Court Opinion

ID: 4387066
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-04-12 19:48:32.999927+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:29:28.433431
License: Public Domain

FILED
No. 18-0448 - In Re A.P.-1, A.P.-2, A.P.-3                                       April 12, 2019
                                                                                   released at 3:00 p.m.
                                                                               EDYTHE NASH GAISER, CLERK
                                                                               SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                                    OF WEST VIRGINIA

WORKMAN, Justice, concurring, in part, and dissenting, in part:

                I concur with the majority that the adjudication and disposition determinations

should have been made in separate hearings under the procedural status of this case and a

very limited remand for a dispositional hearing is appropriate. I vehemently disagree,

however, with several other points of the majority opinion which will be set forth in summary

form and then discussed at length in this opinion.

                First, the majority erred in holding that the lower court lacked continuing

jurisdiction in this case once the circuit court initially declined to adjudicate the petitioner

father as having abandoned the children. Further, in not permitting the existing proceedings

to continue on remand, and instead offering the Department of Health and Human Resources

(“DHHR”) the option of filing a new petition, the majority has essentially created the

potential of the children never having a permanent placement.

                Second, the majority missed an opportunity to clarify that long-term

incarceration is a form of neglect, when the applicable statutes are read in pari materia, as the

law requires.

                                               1
              Third, the majority opinion leaves total confusion on whether incarceration can

be considered at both the adjudicatory and dispositional stages by including language both

in the body of the opinion and in a footnote that are inconsistent on their face. Clearly, both

under the law and in the realm of basic common sense, the factors relating to incarceration

as enunciated in In Re Cecil T., 228 W.Va. 89, 717 S.E.2d 873 (2011), are a valid

consideration in and can support a finding at either stage when the applicable criteria are met.

                                        I. Discussion

Incarceration as a Form of Neglect

              From the perspective of overall abuse and neglect law, the most significant

problem with the majority opinion is the missed opportunity to clarify that abandonment

engendered by long-term incarceration can be a form of neglect, when the statutory

definitions of each concept are considered in pari materia, as required by law.

              The abandonment of a child is defined as “any conduct that demonstrates the

settled purpose to forego the duties and parental responsibilities to the child.” W.Va. Code

§ 49-1-201 (2015 & Supp. 2018). A “neglected child” is defined, in pertinent part, as a child,

               [w]hose physical or mental health is harmed or threatened by a
              present refusal, failure or inability of the child’s parent,
              guardian, or custodian to supply the child with necessary food,
              clothing, shelter, supervision, medical care, or education, when
              that refusal, failure, or inability is not due primarily to a lack of

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              financial means on the part of the parent, guardian, or
              custodian[.]

Id. These statutory definitions of abandonment and neglect are part of a body of legislation

that was enacted to protect the welfare of children. To that end, it is essential to remember

that “effect must be given to each part of the statute and to the statute as a whole so as to

accomplish the general purpose of the legislation.” Syl. Pt. 2, in part, Smith v. State

Workmen’s Comp. Comm’r, 159 W.Va. 108, 219 S.E.2d 361 (1975).

              In giving each of these statutory definitions effect so as to accomplish the

critically important legislative purpose of protecting the welfare of children, one is led to the

inescapable conclusion that an incarcerated parent can be adjudicated as having abandoned

his or her child[ren] through evidence of the parent’s inability to meet even the most minimal

parental duties and responsibilities to the child[ren]. Moreover, it is clear that the statutory

definition of neglect encompasses not only abandonment, as defined by statute, but also

incarceration, so long as the factors surrounding that incarceration demonstrate that the

parent is unable to provide the basic needs of his child[ren] as described in the neglect

definition.

              In the case at bar, DHHR filed a petition against the petitioner which made

broad allegations of “Abuse and/or Neglect and/or Abandonment.” Nonetheless, it is

apparent that the circuit court considered the statutory definition of abandonment in isolation

                                               3
during the initial adjudicatory phase without also considering and giving effect to the

statutory definition of neglect. W.Va. Code § 49-1-201; see also Smith, 159 W.Va. at 109,
219 S.E.2d at 362, syl. pt. 2, in part. Because the petitioner presented evidence that showed

his continued interest in his children following his incarceration, the circuit court declined

to find that he had abandoned his children. It was, however, abundantly clear that the

petitioner cannot possibly provide the children with their most basic daily needs during the

next minimum 10-11 years incarceration. Consequently, he has effectively abandoned them

under the neglect statute. W.Va. Code § 49-1-201. This was an error that the lower court

later recognized and attempted to correct during the disposition hearing, where no new

evidence was presented. The guardian ad litem simply advocated for the best interests of the

children during that hearing in light of the petitioner’s lengthy incarceration and the factors

set forth in syllabus point three of In Re Cecil T.:

                      When no factors and circumstances other than
              incarceration are raised at a disposition hearing in a child abuse
              and neglect proceeding with regard to a parent’s ability to
              remedy the condition of abuse and neglect in the near future, the
              circuit court shall evaluate whether the best interests of a child
              are served by terminating the rights of the biological parent in
              light of the evidence before it. This would necessarily include
              but not be limited to consideration of the nature of the offense
              for which the parent is incarcerated, the terms of the
              confinement, and the length of the incarceration in light of the
              abused or neglected child’s best interests and paramount need
              for permanency, security, stability and continuity.

228 W.Va. at 91, 717 S.E.2d at 875 (emphasis added).

                                               4
              Unquestionably, a parent whose term of incarceration is so lengthy that his

children will be almost grown before the father is released from prison1 is a critical

consideration under the statutory definition of neglect and is a permissible consideration

under In re Cecil T. Another consideration under In re Cecil T. is the nature of the offense.

Here the petitioner committed murder, not a garden-variety, nonviolent crime, obviously

without considering the impact of his criminal conduct on his children. His actions alone

resulted in his lengthy term of incarceration, which will preclude him from meeting even his

minimal parenting responsibilities.

              In short, the Cecil T. factors, along with the statutory definitions for

“abandonment” and “neglect” in West Virginia Code § 49-1-201, are all unquestioningly

relevant to determining whether the Department has established that the parent is abusing or

neglecting, as required by West Virginia Code § 49-4-601(I). Importantly, “[s]tatutes in pari

materia must be construed together and the legislative intention, as gathered from the whole

of the enactments, must be given effect.” Syl. Pt. 3, State ex rel. Graney v. Sims, 144 W.Va.

72, 105 S.E.2d 886 (1958); accord Syl. Pt. 2, in part, Beckley v. Kirk, 193 W.Va. 258, 455
S.E.2d 817 (1995) (same); Syl. Pt. 5, in part, Fruehauf Corp. v. Huntington Moving &

Storage Co., 159 W.Va. 14, 217 S.E.2d 907 (1975) (“Statutes which relate to the same

       1
         Here, the petitioner will not be eligible for parole consideration until 2029, at which
time the children will be ages 19, 17, and 14, respectively.

                                               5
persons or things, or to the same class of persons or things, or statutes which have a common

purpose will be regarded in pari materia to assure recognition and implementation of the

legislative intent.”).

               Although “[a] natural parent of an infant child does not forfeit his or her

parental right to the custody of the child merely by reason of having been convicted of one

or more charges of criminal offenses[,]” syl. pt. 2, State ex rel. Acton v. Flowers, 154 W.Va.

209, 174 S.E.2d 742 (1970), the majority should have clarified that a parent’s incarceration,

particularly a lengthy one, results in the child[ren] being neglected by that parent. Thus, even

when an incarcerated parent’s conduct reflects a continued interest in his or her children, the

statutory definitions of abandonment and neglect must be considered together and under the

circumstances of this case can result in an adjudication and/or disposition of

abandonment/neglect and termination of parental rights. Smith, 159 W.Va. at 109, 219
S.E.2d at 362, syl. pt. 2, in part; Graney, 144 W.Va. at 72, 105 S.E.2d at 887, syl. pt. 3.

Ajudication v. Disposition

               The majority further confuses the issue by making inconsistent statements

regarding whether the In re Cecil T. factors can be considered on both the adjudication and

disposition stages, or only at disposition. The opinion holds that:

                       On its face, Syllabus Point 3 of In re Cecil T. applies only
               in the context of a lawful disposition hearing held after a circuit

                                                6
              court makes a finding of abuse or neglect at the adjudicatory
              hearing. Here, the circuit court lacked the continued jurisdiction
              to conduct a disposition hearing once it declined to adjudge
              Petitioner as having abandoned A.P.-1, A.P.-2, and A.P.-3. For
              that reason, In re Cecil T. could not have applied to Petitioner’s
              case, below, nor could it have justified the termination of
              Petitioner’s parental rights.

But the majority’s accompanying footnote 29 makes a completely inconsistent (although I

believe correct) statement of law to the effect that this blatant inconsistency leaves the law

muddled up on this important issue:

                      Circuit courts should be mindful that In re Cecil T. does
              not foreclose a finding at the adjudicatory stage that a parent’s
              absence due to incarceration that harms or threatens the physical
              or mental health of the child is neglect. See W.Va. Code § 49-
              1-21 (defining “neglect”). Of course, in order for the circuit
              court to make the appropriate adjudication, it is incumbent upon
              DHHR to draft a petition that includes all the necessary
              allegations and that does not unduly restrict the circuit court’s
              ability to make the requisite finding.

As stated, the petition here alleged both abandonment and abuse/neglect.

              Apparently, because the In re Cecil T. case just happened to have been decided

in the context of a disposition, the majority nonsensically suggests that the substance of the

law of that case is not applicable at adjudication. It would be absurd to suggest that

substantive law set forth by this Court in a child abuse and neglect case does not apply

equally at all stages of the proceedings.

                                              7
Continuing Jurisdiction of the Lower Court

              The majority erred in holding that the lower court lacked continuing

jurisdiction in this case once the Court initially declined to adjudicate the petitioner father

as having abandoned the children. They are clearly wrong in not permitting the existing

proceedings to continue on remand. Instead, the majority offers the DHHR the option of

filing a new petition, essentially creating the potential of a child never having a permanent

placement. Here, the DHHR made broad allegations of abuse and/or neglect and/or

abandonment, thus covering all bases. In requiring that a new or amended petition would

have to be filed, and indeed giving the DHHR the discretion on whether to do so, the

majority creates the potential to leave these children without ever having a permanent

placement.2

              The majority relies on West Virginia Rule of Procedure for Child Abuse and

Neglect Proceedings 19(b) to support their determination that a new petition would have to

be filed. Rule 19(b) provides:

              If new allegations arise after the final adjudicatory hearing, the
              allegations should be included in an amended petition rather
              than in a separate petition in a new civil action, and the final

       2
         The mother’s rights have been terminated, the father is in prison for at least 10 more
years, so there is currently no permanent placement for the children. My former colleague,
Justice Richard Neely, used to characterize such unnecessary procedural obstacles as “death
by due process.”

                                              8
              adjudicatory hearing shall be re-opened for the purpose of
              hearing evidence on the new allegations in the amended petition.

Clearly, there were no new allegations.

              In the instant case, the lower court revisited its initial adjudication decision and

revised it. Indisputably, a court can always reconsider its earlier decision or ruling, which

is precisely what the circuit court did here. As this Court has explained,

                     [t]he doctrine of “inherent power” provides: “A court
              ‘has inherent power to do all things that are reasonably
              necessary for the administration of justice within the scope of its
              jurisdiction.’” Syllabus Point 3, Shields v. Romine, 122 W.Va.
              639, 13 S.E.2d 16 (1940). The “inherent power” doctrine is
              “well recognized” in West Virginia. See, e.g., Daily Gazette v.
              Canady, 175 W.Va. 249, 251, 332 S.E.2d 262, 264 (1985).

              ••••

              This Court has recognized the desirability of circuit courts
              revisiting issues of substantial importance when fundamental
              rights are at stake: “We welcome the efforts of trial courts to
              correct errors they perceive before judgment is entered and
              while the adverse affects can be mitigated or abrogated.” State
              v. Jarvis, 199 W.Va. 38, 45, 483 S.E.2d 38, 45 (1996).

State ex rel. Crafton v. Burnside, 207 W.Va. 74, 77 n.3, 528 S.E.2d 768, 771 n.3 (2000).

Consequently, the circuit court had the authority and jurisdiction to revisit its earlier

adjudicatory decision. Upon the circuit court’s further consideration of the best interests of

the children, the guardian ad litem’s arguments, the petitioner’s lengthy incarceration, and

the factors provided in In re Cecil T., the circuit court essentially reconsidered its earlier

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refusal to adjudicate based on abandonment.3 228 W.Va. at 91, 717 S.E.2d at 875, syl. pt.

3. In doing so, however, the circuit court should have continued the dispositional hearing to

a later date, absent the parties’ agreement to proceed immediately to disposition.4

              As I conveyed in my dissent in In re K.H., No. 18-0282, 2018 WL 6016722

(W.Va. Nov. 16, 2018) (memorandum decision), “our procedural rules are critically

important and serve to ensure that due process is afforded all parties to an abuse and neglect

proceeding.” Id. at *8. Moreover, I firmly believe that “[a]lthough parents have substantial

rights that must be protected, the primary goal in cases involving abuse and neglect, as in all

family law matters, must be the health and welfare of the children.” Syl. Pt. 3, In re Katie

S., 198 W.Va. 79, 479 S.E.2d 589 (1996). Through the majority’s inordinate emphasis on

the rights of parents while failing to balance the children’s rights, the majority ignores more

than a century of this Court’s decisions5 wherein we have reiterated, time and again, that the

best interest and welfare of the child is the paramount consideration in matters involving

       3
        See In re Timber M., 231 W.Va.44, 59, 743 S.E.2d 352, 367 (2013) (“[I]t is clear
from our procedural rules, as well as our prior case law, that ‘[t]here cannot be too much
advocacy for children.’ State ex rel. Diva P. v. Kaufman, 200 W.Va. 555, 570, 490 S.E.2d
642, 657 (1997) (Workman, C.J., concurring).”).
       4
          Rule 32(b) of the West Virginia Rules of Procedure for Child Abuse and Neglect
Proceedings provides that the disposition hearing may immediately follow the adjudication
hearing if, inter alia, the parties agree and notice of such hearing was provided or waived by
all parties.
       5
          While ignoring a body of case law developed over the last 100 years, the majority
blithely refers to a divided decision just filed five months ago as “well-settled law.”

                                              10
child custody. See Syl. Pt. 2, Cunningham v. Barnes, 37 W.Va. 746, 17 S.E. 308 (1893)

(“The welfare of the infant is the polar star by which the discretion of the court is to be

guided; but the legal rights of the parent will be respected, being founded in nature and

wisdom, unless they have been transferred or abandoned.”); Cariens v. Cariens, 50 W.Va.

113, 119, 40 S.E. 335, 337 (1901) (finding “[t]he welfare of the child is the test” in custody

determination); Nestor v. Nestor, 83 W.Va. 590, 98 S.E. 807 (1919) (recognizing that “[t]he

welfare of the child is the guiding principle by which the court must be governed” in child

custody case); Rierson v. Rierson, 107 W.Va. 321, 323, 148 S.E. 203, 204 (1929) (“While

it is fundamentally true that in legal contests affecting the custody of children, their welfare

is the primary consideration of the courts–the ‘polar star’ by which the discretion of the

courts is to be guided[.]”); Straughan v. Straughan, 115 W.Va. 639, 177 S.E. 771, 772 (1934)

(relying upon syllabus point two of Cunningham, 37 W.Va. 746, 17 S.E. 308, for guidance

in custody decision); Syl. Pt. 2, State ex rel. Lipscomb v. Joplin, 131 W.Va. 302, 47 S.E.2d
221(1948) (“In a contest involving the custody of an infant the welfare of the child is the

polar star by which the discretion of the court will be guided.”); Stout v. Massie, 140 W.Va.

731, 736, 88 S.E.2d 51, 54 (1955) (quoting syllabus point two of Joplin, 131 W.Va. 302, 47
S.E.2d 221, and describing it as an “inflexible and controlling principle of law which has

been frequently stated by this Court in determining the question of the custody of an infant”);

Holstein v. Holstein, 152 W.Va. 119, 122, 160 S.E.2d 177, 180 (1968) (citing pertinent West

Virginia law as supporting parties’ agreement that “the welfare of the children is the

                                              11
paramount and controlling factor” in custody contest); State ex rel. Cash v. Lively, 155 W.Va.

801, 804, 187 S.E.2d 601, 604 (1972) (“First and foremost in a contest involving the custody

of a child is the consideration of that child’s welfare. It has been held repeatedly by this

Court that the welfare of the child is the polar star by which the discretion of the court will

be guided.”); David M. v. Margaret M., 182 W.Va. 57, 60, 385 S.E.2d 912, 916 (1989) (The

“child’s welfare is the paramount and controlling factor in all custody matters.”) (citations

omitted); Syl. Pt. 5, Carter v. Carter, 196 W.Va. 239, 470 S.E.2d 193 (1996) (“In visitation

as well as custody matters, we have traditionally held paramount the best interests of the

child.”); State ex rel. Jeanette H. v. Pancake, 207 W.Va. 154, 163, 529 S.E.2d 865, 874

(2000) (citing In re Katie S.,198 W.Va. 79, 479 S.E.2d 589, and finding that “in considering

the private interests that will be affected by termination proceedings, utmost priority must be

given to the best interests of the child(ren) involved.”); In re Kaitlyn P., 225 W.Va. 123, 127,

690 S.E.2d 131, 135 (2010) (recognizing that parents have substantial rights that must be

protected, but also that welfare of child is “polar star by which the discretion of the court will

be guided”) (citations omitted).

               To facilitate achieving the primary goal of the health and welfare of the

children, our circuit courts must follow the clearly delineated procedures for adjudication and

disposition in child abuse and neglect matters, which serve to protect the rights of children,

as well as their parents. The lower court’s modification of adjudication was completely

                                               12
appropriate and the proceeding should have only been remanded for a separate dispositional

hearing.

The Children’s Best Interests

               In conclusion, I encourage the circuit court (if the matter returns to court) to

consider what will truly be in these children’s best interest given their placement with a

relative who has an amicable relationship with the petitioner. Particular consideration should

be given to all available benefits for the children, including (if there is termination of rights)

whether post-termination visitation might be appropriate.6 Having lost both parents, the

children are fortunate that another relative has stepped up to provide them the parenting they

need on a daily basis during the many years to come, especially given that the youngest child

is only four years old. It is imperative that steps are taken to ensure that this relative will be

provided with all the help that the system can provide to her and whether termination,

temporary or permanent guardianship, subsidized adoption, or some other option can provide

the maximum financial benefit should be a consideration.

       6
          See Syl. Pt. 5, In re Christina L., 194 W.Va. 446, 460 S.E.2d 692 (1995) (“When
parental rights are terminated due to neglect or abuse, the circuit court may nevertheless in
appropriate cases consider whether continued visitation or other contact with the abusing
parent is in the best interest of the child. Among other things, the circuit court should
consider whether a close emotional bond has been established between parent and child and
the child’s wishes, if he or she is of appropriate maturity to make such request. The evidence
must indicate that such visitation or continued contact would not be detrimental to the child’s
well being and would be in the child’s best interest.”).

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                                       II. Conclusion

              For these reasons, I concur in part and dissent in part to the decision reached

by the majority of the Court in this matter.

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