Court Opinion

ID: 4301640
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-08-07 17:17:49.029218+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:27:41.136507
License: Public Domain

J-S45013-18

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

    IN RE: ADOPTION OF: Z.T.                   :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                               :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                               :
    APPEAL OF: J.H.-T.                         :
                                               :
                                               :
                                               :
                                               :
                                               :   No. 562 MDA 2018

                Appeal from the Decree Entered March 12, 2018
              In the Court of Common Pleas of Cumberland County
                  Orphans' Court at No(s): 10 Adoptions 2018

BEFORE:      PANELLA, J., OTT, J., and PLATT, J.

MEMORANDUM BY PANELLA, J.:                             FILED AUGUST 07, 2018

        J.H.-T. (“Father”) appeals from the decree entered March 12, 2018,

which granted the petition of the Cumberland County Children and Youth

Services Agency (“the Agency”) and terminated his parental rights to Z.T.

(born November 2016), his daughter, pursuant to § 2511(a)(2), (5), and (b)

of the Adoption Act.1 Additionally, Father’s counsel, Joseph L. Hitchings,
____________________________________________

   Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.

1 Father did not challenge the goal change to adoption in his notice of appeal
and does not discuss the goal change in his brief. Accordingly, he has waived
this claim on appeal. See Krebs v. United Refining Co. of Pennsylvania,
893 A.2d 776, 797 (Pa. Super. 2006). See also Pa.R.A.P. 2101; Pa.R.A.P.
2119(b)-(c).

We further note that it is unclear from the record whether the court changed
Z.T.’s permanency goal to adoption pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. § 6351. Although
the trial court indicates that the March 9, 2018 hearing was convened for both
the goal change petition and the termination petition, the actual decree as
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Esquire, seeks to withdraw his representation of Father pursuant to Anders

v. California, 386 U.S 738 (1967), and Commonwealth v. Santiago, 978

A.2d 349 (Pa. 2009). We affirm and grant counsel’s petition to withdraw.

       We adopt the trial court’s thorough recitation of the facts and procedural

history in this case. See Trial Court Opinion (“TCO”), 5/4/18, at 1-10. See

also N.T., 3/9/18, at 6-74. Briefly, however, we note the following. The

Agency has been involved with the family since 2014. Mother’s parental rights

to three other biological children, not subject to this appeal, were terminated

in 2015. Mother has a long history of drug and alcohol abuse. Father, likewise,

has a long history of drug and alcohol abuse, arrests and incarcerations, and

mental health concerns. By his own admission, Father was diagnosed with

bipolar disorder “years” ago, but has not been compliant with treatment or

medication until recently.2

       Z.T. was born in November 2016. In May 2017, the Agency received a

report that Father had committed an act of domestic violence against Mother;

he was arrested and charged with simple assault, strangulation, and

____________________________________________

entered at both the hearing and on the record concerns only termination. See
N.T., 3/9/18, at 76; Decree, 3/12/18. The record indicates further hearings
were to be convened in August 2018, but offers no information as to the
subject of said hearings. See N.T., 3/9/18, at 76. Regardless, as Father does
not challenge the goal change, this discrepancy does not affect our analysis.

2 The record is unclear whether the Agency had been involved with Father
prior to Z.T.’s dependency matter.

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harassment.3 At that time, Mother tested positive for drugs,4 and Z.T. was

removed from their care and placed with her maternal aunt. Z.T. has lived

with her aunt since her removal from Mother’s care, and is bonded with both

her aunt and her cousins. In May 2017, the court adjudicated Z.T. dependent.

In December 2017, the Agency filed a petition to schedule a goal change

hearing. In February 2018, the Agency filed a petition seeking to involuntarily

terminate Father’s parental rights and change Z.T.’s permanency goal to

adoption.

       In March 2018, the court convened a hearing on the termination and

goal change petitions. The Agency presented the testimony of Debra Zervanos

and Linda Hempt, caseworkers for the Agency, and M.L., Mother’s sister and

Z.T.’s foster parent. Mother and Father, both represented by counsel, testified

on their own behalf. Z.T. was represented by Marylou Matas, Esquire, GAL,

and Damian DeStefano, Esquire, legal counsel.5 Following the conclusion of
____________________________________________

3As of the time of the termination hearing, Father’s criminal matter had not
yet been disposed.

4In a drug screen, Mother tested positive for cocaine. The Agency presented
additional testimony at the hearing indicating that Mother was also using
heroin.

5 Although the notes of testimony indicate that Attorney DeStefano was
present at the hearing, he did not participate in cross-examination, present
his own witnesses on Z.T.’s behalf, or convey Z.T.’s preferences. However,
because the record does not reflect that, at the time of the hearing, Z.T. was
capable of informing the court of her preferences, we will not remand this
matter. See In re K.J.H., 180 A.3d 411, 413-414 (Pa. Super. 2018) (holding
that this Court must raise sua sponte the issue of child’s right to counsel). Cf.

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DHS’ case in chief, the court granted the petition pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. §

2511(a)(1), (2), (5), and (b), and entered a decree terminating Father’s

parental rights.

       Father timely filed a notice of appeal and a concise statement of errors

complained of on appeal pursuant to Rule Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a)(2)(i) and (b).

       Father’s counsel, Joseph L. Hitchings, Esquire, filed a petition for leave

to withdraw as counsel and an Anders brief, which we must address before

reviewing the merits of this appeal. Attorney Hitchings has complied with the

mandated procedure for withdrawing as counsel. See Santiago, 978 A.2d at

361 (articulating Anders requirements); Commonwealth v. Daniels, 999

A.2d 590, 594 (Pa. Super. 2010) (providing that counsel must inform client

by letter of rights to proceed once counsel moves to withdraw and append a

copy of the letter to the petition). Father has not filed a response to counsel’s

petition to withdraw.

       We next proceed to review the issues outlined in the Anders brief. In

addition, we must “conduct an independent review of the record to discern if

there are any additional, non-frivolous issues overlooked by counsel.”

Commonwealth v. Flowers, 113 A.3d 1246, 1250 (Pa. Super. 2015)

(footnote omitted).

       Counsel’s Anders brief presents the following issues:
____________________________________________

In re Adoption of T.M.L.M., 184 A.3d 585, 587-591 (Pa. Super. 2018)
(vacating and remanding for further proceedings where the attorney admitted
she did not interview the six-year-old child to ascertain the child’s
preferences).

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       1. Whether the [trial court] abused its discretion and committed
       an error of law when it found, despite a lack of clear and
       convincing evidence, that sufficient grounds existed for a
       termination of [Father’s] parental rights under Section 2511(a) of
       the Adoption Act, 23 [Pa C.S.] § 2511(a).

       2. Whether the [trial court] abused its discretion and committed
       an error of law in determining it would be in the child’s best
       interest to have parental rights terminated, when it failed to
       primarily consider the child’s developmental, physical and
       emotional needs and welfare, thus contravening Section 2511(b)
       of the Adoption Act, 23 [Pa.C.S.] § 2511(b).

See Anders Brief, at 4.6 Father has not filed a response to the Anders brief,

nor has he retained new counsel.

       Father avers that the trial court abused its discretion and committed an

error of law when it found sufficient grounds existed to terminate Father’s

parental rights under § 2511(a)(2), (5) and (b).

       In matters involving involuntary termination of parental rights, our

standard of review is as follows:

       [A]ppellate courts must apply an abuse of discretion standard
       when considering a trial court’s determination of a petition for
       termination of parental rights. As in dependency cases, our
       standard of review requires an appellate court to accept the
       findings of fact and credibility determinations of the trial court if
       they are supported by the record. If the factual findings are
       supported, appellate courts review to determine if the trial court
       made an error of law or abused its discretion. As has been often
       stated, an abuse of discretion does not result merely because the
       reviewing court might have reached a different conclusion.
       Instead, a decision may be reversed for an abuse of discretion
       only upon demonstration of manifest unreasonableness, partiality,
       prejudice, bias, or ill-will.

____________________________________________

6Additionally, neither counsel for Z.T., the GAL, nor counsel for the Agency
have filed briefs in this appeal.

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      [T]here are clear reasons for applying an abuse of discretion
      standard of review in these cases. We observed that, unlike trial
      courts, appellate courts are not equipped to make the fact-specific
      determinations on a cold record, where the trial judges are
      observing the parties during the relevant hearing and often
      presiding over numerous other hearings regarding the child and
      parents. Therefore, even where the facts could support an
      opposite result, as is often the case in dependency and
      termination cases, an appellate court must resist the urge to
      second guess the trial court and impose its own credibility
      determinations and judgment; instead we must defer to the trial
      judges so long as the factual findings are supported by the record
      and the court’s legal conclusions are not the result of an error of
      law or an abuse of discretion.

In re Adoption of S.P., 47 A.3d 817, 826-827 (Pa. 2012) (internal citations

omitted).

      Termination of parental rights is governed by § 2511 of the Adoption

Act. The burden is upon the petitioner to prove by clear and convincing

evidence that the asserted grounds for seeking the termination of parental

rights are valid. See In re R.N.J., 985 A.2d 273, 276 (Pa. Super. 2009). We

have defined clear and convincing evidence as that which is so “clear, direct,

weighty and convincing as to enable the trier of fact to come to a clear

conviction, without hesitance, of the truth of the precise facts in issue.” In re

C.S., 761 A.2d 1197, 1201 (Pa. Super. 2000) (en banc) (citation omitted).

      We may affirm the court’s decision regarding the termination of parental

rights with regard to any one subsection of § 2511(a). See In re B.L.W., 843

A.2d 380, 384 (Pa. Super. 2004) (en banc). Although the trial court focused

its analysis on § 2511(a)(2),(5) and (b), we will discuss only subsections

(a)(2) and (b).

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     Subsection (a)(2) provides as follows:

        (a) General rule.--The rights of a parent in regard to a
        child may be terminated after a petition filed on any of the
        following grounds:

                                    ...

           (2) The repeated and continued incapacity, abuse,
           neglect or refusal of the parent has caused the child
           to be without essential parental care, control or
           subsistence necessary for his physical or mental well-
           being and the conditions and causes of the incapacity,
           abuse, neglect or refusal cannot or will not be
           remedied by the parent.

                                    ...

23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(a)(2).

     In order to terminate parental rights pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. §
     2511(a)(2), the following three elements must be met: (1)
     repeated and continued incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal; (2)
     such incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal has caused the child to
     be without essential parental care, control or subsistence
     necessary for his physical or mental well-being; and (3) the
     causes of the incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal cannot or will
     not be remedied.

In re Adoption of M.E.P., 825 A.2d 1266, 1272 (Pa. Super. 2003) (citation

omitted). “The grounds for termination due to parental incapacity that cannot

be remedied are not limited to affirmative misconduct. To the contrary, those

grounds may include acts of refusal as well as incapacity to perform parental

duties.” In re Adoption of C.D.R., 111 A.3d 1212, 1216 (Pa. Super. 2015)

(quoting In re A.L.D., 797 A.2d 326, 337 (Pa. Super. 2002)).

     A parent is required to make diligent efforts towards the reasonably

prompt assumption of full parental responsibilities. See In re A.L.D., 797

A.2d at 337. A parent’s vow to cooperate, after a long period of

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uncooperativeness regarding the necessity or availability of services, may

properly be rejected as untimely or disingenuous. See id., at 340.

      And with respect to incarceration, our Supreme Court has stated:

      [W]e now definitively hold that incarceration, while not a litmus
      test for termination, can be determinative of the question of
      whether a parent is incapable of providing “essential parental
      care, control or subsistence” and the length of the remaining
      confinement can be considered as highly relevant to whether “the
      conditions and causes of the incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal
      cannot or will not be remedied by the parent,” sufficient to provide
      grounds for termination pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. § 2511(a)(2).

In re Adoption of S.P., 47 A.3d at 830-31.

      Father first contends that he did not abuse, neglect, or refuse to provide

essential care to Z.T. Father claims that prior to incarceration, he kept his

child safe, and that while incarcerated, he attempted to meet his plan goals

by attending weekly mental health counseling, parenting classes, and

completing a personal development class. He argues that the Agency did not

present evidence that the situation leading to placement would not be rectified

by Father upon his release, and that incarceration alone is not a sufficient

ground for termination.

      As the trial court aptly notes, Z.T. was removed from the home due to

the parents’ drug use and Father’s incarceration on domestic violence charges.

See TCO at 13. There were further concerns that Father was not properly

treating his mental health. See id. It was Father’s actions that ultimately led

to the removal of Z.T., and despite minimal progression in a structured

environment—incarceration—Father presented no evidence to show that he

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can provide long-term stability for Z.T. upon his release. See id., at 13-14.

The trial court particularly noted that Father had made no efforts toward

reunification prior to his incarceration, and did not take meaningful steps to

address the domestic violence in the home, and resisted taking personal

responsibility for it. See id., at 14. Further, Father did not make any realistic

efforts to procure a home, employment, or other resources to accommodate

a child. See id.

      Attorney Hitchings agrees that the trial court appropriately reviewed

Father’s compliance with his objectives and the feasibility of Father meeting

his goals in the future, and appropriate determined that Father made little

effort to remain in contact with his child, little progress towards his goals, and

has not secured employment or a permanent residence.

      Accordingly, the trial court properly found by competent, clear, and

convincing evidence that Father’s parental rights could be terminated

pursuant to subsection (a)(2), as he suffered a continued incapacity that

caused Z.T. to be without essential parental care, and that the causes were

not remedied by Father.

      We next determine whether termination was proper under § 2511(b).

This Court has stated that the focus in terminating parental rights under

subsection (a) is on the parent, but it is on the child pursuant to subsection

(b). See In re Adoption of C.L.G., 956 A.2d 999, 1008 (Pa. Super. 2008)

(en banc).

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      [I]f the grounds for termination under subsection (a) are met, a
      court “shall give primary consideration to the developmental,
      physical and emotional needs and welfare of the child.” 23 Pa.C.S.
      § 2511(b). The emotional needs and welfare of the child have
      been properly interpreted to include intangibles such as love,
      comfort, security, and stability. … [T]he determination of the
      child’s “needs and welfare” requires consideration of the emotional
      bonds between the parent and child. The “utmost attention”
      should be paid to discerning the effect on the child of permanently
      severing the parental bond.

In re T.S.M., 71 A.3d 251, 267 (Pa. 2013) (some citations, brackets and

quotation marks omitted; brackets added).

      “[I]n cases where there is no evidence of a bond between a parent and

child, it is reasonable to infer that no bond exists. Accordingly, the extent of

the bond-effect analysis necessarily depends on the circumstances of the

particular case.” In re Adoption of J.M., 991 A.2d 321, 324 (Pa. Super.

2010) (citations omitted). When evaluating a parental bond, “the court is not

required to use expert testimony. Social workers and caseworkers can offer

evaluations as well. Additionally, Section 2511(b) does not require a formal

bonding evaluation.” In re Z.P., 994 A.2d 1108, 1121 (Pa. Super. 2010)

(citations omitted).

       A parent’s abuse and neglect are likewise a relevant part of this

analysis. See In re K.K.R.-S., 958 A.2d 529, 535 (Pa. Super. 2008). Thus,

the court may emphasize the safety needs of the child. See In re K.Z.S., 946

A.2d 753, 763 (Pa. Super. 2008). And “a parent’s basic constitutional right to

the custody and rearing of . . . her child is converted, upon the failure to fulfill

. . . her parental duties, to the child’s right to have proper parenting and

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fulfillment   of   [the   child’s]   potential    in   a   permanent,   healthy,   safe

environment.” In re B., N.M., 856 A.2d 847, 856 (Pa. Super. 2004) (internal

citations omitted).

      Here, the trial court appropriately found that it was in Z.T.’s best

interests for Father’s rights to be terminated so that she could be adopted.

The one-and-a-half-year-old Z.T. had already been in care for ten months at

the time of the hearing with no further progress towards reunification. See

TCO at 16. She had seen or spoken to Father only twice in those ten months.

See id. Accordingly, there was no bond between them, as opposed to the

healthy bond Z.T. shares with her foster parent, a biological aunt. See id. In

her pre-adoptive home, Z.T. has “liberal access to her immediate and

extended biological family,” who appropriately care for her needs and welfare.

Id. By contrast, Father has not shown that he has alleviated the concerns of

his significant history of drug abuse, domestic violence, mental health issues,

and criminal activity. See id., at 16-17. Attorney Hitchings agrees with this

analysis.

      In short, we agree with Attorney Hitchings that Father’s issues are

frivolous. We have independently reviewed the record and find no other issues

of arguable merit that he could pursue on appeal. Accordingly, we grant

counsel’s petition to withdraw and conclude that the clear and convincing

evidence of record supports the termination of Father’s parental rights under

§ 2511(a)(2) and (b). Accordingly, we affirm the decree.

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     Decree affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 8/7/2018

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