Court Opinion

ID: 3007328
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-06 13:07:00.341217+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:38:30.742617
License: Public Domain

An unpublished opinion of the North Carolina Court of Appeals does not constitute
controlling legal authority. Citation is disfavored, but may be permitted in accordance with
the provisions of Rule 30(e)(3) of the North Carolina Rules of Appellate Procedu re.

                  IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF NORTH CAROLINA

                                          No. COA15-262

                                       Filed: 6 October 2015

Mecklenburg County, No. 13 JA 253, 254

IN THE MATTER OF: K.A., W.A.

       Appeal by respondent from Order entered 23 December 2014 by Judge Rickye

McKoy-Mitchell in Mecklenburg County District Court.                     Heard in the Court of

Appeals 14 September 2015.

       Senior Associate County Attorney Kathleen Arundell Jackson, for petitioner-
       appellee Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services, Youth and Family
       Services.

       Rebekah W. Davis, for respondent-appellant mother.

       IVEY, McCLELLAN, GATTON & SIEGMUND, L.L.P., by Charles (Chuck) M.
       Ivey, IV, for guardian ad litem.

       ELMORE, Judge.

       On 11 October 2013, the Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services,

Youth and Family Services (YFS) filed a petition alleging that K.A.1 (Kyle) was a

neglected and dependent juvenile and that W.A. (Wendy) was an abused, neglected,

and dependent juvenile. The trial court entered an adjudication and disposition

       1   Pseudonyms have been used to protect the identity of the minor children.
                                  IN RE: K.A. & W.A.

                                  Opinion of the Court

Order on 23 December 2014, concluding: (1) Kyle was a neglected and dependent

juvenile; (2) Wendy was a neglected, dependent, and abused juvenile; and (3) it was

in the juveniles’ best interests to remain in the custody of YFS. Their mother,

respondent, appeals from that Order. After careful consideration, we affirm in part

and reverse in part.

                                   I. Background

      The factual background of this case is summarized in detail in the opinion of

this Court in In re K.A., W.A., No. COA14-518, 2014 WL 5587047 (N.C. Ct. App. Nov.

4, 2014). On 4 November 2014, this Court held that the trial court’s findings of fact

in the adjudication and disposition order entered 21 February 2014 were insufficient

due to a lack of specificity. In re K.A., W.A., 2014 WL 5587047, at *3. We reversed

the disposition and we remanded to the trial court to make additional findings of fact.

Id.

      On remand, the trial court made additional findings of fact and entered a new

adjudication and disposition Order on 23 December 2014. The trial court again

concluded that Wendy was an abused, neglected, and dependent juvenile, that Kyle

was a neglected and dependent juvenile, and that the children shall remain in the

legal custody of YFS. Respondent appeals.

                                    II. Analysis

A. Standard of Review

                                         -2-
                                  IN RE: K.A. & W.A.

                                  Opinion of the Court

      N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-805 provides, “The allegations in a petition alleging that

a juvenile is abused, neglected, or dependent shall be proved by clear and convincing

evidence.”   N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-805 (2013).            On appeal, an adjudication of

dependency, abuse, and neglect is reviewed to determine: “(1) whether the findings of

fact are supported by ‘clear and convincing evidence,’ and (2) whether the legal

conclusions are supported by the findings of fact.” In re Pittman, 149 N.C. App. 756,

763–64, 561 S.E.2d 560, 566 (2002) (quoting In re Gleisner, 141 N.C. App. 475, 480,

539 S.E.2d 362, 365 (2000)). “In a non-jury neglect adjudication, the trial court’s

findings of fact supported by clear and convincing competent evidence are deemed

conclusive, even where some evidence supports contrary findings.” In re Helms, 127

N.C. App. 505, 511, 491 S.E.2d 672, 676 (1997) (citing In re Montgomery, 311 N.C.

101, 110–11, 316 S.E.2d 246, 252–53 (1984); Matthews v. Prince, 90 N.C. App. 541,

543, 369 S.E.2d 116, 117 (1988)). If competent evidence supports the findings, they

are “binding on appeal.” In re McCabe, 157 N.C. App. 673, 679, 580 S.E.2d 69, 73

(2003) (citing In re Allen, 58 N.C. App. 322, 325, 293 S.E.2d 607, 609 (1982)).

B. Contested Findings of Fact

      Respondent contests the following findings of fact:

             3(h)   The mother’s actions following procurement of the
                    50B demonstrated a lack of insight and resolve to
                    provide an environment free from domestic violence
                    for the juveniles. She did not believe follow up with
                    the Women’s Commission or any DV treatment was
                    necessary. The mother indicated a willingness to

                                         -3-
                                  IN RE: K.A. & W.A.

                                   Opinion of the Court

                    allow [Mr. K.] to be back in the home and around the
                    juveniles. She then provided information to the
                    Court inconsistent to what she provided before as to
                    the DV incident. Despite what the mother indicated
                    occurred, the mother now testified that [Mr. K.] was
                    simply not acting as himself.

             3(i)   This indicates to the Court that the mother is unable
                    to maintain the safety of the children.

                                1. Finding of Fact 3(h)

      Respondent claims that finding 3(h) is not supported by the evidence because

she was abiding by the safety plan, intended to continue abiding by it, did not entirely

reject the idea of counseling for her children, and engaged in some services. Thus,

respondent essentially argues that the trial court should have found the facts in a

light more favorable to her. We are not persuaded.

      “The trial judge determines the weight to be given the testimony and the

reasonable inferences to be drawn therefrom. If a different inference may be drawn

from the evidence, he alone determines which inferences to draw and which to reject.”

In re Hughes, 74 N.C. App. 751, 759, 330 S.E.2d 213, 218 (1985).

      A review of the record shows that clear and convincing evidence existed to

support finding 3(h). The trial court heard testimony from a social worker assigned

to the case and from respondent. The court also considered the Domestic Violence

Protective Order (DVPO) complaint, the DVPO itself, and a 2 October 2013 e-mail

                                          -4-
                                  IN RE: K.A. & W.A.

                                  Opinion of the Court

from respondent to the YFS director that detailed the 17 September 2013 incident

and respondent’s fear of Mr. K.

      At the adjudication hearing, respondent indicated that during the 17

September 2013 incident, Mr. K. simply was not acting as himself or was not in his

right mind. She also claimed that she went to the hospital to treat a pre-existing

condition, not due to injuries from domestic violence. Respondent stated that Wendy

was just with her, and respondent did not specifically take Wendy to the hospital to

be examined.    Respondent’s testimony, however, was in stark contrast to the

statements made in her e-mail and in the DVPO complaint. In the e-mail, she

indicated she was “VERY FORTUNATE that [she] was not killed or permanently

injured” and “it was the ‘scariest’ times [she has] ever experienced[.]” In her DVPO

complaint, she stated that she believed “there is danger of serious and immediate

injury to me or my children.”

      Moreover, the social worker testified as to respondent’s lack of cooperation,

stating that she would only communicate via text message, she refused to involve her

children in domestic violence counseling, and she claimed that she could determine

whether they need such services. Respondent told the social worker that she went to

the Women’s Commission, but she failed to submit proof. At the hearing, however,

respondent testified that she decided to go to a different shelter instead of the

Women’s Commission. In light of these inconsistencies “the trial court was entitled

                                         -5-
                                   IN RE: K.A. & W.A.

                                    Opinion of the Court

to decide whether to credit [respondent’s] initial testimony or a subsequent purported

recantation.” In re T.M., 180 N.C. App. 539, 547, 638 S.E.2d 236, 240 (2006). Thus,

it was well within the trial court’s prerogative to weigh the evidence and find the facts

necessary to the adjudication. See Hughes, 74 N.C. App. at 759, 330 S.E.2d at 218.

                                  2. Finding of Fact 3(i)

      Respondent next contends that finding 3(i) is actually a conclusion of law

because it required the exercise of judgment, citing In re J.V., 198 N.C. App. 108, 679

S.E.2d 843 (2009).

      “A ‘conclusion of law’ is the court’s statement of the law which is determinative

of the matter at issue between the parties.” Hughes, 74 N.C. App. at 759–60, 330

S.E.2d at 219. By contrast, “[f]indings of fact are statements of what happened in

space and time.” State ex rel. Utilities Comm. v. Eddleman, 320 N.C. 344, 351, 358

S.E.2d 339, 346 (1987). “The classification of a determination as either a finding of

fact or a conclusion of law is admittedly difficult. As a general rule, however, any

determination requiring the exercise of judgment, see Plott v. Plott, 313 N.C. 63, 74,

326 S.E.2d 863, 870 (1985), or the application of legal principles, see Quick v. Quick,

305 N.C. 446, 452, 290 S.E.2d 653, 657–58 (1982), is more properly classified a

conclusion of law.” Helms, 127 N.C. App. at 510, 491 S.E.2d at 675. Often, the

misclassification “is merely an inconvenience” to the reviewing court. Eddleman, 320

N.C. at 352, 358 S.E.2d at 346.

                                           -6-
                                  IN RE: K.A. & W.A.

                                   Opinion of the Court

      In In re J.V., this Court determined that the following finding of fact was more

accurately characterized as a conclusion of law: The juveniles’ “return to their own

home would be contrary to their health, safety, welfare, and best interests.” J.V., 198

N.C. App. at 117, 679 S.E.2d at 848 (citing Helms, 127 N.C. App. at 511, 491 S.E.2d

at 676 (“[B]est interest determinations are conclusions of law because they require

the exercise of judgment.”)).

      Here, by finding that respondent’s actions indicated that she “is unable to

maintain the safety of the children,” the trial court exercised judgment. Thus, we

treat the finding of fact as a conclusion of law and will apply the appropriate standard

of review to determine whether the findings of fact support the conclusion. The

remaining unchallenged findings of fact are presumed supported by competent

evidence and are binding on appeal. See In re D.B.J., 197 N.C. App. 752, 754, 678

S.E.2d 778, 780 (2009).

C. Dependency

      Respondent first argues that the trial court erred by concluding that Wendy

and Kyle were dependent juveniles. Respondent claims that the trial court’s order

(1) is devoid of any finding of fact regarding the availability of an appropriate

alternative child care arrangement, and (2) lacks findings of fact establishing that

she was unable to provide care and supervision for the juveniles.

      N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-101(9) defines a dependent juvenile as a “juvenile in need

                                          -7-
                                   IN RE: K.A. & W.A.

                                    Opinion of the Court

of assistance or placement because (i) the juvenile has no parent, guardian, or

custodian responsible for the juvenile’s care or supervision or (ii) the juvenile’s parent,

guardian, or custodian is unable to provide for the juvenile’s care or supervision and

lacks an appropriate alternative child care arrangement.” N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-101(9)

(2013).

      In determining whether a juvenile is dependent, the trial court is required to

“address both (1) the parent’s ability to provide care or supervision, and (2) the

availability to the parent of alternative child care arrangements.” In re P.M., 169

N.C. App. 423, 427, 610 S.E.2d 403, 406 (2005). “Findings of fact addressing both

prongs must be made before a juvenile may be adjudicated as dependent, and the

court’s failure to make these findings will result in reversal of the court.” In re B.M.,

183 N.C. App. 84, 90, 643 S.E.2d 644, 648 (2007).

      We agree with respondent’s argument that the trial court failed to address the

availability of an alternative child care arrangement, and YFS appears to concede

this point. Although the adjudicatory findings of fact do not address the alternative

child care arrangement prong, the trial court concluded as a matter of law that YFS

proved dependency by clear and convincing evidence. Without the necessary findings

in support, however, this conclusion is in error. See B.M., 183 N.C. App. at 90, 643

S.E.2d at 648.

      Based on the foregoing, the trial court erred in adjudicating Kyle and Wendy

                                           -8-
                                  IN RE: K.A. & W.A.

                                   Opinion of the Court

dependent because it failed to find that they lacked an appropriate alternative child

care arrangement. Because we reverse based on the second prong of dependency, we

need not address respondent’s challenge to the first prong.

D. Abuse

      Respondent next argues that the trial court erred in concluding that Wendy

was an abused juvenile. Respondent contends that the findings of fact and evidence

do not support an adjudication of abuse because Wendy’s contusion was essentially a

bruise, which she claims does not qualify as a “serious physical injury.” We disagree.

      N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-101(1) defines an abused juvenile, in pertinent part, as

one whose parent, guardian, custodian, or caretaker “(a) [I]nflicts or allows to be

inflicted upon the juvenile a serious physical injury by other than accidental means;

[or] (b) [C]reates or allows to be created a substantial risk of serious physical injury

to the juvenile by other than accidental means[.]” N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-101(1) (2013).

“[W]hether an injury is serious is generally a question for the jury ‘because the nature

of an injury is [dependent] upon the relative facts of each case.’ ” In re L.T.R., 181

N.C. App. 376, 382, 639 S.E.2d 122, 126 (2007) (quoting State v. Romero, 164 N.C.

App. 169, 172, 595 S.E.2d 208, 211 (2004)).

      Respondent cites to In re C.B., J.B., TH.B., & TI.B., 180 N.C. App. 221, 636

S.E.2d 336 (2006), for the proposition that a bruise is not a serious physical injury.

In C.B., this Court held that a father’s corporal punishment “in the form of a spanking

                                          -9-
                                   IN RE: K.A. & W.A.

                                    Opinion of the Court

or whipping that resulted in a bruise did not constitute abuse, as it did not inflict

‘serious injury.’ ” Id. at 224, 636 S.E.2d at 338.

      The facts of C.B., however, are readily distinguishable from the facts of this

case. Here, Wendy’s contusion did not result from overzealous corporal punishment;

rather, it was the aftermath of domestic violence. Indeed, the evidence shows that

Mr. K.—a man convicted of multiple violent felonies—forcibly dragged Wendy into

the hotel room by her hair, grabbed her by her mouth, and pinned her to the bed. Mr.

K. did this in an attempt to prevent Wendy from calling 911 after he attacked

respondent.

      In In re L.T.R., this Court noted that section 7B-101 does not define “serious

physical injury.” L.T.R., 181 N.C. App. at 381, 639 S.E.2d at 125. However, we found

the discussion in State v. Romero, 164 N.C. App. at 172, 595 S.E.2d at 211, regarding

what constitutes a serious physical injury for purposes of felony child abuse,

instructive. L.T.R., 181 N.C. App. at 381–82, 639 S.E.2d at 125–26. In Romero, we

concluded that the child suffered a serious physical injury, sufficient to support the

defendant’s conviction of felony child abuse, after the child was hit with a belt and

suffered a visible bruise to his forehead. Romero, 164 N.C. App. at 172, 595 S.E.2d

at 211. The L.T.R. Court, relying on Romero, concluded that the evidence in the case

at bar was sufficient to support the trial court’s determination of abuse where the

child “had a dark, six-inch bruise, which lasted well over one week, on his right thigh.”

                                           - 10 -
                                  IN RE: K.A. & W.A.

                                   Opinion of the Court

L.T.R., 181 N.C. App. at 382, 639 S.E.2d at 126.

      Here, like in L.T.R., Wendy’s inner jaw contusion, coupled with the fact that

she was pulled by her hair and pinned to the bed, was sufficient to support the trial

court’s determination that Wendy suffered “a serious physical injury by other than

accidental means.” N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-101(1) (2013). It was within the province of

the trial court, as finder of fact, to determine whether Wendy’s injury was serious.

L.T.R., 181 N.C. App. at 382, 639 S.E.2d at 126. The trial court did not err in

concluding that Wendy was an abused juvenile.

E. Neglect

      In her last argument, respondent claims that the trial court’s evidence and

findings do not support its conclusion that Kyle and Wendy were neglected juveniles.

Respondent contends that Kyle was not affected by the incident because he went to

school that morning and that she took steps to provide a safe home for both children.

Additionally, respondent argues that prior abuse of a different child, standing alone,

is not sufficient to sustain an adjudication of neglect.

      N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-101(15) defines a neglected juvenile as

             [a] juvenile who does not receive proper care, supervision,
             or discipline from the juvenile’s parent, guardian,
             custodian, or caretaker; or who has been abandoned; or
             who is not provided necessary medical care; or who is not
             provided necessary remedial care; or who lives in an
             environment injurious to the juvenile’s welfare; or who has
             been placed for care or adoption in violation of law.

                                          - 11 -
                                  IN RE: K.A. & W.A.

                                   Opinion of the Court

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-101(15) (2013). Furthermore, “[i]n determining whether a

juvenile is a neglected juvenile, it is relevant whether that juvenile lives in a home

where another juvenile . . . has been subjected to abuse or neglect by an adult who

regularly lives in the home.” Id. “[T]he weight to be given that factor is a question

for the trial court[.]” In re A.S., 190 N.C. App. 679, 690, 661 S.E.2d 313, 320 (2008).

      This Court has consistently required that “there be some physical, mental, or

emotional impairment of the juvenile or a substantial risk of such impairment as a

consequence of the failure to provide ‘proper care, supervision, or discipline’ in order

to adjudicate a juvenile neglected.” In re McLean, 135 N.C. App. 387, 390, 521 S.E.2d

121, 123 (1999) (citing In re Safriet, 112 N.C. App. 747, 752, 436 S.E.2d 898, 901–02

(1993). “It is well-established that the trial court need not wait for actual harm to

occur to the child if there is a substantial risk of harm to the child in the home.” In

re D.B.J., 197 N.C. App. 752, 755, 678 S.E.2d 778, 780 (2009) (citation omitted).

“Section 7B-101(15) affords ‘the trial court some discretion in determining whether

children are at risk for a particular kind of harm given their age and the environment

in which they reside.’ ” In re N.G., 186 N.C. App. 1, 8–9, 650 S.E.2d 45, 50 (2007)

(quoting McLean, 135 N.C. App. at 395, 521 S.E.2d at 126).

      Respondent is correct in her assertion that “the fact of prior abuse, standing

alone, is not sufficient to support an adjudication of neglect.” See id. at 9, 650 S.E.2d

at 51. Indeed, “this Court has generally required the presence of other factors to

                                          - 12 -
                                  IN RE: K.A. & W.A.

                                   Opinion of the Court

suggest that the neglect or abuse will be repeated.” In re J.C.B., C.R.R., H.F.R., ___

N.C. App. ___, ___, 757 S.E.2d 487, 489 (May 6, 2014) (No. COA13-1112). Here,

however, Kyle’s adjudication of neglect was not based solely on the abuse of Wendy.

At the time of the 17 September 2013 incident, the family was living in a hotel room.

In respondent’s DVPO complaint and e-mail to YFS, she indicated that Mr. K.’s

attack woke her children up, that she endured two hours of mental anguish, that Mr.

K. would not allow her to walk Kyle to the bus stop alone, and that she and Wendy

eventually barricaded themselves in a bathroom to call 911.

      This Court has previously held that a child’s exposure to domestic violence may

constitute an environment injurious to the juvenile’s welfare, where such exposure

impacts the child, and therefore supports an adjudication of neglect. See In re W.V.,

204 N.C. App. 290, 294, 693 S.E.2d 383, 386–87 (2010); D.B.J., 197 N.C. App. at 755,

678 S.E.2d at 780–81; In re T.S., III & S.M., 178 N.C. App. 110, 113–14, 631 S.E.2d

19, 22–23 (2006). “Where there is no finding that the juvenile has been impaired or

is at substantial risk of impairment, there is no error if all the evidence supports such

a finding.” In re Padgett, 156 N.C. App. 644, 648–49, 577 S.E.2d 337, 340 (2003).

Here, the evidence shows that both Wendy and Kyle were present for, exposed to, and

impacted by the domestic violence incident.

      Respondent also argues that the adjudication of neglect cannot stand because

the trial court failed to make a finding that Mr. K. “regularly lived” in the family’s

                                          - 13 -
                                   IN RE: K.A. & W.A.

                                   Opinion of the Court

home.    The trial court, however, need not make such a finding for the neglect

adjudication to stand in this case. Rather, it is “a relevant factor which the trial court

could consider in making a determination of whether there was a substantial risk of

impairment[.]” McLean, 135 N.C. App. at 395, 521 S.E.2d at 126.

        Most importantly, the trial court’s adjudication of neglect was based not only

on the incident itself, but also because respondent’s actions “demonstrated a lack of

insight and resolve to provide an environment free from domestic violence for the

juveniles” and indicated “that the mother is unable to maintain the safety of the

children.” Respondent recanted her complaint about Mr. K. after he was released

from jail, refused to engage in services for herself and her children, and failed to

appear in criminal court, causing the assault on a female, assault on a child under

twelve years of age, and interfering with emergency communication charges to be

dismissed. Thus, the trial court did not err in concluding that Kyle and Wendy were

subjected to an environment injurious to their welfare and to a substantial risk of

harm.

                                    III. Conclusion

        In sum, we affirm the trial court’s adjudication of neglect as to Wendy and

Kyle, and the trial court’s adjudication of abuse as to Wendy. We reverse the trial

court’s adjudication of dependency as to both Wendy and Kyle.

        AFFIRMED IN PART; REVERSED IN PART.

                                          - 14 -
                         IN RE: K.A. & W.A.

                         Opinion of the Court

Judges DILLON and DIETZ concur.

Report per Rule 30(e).

                                - 15 -