Court Opinion

ID: 4248644
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-02-27 20:27:17.281848+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:43:42.875598
License: Public Domain

J-S82044-17

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

    IN RE: J.W., A MINOR                       :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                               :        PENNSYLVANIA
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    APPEAL OF: J.W., NATURAL FATHER            :   No. 1385 WDA 2017

                 Appeal from the Order Entered August 2, 2017
               in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County
               Orphans’ Court at No(s): CP-02-AP-0000082-2017

BEFORE:      BENDER, P.J.E., STEVENS, P.J.E.,* and STRASSBURGER, J.**

MEMORANDUM BY STRASSBURGER, J.:                      FILED FEBRUARY 27, 2018

       J.W. (Father) appeals from the order entered August 2, 2017, in the

Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, which terminated involuntarily

his parental rights to his minor son, J.W. (Child), born in December 2015.1

We affirm.

       We summarize the relevant factual and procedural history of this matter

as follows. Allegheny County Children, Youth, and Families (CYF) received a

referral regarding Child on January 9, 2016.          N.T., 8/2/2017, at 13.   CYF

conducted an investigation, which revealed that Mother was diluting Child’s

formula, that she lacked the transportation necessary to take Child to his
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* Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court.

** Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.

1 The orphans’ court also terminated the parental rights of Child’s mother,
R.M. (Mother). Mother did not file a brief in connection with this appeal, nor
did she file her own separate appeal.
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medical appointments, and that she was charged with the crime of

endangering the welfare of children due to Child’s poor physical condition. Id.

at 13-14.      Mother had been living with Father and Child’s paternal

grandmother (Paternal Grandmother), but Father forced Mother to leave when

CYF began its investigation. Id. CYF developed a safety plan with Mother.

Id. at 14-15. However, Mother soon violated the plan by leaving the shelter

where she was living, failing to maintain contact with CYF, and failing to attend

a social services appointment. Id. at 16. CYF requested emergency custody

of Child on January 26, 2016, and the juvenile court granted CYF’s request.

Id.   The court entered a shelter care order on January 29, 2016, and

adjudicated Child dependent on February 10, 2016, but permitted CYF to

return Child to Mother’s care upon agreement by the parties. Exhibit CYF 2

(dependency orders).

      CYF requested emergency custody of Child for a second time on March

1, 2016, after it discovered that Mother was hospitalized, and that Child was

living with Father and Paternal Grandmother. N.T., 8/2/2017, at 18-19. CYF

requested emergency custody based on concerns that both Father and

Paternal Grandmother were uncooperative and had significant criminal

histories.   Id. at 19.   The juvenile court denied CYF’s request.     Id.   CYF

requested emergency custody once again on March 3, 2016, after Mother

alleged that Father appeared at the hospital intoxicated during the night,

argued with her, and attempted to pull out her IV. Id. at 19-20. The court

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granted CYF’s request, but placed Child back in Mother’s care pursuant to

shelter care order entered March 4, 2016.2 Exhibit CYF 2.

       Finally, CYF requested emergency custody of Child on March 23, 2016,

after another alleged incident of domestic violence involving Father and

Mother. N.T., 8/2/2017, at 21. The juvenile court granted CYF’s request, and

placed Child in foster care. Id. The court entered a shelter care order on

March 24, 2016, and Child has remained in foster care since that time. Id.;

Exhibit CYF 2.

       Following the shelter care hearing, Father failed to maintain consistent

contact with Child. Father visited with Child twice before he was incarcerated

in June 2016.3 N.T., 8/2/2017, at 37. Father then made no effort to contact

Child until he requested visits during an aggravated circumstances hearing on

March 17, 2017. Id. at 37-38. The juvenile court entered an order finding

aggravated circumstances that same day, based on Father’s failure to have

contact with Child for six months. Exhibit CYF 2. The court also relieved CYF

of its obligation to provide reunification efforts. Id.

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2 The juvenile court’s shelter care order appears to contain a typographical
error, as it indicates that physical custody would return to Father, but that
Father would be permitted only supervised visits with Child. See Exhibit CYF
2. The testimony presented during the termination hearing confirms that the
court returned Child to Mother. N.T., 8/2/2017, at 20-21.
3 Father testified that he was convicted of driving under the influence, and
that he anticipated being released from incarceration in October 2017. N.T.,
8/2/2017, at 5.

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      On May 25, 2017, CYF filed a petition to terminate Father’s parental

rights to Child involuntarily.   The orphans’ court conducted a termination

hearing on June 9, 2017, and August 2, 2017. Following the hearing, the

court entered an order terminating Father’s parental rights.      Father timely

filed a notice of appeal on August 31, 2017, along with a concise statement of

errors complained of on appeal.

      Father now raises the following issues for our review.

      1. Did the [orphans’] court     abuse its discretion and/or err as a
      matter of law in appointing     KidsVoice as counsel for the [c]hild
      when an apparent conflict       between the legal interests of the
      [c]hild and the interest of     KidsVoice in representing the best
      interests of the child in the   underlying dependency proceedings
      was raised by [Father]?

      2. Did the [orphans’] court abuse its discretion and/or err as a
      matter of law in concluding that termination of [Father’s] parental
      rights would serve the needs and welfare of the child pursuant to
      23 Pa.C.S. §[]2511(b)?

Father’s Brief at 6 (orphans’ court answers omitted).

      We consider Father’s issues mindful of our standard of review.

      The standard of review in termination of parental rights cases
      requires appellate courts 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. A decision may be reversed for an abuse
      of   discretion    only   upon     demonstration      of    manifest
      unreasonableness, partiality, prejudice, bias, or ill-will. The trial
      court’s decision, however, should not be reversed merely because
      the record would support a different result. We have previously
      emphasized our deference to trial courts that often have first-hand
      observations of the parties spanning multiple hearings.

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

omitted).

         In his first issue, Father argues that the orphans’ court abused its

discretion and/or committed an error of law by appointing Child’s dependency

guardian ad litem (GAL), KidsVoice, as his counsel during the termination

proceedings.4 Father’s Brief at 17-29.

         Subsection 2313(a) of the Adoption Act governs our analysis of this

issue.

         (a) Child.--The court shall appoint counsel to represent the child
         in an involuntary termination proceeding when the proceeding is
         being contested by one or both of the parents. The court may
         appoint counsel or a guardian ad litem to represent any child who
         has not reached the age of 18 years and is subject to any other
         proceeding under this part whenever it is in the best interests of
         the child. No attorney or law firm shall represent both the child
         and the adopting parent or parents.

23 Pa.C.S. § 2313(a).

         In In re Adoption of L.B.M., 161 A.3d 172 (Pa. 2017), our Supreme

Court held that subsection 2313(a) requires courts to appoint counsel to

represent the legal interests of any child involved in a contested involuntary

termination proceeding. The Court explained that a child’s legal interests are

distinct from his or her best interests, in that a child’s legal interests are

synonymous with the child’s preferred outcome, while a child’s best interests

must be determined by the court. Id. at 174.

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4 KidsVoice continues to act as Child’s counsel on appeal, and filed a brief in
this Court supporting the termination of Father’s parental rights.

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      Importantly, the Justices disagreed on whether an attorney serving as

a child’s dependency GAL may also serve as that child’s counsel during

contested involuntary termination proceedings. In the Court’s lead opinion,

Justice Wecht, joined by Justices Donohue and Dougherty, opined that a

child’s legal interests may not be represented by his or her dependency GAL.

Id. at 181. However, the Court’s remaining four Justices disagreed with that

portion of the lead opinion, and opined in a series of concurring and dissenting

opinions that a child’s dependency GAL may serve as his or her counsel, so

long as the GAL’s dual role does not create a conflict of interest. Id. at 183-

93.

      This Court has since expanded upon the Supreme Court’s decision, and

explained that an attorney serving as a child’s dependency GAL may serve as

his or her counsel, so long as the child’s legal and best interests are not in

conflict. See In re D.L.B., 166 A.3d 322, 329 (Pa. Super. 2017) (“As our

decision   discusses,   [c]hild’s   best   interests   and   legal   interests   were

unquestionably well represented by [the GAL] in this case and such interests

were never in conflict. Accordingly, we decline [f]ather’s request to remand

this case for the appointment of additional counsel for [c]hild.”).

      In the instant matter, the orphans’ court conducted a conflict-of-interest

analysis at the start of the termination hearing, and concluded that no conflict

existed between Child’s legal interests and best interests. N.T., 6/9/2017, at

15-16. The court reasoned that because the child was 18 months old and

non-verbal, “[C]hild is unable to provide any consultation. And, therefore,

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that there is no conflict of interest between the GAL and counsel with respect

to appointing Kids[]Voice.” Id. The court elaborated in its 1925(a) opinion

that Child “is less than two years old and largely non-verbal. He is not capable

of directing counsel in the litigation and, therefore no conflict of interest

existed.” Orphans’ Court Opinion, 10/25/2017, at 8.

      In response, Father challenges this Court’s interpretation of L.B.M.

Father’s Brief at 23-26. Father argues that our decision in D.L.B. is in “direct

contradiction” to the holding in L.B.M., and that conducting a conflict of

interest analysis “misses the point as there is no provision in §[]2313(a) that

allows for appointment of a lawyer to represent the child’s best interests and

… doing so disserves the purpose of the statute and contradicts its express

terms.” Id. (citing L.B.M., 161 A.3d at 179-81). Father also contends that

there was a “clear conflict” in this case, although he fails to articulate how

Child’s legal interests and best interests differed. Father’s Brief at 28.

      Father’s claim fails immediately, as we are bound by D.L.B. and its

interpretation of L.B.M.   Even if we disagreed with D.L.B., which we do not,

we could not overrule it here. See First Commonwealth Bank v. Heller,

863 A.2d 1153, 1160 (Pa. Super. 2004) (citing State Farm Fire & Cas. Co.

v. Craley, 844 A.2d 573, 575 (Pa. Super. 2004)) (observing that “we are

bound by decisions of other panels of this Court until an en banc panel of this

Court, the legislature, or the Supreme Court decides otherwise”). Moreover,

the record in this case does not indicate any legal interest of Child that differs

from Child’s best interests as determined by the orphans’ court and supported

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by Child’s counsel. As the court explained in its opinion, Child was less than

two years old at the time of the termination hearing, and lacked the capacity

to articulate his preferred outcome. Child’s GAL, KidsVoice, was instructed by

the orphans’ court to “insure that any and all evidence relative to [Child’s legal

interest be] present[e]d to the [c]ourt.” N.T., 6/9/2017, at 21. KidsVoice did

so at the termination of parental rights hearing, and filed a brief before this

Court supporting the termination of Father’s parental rights. Father has not

articulated any conflict between Child’s best interests and legal interests that

would warrant the appointment of separate legal counsel for Child under these

facts. Therefore, no remand is necessary.

      We now turn to Father’s second issue, in which he argues that the

orphans’ court abused its discretion and/or committed an error of law by

terminating his parental rights involuntarily. Father’s Brief at 29-36.

      We review Father’s issue mindful of our standard of review.

      The standard of review in termination of parental rights cases
      requires appellate courts 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. A decision may be reversed for an abuse
      of   discretion    only   upon     demonstration      of    manifest
      unreasonableness, partiality, prejudice, bias, or ill-will. The trial
      court’s decision, however, should not be reversed merely because
      the record would support a different result. We have previously
      emphasized our deference to trial courts that often have first-hand
      observations of the parties spanning multiple hearings.

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

omitted).

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      Termination of parental rights is governed by section 2511 of the

Adoption Act, 23 Pa.C.S. §§ 2101-2938, which requires a bifurcated analysis.

      Initially, the focus is on the conduct of the parent. The party
      seeking termination must prove by clear and convincing evidence
      that the parent’s conduct satisfies the statutory grounds for
      termination delineated in [sub]ection 2511(a). Only if the court
      determines that the parent’s conduct warrants termination of his
      or her parental rights does the court engage in the second part of
      the analysis pursuant to [sub]ection 2511(b): determination of
      the needs and welfare of the child under the standard of best
      interests of the child.

In re L.M., 923 A.2d 505, 511 (Pa. Super. 2007) (citations omitted).

      In this case, the orphans’ court terminated Father’s parental rights

pursuant to subsections 2511(a)(1), (2), (5), (8), and (b).       We need only

agree with the court as to any one subsection of 2511(a), as well as subsection

2511(b), in order to affirm. In re B.L.W., 843 A.2d 380, 384 (Pa. Super.

2004) (en banc). Father concedes that CYF presented clear and convincing

evidence that his parental rights should be terminated pursuant to subsection

2511(a)(2), and thus does not challenge the orphans’ court findings in that

regard. Father’s Brief at 30 (“CYF, the petitioner, did clearly and convincingly

establish   threshold   grounds   for   termination   pursuant   to   23   Pa.C.S.

§[]2511(a)(2).”). Thus, we need only consider whether the orphans’ court

abused its discretion by terminating Father’s parental rights pursuant to

subsection 2511(b), which provides as follows.

      (b) Other considerations.--The court in terminating the rights
      of a parent shall give primary consideration to the developmental,
      physical and emotional needs and welfare of the child. The rights
      of a parent shall not be terminated solely on the basis of

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      environmental factors such as inadequate housing, furnishings,
      income, clothing and medical care if found to be beyond the
      control of the parent. With respect to any petition filed pursuant
      to subsection (a)(1), (6) or (8), the court shall not consider any
      efforts by the parent to remedy the conditions described therein
      which are first initiated subsequent to the giving of notice of the
      filing of the petition.

23 Pa.C.S. § 2511(b).

      We determine whether the orphans’ court abused its discretion by

terminating Father’s parental rights pursuant to subsection 2511(b) using the

following analysis.

      S[ubs]ection 2511(b) focuses on whether termination of parental
      rights would best serve the developmental, physical, and
      emotional needs and welfare of the child. As this Court has
      explained, [subs]ection 2511(b) does not explicitly require a
      bonding analysis and the term “bond” is not defined in the
      Adoption Act. Case law, however, provides that analysis of the
      emotional bond, if any, between parent and child is a factor to be
      considered as part of our analysis. While a parent’s emotional
      bond with his or her child is a major aspect of the subsection
      2511(b) best-interest analysis, it is nonetheless only one of many
      factors to be considered by the court when determining what is in
      the best interest of the child.

            [I]n addition to a bond examination, the trial court can
            equally emphasize the safety needs of the child, and
            should also consider the intangibles, such as the love,
            comfort, security, and stability the child might have
            with the foster parent. Additionally, this Court stated
            that the trial court should consider the importance of
            continuity of relationships and whether any existing
            parent-child bond can be severed without detrimental
            effects on the child.

In re Adoption of C.D.R., 111 A.3d 1212, 1219 (Pa. Super. 2015) (quoting

In re N.A.M., 33 A.3d 95, 103 (Pa. Super. 2011)) (quotation marks and

citations omitted).

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      Here, the orphans’ court found that terminating Father’s parental rights

would best serve Child’s needs and welfare.          Orphans’ Court Opinion,

10/25/2017, at 9. The court reasoned that “[t]here was no evidence that

termination of Father’s parental rights would in any way be detrimental to

[Child] and the only evidence presented was that termination would benefit

[Child] in providing him with the permanence and stability which he needs and

to which he is entitled.” Id.

      Father argues that CYF failed to present evidence addressing his

relationship with Child, or the emotional effect that terminating his parental

rights would have on Child.     Father’s Brief at 35.   Father argues that the

orphans’ court reached its decision by merely “summariz[ing] testimony and

evidence it received in regard to [Child’s] relationship with his foster parents

and [the] perceived benefits of [Child] remaining in his foster home

permanently through adoption.” Id.

      Our review of the record supports the findings of the orphans’ court.

During the termination hearing, CYF caseworker, Beverly Peters, testified that

Father visited with Child only three times after CYF obtained emergency

custody on March 23, 2016. N.T., 8/2/2017, at 37-38. Father visited Child

on April 19, 2016, and June 3, 2016. Id. at 37. After Father was incarcerated

in June 2016, he did not request visits with Child until the aggravated

circumstances hearing on March 17, 2017. Id. at 37-38. Thereafter, CYF

attempted to arrange visits with Father, but the process was delayed because

“there were things going on with the jail and he was being transferred from

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one jail to the next jail. And there was [sic] visitation lists that had to be

completed by the jail.” Id. at 38. Father visited Child for the third and final

time at SCI Laurel Highlands on July 24, 2017.5 Id.

       Ms. Peters further testified that Child has lived in the same pre-adoptive

foster home throughout his time in foster care. Id. at 41. Child and his pre-

adoptive foster mother “are extremely bonded. He’s a very happy child. She

appears to be in tune to him and what his needs are and addressing those

needs.” Id. at 42.

       Thus, the record confirms that terminating Father’s parental rights

would best serve Child’s needs and welfare. As discussed above, Child was

born in December 2015, and entered foster care for the second time on March

23, 2016, when he was three months old. Since then, Child has seen Father

on only three occasions. Under these circumstances, it was reasonable for

the orphans’ court to infer that there is no bond between Child and Father,

and that Child will not suffer emotional harm if Father’s parental rights are

terminated. See In re K.Z.S., 946 A.2d 753, 762-63 (Pa. Super. 2008) (“In

cases where there is no evidence of any bond between the parent and child,

it is reasonable to infer that no bond exists.”). Moreover, Child has become

extremely bonded with his pre-adoptive foster mother, with whom he has lived

for the majority of his young life. See C.D.R., 111 A.3d at 1219 (quoting

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5 CYF attempted another visit at SCI Laurel Highlands on July 31, 2017, but
the visit did not occur because Father had already been transferred to
Allegheny County to attend the termination hearing. N.T., 8/2/2017, at 39.

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N.A.M., 33 A.3d at 103) (permitting the orphans’ court to consider the “love,

comfort, security, and stability the child might have with the foster parent”).

      Based on the foregoing, we conclude that the orphans’ court did not

abuse its discretion by terminating involuntarily Father’s parental rights to

Child. Therefore, we affirm the court’s August 2, 2017 order.

      Order affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 2/27/2018

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