Court Opinion

ID: 1086395
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-22 19:09:17.564572+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:16:55.276397
License: Public Domain

Filed 10/22/13 In re Mary B. CA4/1
                           NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered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.

                         COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                        DIVISION ONE

                                                STATE OF CALIFORNIA

In re MARY B., a Person Coming Under
the Juvenile Court Law.
                                                                   D063696
SAN DIEGO COUNTY HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY,
                                                                   (Super. Ct. No. NJ13869)
         Plaintiff and Respondent,

         v.

ROBERT W.,

         Defendant and Appellant.

         APPEAL from an order of the Superior Court of San Diego County, Michael J. Imhoff,

Commissioner. Affirmed.

         Neale B. Gold, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and

Appellant.

         Thomas E. Montgomery, County Counsel, John E. Philips, Chief Deputy County

Counsel and Paula J. Roach, Deputy County Counsel, for Plaintiff and Respondent.

         Suzanne F. Evans, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Minor.
        Robert W. appeals the juvenile court's order refusing to return his daughter, Mary B., to

his custody at the 12-month review hearing. (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 366.21, subd. (f).)1

Robert contends the court's finding that returning Mary to his care would cause a substantial

risk of detriment to the child was not supported by substantial evidence. We affirm.

                                   FACTUAL BACKGROUND

        Mary is the daughter of Robert and T.B.; the couple never married, but dated for one

and one-half years.2 Because Robert, who had legal and physical custody of Mary, lived with

the paternal grandmother in a senior citizen community, Mary resided with T.B. most of the

time.

        On December 2, 2011, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency

(Agency) filed a dependency petition on behalf of Mary, then three years old, alleging she was

exposed to domestic violence. (§ 300, subd. (b).) The petition also alleged Mary previously

had been a dependent child and her parents were uncooperative in the current investigation.3

1       Statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code.

2       T.B. is not a party to this appeal. She had filed a notice of appeal, but she failed to file a
brief after she was given notice pursuant to California Rules of Court, rules 8.412(d)(1)(A) and
8.416(g). We dismissed her appeal on July 31, 2013. We will refer to T.B. only as relevant to
issues presented in Robert's appeal and to provide background.

3      When Mary was born, she tested positive for amphetamine, which resulted in her first
dependency case. T.B., who admitted using diet pills during the pregnancy, did not participate
in reunification services, but Robert did. After Robert obtained stable housing, Mary was
placed with him. In July 2009, the juvenile court awarded Robert sole physical and legal
custody of Mary and terminated jurisdiction. T.B. was given supervised visits.
                                                2
       According to Mary, Robert had hit T.B. with a closed fist; at one point, Mary hid under

the covers of her bed because she was scared. Robert and T.B. had a history of physical

altercations in Mary's presence.

       On February 24, 2012, the juvenile court sustained the dependency petition, removed

Mary from parental custody, placed her in foster care and ordered reunification services for

Robert and T.B. The court also ordered unsupervised visits for Robert and T.B. on the

condition they visit Mary separately. Robert's case plan called for him to complete a domestic

violence course and participate in therapy.

       Robert participated in services, but was not complying with the order of having visits

with Mary separate from T.B.'s visits.

       In July, Mary was placed with a nonrelated extended family member (NREFM).

Robert, as well as T.B., frequently asked the new caregiver to extend visitation beyond that

authorized by Agency.

       On September 19, Robert began overnight visits with Mary.

       The social worker initially recommended additional services and continued out-of-home

placement for the six-month review hearing, but changed her recommendation to placement

with Robert because he was compliant with his case plan and his visits were going well. At a

hearing on October 12, the juvenile court directed minor's counsel to contact Mary and report

back to the court.

       On October 23, the social worker changed her recommendation again because of

Robert's increasingly aggressive and angry behavior toward T.B. and the caregiver, who now

feared for Mary's safety. Agency filed a section 388 motion, seeking to have the parents'

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separate, unsupervised visits be changed to separate, supervised visits. The motion alleged

Robert and T.B. had been visiting together and Robert had been allowing T.B. to have

overnight visits, which had not been approved because she had not made progress with her

case plan. The motion also alleged: "Parents are still unable to set boundaries with each other

and minor. They continue to subject their daughter to potential volatile situations and have not

demonstrated they can protect [the] child."

       The caregiver related a mid-October incident in which Robert drove to T.B.'s residence,

blocked the caregiver's vehicle in which Mary was traveling, yanked Mary from the vehicle

and took her into T.B.'s residence. Robert then grabbed T.B.'s sleeve, pulled her close to him

and said, "I told you I didn't want that piece of shit around my daughter (referring to [the

caregiver])." The social worker recommended Mary remain in out-of-home care and the

parents' visits be supervised.

       The six-month review hearing was continued several times and was finally concluded in

January 2013. Agency withdrew its section 388 motion. The court found returning Mary to

either parent would create a substantial risk of detriment. Mary was continued as a dependent

in out-of-home care and placed with the same NREFM. The court ordered unsupervised visits

for Robert in his home only.4

       For the upcoming February 12-month permanency review hearing, the social worker

recommended that Mary remain in out-of-home care and the parents continue to receive

reunifications services. The social worker said Robert continued to create situations for

4     Robert appealed the court's order, which this court affirmed in In re Mary B. (2013) 218
Cal. App. 4th 1474 (Mary B.).
                                              4
negative interaction with T.B. in Mary's presence. Both parents continued to violate court

orders.

          In March, the caregiver said she noticed a positive change in Robert over the previous

six weeks. He was pleasant and polite, and Mary returned from visits with him in a positive

and energetic mood. Robert's service providers also reported he was dealing better with his

anger. However, T.B. reported Robert had been verbally abusive to her on the phone; he called

her a moron or stupid. Robert denied calling T.B. stupid, but may have said that certain things

she wanted to do were stupid. Robert also said he had ended two phone conversations with her

so that he could calm down rather than display his anger.

          The social worker acknowledged Robert had made positive changes and recommended

overnight visits with Mary. The social worker told Robert he needed to obtain day care for

Mary so he would not be tempted to drop her off at T.B.'s residence when he went to work.

          At the April 2 hearing, the social worker testified that Robert had selected a day care

center. Once Mary was enrolled in day care, the social worker planned to transition the child

to Robert's care. The social worker opined it would be detrimental to immediately place Mary

with Robert because he had not yet shown he could follow Agency's strict guidelines. The

social worker said Robert needed to demonstrate he could set boundaries with Mary and not

accede to her wishes to visit with T.B. because the child was crying. The social worker

recommended Robert receive overnight visits with Mary. The social worker said the success

of those visits should be assessed before Mary was returned to Robert's care.

                                                   5
       Before ruling, the court noted the case was a difficult and frustrating one because of a

pattern of progression and regression by the parents.5 The court continued Mary in out-of-

home care after finding that return of Mary to either parent would create a substantial risk of

detriment. The court ordered overnight visits for Robert and authorized Agency to begin a 60-

day trial visit after verifying day care was in place and the development of a safety plan for

sharing information about Mary with T.B, and for exchanging the child during her visits with

T.B. The court found Robert had made substantive progress with his case plan.

                                          DISCUSSION

       Robert contends the evidence was insufficient to support the juvenile court's finding

Mary could not be safely returned to his custody. The contention is without merit.

       Section 366.21, subdivision (f), which governs 12-month review hearings, provides in

pertinent part: "the court shall order the return of the child to the physical custody of his or her

parent or legal guardian unless the court finds, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the

return of the child to his or her parent or legal guardian would create a substantial risk of

detriment to the safety, protection, or physical or emotional well-being of the child." Agency

bears the burden of establishing detriment. (Ibid.)

5       The court observed: "Both parents will participate in services, and then suddenly this
case will just turn on its head. [¶] The information that once appeared to be reliable and solid
is nothing more than quicksand, and that's not just on one particular point this time. It's a
recurring theme breeding the frustration. The father was very close to getting his daughter here
recently. And then we come to find out that he has taken advantage of all overnights that were
being offered and enmeshed in a relationship with the mother that drew her in, and things got
out of hand, and anger just erupted, and people felt threatened and scared. [¶] That's serious.
That can't just go away because you want it to go away. It's serious. People's lives change
because their perception of their safety because of the aggressiveness that may or may not be
there, but certainly is perceived to be there. And [Mary] is not immune from that. She is a
very intelligent, intuitive four year old, and she picks up on that a lot."
                                                  6
       "[T]he risk of detriment must be substantial, such that returning a child to parental

custody represents some danger to the child's physical or emotional well-being." (In re Yvonne

W. (2008) 165 Cal. App. 4th 1394, 1400 (Yvonne W.).) Although the court must consider the

parent's progress in services, "the decision whether to return the child to parental custody

depends on the effect that action would have on the physical or emotional well-being of the

child." (In re Joseph B. (1996) 42 Cal. App. 4th 890, 899.) "Even if the parent has 'largely

complied' with his or her reunification plan and some evidence justifies return of the child, the

court must look to the totality of the facts, including the parent's progress, and may find that

return would be detrimental if those facts warrant such a determination." (Seiser & Kumli,

Cal. Juvenile Courts Practice and Procedure (2013) Periodic Review Procedures, § 2.151[5],

p. 2-460, citing Constance K. v. Superior Court (1998) 61 Cal. App. 4th 689, 703-711.)

       We review the court's detriment finding for substantial evidence. (Yvonne W., supra,

165 Cal.App.4th at pp. 1400-1401.) "We do not evaluate the credibility of witnesses, reweigh

the evidence, or resolve evidentiary conflicts. Rather, we draw all reasonable inferences in

support of the findings, consider the record most favorably to the juvenile court's order, and

affirm the order if supported by substantial evidence even if other evidence supports a contrary

conclusion." (In re L.Y.L. (2002) 101 Cal. App. 4th 942, 947.) On appeal, the parent has the

burden of showing that there is no evidence of a sufficiently substantial nature to support the

court's finding. (Ibid.)

       Substantial evidence supported the court's detriment finding. Although Robert had

made substantive progress with his case plan, he had shown poor judgment throughout the

dependency, including the month preceding the hearing. Despite having identified T.B. as a

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trigger to his anger, he continued to have phone conversations with her, which were a source of

irritation for each of them. Whether Robert called T.B. stupid or called her actions stupid is a

distinction without a difference; the abusive nature of the communication is apparent

regardless of the semantics. Moreover, Robert did not disclose the conversations to the social

worker, who pointed out to him that it might be better to communicate with T.B. about their

daughter through e-mails or by texting rather than by talking directly to her. Thus, while

Robert had taken steps to control his anger, there was substantial evidence he had not yet

resolved the problem—at least with respect to T.B. Hence, the risk of harm to Mary's

emotional and physical well-being in this coparenting situation remained.

       Additionally, Robert had yet to demonstrate that he would not continue his pattern of

bringing Mary to T.B.'s residence and leaving her there during his visits, when T.B. was not

authorized to have Mary in her care. Even though Robert had obtained day care for Mary,

Agency wanted to first assess Robert's behavior with overnight visits before recommending

Mary be returned to his custody. This was reasonable in light of the history of this case.

Earlier, when Robert had overnight visits, he dropped her off at T.B.'s residence. The juvenile

court is entitled to consider the totality of the circumstances when making decisions

concerning the child. (In re Chantal S. (1996) 13 Cal. 4th 196, 201.)

       As we paraphrased the court's ruling at the sixth month review hearing, "while Robert

had exhibited positive change, it was too soon to say whether he had actually changed. As a

result, there remained a substantial risk of harm to Mary should she be returned to Robert's

care." (Mary B., supra, 218 Cal.App.4th at p. 1484.) Three months later, there was substantial

                                                8
evidence it was still "too soon" to declare the risk of detriment to Mary had been eliminated.

(Ibid.)

          Robert's reliance on Jennifer A. v. Superior Court (2004) 117 Cal. App. 4th 1322

(Jennifer A.), David B. v. Superior Court (2004) 123 Cal. App. 4th 768 (David B.) and Rita L. v.

Superior Court (2005) 128 Cal. App. 4th 495 (Rita L.) is misplaced. These cases are

distinguishable because the parents in them had completed their case plans to the extent that

the issues that led to the removal had been resolved. In contrast, here Robert still had problems

relating to the underlying domestic violence.

          In Jennifer A., the minors were removed from their mother's custody because she had

left them alone on one occasion when she went to work. (Jennifer A., supra, 117 Cal.App.4th

at pp. 1326, 1328.) Substance abuse was not alleged in the petition as a reason for removal,

but the mother, who admitted she occasionally smoked marijuana, tested positive for marijuana

once and missed nine out of 95 drug tests. (Id. at pp. 1326, 1343.) Otherwise, the mother was

in compliance with her case plan and had made " 'substantive progress' in court-ordered

treatment programs addressing the problems" that led to the dependency. (Id. at p. 1344.)

After finding that returning the children to the mother's custody placed them at risk because of

her missed drug tests and the positive test for marijuana, the juvenile court terminated

reunification services and set a section 366.26 hearing. (Jennifer A., at p. 1340.) The appellate

court disagreed and issued a writ of mandate. (Id. at p. 1347.) Although the mother's missed

and positive drug screens raised concerns, the appellate court found that because there was no

evidence linking the mother's marijuana use to her parenting judgment or skills and the

                                                 9
dependency petition did not raise drug abuse as a ground for removing the children from

mother's care, the lower court's ruling was not supported by the evidence. (Id. at p. 1346.)

       Jennifer A. is not helpful to Robert. The issue in Jennifer A. turned, in large part, on the

fact that evidence of mother's drug use did not support the allegation of neglect in the petition,

which was based on her leaving the children alone while she went to work. Here, however,

Robert's remaining anger problems with T.B. and his questionable ability to abide by court

orders and visitation guidelines were directly related to the issues that led to the dependency.

       In David B., the father had no contact with his infant child after her mother disappeared

with her. (David B., supra, 123 Cal.App.4th at p. 772.) When the child was two years old, she

was detained from the mother's care. (Id. at p. 774.) The father was unable to take custody of

the child at the time because he was unemployed and had no fixed residence. (Id. at p. 775.)

The father moved in with his sister and her family and, at the social worker's direction, had

made an effort to prepare that residence for his child. (Id. at p. 793.) During 18 months of

reunification services, the father did "virtually everything" the social services agency had

requested of him, "and then some." (Id. at p. 772.) At the 18-month hearing, however, the

agency pointed to evidence that the sister's husband had once committed an act of domestic

violence against his own daughter, and faulted the father for failing to move out of his sister's

residence and establish his own. (Id. at p. 785.) After father conceded he currently had no

other housing, the juvenile court concluded, among other things, that there was a risk of

detriment in placing the child with her father while he remained at his sister's residence. (Id. at

p. 773.) The Court of Appeal disagreed, noting a risk to the child had not been shown and the

record showed the agency had never informed father it would be necessary for him to obtain

                                                10
another residence to gain custody of his child, and it had not provided him with any assistance

to make such a change. (Id. at pp. 773-774, 793.)

       The facts in David B. are profoundly different than those presented here. First, unlike

here, the child was not removed from the father's care in David B.; he had no history of either

domestic violence or child abuse. Second, the father in David B. showed none of the resistance

and resentment toward reunification shown by Robert in this case.

       In Rita L., the child was detained at birth due to prenatal exposure to amphetamines and

alcohol. (Rita L., supra, 128 Cal.App.4th at p. 498.) The mother fully complied with her case

plan, the social worker recommended returning the child to the mother, and the juvenile court

told the mother that her performance during the reunification period had been exemplary. (Id.

at p. 506.) However, after the mother took a Tylenol with codeine tablet, which had been

prescribed for her adult daughter, to relieve a headache; she tested positive for the drug. (Id. at

p. 502.) Based solely on the positive drug test, the juvenile court terminated mother's

reunification services. (Id. at p. 506.) The Court of Appeal reversed, holding that the single

positive drug test by itself was insufficient to support the conclusion that the child could not be

returned to mother when mother had no history of abusing prescription drugs, and there was no

evidence that the one incident was likely to lead the mother to backslide into more serious drug

use. (Ibid.) The facts in Rita L. bear no resemblance to the facts in this case.

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                              DISPOSITION

     The order is affirmed.

                                            IRION, J.

WE CONCUR:

HUFFMAN, Acting P. J.

O'ROURKE, J.

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