Court Opinion

ID: 4435691
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-09-04 14:09:57.421392+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:53:11.645668
License: Public Domain

09/04/2019
                  IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
                             AT KNOXVILLE
                               Assigned on Briefs May 1, 2019

                                  IN RE JANIYAH J., ET AL.1

                 Appeal from the Juvenile Court for Hamilton County
                Nos. 281780; 281781; 281782  Robert D. Philyaw, Judge

                                 No. E2018-02006-COA-R3-PT

This action involves the termination of a father’s parental rights to his minor children.
Following a bench trial, the trial court found that clear and convincing evidence existed
to support the statutory ground of severe child abuse and that termination was in the best
interest of the children. We affirm.

        Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Juvenile Court
                             Affirmed; Case Remanded

JOHN W. MCCLARTY, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which RICHARD H.
DINKINS and ARNOLD B. GOLDIN, JJ., joined.

Robert B. Pyle, Chattanooga, Tennessee, for the appellant, Jermichael J., Sr.

Herbert H. Slatery, III, Attorney General & Reporter, and Jordan K. Crews, Assistant
Attorney General, for the appellee, State of Tennessee, Department of Children’s
Services.

                                             OPINION

                                     I.      BACKGROUND

       Janiyah, Areial, and Jermichael, Jr. (collectively “the Children”) were born to
Desanta D. (“Mother”) and Jermichael J., Sr. in August 2010, July 2012, and May 2014,
respectively. Mother and Father (“the Parents”) resided together with the Children in a

1
  This court has a policy of protecting the identity of children in parental rights termination cases by
initializing the last name of the parties.
one-bedroom motel suite in Chattanooga. The front room was converted into a bedroom
for the Parents, while the Children shared the one bedroom.

       On February 20, 2015, the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (“DCS”)
received a referral with allegations of lack of supervision and drug exposure. This was
not the first referral in which DCS investigated the Parents and their care of the Children.
Jennifer Lambert, a DCS investigator, visited the home on March 2, 2015, and found
Mother alone with the Children and the home in disarray with chemicals, clothing, trash,
food, empty cans, and other items strewn about. Mother admitted use of marijuana and
submitted to a drug screen that confirmed her admission. Ms. Lambert advised Mother to
inform Father of the visit and to clean the home before she returned in one week.

        Ms. Lambert returned on March 9. Mother had made significant progress at that
time; however, Ms. Lambert provided Mother with additional information for resources
to assist her further in her care of the Children.

       Thereafter, DCS received another referral on April 27 with new allegations of
environmental neglect and drug exposure. Ms. Lambert, along with another investigator,
returned on April 28. Ms. Lambert found Mother alone with the Children again. The
home was in disarray, and the Children were confined to their bedroom. The bedroom
was “filthy” and “cluttered,” and Jermichael, Jr. had a soiled diaper, with “feces running
down the sides of his legs” and “up his back.” Ms. Lambert questioned Mother about the
living conditions and reminded her that she had agreed to accept services and complete
certain tasks. Mother admitted her lack of effort and also that she would test positive for
marijuana. Ms. Lambert advised Mother that she would return.

        Ms. Lambert attempted a visit in May 2015; however, no one answered the door.
She returned on June 15. Again, no one answered the door; however, Ms. Lambert asked
the motel office to call Mother’s room. Mother answered. At that point, Ms. Lambert
requested police assistance, and once enforcement arrived, she observed Mother standing
in the hallway outside the residence. Mother gave permission to enter the home, which
emitted a strong odor of urine and feces. Ms. Lambert found the Children in the
bedroom, which was covered in feces, garbage, and roaches. The Children were also
covered in feces. At some point, Father arrived and was shown the Children’s living
conditions. He explained that he worked seven days per week and was unaware of the
state of the Children’s bedroom. Mother was arrested, and the Children were taken to the
hospital.2

2
  The family’s room was voluntarily condemned by the motel, and it took approximately three weeks to
clean the room sufficiently to recertify it for occupancy.
                                                     -2-
       Once at the hospital, the Children were cleaned and examined. Medical personnel
shaved Janiyah and Areial’s hair because their hair was matted with feces and could not
be adequately cleaned, despite persistent attempts to remove the fecal matter. Jermichael,
Jr. was diagnosed with Rickett’s, and Areial’s bones showed signs of demineralization.
All three children also tested positive for marijuana. Janiyah and Areial were later
diagnosed with severe developmental delays. The girls were placed in the same foster
home at the time of removal. Jermichael, Jr. later joined them on February 2, 2018.

       The Parents were charged with three counts of aggravated child neglect. They
pled guilty, and received sentences of probation. The Children were adjudicated as
dependent and neglected. The Hamilton County Juvenile Court also found the Parents
guilty of severe abuse by final order, entered on March 24, 2017. The order was
appealed to the Circuit Court; however, an agreed order was entered dismissing the
appeal on December 1, 2017.

       Meanwhile, DCS developed a permanency plan in which the Parents were tasked
with various responsibilities, including refraining from drug use, completing an alcohol
and drug assessment and a mental health assessment, submitting to random drug screens,
securing and maintaining stable housing and income, and ensuring that the home was free
from environmental concerns and other issues.

       On March 12, 2018, DCS filed a petition to terminate Father’s parental rights
based upon the statutory ground of severe child abuse.3 The case proceeded to a hearing,
at which several witnesses testified. As pertinent to this appeal, Ms. Lambert testified
that there were five prior investigations concerning the family before the current
investigation that began in February 2015. She admitted that she did not call Father prior
to the Children’s removal on June 15 but explained that Mother advised her that they did
not have cellular telephones. She recalled that Father arrived during the removal process.
At that time, he admitted that the current living environment was uninhabitable and
inhumane. He further acknowledged that he also lived in the residence and had been
advised of her prior visits.

       Mother testified that she was currently not in a position to care for the Children
but claimed that Father was ready and willing to assume responsibility for them. She
believed he could provide appropriate care for them. She asserted that he provided for
them prior to their removal and interacted with them when he came home from work.
She stated that he currently lived with his grandmother in a nice neighborhood.

3
    DCS also sought and obtained the termination of Mother’s rights. She is not a party to this appeal.
                                                    -3-
        Father confirmed that he lived with his grandmother and has resided there since
2015. He stated that he was working 8 to 12-hour shifts at the time of the Children’s
removal. He alleged that Mother was “always cleaning” when he arrived home after his
shifts. He claimed that he always smelled bleach and that the residence was always clean
when he returned home. He stated that on June 15, he left for work around 5:30 a.m. and
returned around 3:30 p.m. He agreed that the residence was “a little messed up” that
week and claimed that he advised Mother to “get everything together” and that they had
cleaned some that morning. He claimed that the fecal matter strewn throughout the
residence looked like “candy” to him and that the stains on the mattress were caused by
juice. He also denied knowledge of Mother’s marijuana use in the home. He admitted
that he knew she smoked marijuana but claimed that he advised her not to smoke
marijuana in the home while caring for the Children.

       Father admitted that Mother could not provide appropriate care for the Children.
He claimed that he was unaware of her need for mental health treatment prior to removal
but that he was ready and willing to care for the Children in her stead. He believed he
also had an adequate support system to assist him in caring for them. He stated that he
had housing and employment that would allow him to provide for them. He asserted that
he was current with his child support obligation.

        Father acknowledged that the Children had been in foster care for three years. He
admitted that the Children were doing well as evidenced by their appearance at visitation.
He claimed that he had maintained a meaningful relationship with them since their
removal and asserted that they even asked him if they could come home with him during
visitation. He provided that he attended visitation on a weekly basis until he obtained
new employment and experienced a change in his schedule, causing him to miss a few
visits. He believed he has attended 20 visitations since April 2018.

       Crystal Morris, a DCS employee, stated that she was assigned to the Children’s
case at the time of removal and assisted them until March 15, 2018, when the case was
transferred to another worker. She recalled that Father participated in the development of
the permanency plan and that she provided him with the appropriate resources to
complete the requirements. She explained that DCS was later relieved of making
reasonable efforts in April 2017 as a result of the court’s finding of severe abuse. She
admitted that Father had completed some requirements, including submitting to random
drug screens and completing parenting classes. However, she believed Father still did
not have suitable housing for the Children. She stated that she attempted a home visit to
Father’s residence with his grandmother but that no one was at the residence at that time.
She recalled that Father last advised her that he was attempting to secure housing for
himself and the Children but that his plans had fallen through.

                                           -4-
       Ms. Morris testified that Father was provided supervised visitation with the
Children at a public place on a weekly basis. She recalled that Father did not redirect the
Children when they became loud and that most times, he and Mother provided unhealthy
snacks for the Children during visitation. She agreed that the Children interacted with the
Parents as “mom” and “dad” but that they no longer asked for them when visitation was
over. She explained,

       They would respond to them as Mom and Dad. They interacted with them
       during the visits. When it was time to leave the visits, the [Children] would
       get in the car. The [Parents] would ensure that the [Children] were in their
       seatbelts and . . . tell them bye. But as soon as we leave, the [Children]
       were like, we’re going home to [Foster Mother]. So there was no more
       mention of Mom and Dad, it was [Foster Mother].

She stated that Father had missed some visitation due to work obligations.

      Ms. Morris testified that the Children were doing well in their current placement
and had bonded with their foster family. She stated that the Children had also progressed
and shown improvement since the time of removal.

       Erica Little, also employed by DCS testified that she was assigned to the
Children’s case in March 2018 in Ms. Morris’s stead. She confirmed that the Children
had bonded with their foster family and asserted that they were housed in a nurturing and
loving environment. She claimed that the Parents had missed 23 of 27 visits since March
2018. She claimed that she often transported the Children to the visit only to find that the
Parents were unable to attend. She recalled that the younger children were “numb” to the
Parents’ failure to appear but that the oldest child, Janiyah, seemed upset. She asserted
that the Parents had little to no interaction with the Children when the visitations actually
occurred as scheduled. She explained that they either watched the Children or were on
their cellular telephone. She claimed that the Parents took offense when she directed
them to interact with the Children. She recalled that the Parents also exhibited poor
hygiene during visitation and that other patrons of the restaurant complained.

        Foster Mother testified concerning her loving relationship with the Children and
their integration into her home. She expressed a desire to adopt them if they were to
become available for adoption. She claimed that the Children had progressed since their
placement in their home and had bonded with the rest of the family. She confirmed that
Janiyah seemed upset when the Parents did not attend visitation as scheduled.

       Father denied Ms. Little’s claim concerning visitation and testified that he
attended 17 or 18 visits since March 2018. He claimed that visitation was cancelled by
                                            -5-
DCS on at least two occasions and that he has missed some visitation due to his work
responsibilities. Ms. Little testified in rebuttal that Father attended approximately four
visitations, including one two-hour visitation that was scheduled as a result of her
cancellation of a prior visit. She further claimed that he either cancelled or did not appear
12 times since March 21, 2018, and that her records were incomplete for the remainder of
the scheduled dates.

       Following the hearing, the trial court granted the termination petition, finding that
Father had committed severe child abuse as found by the final adjudicatory order, entered
on March 24, 2017, and that termination was in the best interest of the Children. This
timely appeal followed.

                                        II.     ISSUES

       We consolidate and restate the issues on appeal as follows:

       A.    Whether clear and convincing evidence supports the court’s
       termination based upon a finding of severe child abuse pursuant to
       Tennessee Code Annotated section 36-1-113(g)(4).

       B.      Whether clear and convincing evidence supports the court’s finding
       that termination was in the best interest of the Child pursuant to Tennessee
       Code Annotated section 36-1-113(i).

                             III.   STANDARD OF REVIEW

       Parents have a fundamental right to the care, custody, and control of their children.
Stanley v. Illinois, 405 U.S. 645 (1972); In re Drinnon, 776 S.W.2d 96, 97 (Tenn. Ct.
App. 1988). This right “is among the oldest of the judicially recognized liberty interests
protected by the Due Process Clauses of the federal and state constitutions.” In re M.J.B.,
140 S.W.3d 643, 652-53 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2004). “Termination of a person’s rights as a
parent is a grave and final decision, irrevocably altering the lives of the parent and child
involved and ‘severing forever all legal rights and obligations’ of the parent.” Means v.
Ashby, 130 S.W.3d 48, 54 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2003) (quoting Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-
113(I)(1)). “‘[F]ew consequences of judicial action are so grave as the severance of
natural family ties.’” M.L.B. v. S.L.J., 519 U.S. 102, 119 (1996) (quoting Santosky v.
Kramer, 455 U.S. 745, 787 (1982)).

      While parental rights are superior to the claims of other persons and the
government, they are not absolute and may be terminated upon appropriate statutory
grounds. See Blair v. Badenhope, 77 S.W.3d 137, 141 (Tenn. 2002). Due process
                                              -6-
requires clear and convincing evidence of the existence of the grounds for termination.
In re Drinnon, 776 S.W.2d at 97. A parent’s rights may be terminated only upon

       (1)    [a] finding by the court by clear and convincing evidence that the
       grounds for termination of parental or guardianship rights have been
       established; and

       (2)    [t]hat termination of the parent’s or guardian’s rights is in the best
       interest[] of the child.

Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-113(c). “[A] court must determine that clear and convincing
evidence proves not only that statutory grounds exist [for the termination] but also that
termination is in the child’s best interest.” In re Valentine, 79 S.W.3d 539, 546 (Tenn.
2002). The existence of at least one statutory basis for termination of parental rights will
support the trial court’s decision to terminate those rights. In re C.W.W., 37 S.W.3d 467,
473 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2000), abrogated on other grounds by In re Audrey S., 182 S.W.3d
838 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2005).

       The heightened burden of proof in parental termination cases minimizes the risk of
erroneous decisions. In re C.W.W., 37 S.W.3d at 474; In re M.W.A., Jr., 980 S.W.2d 620,
622 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1998). Evidence satisfying the clear and convincing evidence
standard establishes that the truth of the facts asserted is highly probable. State v.
Demarr, No. M2002-02603-COA-R3-JV, 2003 WL 21946726, at *9 (Tenn. Ct. App.
Aug. 13, 2003). This evidence also eliminates any serious or substantial doubt about the
correctness of the conclusions drawn from the evidence. In re Valentine, 79 S.W.3d at
546; In re S.M., 149 S.W.3d 632, 639 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2004); In re J.J.C., 148 S.W.3d
919, 925 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2004). It produces in a fact-finder’s mind a firm belief or
conviction regarding the truth of the facts sought to be established. In re A.D.A., 84
S.W.3d 592, 596 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2002); Ray v. Ray, 83 S.W.3d 726, 733 (Tenn. Ct. App.
2001); In re C.W.W., 37 S.W.3d at 474.

      In 2016, the Tennessee Supreme Court provided guidance to this court in
reviewing cases involving the termination of parental rights:

       An appellate court reviews a trial court’s findings of fact in termination
       proceedings using the standard of review in Tenn. R. App. P. 13(d). Under
       Rule 13(d), appellate courts review factual findings de novo on the record
       and accord these findings a presumption of correctness unless the evidence
       preponderates otherwise. In light of the heightened burden of proof in
       termination proceedings, however, the reviewing court must make its own
       determination as to whether the facts, either as found by the trial court or as
                                            -7-
       supported by a preponderance of the evidence, amount to clear and
       convincing evidence of the elements necessary to terminate parental rights.
       The trial court’s ruling that the evidence sufficiently supports termination
       of parental rights is a conclusion of law, which appellate courts review de
       novo with no presumption of correctness. Additionally, all other questions
       of law in parental termination appeals, as in other appeals, are reviewed de
       novo with no presumption of correctness.

In re Carrington H., 483 S.W.3d 507, 523-24 (Tenn. 2016) (internal citations omitted).

                                  IV.    DISCUSSION

                                            A.

        The trial court may terminate parental rights based upon a finding of severe child
abuse either as found “under any prior order of a court” or as “found by the court hearing
the petition to terminate parental rights.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-113(g)(4). Here, the
trial court found clear and convincing evidence in support of this statutory ground of
termination based upon the adjudicatory order, dated March 20, 2017, and later amended
on March 24, 2017, in which Father was found to have committed severe child abuse
against all three children. Father does not appear to challenge the court’s reliance upon
the prior order. Instead, he again feigns ignorance as to the Children’s living conditions
and extreme neglect.

       The adjudicatory order is a final order regarding the disposition of the Children as
dependent and neglected on the ground of severe child abuse. Father appealed the
finding but later dismissed the appeal pursuant to an agreed order. A court may apply
“the doctrine of res judicata to prevent a parent from re-litigating whether [he] committed
severe child abuse in a later termination of parental rights proceeding, when such a
finding had been made in a previous dependency and neglect action.” In re Dakota C.R.,
404 S.W.3d 484, 497 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2012). The finding of severe abuse is “a final
decision, which the [parent] is barred from challenging” when the parent had a full and
fair opportunity to litigate the issue of severe abuse in the prior suit and did not appeal.
State Dep't of Human Servs. v. Tate, No. 01-A-01-9409-CV-00444, 1995 WL 138858, at
*5 (Tenn. Ct. App. Mar. 31, 1995). Accordingly, the order became a final order and may
be relied upon pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 36-1-113(g)(4). With
these considerations in mind, we uphold the court’s finding of severe child abuse.

                                            -8-
                                                     B.

       Having concluded that there was clear and convincing evidence supporting at least
one statutory ground of termination, we must consider whether termination was in the
best interest of the Children. In making this determination, we are guided by the
following non-exhaustive list of factors:

        (i)     In determining whether termination of parental or guardianship
        rights is in the best interest of the child . . . the court shall consider, but is
        not limited to, the following:

            (1) Whether the parent or guardian has made such an adjustment of
            circumstance, conduct, or conditions as to make it safe and in the child’s
            best interest to be in the home of the parent or guardian;

            (2) Whether the parent or guardian has failed to effect a lasting
            adjustment after reasonable efforts by available social services agencies
            for such duration of time that lasting adjustment does not reasonably
            appear possible;4

            (3) Whether the parent or guardian has maintained regular visitation or
            other contact with the child;

            (4) Whether a meaningful relationship has otherwise been established
            between the parent or guardian and the child;

            (5) The effect a change of caretakers and physical environment is likely
            to have on the child’s emotional, psychological and medical condition;

            (6) Whether the parent or guardian, or other person residing with the
            parent or guardian, has shown brutality, physical, sexual, emotional or
            psychological abuse, or neglect toward the child, or another child or
            adult in the family or household;

            (7) Whether the physical environment of the parent’s or guardian’s
            home is healthy and safe, whether there is criminal activity in the home,
            or whether there is such use of alcohol or controlled substances as may

4
  In re Kaliyah S., 455 S.W.3d 533, 555 (Tenn. 2015) (“[I]n a termination proceeding, the extent of
DCS’s efforts to reunify the family is weighed in the court’s best-interest analysis, but proof of reasonable
efforts is not a precondition to termination of the parental rights of the respondent parent.”).
                                                     -9-
          render the parent or guardian consistently unable to care for the child in
          a safe and stable manner;

          (8) Whether the parent’s or guardian’s mental and/or emotional status
          would be detrimental to the child or prevent the parent or guardian from
          effectively providing safe and stable care and supervision for the child;
          or

          (9) Whether the parent or guardian has paid child support consistent
          with the child support guidelines promulgated by the department
          pursuant to [section] 36-5-101.

Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-113(i). “This list is not exhaustive, and the statute does not
require a trial court to find the existence of each enumerated factor before it may
conclude that terminating a parent’s parental rights is in the best interest of a child.” In re
M.A.R., 183 S.W.3d 652, 667 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2005). The General Assembly has also
stated that “when the best interest[] of the child and those of the adults are in conflict,
such conflict shall always be resolved to favor the rights and the best interest[] of the
child, which interests are hereby recognized as constitutionally protected.” Tenn. Code
Ann. § 36-1-101(d); see also White v. Moody, 171 S.W.3d 187, 194 (Tenn. Ct. App.
2004) (holding that when considering a child’s best interest, the court must take the
child’s perspective, rather than the parent’s).

       We acknowledge Father’s love and concern for the Children and his steady
employment history and willingness to provide for them. However, the fact remains that
Father had not obtained suitable housing for the Children in the three years since the time
of removal. Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-113(i)(1). Questions also remain as to whether he
is capable of providing a suitable environment for them as evidenced by his failure to
acknowledge his own neglect of their well-being prior to removal. Tenn. Code Ann. §
36-1-113(i)(6), (7). Meanwhile, the Children have bonded with their foster family and
are thriving. A change of caretakers at this point in the Children’s life would be
detrimental to them. Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-113(i)(5). They should be allowed to
achieve permanency and stability in their current home. With all of the above
considerations in mind, we conclude that there was clear and convincing evidence to
establish that termination of Father’s parental rights was in the best interest of the
Children. We affirm the trial court.

                                             - 10 -
                                  V.    CONCLUSION

      The judgment of the trial court is affirmed. The case is remanded for such further
proceedings as may be necessary. Costs of the appeal are taxed to the appellant,
Jermichael J., Sr.

                                                  _________________________________
                                                  JOHN W. McCLARTY, JUDGE

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