Court Opinion

ID: 3156854
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-11-23 19:20:20.740038+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:07:08.570544
License: Public Domain

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA
                           SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS                                           FILED
                                                                                        November 23, 2015
                                                                                        RORY L. PERRY II, CLERK
                                                                                      SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
In re: S.W.                                                                               OF WEST VIRGINIA

No. 15-0328 (Grant County 13-JA-7, 13-JA-8, 13-JA-9, 13-JA-10, & 14-JA-17)

                               MEMORANDUM DECISION
         Petitioner Father J.W., by counsel Jeremy B. Cooper, appeals the Circuit Court of Grant
County’s March 11, 2015, order terminating his parental rights to S.W.1 The West Virginia
Department of Health and Human Resources (“DHHR”), by counsel Lee Niezgoda, filed its
response in support of the circuit court’s order. The guardian ad litem (“guardian”), Joyce E.
Stewart, filed a response on behalf of the child supporting the circuit court’s order. Petitioner
filed a reply. On appeal, petitioner alleges that the circuit court erred in proceeding to disposition
once his whereabouts became known without giving him actual notice of the proceedings.2

        This Court has considered the parties’ briefs and the record on appeal. The facts and legal
arguments are adequately presented, and the decisional process would not be significantly aided
by oral argument. Upon consideration of the standard of review, the briefs, and the record
presented, the Court finds no substantial question of law and no prejudicial error. For these
reasons, a memorandum decision affirming the circuit court’s order is appropriate under Rule 21
of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.

       In June of 2014, the DHHR filed an abuse and neglect petition against petitioner alleging
abandonment. At the time, the DHHR was aware that petitioner had recently been released from
incarceration in Delaware, but was unaware of his exact location. The circuit court appointed
counsel for petitioner while the DHHR continued to investigate his current address. The
following month, the circuit court held an adjudicatory hearing. At that time, petitioner’s counsel
announced that he had not yet located his client, but had information that petitioner was living in
the Grant County area. Based upon this information, the parties agreed to a continuance to
provide petitioner notice. Thereafter, the DHHR effectuated service on petitioner by publication
in Grant County. However, petitioner failed to appear for the rescheduled adjudicatory hearing.

       1
         The proceedings in the circuit court included several other children that were not
petitioner’s biological children. On appeal, petitioner raises assignments of error relating solely
to the termination of his parental rights to his biological child, S.W. As such, this memorandum
decision concerns only the circuit court’s findings and rulings regarding that child.
       2
         We note that West Virginia Code §§ 49-1-1 through 49-11-10 were repealed and
recodified during the 2015 Regular Session of the West Virginia Legislature. The new
enactment, West Virginia Code §§ 49-1-101 through 49-7-304, has minor stylistic changes and
became effective ninety days after the February 19, 2015, approval date. In this memorandum
decision, we apply the statutes as they existed during the pendency of the proceedings below.
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At that point, the circuit court recognized proper service and proceeded to hear evidence of
petitioner’s abandonment. Petitioner was represented by counsel throughout the hearing.
Ultimately, the circuit court adjudicated petitioner of abandonment and found that petitioner had
not seen the child in approximately five years or provided the child with financial support.

        In December of 2014, the circuit court held a dispositional hearing. Petitioner did not
attend this hearing but was again represented by counsel. Immediately prior to the dispositional
hearing, the DHHR caseworker handling the matter was informed by the DHHR’s economic
services division that an individual applied for economic assistance and listed petitioner as a
member of her household in November of 2014. The applicant resided in Upshur County. The
caseworker was not personally aware of this information until just prior to the dispositional
hearing. Upon hearing this testimony, petitioner’s counsel moved for a continuance. The circuit
court denied the motion and terminated petitioner’s parental rights. It is from the dispositional
order that petitioner appeals.

       The Court has previously established the following standard of review:

               “Although conclusions of law reached by a circuit court are subject to de
       novo review, when an action, such as an abuse and neglect case, is tried upon the
       facts without a jury, the circuit court shall make a determination based upon the
       evidence and shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law as to whether
       such child is abused or neglected. These findings shall not be set aside by a
       reviewing court unless clearly erroneous. A finding is clearly erroneous when,
       although there is evidence to support the finding, the reviewing court on the entire
       evidence is left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been
       committed. However, a reviewing court may not overturn a finding simply
       because it would have decided the case differently, and it must affirm a finding if
       the circuit court’s account of the evidence is plausible in light of the record
       viewed in its entirety.” Syl. Pt. 1, In Interest of Tiffany Marie S., 196 W.Va. 223,
       470 S.E.2d 177 (1996).

Syl. Pt. 1, In re Cecil T., 228 W.Va. 89, 717 S.E.2d 873 (2011). Upon our review, the Court finds
no error in the circuit court proceeding to disposition without providing petitioner actual notice
of the proceedings.

        On appeal, petitioner does not dispute that the DHHR achieved service on him by
publication. Pursuant to West Virginia Code § 49-6-1(b), “[i]f service [of the petition and notice
of the hearing] cannot be obtained by personal service or by certified mail, notice shall be by
publication as a Class II legal advertisement in compliance with the provisions of article three,
chapter fifty-nine of this code.” In this matter, the record shows that the DHHR initially had no
information concerning petitioner’s specific address and that “service of the petition . . . was
made on [petitioner] by publication.” Additionally, petitioner does not allege that the DHHR’s
publication did not comply with the provisions of article three, chapter fifty-nine of the West
Virginia Code. Instead, petitioner urges the Court to find that, despite proper service, his due
process rights were violated when the DHHR obtained information concerning his whereabouts
on the eve of the dispositional hearing. We decline to do so.

                                                2

         Pursuant to Rule 21 of the West Virginia Rules of Procedure for Child Abuse and
Neglect Proceedings, “[t]he judge may permit the civil protection proceeding to go forward after
one parent personally is served, if it is established on the record that there have been diligent but
unsuccessful efforts to serve all other parties . . .” and the DHHR has complied with the
applicable statutes governing service. It is undisputed that S.W.’s mother was personally served,
and the circuit court correctly allowed the proceedings to continue because of the DHHR’s
efforts to achieve service on petitioner. Moreover, petitioner’s absence in the abuse and neglect
proceedings below only underscores the allegations of abuse and neglect against him; namely,
abandonment. Ultimately, we find no error in the circuit court proceeding to disposition upon
valid service by publication upon petitioner. This is especially true in light of our prior direction
that “[c]hild abuse and neglect cases must be recognized as being among the highest priority for
the courts’ attention. Unjustified procedural delays wreak havoc on a child’s development,
stability and security.” Syl. Pt. 1, in part, In Interest of Carlita B., 185 W.Va. 613, 408 S.E.2d
365 (1991).

      For the foregoing reasons, we find no error in the decision of the circuit court, and its
March 11, 2015, order is hereby affirmed.

                                                                                          Affirmed.

ISSUED: November 23, 2015

CONCURRED IN BY:

Chief Justice Margaret L. Workman
Justice Brent D. Benjamin
Justice Allen H. Loughry II

DISSENTING:

Justice Robin Jean Davis
Justice Menis E. Ketchum

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