Court Opinion

ID: 9951806
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-03-19 12:07:08.064868+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:42:51.495415
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF NORTH CAROLINA

                                    No. COA23-655

                               Filed 19 March 2024

McDowell County, Nos. 20JT35 20JT36 20JT37 20JT38

IN RE: X.M. M.M. M.M. P.C.

      Appeal by respondent from order entered 19 January 2023 by Judge Corey J.

MacKinnon in McDowell County District Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 6

March 2024.

      Vitrano Law Offices, PLLC, by Sean P. Vitrano, for the respondent-appellant-
      mother.

      McDowell County DSS, by Aaron G. Walker, for the petitioner-appellee.

      Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP, by William L. Esser IV, for the guardian
      ad litem.

      TYSON, Judge.

      Respondent-Mother (“Mother”) appeals from an order entered on 19 January

2023, which terminated her parental rights to her four minor children. We affirm.

                               I.     Background

      Mother and Father are the biological parents of their four minor children,

Alexander, Maria, Matthew, and Patricia. See N.C. R. App. P. 42(b) (pseudonyms

used to protect the identity of minors). Father did not appeal the trial court’s 19

January 2023 order terminating his parental rights.

      Father had primary custody of all four children since May 2014. The Yancy
                            IN RE X.M., M.M., M.M., P.C.

                                  Opinion of the Court

County district court found Mother had failed to provide proper care and supervision

to her children or to follow a safety plan. The court also found she had kept the

children in a home where domestic violence had occurred, and she had abused

controlled substances. The order adjudicated the four children as neglected pursuant

to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-101(15) (2023) and granted Father primary custody.

      The McDowell County Department of Social Services (“DSS”) began

investigating Father in October 2019. A report to DSS alleged Father had left the

four children under the care of a 21-year-old cousin, while Father lived and traveled

out of state doing carnival work. Father discussed the matter with DSS and agreed

to only leave the children with the young cousin for short periods of time.

      McDowell County DSS received another report on 24 February 2020. This

report alleged Father had left the four children with a cousin for six months and

asserted the cousin was unable to properly address the minor children’s behaviors or

to provide proper care and support. An exhibit attached to the subsequent Juvenile

Petition summarized the report as follows:

             The allegations were that the minor children were fighting
             and physically assaulting one another. The minor children
             disclosed to [the] social worker that a male teen in the
             home encouraged [Alexander] to physically assault the
             other three children. [Alexander] has been diagnosed with
             PTSD, ODD, ADHD, [and] Autism Spectrum Disorder.
             [Alexander] was taunted by the adults in the home and his
             behavior escalated into a physical altercation between
             [Alexander] and the other minor children. [Alexander] is
             eligible to be placed in a Level II Therapeutic Foster Care
             based on his mental health issues, however, the parents

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                                  Opinion of the Court

               have not made themselves available to sign the necessary
               forms to facilitate that move.

Later reports also identified Maria and Patricia as possible victims of sexual assault

by a non-relative.

      DSS investigated and assessed whether the cousin was an acceptable

placement for the children and whether any other relatives were available for

placement. The cousin caring for the children admitted to the social worker that she

suffered from multiple sclerosis, anxiety, and depression, and could not work or

adequately care for the children. McDowell County DSS attempted to reach Mother,

who was living in Summerton, South Carolina, at the time. Mother failed to respond.

Social workers also reached out to Father to identify another potential guardian for

the children. Father explained he “had no one” else and stated: “I guess do what you

need to do.”

      The court adjudicated the four children as neglected and dependent and placed

them into DSS custody on 24 March 2020. An Adjudication Order was entered on 11

June 2020, and it required Mother and Father to “aggressively comply” with the

following case plan requirements: (1) complete a Comprehensive Clinical Assessment,

follow all service recommendations, and demonstrate benefit from the service

recommendations; (2) submit to random drug screenings as requested by DSS and

produce negative results; (3) maintain appropriate housing, employment or income,

and transportation; and, (4) consistently visit with the children.

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                            IN RE X.M., M.M., M.M., P.C.

                                  Opinion of the Court

       Several permanency planning review hearings were held between March 2020

and August 2022, including hearings on 27 August 2020, 22 October 2020, and 27

May 2021. Permanency planning review hearings were scheduled for 14 October

2021 and 18 November 2021, but those hearings were rescheduled because the

evaluation of Father’s new residence in California had not been completed. Another

permanency planning hearing scheduled for 9 December 2021 was rescheduled

because the social worker was sick. A permanency planning hearing was held on 20

January 2022, which changed the primary permanent plan for each of the minor

children to adoption with a secondary plan of reunification.

       Mother and Father put minimal efforts into completing their case plans, did

not cooperate with DSS, and did not regularly visit with their children between the

time the children were taken into DSS custody in March 2020 and the hearing to

terminate Mother’s and Father’s parental rights in August 2022. Father tested

positive for several drugs, including cocaine, methamphetamine, amphetamines, and

THC.      Mother tested positive for amphetamines, methamphetamine, cocaine,

cannabinoids, benzoylecgonine, and norcocaine, and she also admitted to using

heroin.

       Father avoided contact with DSS, and at one point hung up the phone on a

social worker. Mother would reply to text messages, but she refused to reveal her

whereabouts, where she was living, and evaded being served with motions. Lastly,

both Mother and Father rarely and sporadically visited with their children

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                             IN RE X.M., M.M., M.M., P.C.

                                      Opinion of the Court

throughout the more than two-year period while in DSS’ custody.

      A motion to terminate parental rights was filed on 11 August 2022, and an

amended motion was later filed on 11 October 2022.           DSS sought to terminate

Mother’s parental rights pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-1111(a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3),

and (a)(6) (2023) and to terminate Father’s parental rights pursuant to N.C. Gen.

Stat § 7B-1111(a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3), and (a)(7). The court terminated Mother’s and

Father’s parental rights pursuant to each of the respective grounds as alleged in DSS’

petitions on 19 January 2023. Father did not appeal.

      Mother filed notice of appeal on 22 February 2023.

                                II.      Jurisdiction

      Jurisdiction lies in this Court pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 7A-27(b) and 7B-

1001(a)(7) (2023).

                                      III.   Issues

      Mother argues the trial court erred by concluding grounds existed to terminate

her parental rights according to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-1111(a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3), and

(a)(6). She also argues the available transcript, which was inaudible for certain

portions due to technological errors, is inadequate to provide meaningful appellate

review.

                     IV.   Termination of Parental Rights

      “[A]n adjudication of any single ground for terminating a parent’s rights under

N.C.G.S. § 7B-1111(a) will suffice to support a termination order. . . . [I]f this Court

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                                    Opinion of the Court

upholds the trial court’s order in which it concludes that a particular ground for

termination exists, then we need not review any remaining grounds.” In re J.S., 374

N.C. 811, 815, 845 S.E.2d 66, 71 (2020) (citations omitted).

                               A. Standard of Review

      “We review a trial court’s adjudication [to terminate parental rights] under

N.C.G.S. § 7B-1111 to determine whether the findings are supported by clear, cogent

and convincing evidence and the findings support the conclusions of law.” In re

E.H.P., 372 N.C. 388, 392, 831 S.E.2d 49, 52 (2019) (citation and internal quotation

marks omitted). “The trial court’s supported findings are deemed conclusive even if

the record contains evidence that would support a contrary finding.” In re L.D., 380

N.C. 766, 770, 869 S.E.2d 667, 671 (2022) (citation and internal quotation marks

omitted).

      Unchallenged findings of fact are presumed to be supported by sufficient

evidence and are binding on appeal. Koufman v. Koufman, 330 N.C. 93, 97, 408

S.E.2d 729, 731 (1991) (“Where no exception is taken to a finding of fact by the trial

court, the finding is presumed to be supported by competent evidence and is binding

on appeal.” (citations omitted)).

      In a termination of parental rights hearing, “[t]he burden in such proceedings

shall be upon the petitioner or movant and all findings of fact shall be based on clear,

cogent, and convincing evidence.” N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-1109(f) (2023). When a

challenged finding of fact is not necessary to support a trial court’s conclusions, those

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                                   Opinion of the Court

findings “need not be reviewed on appeal.” See In re C.J., 373 N.C. 260, 262, 837

S.E.2d 859, 860 (2020) (citation omitted).

                                     B. Analysis

      Courts may terminate a parent’s rights to the care, custody, and control of their

child when certain limited, statutorily-defined grounds exist. A court may terminate

parental rights if the evidence and findings clearly and convincingly demonstrate:

             The parent has willfully left the juvenile in foster care or
             placement outside the home for more than 12 months
             without showing to the satisfaction of the court that
             reasonable progress under the circumstances has been
             made in correcting those conditions which led to the
             removal of the juvenile. No parental rights, however, shall
             be terminated for the sole reason that the parents are
             unable to care for the juvenile on account of their poverty.

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-1111(a)(2).

      Our Supreme Court has outlined the analysis trial courts must perform before

terminating a parent’s parental rights pursuant to this ground:

             Termination under this ground requires the trial court to
             perform a two-step analysis where it must determine by
             clear, cogent, and convincing evidence whether (1) a child
             has been willfully left by the parent in foster care or
             placement outside the home for over twelve months, and
             (2) the parent has not made reasonable progress under the
             circumstances to correct the conditions which led to the
             removal of the child.

In re Z.A.M., 374 N.C. 88, 95, 839 S.E.2d 792, 797 (2020) (emphasis supplied) (citation

omitted).

      “[A] respondent’s prolonged inability to improve her situation, despite some

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                                  Opinion of the Court

efforts in that direction, will support a finding of willfulness regardless of her good

intentions, and will support a finding of lack of progress . . . sufficient to warrant

termination of parental rights under section 7B-1111(a)(2).” In re J.W., 173 N.C. App.

450, 465-66, 619 S.E.2d 534, 545 (2005) (citation and internal quotation marks

omitted). “Leaving a child in foster care or placement outside the home is willful

when a parent has the ability to show reasonable progress, but is unwilling to make

the effort.” In re A.J.P., 375 N.C. 516, 525, 849 S.E.2d 839, 848 (2020) (citation,

internal quotation marks, and alterations omitted).

      Our Supreme Court stated:

             Parental compliance with a judicially adopted case plan is
             relevant in determining whether grounds for termination
             exist pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 7B-1111(a)(2). However, in
             order for a respondent’s noncompliance with her case plan
             to support the termination of her parental rights, there
             must be a nexus between the components of the court-
             approved case plan with which the respondent failed to
             comply and the conditions which led to the child’s removal
             from the parental home.

In re J.S., 374 N.C. at 815-16, 845 S.E.2d at 71 (citation, internal quotation marks,

and alterations omitted).

      The Supreme Court further explained a parent’s non-compliance with case

plan conditions are relevant, “provided that the objectives sought to be achieved by

the case plan provision in question address issues that contributed to causing the

problematic circumstances that led to the juvenile’s removal from the parental home.”

In re T.M.L., 377 N.C. 369, 379, 856 S.E.2d 785, 793 (2021) (citation and quotation

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                             IN RE X.M., M.M., M.M., P.C.

                                   Opinion of the Court

marks omitted).

        Here, the children were removed from Mother’s and Father’s care for their

failure to: create a safe living environment for their children; to refrain from illegally

using controlled substances; and, to find a suitable guardian while they traveled to

carnivals in various states. Mother failed to address and remedy each of these

concerns.

        Mother has consistently struggled to adequately address her substance abuse

issues. While Mother attended a detoxification program for one week in August 2020,

she continued to test positive for the presence of controlled substances afterwards.

In December 2020, Mother tested positive for the presence in her body of

amphetamines, methamphetamines, cocaine, cannabinoids, benzoylecgonine, and

norcocaine. Mother later attended some group substance abuse sessions in March of

2021.    Despite those group sessions, Mother continued to refuse drug tests and

screens throughout the life of this case; and on the occasions when she did comply

with the random drug screens, she always tested positive.

        Mother also failed to comply with the portions of her case plan requiring her

to create a safe living environment for her children. As of the date of the termination

of parental rights hearing, Mother was homeless and had been so for several months.

When social workers attempted to serve Mother with motions to terminate her

parental rights, she revealed she was temporarily working in Coney Island, but

refused to reveal her exact whereabouts. If her children were not in her care while

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                                   Opinion of the Court

traveling for work, Mother failed to provide DSS with any information about the

identity of where they would reside or who the children would stay with.

      The trial court also explained Mother’s incapability to parent was willful and

would likely continue into the future, given her “failure to refrain from substance

abuse”, and given she “has not engaged in any meaningful treatment.” In other

words, “the objectives sought to be achieved by the case plan provision in question

address issues that contributed to causing the problematic circumstances that led to

the juvenile[s’] removal from the parental home.” Id. The trial court did not err by

terminating Mother’s parental rights pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-1111(a)(2).

                                  V.   Transcript

      Mother cites the section of the Juvenile Code regarding the recordation of

juvenile proceedings, which provides: “All adjudicatory and dispositional hearings

shall be recorded by stenographic notes or by electronic or mechanical means.

Records shall be reduced to a written transcript only when timely notice of appeal

has been given.” N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-806 (2023).

      An appellant bears the burden to “commence settlement of the record on

appeal, including providing a verbatim transcript if available.” Sen Li v. Zhou, 252

N.C. App. 22, 27, 797 S.E.2d 520, 524 (2017). “Where the appellant has done all that

she can to do so, but those efforts fail because of some error on the part of our trial

courts, it would be inequitable to simply conclude that the mere absence of the

recordings indicates the failure of appellant to fulfill that responsibility.” Coppley v.

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                                  Opinion of the Court

Coppley, 128 N.C. App. 658, 663, 496 S.E.2d 611, 616 (1998).

      This Court has previously explained: the “unavailability of a verbatim

transcript does not automatically constitute error. To prevail on such grounds, a

party must demonstrate that the missing recorded evidence resulted in prejudice.

General allegations of prejudice are insufficient to show reversible error.” State v.

Quick, 179 N.C. App. 647, 651, 634 S.E.2d 915, 918 (2006). In addition, “violation of

the statute [requiring recording] does not relieve defendant of her burden of

complying with App. R. 9(a)(1)(v) and showing prejudicial error.” Miller v. Miller, 92

N.C. App. 351, 354, 374 S.E.2d 467, 469 (1988) (first citing an earlier version of N.C.

R. App. P. 9(a)(1)(e); and then citing In re Peirce, 53 N.C. App. 373, 281 S.E.2d 198

(1981)).

      In child custody cases, this Court has explained:

             [O]nly where a trial transcript is entirely inaccurate and
             inadequate, precluding formulation of an adequate record
             and thus preventing appropriate appellate review[,] would
             a new trial be required. Where the transcript, despite its
             imperfections, is not so inaccurate as to prevent
             meaningful review by this Court, the assertion that the
             recordation of juvenile court proceedings are inadequate to
             protect juvenile’s rights is properly overruled.

In re Hartsock, 158 N.C. App. 287, 293, 580 S.E.2d 395, 399 (2003) (citations, internal

quotation marks, and alterations omitted).

      Respondent, working together with DSS’ counsel and the Guardian Ad Litem’s

counsel, developed a purported narrative of proceedings. The introduction to the

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                             IN RE X.M., M.M., M.M., P.C.

                                   Opinion of the Court

narrative explained the portions of the hearing the transcriptionist was able to

decipher from the recordings were “inadequate for the parties to designate that the

transcript would be used to present testimonial evidence and statements occurring

at the hearing.” Further, the narrative introduction explained the history of how both

parties addressed the missing segments and settled upon the narration provided on

appeal:

             On 8 June 2023, respondent’s counsel served petitioner’s
             counsel and GAL counsel with a redlined version of the
             transcript, reflecting what respondent’s counsel could hear
             when listening to the audio file. On 23 June 2023, GAL
             counsel suggested changes to the annotations.
             Respondent’s counsel accepted those changes on 7 July
             2023. On that same date and 13 July 2023, Respondent’s
             counsel circulated a proposed narrative of proceedings.
             The parties agree that the following shall serve as a
             narrative of the proceedings that occurred on 19 January
             2023 pursuant to N.C. R. App. P. 9(c)(1). It is not a
             verbatim or complete transcript. The parties further agree
             that the narrative best presents the true sense of the
             testimonial evidence, statements made, and events
             occurring at the TPR hearing concisely and at a minimum
             of expense to the litigants.

      Mother argues the available narrative of proceedings is inadequate to resolve

whether sufficient findings support the likelihood of adoption of Maria, Matthew, and

Patricia, which is a required factor in the best interest determination. However, the

trial court also took judicial notice of all prior orders and reports from the underlying

juvenile orders.

      Mother has failed to demonstrate the narrative prepared for appeal, coupled

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                                   Opinion of the Court

with the prior orders and reports from previous permanency planning hearings, were

“entirely inaccurate and inadequate” or otherwise “preclud[ed] formulation of an

adequate record and thus prevent[ed] appropriate appellate review.” In re Hartsock,

158 N.C. App. at 293, 580 S.E.2d at 399 (citation and internal quotation marks

omitted). Mother’s argument is without merit and overruled.

                                 VI.   Conclusion

       Respondent’s parental rights were properly terminated under N.C. Gen. Stat.

§ 7B-1111(a)(2). See In re T.M.L., 377 N.C. at 379, 856 S.E.2d at 793. We need not

address Respondent’s remaining arguments on appeal regarding grounds for

termination pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-1111(a)(1), (3), and (6). In re J.S., 374

N.C. at 815, 845 S.E.2d at 71.

       Mother has failed to demonstrate prejudice stemming from the inadequacy or

the unavailability of portions of the trial court transcript.        Mother has not

demonstrated any inaccuracies in the provided and agreed-upon narration or

explained how the provided information precluded appellate review.          See In re

Hartsock, 158 N.C. App. at 293, 580 S.E.2d at 399. The trial court’s order is affirmed.

It is so ordered.

       AFFIRMED.

       Judges ARROWOOD and COLLINS concur.

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