Court Opinion

ID: 1055008
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-08 20:54:11.603949+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:59:59.341267
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
                                 AT JACKSON
                                      On Briefs October 28, 2004

  IN THE MATTER OF C.M.S.; STATE OF TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT
         OF CHILDREN'S SERVICES v. LISA HOWELL, ET AL.

                   A Direct Appeal from the Juvenile Court for Madison County
                     No. 29-24,782    The Honorable Christy R. Little, Judge

                     No. W2004-00295-COA-R3-PT - Filed November 19, 2004

        This is a termination of parental rights case. Mother appeals from the order of the Juvenile
Court of Madison County, terminating her parental rights on the grounds of persistence of
conditions. Specifically, Mother asserts that the termination of her parental rights is not supported
by clear and convincing evidence in the record, and that termination is not in the best interest of the
children. We reverse and remand.

   Tenn. R. App. P. 3; Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Juvenile Court Reversed and
                                        Remanded

W. FRANK CRAWFORD , P.J., W.S., delivered the opinion of the court, in which ALAN E. HIGHERS,
J. and DAVID R. FARMER , J., joined.

Roger Stanfield of Jackson for Appellant, Lisa Howell

Paul G. Summers, Attorney General and Reporter; Elizabeth C. Driver, Assistant Attorney General,
For Appellee, Tennessee Department of Children's Services

                                                   OPINION

       Lisa Gail McAnally Howell (“Howell,” “Mother,” or “Appellant”) is the natural mother of
C.M.S. (d.o.b. 7/12/90). C.M.S. is mentally retarded. The record shows that C.M.S.’ IQ is around
49 and that she functions at the level of a five or six year old child. At the time of C.M.S.’ birth,
Howell was not married to John Shields but they were living together. John Shields is listed as the
father on C.M.S.’ birth certificate. John Shields and Howell eventually married.1 In their

       1
           John Shields had previously been married to Doris Shields and had two children with her, Roy and Jesse.
subsequent divorce, John Shields was awarded custody of C.M.S. and Howell continued to have
contact with the child.2

       C.M.S. came into the State of Tennessee Department of Children’s Services’ (“DCS,” or
“Appellee”) custody on May 18, 1997, after DCS received a report that C.M.S. had been sexually
abused by John Shields. C.M.S. has been in foster care continuously since that time.   On August
30, 2002, DCS filed a “Petition to Terminate Parental Rights” of Howell and John Shields (the
“Original Petition”).

         On December 6, 2002, on the motion of the guardian ad litem, the trial court ordered
parentage testing. A DNA test conducted in December 2002, and admitted as Trial Exhibit 1,
excluded John Shields as the father of C.M.S.3 Howell informed a case worker that Roy Shields, the
adopted son of John Shields, was the only other possible father of C.M.S. On April 1, 2003, DCS
filed an “Amended Petition to Terminate Parental Rights” (the “Amended Petition”). The Amended
Petition incorporates the Original Petition by reference and asserts, against Roy Shields, all grounds
listed in the Original Petition.4

        A hearing was held on July 22, 2003 and July 29, 2003. On January 20, 2004, the trial court
entered its “Order Terminating all Parental Rights of Lisa Howell and Order Awarding Full
Guardianship to the Department of Children’s Services” (the “Final Order”). The Final Order reads,
in relevant part, as follows:

                    2. That the child has been removed from the parent’s home as a
                    result of a petition filed in the juvenile court in which the child was
                    found to be dependent and neglected, as defined in TCA 37-1-102,
                    and placed in DCS custody and that DCS made reasonable efforts to
                    assist the parent for the four months following the removal to
                    establish a suitable home for the minor child but the parents made no
                    reasonable efforts to provide a suitable home and ha[ve]
                    demonstrated a lack of concern for the child to such a degree that it
                    appears unlikely that she will be able to provide a suitable home for
                    the child at an early date.

         2
             John Shields and Howell have two other male children. These children were not removed to State custody.

         3
           Upon motion of DCS, by Order of May 27, 2003, John Shields was dismissed from this case “as he is not the
biological father of the minor child and as he therefore has no legal interest in the child.” John Shields is not a party to
this appeal

         4
            On July 8, 2003, an Order was entered terminating the parental rights of Roy Shields and he is not a party
to this appeal

                                                            -2-
3. That the child has been in the care of the State of Tennessee,
Department of Children’s Services, continuously since the date of
removal.

4. That there is no reason to continue the parent-child relationship
given the above facts. The child needs to be placed for adoption as
soon as possible so she has the best chance of achieving a stable and
permanent home.

5. That it is in the best interest of the above-named child that the
Respondent’s parental rights be terminated, because:

a) Lisa Howell has failed to make an adjustment of circumstance,
conduct, or conditions as to make it safe and in the child’s best
interest to be in her home; and,
b) Lisa Howell has failed to effect a lasting adjustment after
reasonable efforts by available social services agencies for such
duration of time that lasting adjustment does not reasonably appear
possible; and,

*                                      *                              *

10. That it is in the best interest of the child and the public that all the
parental rights of the Respondent mother, Lisa Howell to [C.M.S.] be
forever terminated and that complete custody, control and complete
guardianship should be awarded to the State of Tennessee,
Department of Children’s Services, with the right to place said child
for adoption and to consent to such adoption in loco parentis.

IT IS THEREFORE,                ORDERED,          ADJUDGED,           AND
DECREED:

*                                  *                              *

2. That all of the parental rights of Lisa Howell to the said child be,
and the same, are hereby forever terminated and that said termination
is in the child’s best interest.

*                                  *                             *

5. The Court finds that the Department has made reasonable efforts
to achieve the child’s permanency plan goal by filing the petition to
terminate parental rights and pursuing termination. Further, that there

                                    -3-
               is no less drastic alternative at present to the continued removal of the
               child and that the child’s continued care and custody with the
               department is necessary and continuation of the child’s custody or
               return of the child to the custody of her parents is contrary to the best
               interest of the child at the present time.

The Final Order incorporates by reference the trial court’s findings made at the hearing.

       Howell appeals from the Final Order and raises two issues for review as stated in her brief:

               1. Whether the trial court erred in entering an order of termination of
               parental rights unsupported by findings of fact.

               2. Whether the trial court erred in failing to conduct a “best interest”
               analysis.

       Since this case was tried by the court sitting without a jury, we review the case de novo upon
the record with a presumption of correctness of the findings of fact by the trial court. Unless the
evidence preponderates against the findings, we must affirm, absent error of law. See Tenn. R. App.
P. 13(d).

        T.C.A. § 36-1-113(c)(Supp. 2004) governs termination of parental rights and requires that
such termination be based upon:

               (1) A finding by the court by clear and convincing evidence that the
               grounds for termination [of] parental or guardianship rights have been
               established; and
               (2) That termination of the parent's or guardian's rights is in the best
               interest of the child. The standard for the termination of parental
               rights is well settled. The United States Supreme Court has
               recognized the important nature of cases involving the termination of
               parental rights, stating that “[f]ew consequences of judicial action are
               so grave as the severance of natural family ties.” M.L.B. v. S.L.J.,
               519 U.S. 102, 119 (1996) (quoting Santosky v. Kramer, 455 U.S. 745
               (1982) (Rehnquist, J., dissenting)). Accordingly, “the interest of
               parents in their relationship with their children is sufficiently
               fundamental to come within the finite class of liberty interests
               protected by the Fourteenth Amendment.” Id. The constitutional
               protections of the parent-child relationship require certain safeguards
               before the relationship can be severed. See O'Daniel v. Messier, 905
S.W.2d 182, 186 (Tenn.Ct.App.1995) (rev'd on other grounds, In re:
               Swanson, 2 S.W.3d 180 (Tenn.1999)).

                                                 -4-
        As a safeguard, courts are required to apply the heightened “clear and convincing” proof
standard. See Santosky, 455 U.S. at 769; O'Daniel, 905 S.W.2d at 186. To justify the termination
of parental rights, the grounds for termination must be established by clear and convincing evidence.
See Tenn.Code Ann. § 36-1-113(c)(1) (Supp.2003); State Dep't of Human Servs. v. Defriece, 937
S.W.2d 954, 960 (Tenn.Ct.App.1996). Although it does not require as much certainty as the “beyond
a reasonable doubt” standard, the “clear and convincing evidence” standard is more exacting than
the “preponderance of the evidence” standard. O'Daniel v. Messier, 905 S.W.2d 182, 188 (Tenn.
Ct. App.1995); Brandon v. Wright, 838 S.W.2d 532, 536 (Tenn. Ct. App.1992). In order to be clear
and convincing, evidence must eliminate any serious or substantial doubt about the correctness of
the conclusions to be drawn from the evidence. Hodges v. S.C. Toof & Co., 833 S.W.2d 896, 901
n. 3 (Tenn.1992); O'Daniel v. Messier, 905 S.W.2d at 188. Such evidence should produce in the
fact-finder’s mind a firm belief or conviction as to the truth of the allegations sought to be
established. O'Daniel v. Messier, 905 S.W.2d at 188; Wiltcher v. Bradley, 708 S.W.2d 407, 411
(Tenn. Ct. App.1985). In contrast to the preponderance of the evidence standard, clear and
convincing evidence should demonstrate that the truth of the facts asserted is “highly probable” as
opposed to merely “more probable” than not. Lettner v. Plummer, 559 S.W.2d 785, 787
(Tenn.1977); Goldsmith v. Roberts, 622 S.W.2d 438, 441 (Tenn. Ct. App.1981); Brandon v.
Wright, 838 S.W.2d at 536.Grounds for Termination

       The trial court terminated Howell’s parental rights on the ground of persistence of conditions,
which is codified at T.C.A. § 36-1-113(g)(3)(A)(Supp.2004):

                  (3)(A) The child has been removed from the home of the parent or
                  guardian by order of a court for a period of six (6) months and:
                  (i) The conditions which led to the child's removal or other conditions
                  which in all reasonable probability would cause the child to be
                  subjected to further abuse or neglect and which, therefore, prevent the
                  child's safe return to the care of the parent(s) or guardian(s), still
                  persist;
                  (ii) There is little likelihood that these conditions will be remedied at
                  an early date so that the child can be safely returned to the parent(s)
                  or guardian(s) in the near future; and
                  (iii) The continuation of the parent or guardian and child relationship
                  greatly diminishes the child's chances of early integration into a safe,
                  stable and permanent home.

       The trial court made the following, relevant findings concerning the grounds for termination:5

                        Now, my Findings of Fact are–the testimony is clear that
                  [C.M.S.] will never be able to return to live with her mother. I don’t

       5
           As noted supra, these findings were incorporated by reference into the Final Order of the trial court.

                                                          -5-
               see that her mother would ever be able to put herself in a
               situation–and some of that is perhaps not her fault. But she is not in
               a position to be a mother in that I think her mentality is more childlike
               than we even realized until we got into Court and heard the
               testimony....
                       I don’t think anyone had any issue about the grounds–clear
               and convincing evidence. I’m not going to find that there was any
               abandonment because she never missed visits with the child, and she
               has been very–was very conscious–the mother was about making
               those visits with [C.M.S.] and if she had been under a Court Order [to
               pay child support] would simply not have been able to comply and
               would not have had the income. So, I’m not going to make the
               finding on abandonment, but I am on clear and convincing evidence
               that persistent conditions still exist and I think they always will exist
               in regard to the mother and her situation–and that being from one man
               to the other, from one home to another, no employment, and from
               what we found out in court some of that having to do with the fact
               that she [Howell] can’t read and write....

         We have reviewed the entire record in this case and we find that there is clear and convincing
evidence to support the trial court’s finding on persistence of conditions. The persistence of
conditions in this case is two-fold. On the one hand, we have a child who, in all likelihood, will
never be able to live independently. The record indicates that C.M.S. needs constant supervision
because she has low impulse control and often puts inappropriate items in her mouth. Furthermore,
C.M.S. cannot be left alone with other children because she has acted out inappropriately on children
in the past. C.M.S.’ low IQ, coupled with her mental, emotional, and behavioral problems, indicates
that there is little likelihood that she will grow out of these behaviors. On the other hand, we have
a Mother who has an eighth grade education, who cannot read or write, who has not been able to
procure employment, and who has no stable housing. By her own testimony, Howell lives most of
the time in John Shields’ home and spends weekends with her boyfriend. The photos in record and
the testimony concerning the condition of John Shields’ house evince that it is not a suitable
environment for C.M.S. First, John Shields, the person accused of molesting C.M.S., resides there.
The record shows that Howell has a history with abusive men. There is no indication that this
pattern has been arrested or that Howell has been, or will be, able to protect not only herself but also
C.M.S. from physical abuse. Also, C.M.S.’ two half-brothers, John and Chris, live in John Shields’
home. As noted above, C.M.S. has acted inappropriately with other children in the past.
Consequently, to place C.M.S. back in that environment, would be to put these two children in
jeopardy as well. In addition, the photos show a home and yard that are cluttered with trash and
debris. Given C.M.S.’ proclivity to put items in her mouth, it is likely that she would harm herself
if left unsupervised in this environment. However, even if Howell was living in a stable and clean
environment, there is no indication in this record that she has the skills or training necessary to care
for a child with such advanced special needs as C.M.S. The record supports, by clear and convincing
evidence, the trial court’s findings that conditions are such that C.M.S. would be subjected to further

                                                  -6-
harm, abuse and/or neglect if placed in the care and custody of Howell. Given C.M.S.’ limitations
and the fact that Howell has not been able to maintain stability in her own life, there is little
probability that these conditions will be remedied at any time in the near future.

Best Interest

        After a finding that the grounds for termination have been established by clear and
convincing evidence, the court must then determine if termination is in the best interests of the child.
T.C.A. § 36-1-113(c)(2). Section 36-1-113(I) (Supp. 2004) enumerates the following factors courts
are to consider in making the best interests determination:

                (1) Whether the parent or guardian has made such an adjustment of
                circumstance, conduct, or conditions as to make it safe and in the
                child's best interest to be in the home of the parent or guardian;
                (2) Whether the parent or guardian has failed to effect a lasting
                adjustment after reasonable efforts by available social services
                agencies for such duration of time that lasting adjustment does not
                reasonably appear possible;
                (3) Whether the parent or guardian has maintained regular visitation
                or other contact with the child;
                (4) Whether a meaningful relationship has otherwise been established
                between the parent or guardian and the child;
                (5) The effect a change of caretakers and physical environment is
                likely to have on the child's emotional, psychological and medical
                condition;
                (6) Whether the parent or guardian, or other person residing with the
                parent or guardian, has shown brutality, physical, sexual, emotional
                or psychological abuse, or neglect toward the child, or another child
                or adult in the family or household;
                (7) Whether the physical environment of the parent's or guardian's
                home is healthy and safe, whether there is criminal activity in the
                home, or whether there is such use of alcohol or controlled substances
                as may render the parent or guardian consistently unable to care for
                the child in a safe and stable manner;
                (8) Whether the parent's or guardian's mental and/or emotional status
                would be detrimental to the child or prevent the parent or guardian
                from effectively providing safe and stable care and supervision for the
                child; or
                (9) Whether the parent or guardian has paid child support consistent
                with the child support guidelines promulgated by the department
                pursuant to § 36-5-101.

T.C.A. § 36-1-113(i).

                                                  -7-
       In its findings from the bench, the trial court made the following, relevant statements
concerning C.M.S.’ best interest:

                  In the case at hand, there is no doubt that the initial grounds have
                  been met, which are persistent conditions. This is very difficult–very
                  difficult. The Court feels that it has to give [C.M.S.] an opportunity
                  to have a permanent home with these caveats. The Court would ask
                  the Department to continue visits with the mother on a regular basis
                  until an adoptive placement can be found and hopefully even after
                  placement if that family is willing. That the Department will make
                  every effort humanly possible to find a family willing to adopt a
                  special needs child with the understanding that she has a very
                  supportive foster family and a mother who regularly visits prior to
                  this termination and will hopefully continue, include–encourage the
                  adoptive family to allow the child to be with her mother although I
                  don’t even know that at this time [C.M.S.] understands that her
                  mother–her natural mother is actually her biological mother....

                  *                                            *                              *

                          It is further the Finding of The Court that it is in the best
                  interest of the child that she have an advocate at eighteen, and it
                  certainly will not be her mother. So, if she is eighteen and there is no
                  adoptive family, her mother could certainly not be her advocate. And
                  that is another best interest of the child argument. Therefore, The
                  Court finds that it is in the best interest of the child that [C.M.S.] be
                  allowed to be placed in full guardianship....

        Although this Court recognizes that much of the evidence in record is not favorable to
Howell in some particulars, including the fact that she has no prospects of employment in the near
future, her past failure to provide a safe and suitable home for the minor child in the face of abuse,
her lack of education, and the fact that Howell had no suitable residence for the child at the time of
trial. However, this court must balance this evidence with the situation as it pertains to C.M.S.
C.M.S. is a special needs child who has specific learning, emotional, and behavioral problems. All
reports indicate that C.M.S. is in need of continued counseling, therapy, and supervision. Under the
current arrangement, C.M.S. resides in a therapeutic foster home under the care of trained foster
parents. This foster home had served as a stable and supportive environment for the minor child for
nearly six years at the time of the trial.6 In addition to the care C.M.S. receives from her foster
parents, the child is also enrolled in a local school where she benefits from a special education

         6
           The foster parents are of advanced age and the testimony indicates that they are not able to adopt C.M.S. or
to provide long-term (i.e. life long) care for C.M.S.

                                                         -8-
curriculum. The positive and stable influence C.M.S. receives from her foster home and special
education classes is further strengthened through regular supervised visitations with Howell.
Pat Wiley, the DCS case manager, testified that Howell has maintained regular visitation with
C.M.S, and further noted that Mother and daughter share a bond:

              Q. Okay. Now, throughout the years, has Lisa [Howell] exercised regular
              visitation with [C.M.S.]?

              A. Yes.

              Q. What have you observed about that visitation at first and then later
              on?

              A. Well, initially they started visiting, her and John [Shields] and the
              boys [C.M.S.’ half-brothers], they would visit. She [Howell] really
              didn’t interact too much with [C.M.S.], initially. We had to kind of
              coach her to spend some time with [C.M.S.] because she [Howell]
              would be doing other things besides visiting with her, she would do
              things with John. But she really wouldn’t bond or spend time or
              interact with [C.M.S.].

              Q. And has that situation changed?

              A. Yes, it has changed.

              Q. How has that changed?

              A. After we started coaching her [Howell], pretty much encouraging
              her to spend a little more time with [C.M.S.], then she started doing
              that and she started bringing her gifts to the visits and just really
              started bonding with her.

       The testimony of Paula Poole, Resource Coordinator with therapeutic foster care for Omni
Vision, indicates that C.M.S. also has a bond with her younger half-brother, Chris:

              Q. And what did you observe as far as the interaction between
              [C.M.S.] and Mr. Shields and Ms. Howell during those visits?

              A. [C.M.S.] enjoys playing with her brothers. She has more
              interaction with Chris. Her and John [Jr.] have more conflicts
              between each other; that Ms. Howell would bring stuff to play with
              [C.M.S.], do the makeup, do the hair; that she [Howell] would
              interact with her [C.M.S.]...

                                                -9-
               *                               *                                   *

               Q. Have the brothers come along [to visitation]?

               A. The brothers have come.... [C.M.S.] mainly played with Chris.
               John [Jr.] would join in but there would be conflict, and that Ms.
               Howell would go and interact with the kids and play with them.

               *                                 *                           *

               Q. I think you said that she [C.M.S.] gets along really well with
               Chris?

               A. Yes.

               Q. I think she refers to Chris as “My Chris.”

               A. Right.

               Q. She loves him very much?

               A. Yes.

        There is no evidence to suggest that C.M.S. is overly upset when these visits end. In
addition, when C.M.S. was question by the trial judge in camera, she indicated that she would not
be upset if she could no longer visit with Howell. However, given this child’s IQ, and testimony in
the record to indicate that C.M.S. does not always grasp the nature and/or gravity of termination and
adoption, this Court is not convinced that C.M.S.’ testimony should be given a great deal of credence
or weight in deciding the issue of best interest. This is especially true when C.M.S.’ testimony is
coupled with the testimony of the foster mother and the case workers that C.M.S. very much enjoys
the time she spends with Howell.

       The care, supervision, and training provided in the foster home and school programs,
combined with the documented fulfillment and joy the child experiences through regular visitations
with her mother and half-brothers, has created a stable "home" environment that serves as an
emotional anchor for this child. It is this Court’s concern that termination of Howell’s parental rights
could severely disrupt C.M.S.’ life. Although there is no proof in the record as to whether
termination would have such an effect, a psychological evaluation of C.M.S. is desirable and
necessary to determine if termination would cause the child to regress.

        Furthermore, the concerns regarding the instability of Howell’s living arrangement and her
inability to properly care for C.M.S. are somewhat diminished under the present circumstances of
supervised visitation. There is no evidence in the record that Howell’s visits hinder C.M.S. or have

                                                   -10-
a negative impact on C.M.S.’ emotional status. Moreover, because C.M.S. resides in the exclusive
physical custody of her foster parents, the physical or permanent condition of Mother's home, under
these particular circumstances, is irrelevant.

        The trial court’s conclusion that termination is in C.M.S.’ best interest because the
continuation of the parent/child relationship would hinder DCS’ efforts to find a suitable adoptive
home for C.M.S. is not well founded. It would appear from the trial court’s statements concerning
the post-termination visits by Mother that the trial court has misgivings about the best interest of the
child in an absolute termination of parental rights. While it is reasonable to assume that as a child
ages, her chances of adoption generally diminish, we stress that C.M.S. is fourteen years old, and
note that there is nothing in the record to indicate that she is a subject for adoption or currently has
reasonable prospects for adoption. Based on C.M.S.’ advanced age, and her learning, emotional and
behavioral difficulties, this Court is not optimistic that the child is or would be a likely candidate for
adoption. Therefore, under the exceptional circumstances of this case, to deprive C.M.S. of her only
natural family relationships, without any evidence of adoption prospects, may not be in her best
interest.

        Considering all of these factors and the effect that Howell's parental termination at this time
would have on the child, we believe that it is in the best interest of the child that the present situation
of supervised visitation be continued. However, to be perfectly clear, this Court does not conclude
that C.M.S. should be removed from her current foster home to Howell's custody. However, given
the grave and permanent nature of this proceeding, the fact that some level of bonding has occurred
between C.M.S. and Howell, and the fact that the psychological effects of a permanent severance of
the Mother/child relationship on this child have not been fully explored, we find that the evidence
preponderates against the trial court's finding of clear and convincing evidence that termination is
in the best interest of the child. This is not to say that termination of Howell's parental rights at some
future time is foreclosed.

        This Court, in no way, advocates a return of custody to Howell at this time, or any time,
unless she makes a vast improvement in correcting the conditions reflected in this record. However,
we cannot overlook the possible effect on C.M.S. in the termination of her Mother's parental rights.
This child is fourteen years old with a multitude of problems and no prospects for adoption into a
stable family environment. She has very few positive things in her life and the evidence is clear that
she enjoys visiting with her Mother and half-brother. Without further evidence as to what effect the
severing of the bond with Mother and half-brother will have, we cannot say that it is in C.M.S.’ best
interest to take these relationships away from her. Therefore, a psychological evaluation of C.M. S.
should be required to assist in making this determination.

        Accordingly, we reverse the trial court’s Final Order, terminating the parental rights of
Howell. We remand this matter for such further proceedings as may be necessary consistent with
this Opinion. Costs of this appeal are assessed one-half to the Appellant, Lisa Howell, and her
surety, and one-half to Appellee, Tennessee Department of Children's Services.

                                                   -11-
__________________________________________
W. FRANK CRAWFORD, PRESIDING JUDGE, W.S.

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