Court Opinion

ID: 2747562
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-11-03 16:04:14.841916+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:15:34.551938
License: Public Domain

FOR PUBLICATION
                                               Nov 03 2014, 10:14 am

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT:                ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE:
GREGORY L. FUMAROLO                    GREGORY F. ZOELLER
Fort Wayne, Indiana                    Attorney General of Indiana

                                       ROBERT J. HENKE
                                       CHRISTINE REDELMAN
                                       Deputy Attorneys General
                                       Indianapolis, Indiana

                       IN THE
             COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

IN THE MATTER OF THE TERMINATION OF )
THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP OF    )
D.B.M. (Minor Child) and            )
                                    )
H.B. (Father),                      )
                                    )
       Appellant-Respondent,        )
                                    )
               vs.                  )       No. 02A03-1405-JT-171
                                    )
INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF CHILD         )
SERVICES,                           )
                                    )
       Appellee-Petitioner.         )

               APPEAL FROM THE ALLEN SUPERIOR COURT
                    The Honorable Charles F. Pratt, Judge
                  The Honorable Lori K. Morgan, Magistrate
                       Cause No. 02D08-1309-JT-103

                            November 3, 2014

                     OPINION – FOR PUBLICATION
VAIDIK, Chief Judge

                                             Case Summary

       H.B.’s (“Father”) rights to his son D.B.M. were terminated earlier this year. He

now appeals, arguing that the testimony of an Allen County Department of Child

Services (“ACDCS”) supervisor should not have been admitted at the termination

hearing. He contends that without this testimony, there is insufficient evidence to support

the trial court’s order terminating his parental rights. We conclude that any error in

admitting this evidence was harmless, and even setting this evidence aside, there is

sufficient evidence to support the termination order. We affirm.

                                    Facts and Procedural History

       D.M. (“Mother”) gave birth to D.B.M. in July 2003.1 ACDCS removed D.B.M.

from Mother’s care in January 2012, and D.B.M. was adjudicated a child in need of

services (“CHINS”) the following month. The trial court’s CHINS order detailed the

reasons for D.B.M.’s removal and CHINS status, including:

        Mother’s previous involvement with DCS
        Mother’s personality and intellectual disorders
        Mother’s recent hospitalization for mental-health concerns
        D.B.M.’s frequent hospitalizations, which were based on Mother’s
         unsubstantiated claims that someone was poisoning D.B.M.
        The use of Mother’s home, where D.B.M. was living, for drug
         trafficking

Pet’rs Ex. 1. Father and Mother were not living together when D.B.M. was adjudicated a

CHINS, and Father and D.B.M. had little to no contact with each other.

       1
           Mother voluntarily relinquished her parental rights, and she does not participate in this appeal.
                                                       2
       To facilitate reunification, the trial court ordered both parents to do a number of

things, including refrain from criminal activity, maintain appropriate housing, cooperate

and communicate with caseworkers, obtain a family-functioning assessment, and

participate in services recommended by the family-functioning assessment. Father was

also ordered to establish paternity.

       Father failed to fully comply with the trial court’s order, and in September 2013

ACDCS filed a petition to terminate his parental rights. The trial court held a hearing on

the petition in March 2014. Father did not attend.

       At the hearing, ACDCS supervisor Heather Rouns testified that although Father

maintained contact with ACDCS for a time after the CHINS adjudication, he eventually

stopped communicating with ACDCS altogether. Tr. p. 24. As a result, “from reviewing

the file,” Supervisor Rouns reported that ACDCS “has not had a valid address for him[]

on a multitude of occasions . . . .” Id. at 25. She also testified that Father failed to notify

ACDCS of any housing or employment changes. Id. at 26. At this point, Father’s

counsel objected, saying that Supervisor Rouns lacked “firsthand knowledge as to these

matters and is in effect trying to bootstrap what would be the anticipated testimony of the

family case manager, who is not with us . . . .” Id. Counsel was referring to family case

manager Marquitta Byers (“FCM Byers”), who was on maternity leave.

       Counsel for ACDCS established, through additional questioning, that Supervisor

Rouns had personal knowledge of the case. See id. at 27-36. Father’s counsel then

clarified that his objection was actually that Supervisor Rouns’ testimony was hearsay.

Id. at 36. In response, ACDCS’s counsel argued that DCS employees routinely rely on

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hearsay when monitoring parents, such as “service-provider reports, letters, all of that

information, [and] that’s all hearsay. It’s acceptable hearsay because it’s part of their

job.” Id. at 37. The trial court overruled Father’s objection. Id. at 38. Supervisor Rouns

went on to testify that Father had failed to comply with the trial court’s order to

participate in services recommended by the family-functioning assessment and had not

exercised any parenting time with D.B.M. throughout the case. Id. at 39-55. She also

testified that D.B.M. was thriving in his foster-care placement. Id. at 46-48.

       Family case manager Brianna Norris (“FCM Norris”), who replaced FCM Byers,

also testified that Father had not complied with the trial court’s order: “he [did] not

complete[] recommended services and [did] not visit[] with D.B.M.” Id. at 55. FCM

Norris likewise told the court that D.B.M. was flourishing in his current foster-care

placement. Id. at 54. Beth Webber, the guardian ad litem (“GAL”) assigned to the case,

summarized Father’s lack of involvement in the case and D.B.M.’s life:

       [D.B.M.] hasn’t had contact with [Father]. [F]ather came to a couple of the
       first court hearings, but [he] hasn’t been involved for the pendency of this
       case. He[] initially had some telephone contact, but has basically fallen off
       the face of the earth and we haven’t always known where he has been. He
       hasn’t shown interest by visiting. He hasn’t shown interest by maintaining
       contact with [ACDCS] or trying to maintain contact with the family that
       has [D.B.M.] and he doesn’t even come to regularly scheduled court
       hearings.
                               *      *      *      *      *
       [Father and D.B.M] didn’t have much of a relationship prior to [ACDCS]
       getting involved a couple of years ago. They had been estranged at that
       time, so it would take some work to even try to make reunification occur.
       And in this instance, [Father] hasn’t tried. He did the family-functioning
       assessment and then never followed through with any of the
       recommendations [from] that, so we can’t even look at him as a potential
       for anything because we don’t even know what his situation is and he
       hasn’t even visited with [D.B.M.]. [D.B.M.] is doing remarkably well under

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       the circumstances. And with no contact with [Father], it doesn’t leave us
       with many options, and so this child needs permanency. Twenty-six months
       in the care of [ACDCS] is way too long . . . .

Id. at 61-62. GAL Webber recommended terminating Father’s rights. Id. at 62-63.

       The trial court took the matter under advisement, and in April 2014 it entered an

order terminating Father’s parental rights.

       Father now appeals.

                                 Discussion and Decision

       Father contends that Supervisor Rouns’ testimony was inadmissible hearsay. He

argues that the trial court should not have allowed her testimony, and without it, there is

insufficient evidence to support the trial court’s order terminating his parental rights.

       “The admission of evidence is entrusted to the sound discretion of the trial court.”

In re A.J., 877 N.E.2d 805, 813 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007), trans. denied. An abuse of

discretion only occurs where the trial court’s decision is against the logic and effect of the

facts and circumstances before it. Id. “The fact that evidence was erroneously admitted

does not automatically require reversal, and we will reverse only if we conclude the

admission affected a party’s substantial rights.” Id. “In general, the admission of

evidence that is merely cumulative of other evidence amounts to harmless error as such

admission does not affect a party’s substantial rights.” In re Paternity of H.R.M., 864
N.E.2d 442, 450-51 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007).

       Over Father’s objection, Supervisor Rouns was permitted to testify about Father’s

lack of progress during the time FCM Byers was assigned to Father’s case.                   The

implication from her testimony and counsel’s colloquy with the trial court is that

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Supervisor Rouns based her testimony on documents prepared by FCM Byers and others.

On appeal, Father argues that this constituted inadmissible hearsay and “no exception to

the rule excluding hearsay was presented.” Appellant’s Br. p. 7. It is undisputed that

Supervisor Rouns’ testimony was admitted to prove the truth of the matter asserted, and

her testimony therefore constitutes hearsay, see Ind. Evidence Rule 801(c), which

generally is not admissible unless an exception applies, see Ind. Evidence Rule 802.

       To the extent Supervisor Rouns’ testimony was based on records in ACDCS’s

possession, it would likely be admissible pursuant to the hearsay exceptions for public or

business records. See Ind. Evidence Rule 803(6), (8). The business-records exception

states that the following is not excluded by the rule against hearsay, regardless of whether

the declarant is available as a witness:

       (6) Records of a Regularly Conducted Activity. A record of an act,
       event, condition, opinion, or diagnosis if:
              (A) the record was made at or near the time by—or from information
              transmitted by—someone with knowledge;
              (B) the record was kept in the course of a regularly conducted
              activity of a business, organization, occupation, or calling, whether
              or not for profit;
              (C) making the record was a regular practice of that activity;
              (D) all these conditions are shown by the testimony of the custodian
              or another qualified witness, or by a certification that complies
              with Rule 902(9) or (10) or with a statute permitting certification;
              and
              (E) neither the source of information nor the method or
              circumstances of preparation indicate a lack of trustworthiness.

Evid. R. 803(6). “[T]he rule unequivocally requires the proponent of business records to

establish, by the testimony of the custodian or other qualified witness, that the records are

regularly made.” J.L. v. State, 789 N.E.2d 961, 965 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003) (citing Ground

v. State, 702 N.E.2d 728, 731 (Ind. Ct. App. 1998)). Absent proof that the records are
                                             6
regularly made, the proponent of the business records has not laid a proper foundation

under Rule 803(6), and the records are inadmissible. Ground, 702 N.E.2d at 731.

      The public-records exception exempts the following from the hearsay rule:

      (8) Public Records.
            (A) A record or statement of a public office if:
                   (i) it sets out:
                            (a) the office’s regularly conducted and regularly
                            recorded activities;
                            (b) a matter observed while under a legal duty to
                            [observe and] report; or
                            (c) factual findings from a legally authorized
                            investigation; and
                   (ii) neither the source of information nor other circumstances
                   indicate a lack of trustworthiness.
            (B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the following are not
            excepted from the hearsay rule:
                   (i) investigative reports by police and other law enforcement
                   personnel, except when offered by an accused in a criminal
                   case;
                   (ii) investigative reports prepared by or for a public office,
                   when offered by it in a case in which it is a party;
                   (iii) factual findings offered by the government in a criminal
                   case; and
                   (iv) factual findings resulting from a special investigation of a
                   particular complaint, case, or incident, except when offered
                   by an accused in a criminal case.

      Notably, Rule 803(8) does not contain several of the foundational requirements for

business records found in Rule 803(6).

      Here, there was no evidentiary foundation laid; thus, we cannot determine whether

either exception applies.   Yet we need not decide whether the trial court erred in

admitting Supervisor Rouns’ testimony. Even if it did, her testimony was cumulative of

other evidence, making any error a harmless one. That is, Supervisor Rouns testified that

Father failed to comply with the trial court’s order to participate in services

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recommended by the family-functioning assessment and had not exercised any parenting

time with D.B.M. throughout the case. She also testified that D.B.M. was thriving in his

foster-care placement. ACDCS presented the same evidence—and more—through the

testimony of FCM Norris and GAL Webber. As a result, any error in this context was

harmless.

                           II. Termination of Parental Rights

       “The Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution protects the

traditional right of parents to establish a home and raise their children.” In re K.T.K., 989
N.E.2d 1225, 1230 (Ind. 2013) (citations omitted). The parent-child relationship is one of

our culture’s most valued relationships. Id. (citation omitted). “And a parent’s interest in

the upbringing of their child is ‘perhaps the oldest of the fundamental liberty interests

recognized by the courts.’” Id. (quoting Troxel v. Granville, 530 U.S. 57, 65 (2000)).

But parental rights are not absolute—“children have an interest in terminating parental

rights that prevent adoption and inhibit establishing secure, stable, long-term, continuous

relationships.” Id. (citations omitted). Thus, a parent’s interests must be subordinated to

a child’s interests when considering a termination petition. Id. (citation omitted). A

parent’s rights may be terminated if the parent is unable or unwilling to meet their

parental responsibilities by failing to provide for the child’s immediate and long-term

needs. Id. (citations omitted).

       When reviewing the termination of parental rights, we will not reweigh the

evidence or judge the credibility of the witnesses. Id. at 1229 (citation omitted). Instead,

we consider only the evidence and reasonable inferences that support the judgment. Id.

                                             8
(citation omitted). “Where a trial court has entered findings of fact and conclusions of

law, we will not set aside the trial court’s findings or judgment unless clearly erroneous.”

Id. (citing Ind. Trial Rule 52(A)).      In determining whether the court’s decision to

terminate the parent-child relationship is clearly erroneous, “we review the trial court’s

judgment to determine whether the evidence clearly and convincingly supports the

findings and the findings clearly and convincingly support the judgment.” Id. (citation

omitted).

       A petition to terminate parental rights must allege:

       (A) that one (1) of the following is true:

              (i)     The child has been removed from the parent for at least six
                      (6) months under a dispositional decree.

              (ii)    A court has entered a finding under IC 31-34-21-5.6 that
                      reasonable efforts for family preservation or reunification are
                      not required, including a description of the court’s finding,
                      the date of the finding, and the manner in which the finding
                      was made.

              (iii)   The child has been removed from the parent and has been
                      under the supervision of a local office or probation
                      department for at least fifteen (15) months of the most recent
                      twenty-two (22) months, beginning with the date the child is
                      removed from the home as a result of the child being alleged
                      to be a child in need of services or a delinquent child;

       (B) that one (1) of the following is true:

              (i)     There is a reasonable probability that the conditions that
                      resulted in the child’s removal or the reasons for placement
                      outside the home of the parents will not be remedied.

              (ii)    There is a reasonable probability that the continuation of the
                      parent-child relationship poses a threat to the well-being of
                      the child.

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              (iii)   The child has, on two (2) separate occasions, been
                      adjudicated a child in need of services;

       (C) that termination is in the best interests of the child; and

       (D) that there is a satisfactory plan for the care and treatment of the child.

Ind. Code § 31-35-2-4(b)(2). “DCS must prove the alleged circumstances by clear and

convincing evidence.” K.T.K., 989 N.E.2d at 1231 (citation omitted). On appeal, Father

challenges the sufficiency of the evidence supporting the trial court’s judgment as to

subsection (B) of the termination statute. See Appellant’s Br. p. 11.

       Indiana Code section 31-35-2-4(b)(2)(B) is written in the disjunctive. Therefore,

ACDCS was required to establish, by clear and convincing evidence, only one of the

three requirements of subsection (B). Because we find it to be dispositive, we discuss

only whether there was a reasonable probability that the conditions resulting in D.B.M.’s

removal or the reasons for his placement outside Father’s home would be remedied.

       In determining whether the conditions that resulted in a child’s removal or

placement outside the home will not be remedied, we engage in a two-step analysis. In re

E.M., 4 N.E.3d 636, 643 (Ind. 2014) (citation omitted). We first identify the conditions

that led to removal or placement outside the home and then determine whether there is a

reasonable probability that those conditions will not be remedied.             Id. (quotation

omitted). The second step requires trial courts to judge a parent’s fitness at the time of

the termination proceeding, taking into consideration evidence of changed conditions,

and balancing any recent improvements against “habitual patterns of conduct to

determine whether there is a substantial probability of future neglect or deprivation.” Id.

                                              10
(citations omitted). In so doing, trial courts have discretion to “weigh a parent’s prior

history more heavily than efforts made only shortly before termination,” and courts may

find “that parents’ past behavior is the best predictor of their future behavior.” Id.

       Here, the trial court concluded that there was a reasonable probability that the

conditions resulting in D.B.M.’s removal from Father’s care or placement outside his

home would not be remedied. As the court explained:

       [Father’s] whereabouts are currently unknown. He completed a Family
       Functioning Assessment, but did not comply with the recommendations.
       The child has been removed from the home for fifteen months and [Father]
       has not had any contact with the child, has not paid child support, or
       otherwise provided for the necessities of a suitable home for the raising of
       the child.

       The court finds that [Father’s] lack of involvement in the child’s life and
       failure to provide materially or financially for the child’s well-being which
       condition existed at the time of the initiation of the CHINS proceedings in
       the underlying CHINS cause continued to exist at the time of the
       termination hearing. [Father] has wholly failed to provide the child with the
       basic necessities of a suitable home. The reasons for the placement of the
       child outside the parents’ home have not been remedied.

Appellant’s App. p. 11.

       The evidence presented at the termination hearings supports the trial court’s

findings. FCM Norris and GAL Webber testified that Father did not comply with the

court’s order to participate in services recommended by the family-functioning

assessment and had not exercised any parenting time with D.B.M. throughout the case.

Additionally, GAL Webber testified that Father—who did not attend the termination

hearing—had “basically fallen off the face of the earth and we haven’t always known

where he has been.” Tr. p. 61. GAL Webber and FCM Norris also stated that Father had

no relationship with D.B.M. Id. at 55, 61.

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      Based on the foregoing, we conclude that the evidence supports the trial court’s

determination that there was a reasonable probability that the conditions resulting in

D.B.M.’s removal or the reasons for his placement outside Father’s home would not be

remedied.

      Affirmed.

FRIEDLANDER, J., and MAY, J., concur.

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