Court Opinion

ID: 2801862
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-05-19 19:03:19.26507+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:03:31.931153
License: Public Domain

Filed 5/19/15 In re E.P. CA6
                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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.

               IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

                                      SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

In re E.P., a Person Coming Under the                                H041576
Juvenile Court Law.                                                 (Monterey County
                                                                     Super. Ct. No. J47380)
MONTEREY COUNTY DEPARTMENT
OF SOCIAL AND EMPLOYMENT
SERVICES,

         Plaintiff and Respondent,

         v.

H.P.,

         Defendant and Appellant.

         In 2013, the Monterey County Department of Social and Employment Services
(Department) filed a petition to bring E.P. (child) within the jurisdiction of the juvenile
court under Welfare and Institutions Code section 300.1 Following a hearing, the court
granted physical custody of child to his noncustodial father (father) and terminated its
jurisdiction. H.P. (mother) appealed, contending that the court erred because substantial
evidence did not support its finding that continued supervision was not necessary and that
it erroneously denied her reunification services. We agreed with mother and remanded
the matter to the juvenile court, directing it to hold a hearing to address the issues of
continued supervision and reunification services.

         1
             Unspecified statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code.
       Following remand, the juvenile court conducted a hearing on whether continued
supervision was necessary. Ultimately, the court found supervision was unnecessary and
reactivated its prior order terminating jurisdiction. In so doing, the court relied on a letter
and documents filed by the Department, which included evaluations and progress reports
documenting child’s care in Kansas, where father had previously lived. At the time of
the hearing, father had moved to Florida. Mother has now appealed for the second time.
She argues the juvenile court failed to comply with this court’s directions on remand,
because it did not afford her a full hearing and it relied on outdated information when
making its decision. For the reasons set forth below, we disagree and affirm the order
terminating jurisdiction.
                       FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND2
       The First Appeal
       On June 26, 2014, this court filed its unpublished opinion in E.P., supra,
H040334. In E.P., mother argued the juvenile court erred when it terminated jurisdiction
and denied her reunification services, because there was no substantial evidence to
support the court’s finding that continued supervision was not necessary.
       We reversed and remanded the matter back to the juvenile court, concluding the
court’s determination that supervision was unnecessary was unsupported by substantial
evidence. (E.P., supra, H040334.) We noted the record showed child had significant and
untreated developmental issues. Although father had stated he planned to enroll child in
a child care program and had educated himself about child’s problems, there was no

       2
         Our unpublished decision in mother’s prior appeal (Monterey County
Department of Social and Employment Services v. E.P. et al. (June 26, 2014, H040334)
(E.P.)) contains a more detailed account of the facts and procedure of the underlying
dependency case. Mother filed a request for judicial notice of both the record in that
prior appeal and this court’s opinion, which we previously granted. Since our prior
opinion summarizes the history of the case, we will not repeat those facts again here.

                                               2
evidence that he had child formally evaluated, or if there was appropriate treatment in
Wichita, Kansas, where father had recently moved. An evaluating psychologist and the
social worker expressed no concerns about father, but their opinion was based only on
seeing father and child together for approximately one hour. Additionally, the social
worker’s conclusion that father’s husband could be a positive influence on child’s life
was based on one phone call.
       We also concluded that the court’s failure to consider reunification services was
based on its erroneous decision to terminate jurisdiction.
       Thereafter, we reversed and remanded the matter to the juvenile court, directing it
to “hold a hearing addressing the issues of continued supervision and reunification
services” and to “render a decision addressing those issues based on the facts as they
exist[ed] at the time of the hearing.” (E.P., supra, H040334.)
       Subsequent Proceedings
       After we issued the opinion in the prior appeal, the Department filed a letter with
the juvenile court on July 31, 2014. The social worker wrote that she had called father on
July 8, 2014, and had informed him that she was seeking information about the services
child had received while under his care. Father and child had recently relocated to
Florida, and father believed child was doing well. Father was still waiting to get services
provided in Florida due to the recent move.
       The social worker spoke with a secretary at the school in Florida where child was
enrolled, who confirmed that child was set to attend an autism class. The social worker
left a message for child’s pediatrician but had not received a call back. However, the
social worker was able to confirm that child was scheduled for a dental exam.
       The social worker contacted Caitlin Smith, who worked at Small Talk Pediatric
Speech Therapy in Wichita, Kansas. Child had taken classes at the facility, and Smith

                                              3
expressed the opinion that father was “outstanding” with child, and that the two had a
“wonderful” relationship. Smith said father was very loving with child.
       Attached to the Department’s letter were various documents, test reports, and
photographs that chronicled child’s life with father, which included the following:
       1. Audiology services evaluation dated January 9, 2014: The evaluation
determined that child had hearing loss in his left ear.
       2. Speech therapy evaluation dated January 9, 2014: The assessor noted that child
had a severe delay in speech and language development and social communication skills.
The evaluation recommended that child receive speech and language therapy twice
weekly to address these issues.
       3. Occupational therapy discharge note dated May 28, 2014: Child had received
occupational therapy while living in Kansas. The occupational therapist noted that father
worked well with child on home program suggestions and assisted child with being as
independent as possible. Child was progressing, but additional occupational therapy was
recommended for child’s fine motor, visual motor, self-help, and play skills.
       4. Individualized education program dated December 16, 2013: Child’s prior
school in Wichita, Kansas, had developed an individualized education program for child
to address his needs.
       5. Psychological evaluation report: Child had been evaluated by a licensed
psychologist. The psychologist interviewed child on January 20, 2014 and tested him in
February 2014. Child was diagnosed with autism and global development delay. The
psychologist recommended that father consider looking into early childhood programs at
schools close to their home in Wichita and that the school develop an individual
education plan to customize a curriculum. Occupational and speech therapy were
recommended.

                                              4
       All of these attached reports were from programs and specialists in the Wichita,
Kansas area, where father and child had lived before their move to Florida.
       On August 5, 2014, the court held a setting hearing where it continued the matter
and ordered briefs from the parties to be due on August 14, 2014.
       On August 14, 2014, mother filed a declaration regarding the appropriate
procedure required for the juvenile court upon remand. On August 19, 2014, the court
held a hearing but continued the matter to receive the remittitur from this court. On
August 26, 2014, the court continued the hearing to October 14, 2014.
       On October 14, 2014, the date of the hearing, mother filed a document titled
“Mother’s Position in Response to Remittitur” and a declaration in support of her
position. Mother posited that the juvenile court currently had no information about who
was living in father’s household and what responsibility the other household members
may have regarding child’s care. For example, mother pointed out that there was no
information about whether father still lived with his husband. Additionally, since
jurisdiction was terminated father had no obligation to provide updates or information
about how child was progressing in school. After the move to Florida, there had been no
further updates about whether child’s medical and psychological needs were being met,
or who was taking care of child when father was working or away. Mother also declared
that father had limited her ability to see and talk to child over Skype. Mother asserted
that father only provided her with cursory information about child’s well-being.
       The court held a hearing on October 14, 2014, during which it invited argument
from the parties. The Department noted that it had filed a packet of papers, including the
letter and the attached reports, in July of that year, and that the court had all the
information it needed to render a decision on the matter. Mother asserted that her
position was that this court had ordered the juvenile court to hold a hearing to address the
issue of continued supervision and reunification services.

                                               5
       Thereafter, the court asked mother’s counsel if she had anything further she
wished to add, or if she would like to submit on the documents she had already provided.
Mother’s attorney never expressly responded to the court’s query but did not object when
the court asserted that it would “rule by the end of the day” based on the documents
already submitted by the parties.
       That same day, the court issued an order finding that continued supervision was
not necessary, terminating the dependency. The court never reached the issue of
reunification services. Mother appealed.
                                        DISCUSSION
       On appeal, mother argues the court failed to comply with this court’s directions on
remand; therefore, its order terminating jurisdiction is void. In the alternative, she argues
that substantial evidence does not support the court’s finding that continued supervision
was unnecessary. We reject mother’s arguments and affirm the juvenile court’s order.
   1. Compliance with Remand
       On remand, this court directed the juvenile court to conduct a hearing addressing
the issues of continued supervision and reunification services based on the facts as they
existed at the time of the hearing. Mother claims the juvenile court’s procedures failed to
comply with this court’s directions, because she was not given an opportunity to be heard
at the hearing held on October 14, 2014, and because the court’s decision was based on
documentation filed by the Department that largely consisted of purportedly outdated
reports prepared in January and February 2014.
       a. Applicable Law
       “When there has been a decision upon appeal, the trial court is reinvested with
jurisdiction of the cause, but only such jurisdiction as is defined by the terms of the
remittitur. The trial court is empowered to act only in accordance with the direction of
the reviewing court; action which does not conform to those directions is void.”

                                              6
(Hampton v. Superior Court (1952) 38 Cal. 2d 652, 655.) In other words, “[w]hen an
appellate court’s reversal is accompanied by directions requiring specific proceedings on
remand, those directions are binding on the trial court and must be followed. [Citations.]
Where the directions to the trial court are ambiguous, they are interpreted in accordance
with the views, reasoning, and holdings expressed in the opinion as a whole.” (In re
Justin S. (2007) 150 Cal. App. 4th 1426, 1434-1435.)
       b. The Remand
       The parties dispute the nature of this court’s remand. First, mother argues that
when this court directed the juvenile court to hold a hearing on the issue of continued
supervision, we required the juvenile court to hold a full, evidentiary hearing.
Furthermore, she claims that this court also directed the juvenile court to make its
determination based on the facts that existed at the time of the hearing, which it failed to
do since many of the Department’s submitted documents were several months old.
       We disagree with mother on both points. First, mother did not request an
additional evidentiary hearing on the matter. During the October 2014 hearing, the court
specifically asked mother’s attorney if she was willing to submit on the documents she
had already filed and if she would like to make any additional comments. Mother’s
counsel never responded to the court’s query, and did not make any objection when the
court asserted it would rule on the matter by the end of the day based on the documents
submitted by the parties.3
       “ ‘[I]ssues not properly raised at trial will not be considered on appeal.’ ” (In re
Marriage of Olson (1993) 14 Cal. App. 4th 1, 15.) “A party forfeits the right to claim

       3
         Mother claims the juvenile court did not give her an opportunity to respond.
However, the record reflects that she did not object when the court informed the parties
that it was going to rule on the matter based on the submitted documents. We are not
persuaded by mother’s interpretation of the reporter’s transcript.

                                              7
error as grounds for reversal on appeal when he or she fails to raise the objection in the
trial court. [Citations.] Forfeiture, also referred to as ‘waiver,’ applies in juvenile
dependency litigation and is intended to prevent a party from standing by silently until
the conclusion of the proceedings.” (In re Dakota H. (2005) 132 Cal. App. 4th 212, 221-
222.) Had mother voiced an objection to the way the proceedings were unfolding, the
juvenile court could have considered her arguments and decided whether to hold a further
hearing on the matter at that time. Her failure to do so forfeits her argument on this point.
       Second, there is nothing in section 361.2, subdivision (a) that specifically requires
a juvenile court to conduct a full evidentiary hearing on the issue of continued
supervision. “With respect to the conduct of [a] hearing, it has long been held that
juvenile proceedings need not be ‘conducted with all the strict formality of a criminal
proceeding.’ ” (In re Lesly G. (2008) 162 Cal. App. 4th 904, 914.) Although it did not
hold a full evidentiary hearing where the parties put on witnesses, the court allowed the
parties to submit documents and invited argument from counsel. Therefore, the juvenile
court did comply with our directions on remand and did conduct a hearing on the
necessity of continued supervision.
       Next, mother claims that the juvenile court failed to comply with our remand,
because it did not conduct a hearing that considered the facts as they existed at the time
of the hearing. She insists that the juvenile court failed to consider the most recent facts
related to child’s care, such as information about the services child was receiving in
Florida. Therefore, she maintains that the court’s consideration of the Department’s letter
submitted in late July 2014 was insufficient.
       In essence, mother seems to believe that the court failed to comply with our
remand because it did not consider current facts at the hearing. We find this proposition
strained. Mother herself provided updated information to the court, which she submitted
by declaration on the date of the hearing. Her declaration outlined some of her concerns,

                                                8
including the lack of information about the services child may or may not be receiving in
Florida. Through her declaration, she also informed the court about how father was
purportedly limiting her visits over Skype with child.
       Furthermore, the update letter provided by the Department, along with the
attached reports, contained facts relevant to the issue of whether continued supervision
was necessary. Although these items were several months old, they detailed the care
child had received throughout the past year while he lived with father and provided the
court with vital information about father’s ability to provide for child and obtain services
to address child’s special needs.
       Based on the foregoing, we conclude the trial court complied with our directions
on remand.
   2. The Juvenile Court’s Order Terminating Jurisdiction
       Mother alternatively claims the court’s finding that continued supervision is
unnecessary is unsupported by substantial evidence.
       a. Applicable Law
       Section 361.2, subdivision (a) requires the juvenile court to place a dependent
child with a previously noncustodial parent who requests custody, unless placement with
the noncustodial parent would be detrimental to the child’s safety, protection, or physical
or emotional well-being.
       If the child is placed with the noncustodial parent, section 361.2, subdivision (b)
gives the juvenile court three options. It may (1) order that the previously noncustodial
parent become the legal and physical custodian of the child and terminate its jurisdiction
over the child; (2) order that the previously noncustodial parent assume custody subject
to the jurisdiction of the juvenile court and require that a home visit be conducted within
three months; or (3) order that the previously noncustodial parent assume custody subject
to the supervision of the juvenile court. (In re Abram L. (2013) 219 Cal. App. 4th 452,

                                             9
461; § 361.2, subd. (b).) The decision whether to terminate jurisdiction or continue
supervision is committed to the juvenile court’s “very broad” discretion. (In re Sarah M.
(1991) 233 Cal. App. 3d 1486, 1496.) However, “before terminating its jurisdiction, the
juvenile court must make a factual finding that supervision is no longer necessary.” (In
re Austin P. (2004) 118 Cal. App. 4th 1124, 1134; In re Sarah M., supra, at p. 1496,
disapproved on other grounds by In re Chantal S. (1996) 13 Cal. 4th 196, 204.)
       b. Standard of Review
       We review the decision to terminate dependency jurisdiction for an abuse of
discretion. (In re J.S. (2011) 196 Cal. App. 4th 1069, 1082; In re A.J. (2013) 214
Cal. App. 4th 525, 535, fn. 7.) When a decision is “committed to the sound discretion of
the juvenile court, [its] ruling should not be disturbed on appeal unless an abuse of
discretion is clearly established.” (In re Stephanie M. (1994) 7 Cal. 4th 295, 318.) To
warrant reversal, the challenged determination must exceed the bounds of reason. (Id. at
pp. 318-319.)
       We review the court’s factual findings--including its underlying finding as to the
need for continuing supervision--for substantial evidence. (In re A.J., supra, 214
Cal.App.4th at p. 535, fn. 7; In re Austin P., supra, 118 Cal.App.4th at p. 1134 [appellate
court reviewed record for substantial evidence indicating whether there was a need for
continuing supervision].) “Under the substantial evidence rule, we have no power to pass
on the credibility of witnesses, attempt to resolve conflicts in the evidence or determine
where the weight of the evidence lies.” (In re Diamond H. (2000) 82 Cal. App. 4th 1127,
1135, disapproved on another point in Renee J. v. Superior Court (2001) 26 Cal. 4th 735,
748, fn. 6; see also, e.g., In re Nada R. (2001) 89 Cal. App. 4th 1166, 1177.) “The
appellant has the burden of showing there is no evidence of a sufficiently substantial
nature to support the finding or order.” (In re Diamond H., supra, at p. 1135.)

                                             10
        “The burden of proof on the issue of termination rests with the party seeking to
terminate jurisdiction and the decision whether to terminate jurisdiction falls within the
sound discretion of the juvenile court.” (In re Robert L. (1998) 68 Cal. App. 4th 789,
794.)
        c. Termination of Jurisdiction
        Mother argues the court erred in terminating jurisdiction, because there was no
substantial evidence that showed continued supervision was unnecessary. Specifically,
mother claims there was a dearth of evidence in the record concerning child’s welfare,
such as the services, care, and education he was receiving in Florida.
        Mother notes there are gaps in the record. For example, there is nothing indicating
whether child is receiving treatment for his hearing loss, nor is there any record of a
reevaluation following any treatment. There is also nothing indicating that child is
continuing to receive occupational therapy in Florida. The social worker had confirmed
with child’s school in Florida that his individualized education program had been
addressed, but the only education program included in the record is the one prepared by
the school in Kansas. There is no other documentation detailing the education program
implemented by child’s school in Florida.
        Additionally, mother raises valid concerns about the lack of information regarding
father’s husband, a concern this court shared in her prior appeal. The reports submitted
by the Department and the Department’s letter make no mention of father’s husband.
Accordingly, there is no information about whether he is still in child’s life, or if father is
now taking care of child alone.
        Therefore, we agree that there is evidence that supports mother’s argument that
continued supervision was necessary. However, there is sufficient evidence supporting
the juvenile court’s contrary conclusion that continued supervision was not necessary.

                                              11
       Although there was nothing in the record that detailed the exact type of services
father was receiving in Florida, the attached reports and documents submitted by the
Department indicated that father had been taking good care of child since child had begun
living with him. In Kansas, father brought child for evaluations at the occupational and
speech therapist and was described by these therapists as loving and supportive. For
example, the social worker talked with the speech therapist in Kansas who had observed
the relationship between father and child, describing it as “wonderful.”
       The social worker also spoke with father himself. Father said that he and child
were doing well, and they were waiting to receive services in Florida, because they had
recently moved. Father also informed the social worker that he was arranging medical
and dental appointments for child. The social worker was also able to confirm with the
Florida school that child would be attending an autism class. Based on all of this
information, the social worker opined that father had demonstrated his ability to meet
child’s needs without court supervision and remained committed to providing child with
the care he requires.
       “Under the substantial evidence standard of review, the appellate court does not
reweigh the evidence, evaluate the credibility of witnesses, or draw inferences contrary to
the findings of the trial court.” (In re J.F. (2014) 228 Cal. App. 4th 202, 209.) There is
support for mother’s position, but our inquiry ends since we find substantial evidence
supporting the juvenile court’s determination that supervision is no longer necessary.
Accordingly, we find no abuse of discretion.
   3. Reunification Services
       Lastly, mother claims the juvenile court failed to consider the issue of
reunification services during the hearing.
       Section 361.2, subdivision (b)(3), states that if the court orders that a previously
noncustodial parent is to assume custody subject to supervision by the juvenile court, it

                                             12
may order reunification services be provided to one or both parents including the parent
from whom the child is being removed. There is no requirement that reunification
services be offered to a formerly custodial parent when the court terminates jurisdiction
under section 361.2, subdivision (b)(1). (In re Janee W. (2006) 140 Cal. App. 4th 1444,
1455.) However, reunification services can be ordered if the court continues jurisdiction
and orders a parent assume custody subject to the court’s supervision. (§ 361.2, subd.
(b)(3).)
       Here, the court did not contemplate whether to offer mother reunification services,
because it determined that continued supervision was not necessary and terminated
jurisdiction. Since this finding was not an abuse of discretion, reunification services were
not required and the court’s failure to address this issue was not error.
                                       DISPOSITION
       The juvenile court’s order reactivating its prior order terminating jurisdiction is
affirmed.

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                    Premo, J.

WE CONCUR:

    Rushing, P.J.

    Elia, J.