims that the judge committed plain error.

            Any error or omission shall be disregarded by the
            appellate court unless it is of such a nature as to have
            been clearly capable of producing an unjust result, but
            the appellate court may, in the interests of justice,
            notice plain error not brought to the attention of the trial
            or appellate court.

            [R. 2:10-2.]

But again, as the judge primarily referenced Dr. Jeffrey's testimony and report

in her opinion, any error in admitting the documents would be harmless and

unworthy of reversal.

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Affirmed.

                 A-4823-17T1
            20