Court Opinion

ID: 2720640
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-25 22:01:50.282187+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:16:07.895066
License: Public Domain

Filed 8/25/14 In re N.F. CA2/7
                  NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication
or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

              IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

                                     SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                DIVISION SEVEN

In re N.F. et al.,                                                   B253039

Persons Coming Under the Juvenile Court                              (Los Angeles County
Law.                                                                 Super. Ct. No. CK37176)

LOS ANGELES COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND
FAMILY SERVICES,

         Plaintiff and Respondent,

         v.

L.F.,

         Defendant;

ERNEST F., SR.,

         Appellant.

         APPEAL from an order of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, Tony L.
Richardson, Judge. Affirmed in part, and reversed in part.
         Catherine C. Czar, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Appellant.
       John F. Krattli, County Counsel, Dawyn Harrison, Assistant County Counsel, and
Kimberly Roura, Deputy County Counsel, for Plaintiff and Respondent.

                             __________________________

                                    INTRODUCTION

       Nonoffending noncustodial parent Ernest F., Sr., (Ernest F.) appeals from the
juvenile court’s dispositional order. In particular, Ernest F. challenges the court’s finding
under Welfare and Institutions Code1 section 361.2, subdivision (a), that placing his
dependent son Ernest F., Jr., (Ernest) with him would be detrimental to Ernest’s safety,
protection, and well-being. Although the section 361.2, subdivision (a), issue has
become moot, we reverse the court’s finding of detriment because it is not supported by
substantial evidence and has the potential to affect Ernest F. adversely in future
dependency proceedings.

                 FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

       Ernest and his sister Nyla F. are the children of Ernest F. and L.F.2 L.F. has
another daughter, Mya H., whose father is L.F.’s boyfriend, Myron H., with whom the
four family members lived. On September 21, 2013 the Los Angeles Department of
Children and Family Services received a referral alleging physical abuse by L.F. of 17-
year-old Nyla, sexual abuse by Myron H. of Nyla, and at risk sibling abuse of 15-year-old
Ernest and nine-year-old Mya. During the ensuing investigation by a children’s social
worker (CSW) in the Department, L.F. stated that Ernest F. left the home when the

1      All statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code.
2      Ernest F. and L.F. do not have the same surname.

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children were very young, did not spend time with the children, and did not help raise the
children. Ernest told the CSW that his father lived in Washington state. Ernest said he
could not remember the last time he saw or spoke to his father, and he had no contact
information for him. The CSW spoke by telephone with Ernest F., who stated that
Myron H.’s sexual abuse of Nyla had been going on for a very long time and “mother and
all of her relatives” knew about it. Ernest F. told the CSW that he wanted custody of his
children, had plenty of room for them, and wanted them placed with him. After
completing the investigation, the CSW took the three children into protective custody and
placed each child in a separate foster home.
       The Department filed a petition against L.F. in September 2013. At the detention
hearing, which Ernest F. attended, the court found a prima facie case that Nyla was a
person described by section 300, subdivisions (a), (b), (d), and (j), and a prima facie case
that Ernest and Mya were persons described by section 300, subdivisions (a), (b), and (j).
The court detained all three children and placed them in foster care. At subsequent
hearings, the juvenile court found that Ernest F. was the presumed father of Nyla and
Ernest, and the court ordered the Department to prepare a jurisdiction and disposition
report. The court also ordered the Department to interview and assess Ernest F. for
placement.
       The CSW interviewed Ernest F. Ernest F. told the CSW that “he wanted his
children to be in Washington with him, but they do not wish to live with him. He stated
he had not seen his children in 10 years and mother made it difficult to maintain a
relationship with them.” “[He] wanted custody of his children, but did not want to force
them to come with him if they did not want to.” The CSW also spoke with Ernest, who
stated that he “did not wish to live with his father . . . because he has ‘hatred and anger
towards him.’ He further stated, ‘He cannot make up for lost time. I don’t want to go to
Washington. I don’t want to visit him. It’s weird.’”
       At the disposition hearing, counsel for Ernest F. argued that the Department did
not demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that placing Ernest with Ernest F.
“would be detrimental to the safety, protection, physical or emotional well-being of”

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Ernest. Citing In re Abram L. (2013) 219 Cal.App.4th 452 and In re John M. (2006) 141
Cal.App.4th 1564, counsel for Ernest F. argued that neither a lack of relationship between
a father and his child nor the child’s desire that the court not place him with the father is
“sufficient to support a finding of detriment for purposes of section 361.2, subdivision
(a).” The juvenile court ruled that these cases were distinguishable, and it found that
placing Ernest with Ernest F. would not be in the child’s best interest and “would be
detrimental to the safety, protection, or physical or emotional well-being of the child.”
(§ 361.2, subd. (a).) The juvenile court stated: “I do factor in the fact that Ernest who is
now 15 has made it clear that he himself feels it would be detrimental for him to be
returned to . . . father for whom he’s had no relationship . . . for most of his life.” The
juvenile court ordered that Ernest and the other children “be placed under the supervision
of the Department . . . for placement in the approved home of [a] relative or the approved
home of a nonrelative extended family member.” Ernest F. appealed.
       During the pendency of this appeal, and after Ernest F. had filed his opening brief,
the juvenile court made the requisite findings and entered an order returning Ernest to the
custody of his mother, L.F.3 The court ordered the Department to provide
“enhancement” services to Ernest F. and granted Ernest F. unmonitored visits with Ernest
in Los Angeles County, including overnight visits if Ernest agreed, with the visits to take
place at a location approved by the Department. The court continued its jurisdiction over
the children.

                                       DISCUSSION

       Ernest F. contends that there is no substantial evidence to support the juvenile
court’s finding under section 361.2 that placing Ernest with him would be detrimental to

3      We granted the Department’s motion for judicial notice of the juvenile court’s
April 24, 2014 minute order. (See Evid. Code, §§ 452, subd. (d), 459, subd. (a); In re
Josiah Z. (2005) 36 Cal.4th 664, 677; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.252(a).)

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Ernest’s “safety, protection, or physical or emotional well-being.” (§ 361.2, subd. (a).)
The Department contends that the issue is moot because the juvenile court has returned
the children to the custody of their mother, L.F., and that, in any event, substantial
evidence supports the court’s order.

       A.     Section 361.2
       When the juvenile court removes a child from his offending custodial parent under
section 361, the nonoffending noncustodial parent may seek custody under section 361.2.
The noncustodial parent is entitled to custody unless the juvenile court finds, by clear and
convincing evidence, that placing the child with that parent would be detrimental to the
child. Section 361.2, subdivision (a), provides: “When a court orders removal of a child
pursuant to Section 361, the court shall first determine whether there is a parent of the
child, with whom the child was not residing at the time that the events or conditions arose
that brought the child within the provisions of Section 300, who desires to assume
custody of the child. If that parent requests custody, the court shall place the child with
the parent unless it finds that placement with that parent would be detrimental to the
safety, protection, or physical or emotional well-being of the child.” “‘[I]t is the party
opposing placement who has the burden to show by clear and convincing evidence that
the child will be harmed if the noncustodial parent is given custody.’ [Citation.]” (In re
Z.K. (2011) 201 Cal.App.4th 51, 69.)
       “Under Welfare and Institutions Code section 361.2, placement of the dependent
child with a nonoffending, noncustodial parent must be the juvenile court’s first priority
if that parent requests the placement.” (In re M.C. (2011) 195 Cal.App.4th 197, 224.)
“‘A parent’s right to care, custody and management of a child is a fundamental liberty
interest protected by the federal Constitution that will not be disturbed except in extreme
cases where a parent acts in a manner incompatible with parenthood.’ [Citation.] ‘[T]o
comport with the requirements of the due process clause, a finding of detriment pursuant
to section 361.2, subdivision (a) must be made by clear and convincing evidence.’
[Citations.]” (In re Abram L., supra, 219 Cal.App.4th at p. 461, quoting In re Marquis D.

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(1995) 38 Cal.App.4th 1813, 1828, 1829; see In re Isayah C. (2004) 118 Cal.App.4th
684, 697.) In addition “the juvenile court . . . is charged with the statutory duty of
making placement decisions in the minor’s best interests.” (In re I.G. (2014) 226
Cal.App.4th 380, 388.)
       We review the juvenile court’s finding of detriment supporting a disposition order
under the substantial evidence standard by reviewing “‘“‘“the whole record in the light
most favorable to the”’”’” court’s disposition finding and order “‘“‘“to determine
whether it discloses substantial evidence . . . such that a reasonable trier of fact could find
[that the order is appropriate].”’ [Citation.]” [Citation.]’ [Citation.]” (In re I.J. (2013)
56 Cal.4th 766, 773; accord, In re Abram L., supra, 219 Cal.App.4th at p. 463, fn. 5; see
In re Marquis D., supra, 38 Cal.App.4th at p. 1825.) “We review the record in the light
most favorable to the court’s order to determine whether there is substantial evidence
from which a reasonable trier of fact could find clear and convincing evidence that
placement would be detrimental to the child. Clear and convincing evidence requires a
high probability, such that the evidence is so clear as to leave no substantial doubt.
[Citation.].” (In re Patrick S. (2013) 218 Cal.App.4th 1254, 1262.)

       B.     Mootness
       The Department argues that the only issue on appeal, whether the trial court erred
by refusing to place Ernest with Ernest F. pursuant to section 361.2 after removing Ernest
from the custody of L.F., is moot because the juvenile court has returned Ernest to the
custody of L.F. Therefore, the Department maintains, reversal cannot accomplish Ernest
F.’s desire for placement of Ernest with him under section 361.2, subdivision (a).
       There is some merit in the Department’s argument. Because the juvenile court has
returned Ernest to his mother’s custody, a prerequisite to an order under section 361.2 is
missing: there no longer is an order removing the child from his custodial parent
pursuant to section 361. The existence of Ernest F. as a noncustodial parent and his
desire to assume custody of Ernest no longer entitles him (subject to exceptions) to
custody under section 361.2, subdivision (a). Therefore, it is impossible for us to grant

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Ernest F. any effective relief in this appeal. “‘[W]e cannot simply unwind a juvenile case
and presume that circumstances cannot have changed in the interim. They always do.’
[Citation.]” (In re Isayah C., supra, 118 Cal.App.4th at p. 701; see In re E.T. (2013) 217
Cal.App.4th 426, 436 [“[a]n appeal may become moot where subsequent . . . orders by
the juvenile court[] render it impossible for the reviewing court to grant effective relief”];
In re C.F. (2011) 198 Cal.App.4th 454, 463 [“‘“[A]n action that originally was based on
a justiciable controversy cannot be maintained on appeal if all the questions have become
moot by subsequent acts or events”’”]; In re Anna S. (2010) 180 Cal.App.4th 1489, 1498
[“‘[a]n appeal becomes moot when, through no fault of the respondent, the occurrence of
an event renders it impossible for the appellate court to grant the appellant effective
relief’”].) The appeal is effectively moot.
       Nevertheless, dismissal for mootness “is not automatic, but ‘must be decided on a
case-by-case basis.’ [Citations.]” (In re C.C. (2009) 172 Cal.App.4th 1481, 1488; see In
re Esperanza C. (2008) 165 Cal.App.4th 1042, 1055 [reviewing court must decide “[o]n
a case-by-case basis . . . whether subsequent events in a dependency case have rendered
the appeal moot and whether its decision would affect the outcome of the case in a
subsequent proceeding”].) “‘An issue is not moot if the purported error infects the
outcome of subsequent proceedings.’ [Citation.]” (In re C.C., supra, at p. 1488; accord,
In re A.B. (2014) 225 Cal.App.4th 1358, 1365.)
       In this case, the juvenile court has retained jurisdiction over Ernest, and there have
been continuing proceedings in the dependency case. The court’s finding that placing
Ernest with Ernest F. would be detrimental to Ernest’s safety, protection, or well-being
could be harmful to Ernest F. in future proceedings. “If the dependency court finds
[under section 361.2] that placement with the noncustodial parent would be detrimental,
the court proceeds as to that parent as if it were removing the child from the custodial,
offending parent.” (In re John M. (2013) 217 Cal.App.4th 410, 421.) As the court stated
in In re Marquis D., supra, 38 Cal.App.4th 1813, a finding under section 361.2,
subdivision (a), that placement in the custody of the nonoffending noncustodial parent
would be detrimental to the child “at the dispositional stage is critical to all further

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proceedings. Should the court fail to place the child with the noncustodial parent, the
stage is set for the court to ultimately terminate parental rights.” (In re Marquis D.,
supra, at p. 1829.) Therefore, in light of the possibility that the juvenile court’s finding
may impact future proceedings in this case and “in an abundance of caution” (In re C.C.,
supra, 172 Cal.App.4th at p. 1489), we will consider the merits of Ernest F.’s appeal.
(See In re D.P. (2014) 225 Cal.App.4th 898, 902 [exercising “discretion to reach the
merits” of a potentially moot appeal where “the finding that mother intentionally hurt her
daughter has the potential to impact future dependency proceedings”]; In re D.C. (2011)
195 Cal.App.4th 1010, 1015 [considering the merits of a potentially moot appeal
“because the ruling could be prejudicial to [the mother] if she is involved in future child
dependency proceedings”]; see also In re Christopher R. (2014) 225 Cal.App.4th 1210,
1219, fn. 7 [court reversed jurisdictional findings against the father that “could adversely
affect a future dependency or family law proceeding in which he may be involved”]; cf.
In re I.A. (2011) 201 Cal.App.4th 1484, 1492, 1494-1495 [declining to exercise
discretion to reach merits of appeal where appellant “fail[ed] to suggest any way in which
[the] finding actually could affect a future dependency or family law proceeding, and we
fail to find one on our own”].)

       C.     Substantial Evidence
       Ernest F. argues that there was no substantial evidence that placing Ernest with his
father would create a substantial risk of detriment to Ernest’s safety, protection, or well-
being. According to Ernest F., “[t]he only reason the court gave for determining
placement with [Ernest F.] would be detrimental to Ernest was Ernest’s statement that he
felt it would be detrimental. The court makes no mention of relying on other
factors . . . .” Ernest points to the court’s statement at the disposition hearing that the
court was “factor[ing] in” Ernest’s sentiments against returning to the custody of his
estranged father.
       Most of the evidence in the record is about Nyla and Myron H. There is very little
evidence in the record about Ernest F. And most of the information about Ernest F. is

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relatively stale. There is evidence of a 1999 dependency proceeding when Ernest was
approximately two years old, based on allegations of physical abuse by L.F. A report in
that case stated that Ernest F. had “a criminal history of arrests and convictions for
inflicting corporal injury on a spouse[,] . . . a history of substance abuse and being under
the influence in front of the minors,” and the court subsequently found that Ernest F. was
“incapable of providing the children with regular care/support and protection[] [w]hich
places the children at risk of harm.” The facts and circumstances of the 1999 dependency
case, however, were 14 years old when the court held the disposition hearing in this case
in October 2013. There was no evidence before the court in this case about what Ernest
F. has been doing for the last 14 years, whether his current conduct and lifestyle would
pose any risk or danger to Ernest, whether he is capable of caring for and protecting
Ernest, or anything about what kind of person Ernest F. is today.4 (See In re John M.,
supra, 141 Cal.App.4th at p. 1570 [agency did not meet burden of proving detriment by
clear and convincing evidence where social worker had no information that the out-of-
state father was unable to meet the child’s needs]; see also In re Patrick S., supra, 218
Cal.App.4th at p. 1263 [John M. “stands for the principle that where a child has a fit
parent who is willing to assume custody, there is no need for state involvement unless
placement with that parent would create a substantial risk of detriment to the child”].)
The investigating CSW concluded in the detention report that “caretaker
absence/incapacity by [Ernest F. was] substantiated,” but there is very little evidence, let
alone clear and convincing evidence, to support that conclusion.5

4       Because Ernest had not seen his father in 10 years, the instance of “being under
the influence in front of the minors” had to be at least 10 years prior to the 2013
disposition report.
5       The Department points to L.F.’s statement that she and Ernest F. “once got into a
physical altercation when he came to visit the children and asked if he could take them on
a trip to Washington” as evidence that Ernest F.’s “issues continued.” There is no
evidence, from L.F. or any other source, of when this confrontation occurred. According
to Ernest, any such visit with Ernest F. was at least 10 years ago.

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       There is evidence that Ernest did not have a relationship with his father for at least
10 years. There is also evidence, however, that they were not completely estranged.
Ernest F. told the CSW that he communicates with Ernest and Nyla through Facebook
and that Nyla has his phone number on her cell phone. Ernest F. also stated that he
wanted the court to place his children with him in Washington, that “he has plenty of
room to take his children in,” and that “he has always wanted his children, but [L.F] has
kept them away from him.” Moreover, “lack of a relationship between father and the
children is not, by itself, sufficient to support a finding of detriment for purposes of
section 361.2, subdivision (a).” (In re Abram L., supra, 219 Cal.App.4th at p. 464.)
       It is true that at the time of the detention report, Ernest could not remember the last
time he saw or spoke to Ernest F. and had negative feelings toward his father. The trial
court stated that “there was reference to Ernest making it quite clear that he believes it
would be detrimental to him to be placed with” Ernest F., and that Ernest “has made it
clear that he himself feels it would be detrimental for him to be returned to the . . . father
for whom he’s had no relationship for . . . most of his life.” While Ernest’s wishes are
relevant, they alone do not justify a finding of detriment. (See In re Abram L., supra, 219
Cal.App.4th at p. 464 [although 14-year-old and 15-year-old boys “were entitled to have
their wishes considered, the boys were not entitled to decide where they would be
placed”]; In re Patrick S., supra, 218 Cal.App.4th at p. 1265 [“a child’s preference is not
the deciding factor in a placement decision, even when that child is a teenager”]; In re
John M., supra, 141 Cal.App.4th at p. 1570 [while 14-year-old boy “was entitled to have
his wishes considered, he was not entitled to decide where he would be placed”].) Ernest
F.’s right to care for, have custody of, and manage Ernest outweighs Ernest’s feelings of
discomfort and weirdness caused by the prospect of living with his father. (See In re
Patrick S., supra, 218 Cal.App.4th at p. 1265 [“[t]he liberty interest of a minor is not
coextensive with that of an adult”].)
       The evidence in this case showed that Ernest did not have a relationship with his
father and did not want to live with him, and that Ernest F.’s lifestyle 10 to 14 years ago
might have placed his children at risk of harm. That is not clear and convincing evidence

                                              10
of detriment under section 361.2, subdivision (a). (See In re Patrick S., supra, 218
Cal.App.4th at p. 1263 [“[w]hen the parent is competent, the standard of detriment is very
high”].) Therefore, on this limited record, and in the absence of any reasonably current
information about Ernest F., the juvenile court’s order that placing Ernest with his father
would be detrimental to Ernest’s safety, protection, or physical or emotional well-being is
reversed. In the event the juvenile court ever orders the removal of Ernest again from the
custody of L.F., then Ernest F., the Department, and Ernest will have an opportunity to
present evidence on the issue whether placing Ernest with his father would be detrimental
under section 361.2, subdivision (a).

                                        DISPOSITION

       The order is reversed as to the finding of detriment. In all other respects, the order
is affirmed.

                                                  SEGAL, J.*

We concur:

               PERLUSS, P. J.

               WOODS, J.

*       Judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court, assigned by the Chief Justice pursuant to
article VI, section 6 of the California Constitution.

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