Court Opinion

ID: 4159195
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-04-10 18:15:31.790044+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:34:57.878377
License: Public Domain

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA
                          SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS                                      FILED
                                                                                     April 10, 2017
                                                                                     RORY L. PERRY II, CLERK
In re: K.W., K.M., D.M. and S.H.                                                   SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                                       OF WEST VIRGINIA
No. 16-0395 (Wood County 13-JA-123, 13-JA-124, 14-JA-118, & 15-JA-176)

                              MEMORANDUM DECISION
        Petitioner Mother F.M., by counsel Thomas B. Karr, appeals the Circuit Court of Wood
County’s March 22, 2016, order terminating her parental rights to five-year-old K.W., three­
year-old K.M., two-year-old D.M., and one-year-old S.H.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”), Courtney L. Ahlborn, filed a
response on behalf of the children also in support of the circuit court’s order. On appeal,
petitioner argues that the circuit court erred in terminating her parental rights to the children
because it failed to consider less-restrictive alternatives to termination.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 2013, the DHHR filed an abuse and neglect petition against petitioner alleging that she
abused K.W. and K.M. by attempting suicide while the children were in her custody. Petitioner
reportedly sought treatment soon thereafter, but she failed to follow through with that treatment.
The DHHR further alleged that petitioner exposed the children to domestic violence in the home.

       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).
       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 on May 20, 2015. In this memorandum decision, we apply the statutes as they
existed during the pendency of the proceedings below. It is important to note, however, that the
abuse and neglect statutes underwent minor stylistic revisions and the applicable changes have
no impact on the Court’s decision herein.
                                                1

        In January of 2014, petitioner stipulated to the allegations in the petition. The circuit
court accepted her stipulations to abuse and neglect, adjudicated her as an abusing parent, and,
thereafter, granted her a post-adjudicatory improvement period. In March of 2014, petitioner was
evaluated in the office of Dr. Timothy Saar, a licensed psychologist. In the resulting
psychological report, petitioner was diagnosed with personality disorder and a treatment program
was recommended. It was recommended that petitioner attend therapy, classes for parenting and
adult life skills, and a domestic violence program. It was also noted in the psychological report
that petitioner’s prognosis was “guarded” and that she failed to acknowledge her prior
stipulations of child abuse and neglect. The psychological report provided a goal for petitioner,
which was to “illustrate that she has accepted, internalized, and used the skills she has learned.”

        In late 2014, D.M. was born. Thereafter, the DHHR filed an amended abuse and neglect
petition that included D.M. as an abused and neglected child, noting that the concerns regarding
petitioner’s parenting from the initial abuse and neglect petition remained unresolved. In
December of 2014, petitioner was granted a dispositional improvement period, as her post­
adjudicatory improvement period (and extension thereof) had naturally expired. In February of
2015, the circuit court held a review hearing. At that hearing, due to concerns raised by the
guardian, the circuit court ordered petitioner to submit to random drug screens.

        In April of 2015, the circuit court held another review hearing. At that hearing, the
DHHR noted that petitioner’s parenting provider and visitation supervisor stopped providing her
services in March of 2015 due to her repeated cancellations. The DHHR further noted that
petitioner’s attendance in her therapy sessions had declined; that she remained at risk for
domestic violence, despite having completed counseling on the subject, due to her lack of
insight, impulsive nature, and other traits; and that she was argumentative with the multi­
disciplinary team. Additionally, the circuit court heard evidence that petitioner tested positive for
phenobarbital on one drug screen. At the conclusion of the hearing, the circuit court ordered that
the matter be scheduled for another hearing in the summer of 2015 and directed the DHHR to
continue to provide her with services.

        Thereafter, the guardian filed a report in which she noted that petitioner was pregnant for
the second time during the pendency of these proceedings. In her report, the guardian concluded
that petitioner failed to focus on the best interests of her children. The guardian recommended
that the case be scheduled for a final dispositional hearing. The DHHR also filed a report in
which it argued that petitioner failed to fully comply with services and was involved in a
relationship that had a negative effect on her ability to parent. As such, the DHHR asked the
circuit court to schedule the matter for a final dispositional hearing.

         In late 2015, S.H. was born. Thereafter, the DHHR filed an amended abuse and neglect
petition that included S.H. as an abused and neglected child, noting that petitioner’s issues from
the initial abuse and neglect petition remained unresolved.

      From July of 2015 to January of 2016, the circuit court held three dispositional hearings.3
During those hearings, the circuit court heard evidence that petitioner was not fully compliant

       3
           Discovery issues and multiple continuances delayed disposition in this matter.
                                                  2

with her services. Evidence established that petitioner’s first visitation provider discharged her as
a client due to sporadic attendance and other concerns. The DHHR caseworker testified that the
same concerns alleged in the initial abuse and neglect petition remained years later, and
petitioner’s therapist testified that she made some progress, but she still had “some work to do.”
Petitioner’s therapist estimated that she required approximately six months of treatment (if not
more) to resolve the underlying concerns.

        By order entered on March 22, 2016, the circuit court found that there was no reasonable
likelihood that petitioner could substantially correct the issues of abuse and neglect in the near
future. The circuit court further found that the children (all under the age of five) required
continuity of care in a stable and permanent home. As such, the circuit court concluded that
reunification between petitioner and her children was not in the children’s best interests. As such,
petitioner’s parental rights to the children were terminated.4 This appeal followed.

       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). Further, our case law is clear that
“in the context of abuse and neglect proceedings, the circuit court is the entity charged with
weighing the credibility of witnesses and rendering findings of fact.” In re Emily, 208 W.Va.
325, 339, 5      40 S.E.2d 542, 556 (2000) (citing Syl. Pt. 1, in part, In re Travis W., 206 W.Va.

       4
         According to the DHHR and guardian, K.W. is placed in a non-relative foster home with
the permanency plan of adoption into that home, but that K.W.’s paternal grandmother has
moved to intervene to obtain custody. The biological father of K.W. is R.W., and his parental
rights to K.W. were terminated below. According to the guardian ad litem (at the time she filed
her brief), K.M. was in the custody of her biological father (M.W.) where she will remain; D.M.
was also in the custody of his biological father (W.M.) where he will remain; and the youngest
child, S.H., was placed with her maternal grandparents who intended to adopt or acquire legal
guardianship of her. The parental rights of S.H.’s biological father (R.H.) were terminated below.
The biological fathers of K.M. and D.M. maintain their parental rights and have custody of their
respective children. The guardian notes that K.M. and D.M. were doing well with their
respective fathers.
                                                 3

478, 525 S.E.2d 669 (1999)); see also Michael D.C. v. Wanda L.C., 201 W.Va. 381, 388, 497
S.E.2d 531, 538 (1997) (stating that “[a] reviewing court cannot assess witness credibility
through a record. The trier of fact is uniquely situated to make such determinations and this
Court is not in a position to, and will not, second guess such determinations.”).

        On appeal, petitioner argues that the circuit court erred in terminating her parental rights
to the children without imposing a less-restrictive dispositional alternative to termination. West
Virginia Code § 49-4-604(a)(6) provides that circuit courts are directed to terminate parental
rights upon finding that there is “no reasonable likelihood that the conditions of neglect or abuse
can be substantially corrected in the near future” and that termination is necessary for the
children’s welfare. Under West Virginia Code § 49-4-604(c)(3), “no reasonable likelihood that
the conditions of neglect or abuse can be substantially corrected” exists when “[t]he abusing
parent . . . ha[s] not responded to or followed through with a reasonable family case plan or other
rehabilitative efforts[.]” We have also held that “[t]ermination . . . may be employed without the
use of intervening less[-]restrictive alternatives when it is found that there is no reasonable
likelihood . . . that conditions of neglect or abuse can be substantially corrected.” Syl. Pt. 7, in
part, In re Katie S., 198 W.Va. 79, 479 S.E.2d 589 (1996).

         In this case, evidence clearly supported the finding that petitioner failed to fully comply
with services designed to correct her underlying issues and to reunify her with her children. The
circuit court heard evidence that petitioner only sporadically attended her services and that her
first visitation provider discharged her as a client due to her lack of adequate attendance and
other concerns. Further, the DHHR caseworker testified at the final dispositional hearing that
petitioner had not corrected the underlying issues that led to the filing of the initial abuse and
neglect petition, despite being granted years of services to achieve that goal. Moreover, at the
final dispositional hearing, petitioner’s therapist testified that additional treatment would be
necessary and would require at least six months, if not longer. Under these circumstances, it is
clear that there was no reasonable likelihood that the conditions of neglect or abuse could be
substantially corrected in the near future. Petitioner failed to adequately respond to or follow
through with rehabilitative efforts, and her continued treatment would take a substantial amount
of additional time. It is also clear that termination was necessary for the children’s welfare, given
the children’s need for permanency after years of uncertainty in this matter. Based on those
findings, we find no error in the circuit court’s termination of petitioner’s parental rights without
imposing less-restrictive dispositional alternatives.

       For the foregoing reasons, we hereby affirm the circuit court’s March 22, 2016, order.

                                                                                          Affirmed.
ISSUED: April 10, 2017

CONCURRED IN BY:
Chief Justice Allen H. Loughry II
Justice Robin Jean Davis
Justice Margaret L. Workman
Justice Menis E. Ketchum
Justice Elizabeth D. Walker

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