Court Opinion

ID: 4320570
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-10-12 15:41:48.519124+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:45:36.625270
License: Public Domain

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA
                                                    SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                                    FILED
                                                                                October 12, 2018
In re I.L., J.L., K.L.-1, R.L., and K.L.-2                                      EDYTHE NASH GAISER, CLERK
                                                                                SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                                    OF WEST VIRGINIA 
No. 18-0234 (Kanawha County 16-JA-137, 139, 140, 141, and 17-JA-181)

                                                          MEMORANDUM DECISION
       Petitioner Mother M.B., by counsel Jason S. Lord, appeals the Circuit Court of Kanawha
County’s February 1, 2018, order terminating her parental rights to I.L., J.L., K.L.-1, R.L., and
K.L.-2.1 The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (“DHHR”), by counsel
Mindy M. Parsley, filed a response in support of the circuit court’s order. The guardian ad litem
(“guardian”), Matthew Smith, filed a response on behalf of the children in support of the circuit
court’s order. On appeal, petitioner argues that the circuit court erred in denying her an
additional improvement period.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.

        On March 18, 2016, the DHHR filed a petition alleging that petitioner abused and
neglected her children by engaging in domestic violence in the children’s presence, medical
neglect, substance abuse, homelessness, and an overall inability to provide the children with a
stable environment. Specifically, the petition alleged that petitioner refused to give one of the
children medication for his biotinidase deficiency, sold food stamps for illegal substances, used
methamphetamine, left drug paraphernalia within the children’s reach, failed to take the children
to medical appointments, and checked one of the children out of the hospital against medical
advice.

                                                            
              1
          Consistent with our long-standing practice in cases with sensitive facts, we use initials
where necessary to protect the identities of those involved in this case. See In re K.H., 235 W.Va.
254, 773 S.E.2d 20 (2015); Melinda H. v. William R. II, 230 W.Va. 731, 742 S.E.2d 419 (2013);
State v. Brandon B., 218 W.Va. 324, 624 S.E.2d 761 (2005); State v. Edward Charles L., 183
W.Va. 641, 398 S.E.2d 123 (1990). Additionally, because two of the children share the same
initials, they will be referred to as K.L.-1 and K.L.-2, respectively, throughout this memorandum
decision.
              2
        Petitioner does not raise a specific assignment of error regarding the termination of her
parental rights.
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        On April 18, 2016, the circuit court held a preliminary hearing at which the circuit court
ordered that petitioner receive services and comply with parenting, adult life skills, and anger
management classes. Additionally, the circuit court ordered that petitioner submit to a random
drug screen following the hearing as a prerequisite for visiting the children. On May 20, 2016,
petitioner waived her right to a preliminary hearing. The circuit court ordered petitioner to
participate in a parental fitness evaluation and other services.

        On July 28, 2016, the circuit court held an adjudicatory hearing. Petitioner stipulated to
the allegations of abuse and neglect. She was adjudicated as an abusing parent and granted a
post-adjudicatory improvement period. On October 6, 2016, the circuit court held a review
hearing. The circuit court ordered that petitioner’s post-adjudicatory improvement period
continue. Additionally, petitioner informed the circuit court that she was pregnant. On December
7, 2016, the circuit court held a review hearing at which the DHHR moved to set petitioner’s
case for disposition because she was not complying with the terms and conditions of her post-
adjudicatory improvement period. The circuit court granted the DHHR’s motion.

        On April 13, 2017, an amended petition was filed alleging that petitioner’s fifth child,
K.L.-2, was born addicted to substances and tested positive for amphetamine and
methamphetamine at birth. The circuit court held a preliminary hearing regarding the amended
petition and heard testimony presented by the DHHR related to the child’s medical issues at
birth. Following the testimony, the circuit court suspended all services and visitation for
petitioner. On June 2, 2017, petitioner was adjudicated as an abusing parent with regard to K.L.-
2. Further, the circuit court denied her request to continue services.

        On January 18, 2018, the circuit court held a dispositional hearing. Petitioner moved to
continue the dispositional hearing and requested a post-dispositional improvement period, which
the circuit court denied. The DHHR presented evidence that petitioner failed to comply with
random drug screens and services. Petitioner admitted to abusing substances during her
pregnancy with K.L.-2 and also testified that she began substance abuse treatment in November
of 2017 in Ohio. The circuit court found that petitioner was given an improvement period but
“failed miserably” and “lack[ed] the motivation.” Additionally, the circuit court noted that
petitioner gave birth to a “drug-addicted baby,” despite being ordered to stop using substances
during her pregnancy. The circuit court found that petitioner failed to follow through with
“rehabilitative services, the efforts of social, medical, mental health, or other rehabilitative
agencies designed to reduce or prevent the abuse and neglect of the . . . [c]hildren as evidenced
by the continuations of conditions which threaten the health, welfare or lives of the . . .
[c]hildren.” The circuit court further found no reasonable likelihood that petitioner could correct
the conditions of abuse and neglect in the near future and that termination of her parental rights
was in the children’s best interests. Ultimately, the circuit court terminated petitioner’s parental
rights in its February 1, 2018, order.3 It is from this order that petitioner appeals.

                                                            
              3
         The father’s parental rights were also terminated. According to the respondents, I.L. and
J.L. are placed in the same foster home and the permanency plan for them is adoption in that
home. R.L., K.L.-1, and K.L.-2 are placed together in the same foster home, and the permanency
plan for them is adoption in that home.
                                                               2

 
       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, this Court
finds no error in the proceedings below.

        On appeal, petitioner argues that the circuit court erred in denying her an additional
improvement period at disposition. In support, she argues that she has made “recent
accomplishments” by maintaining a residence and employment and participating in substance
abuse treatment. While it may be true that petitioner took steps to address the issues of abuse and
neglect following disposition, this Court cannot consider these alleged improvements because
there is no evidentiary support for said improvements in the record. During the proceedings
below, petitioner failed to meet the requisite burden to receive an additional improvement period.
Although petitioner testified to submitting to substance abuse treatment just prior to the
dispositional hearing, the record overwhelmingly shows that she failed to comply with the
services offered.

        Pursuant to West Virginia Code § 49-4-610(3)(D), a circuit court may grant a parent an
improvement period at disposition if, “the [parent] demonstrates that since the initial
improvement period, the [parent] has experienced a substantial change in circumstances. Further,
the [parent] shall demonstrate that due to that change in circumstances, the [parent] is likely to
fully participate in the improvement period . . . .” Additionally, “West Virginia law allows the
circuit court discretion in deciding whether to grant a parent an improvement period.” In re
M.M., 236 W.Va. 108, 115, 778 S.E.2d 338, 345 (2015).

        Here, petitioner was previously granted a post-adjudicatory improvement period. While
she argues that she should have been granted more time to show that she could fully comply with
services, petitioner failed to comply with services for the majority of the proceedings below and
failed to show that she experienced a substantial change in circumstances prior to the
dispositional hearing. Petitioner failed to comply with parenting classes, drug screens, and other
services. Further, after the circuit court ordered petitioner to stop abusing substances during her
pregnancy, she continued to abuse substances, resulting in K.L.-2 being born with amphetamine
and methamphetamine in her system. It was not until several months after K.L.-2’s birth and

                                                3

 
after the circuit court suspended services that petitioner sought treatment for her substance abuse
addiction. At the dispositional hearing, the circuit court noted that petitioner lacked the
motivation to improve the conditions of abuse and neglect and failed to comply with the services
that were offered to her to address those issues. Ultimately, the circuit court terminated
petitioner’s parental rights upon finding that there was no reasonable likelihood that petitioner
could substantially correct the conditions of abuse and neglect in the near future and that
termination was in the children’s best interests pursuant to West Virginia Code § 49-4-604(b)(6).
Based on this evidence, petitioner did not meet the requisite burden to receive an additional
improvement period at disposition. As such, we find no error in the circuit court’s denial of the
same.

       For the foregoing reasons, we find no error in the decision of the circuit court, and its
February 1, 2018, dispositional order is hereby affirmed.

                                                                                        Affirmed.

ISSUED: October 12, 2018

CONCURRED IN BY:

Chief Justice Margaret L. Workman
Justice Elizabeth D. Walker
Justice Paul T. Farrell sitting by temporary assignment
Justice Evan H. Jenkins

DISQUALIFIED:

Justice Tim Armstead

Justice Allen H. Loughry II, suspended and therefore not participating

 

 

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