Court Opinion

ID: 4247823
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-02-23 15:30:34.0811+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:43:21.305334
License: Public Domain

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA 

                                                    SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS

                                                                                         FILED
In re J.G.
                                                                                    February 23, 2018
                                                                                      EDYTHE NASH GAISER, CLERK
No. 17-0657 (Cabell County 16-JA-37)                                                  SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                                          OF WEST VIRGINIA 

                                                          MEMORANDUM DECISION
        Petitioner Mother N.H., by counsel David Tyson, appeals the Circuit Court of Cabell
County’s May 24, 2017, order terminating her parental rights to J.G.1 The West Virginia
Department of Health and Human Resources (“DHHR”), by counsel S.L. Evans, filed a response
in support of the circuit court’s order and a supplemental appendix. The guardian ad litem
(“guardian”), Melia Atwell Adkins, filed a response on behalf of the child in support of the
circuit court’s order. On appeal, petitioner argues that the DHHR failed to remedy the conditions
that gave rise to the petition’s filing.2
                                                            
              1
         Consistent with our long-standing practice in cases with sensitive facts, we use initials
where necessary to protect the identities of those involved in this case. See In re K.H., 235 W.Va.
254, 773 S.E.2d 20 (2015); Melinda H. v. William R. II, 230 W.Va. 731, 742 S.E.2d 419 (2013);
State v. Brandon B., 218 W.Va. 324, 624 S.E.2d 761 (2005); State v. Edward Charles L., 183
W.Va. 641, 398 S.E.2d 123 (1990).
              2
         Petitioner also sets forth the following assignment of error: “Petitioner asserts that the
[S]tate failed to satisfy by ‘clear and convincing evidence[’] that J.G. was neglected and
psychologically abused by her mother.” However, the argument for this assignment of error
consists of only two sentences and contains no citation to the record or any legal authority. Rule
10(c)(7) of the West Virginia Rules of Appellate Procedure requires that

              [t]he brief must contain an argument exhibiting clearly the points of fact and law
              presented, the standard of review applicable, and citing the authorities relied on . .
              . [and] must contain appropriate and specific citations to the record on appeal[.]
              The Court may disregard errors that are not adequately supported by specific
              references to the record on appeal.

Additionally, in an Administrative Order entered December 10, 2012, Re: Filings That Do Not
Comply With the Rules of Appellate Procedure, then-Chief Justice Menis E. Ketchum
specifically noted in paragraph two that “[b]riefs that lack citation of authority [or] fail to
structure an argument applying applicable law” are not in compliance with this Court’s rules.
Further, “[b]riefs with arguments that do not contain a citation to legal authority to support the
argument presented and do not ‘contain appropriate and specific citations to the record on appeal
. . .’ as required by rule 10(c)(7)” are not in compliance with this Court’s rules. Here, petitioner’s
                                                                                                              
                                                                                           (continued . . . )
                                                                   1

 
        This Court has considered the parties’ briefs and the record on appeal. The facts and legal
arguments are adequately presented, and the decisional process would not be significantly aided
by oral argument. Upon consideration of the standard of review, the briefs, and the record
presented, the Court finds no substantial question of law and no prejudicial error. For these
reasons, a memorandum decision affirming the circuit court’s order is appropriate under Rule 21
of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.

        In February of 2016, the DHHR filed an abuse and neglect petition against the parents.
According to the petition, the child disclosed that her father had sexual intercourse with her
multiple times over approximately one year. According to the child, the father forced her to have
sex in front of other people who paid him to watch the act. The petition made further allegations
of abuse and neglect against the father. In regard to petitioner, the DHHR alleged that she failed
to provide either emotionally or financially for the child and had effectively abandoned her by
failing to protect her from the father’s abuse. Petitioner later waived her preliminary hearing.

        In August of 2016, the circuit court held an adjudicatory hearing. Petitioner was not
present for the hearing but was represented by counsel. The circuit court adjudicated petitioner
upon a finding that she “effectively abandoned her child.” At a hearing in September of 2016, the
circuit court granted petitioner a post-adjudicatory improvement period. As a condition of the
improvement period, petitioner was directed to have no contact with the child. At a later review
hearing, it was established that petitioner was not complying with the terms of the family case
plan. Specifically, petitioner missed seven of thirteen drug screens, screened positive for cocaine,
and failed to provide proof of employment. Further, petitioner failed to attend either Narcotics
Anonymous (“NA”) or Alcoholics Anonymous (“AA”), as ordered. Finally, the circuit court
noted that the child ran away from placement on three separate occasions and that, each time, she
returned to petitioner. Despite this fact, petitioner denied knowing the child’s whereabouts.
Thereafter, the circuit court terminated petitioner’s post-adjudicatory improvement period and
directed her to submit to a drug screen after the hearing.

        In April of 2017, the circuit court held a dispositional hearing. Petitioner did not attend
the hearing in person but was represented by counsel. During the hearing, the circuit court noted
that petitioner’s last drug screen was positive for cocaine. Additionally, petitioner missed two
other screens and tested positive for marijuana in January of 2017. According to evidence from
the DHHR, petitioner failed to comply with the terms of her family case plan and, aside from
obtaining housing, did not complete any other requirement imposed in the family case plan. This
included her failure to obtain employment, participate in parenting education, attend NA or AA
meetings, or contact the DHHR. Based upon this evidence, the circuit court found that there was
no reasonable likelihood petitioner could substantially correct the conditions of abuse and
neglect and that termination of her parental rights was necessary for the child’s welfare.
                                                                                                                                                                                                
brief in regard to this assignment of error is inadequate as it fails to comply with West Virginia
Rule of Appellate Procedure 10(c)(7) and our December 10, 2012, administrative order.
Accordingly, the Court will not address the assignment of error on appeal.

                                                                                              2
 
Accordingly, the circuit court terminated petitioner’s parental rights.3 It is from the dispositional
order that petitioner appeals.4

              The Court has previously established the following standard of review:

                      “Although conclusions of law reached by a circuit court are subject to de
              novo review, when an action, such as an abuse and neglect case, is tried upon the
              facts without a jury, the circuit court shall make a determination based upon the
              evidence and shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law as to whether
              such child is abused or neglected. These findings shall not be set aside by a
              reviewing court unless clearly erroneous. A finding is clearly erroneous when,
              although there is evidence to support the finding, the reviewing court on the entire
              evidence is left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been
              committed. However, a reviewing court may not overturn a finding simply
              because it would have decided the case differently, and it must affirm a finding if
              the circuit court’s account of the evidence is plausible in light of the record
              viewed in its entirety.” Syl. Pt. 1, In Interest of Tiffany Marie S., 196 W.Va. 223,
              470 S.E.2d 177 (1996).

Syl. Pt. 1, In re Cecil T., 228 W.Va. 89, 717 S.E.2d 873 (2011). Upon our review, the Court finds
no error in the proceedings below.

        On appeal, petitioner argues that the DHHR failed to remedy the conditions that gave rise
to the petition’s filing because the child was allegedly “on the run for over one year while in the
custody of the DHHR.” According to petitioner, the DHHR never pursued the goal of
reunification of the family and petitioner “was never given a chance with her child who ran away
from her placement with the DHHR.” Finally, petitioner argues that the DHHR did “little to
remedy the situation by not knowing where the child may be even though they are the custodian
of the minor child.” Petitioner’s arguments, however, have no basis in fact or law.

        First, petitioner’s assertion that the child was missing for over one year during the
proceedings below lacks any basis in the record. It does appear that the child ran away from her
placement while in DHHR custody and was missing for approximately five weeks in December
of 2016 and January of 2017, but this fact did not in any way prevent petitioner from
participating in services. In fact, the record shows that in May of 2016, the circuit court
instructed petitioner that she could have visitation with the child if she completed two
consecutive drug screens. However, petitioner failed to satisfy this burden and was not entitled to
                                                            
              3
         In addition to the termination of petitioner’s parental rights, the parental rights of the
father to the child were terminated below. According to the guardian, the parties are currently
seeking an appropriate permanent placement for the child, who is presently placed at Pressley
Ridge Grant Gardens pending a permanent placement.
              4
        On appeal, petitioner does not raise an assignment of error challenging the circuit court’s
termination of her parental rights.

                                                               3

 
such visitation, not due to any failure of the DHHR to attempt to preserve the family but due to
her own failure to submit to drug screens and otherwise refrain from substance abuse. Further,
the record shows that while the child was missing from DHHR custody, petitioner had
information about her whereabouts but failed to alert the DHHR to this information.
Accordingly, it is disingenuous for petitioner to now argue on appeal that the child’s
disappearance had any effect upon her failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the
family case plan below.

        Moreover, petitioner’s assertion that the DHHR was required to remedy the conditions
that necessitated the petition’s filing is without merit. Petitioner is correct that, absent aggravated
circumstances or other specific situations as set forth by law, the DHHR has a statutory duty to
make reasonable efforts to preserve the family. See W.Va. Code § 49-4-604(b)(7). However,
petitioner is mistaken in asserting that the DHHR was required to remedy the conditions that
necessitated the petition’s filing. On the contrary, petitioner was required to remedy those
conditions by participating in the various services that the DHHR offered in furtherance of its
duty to make reasonable efforts to preserve the family. In these proceedings, the DHHR satisfied
its statutory duty by providing petitioner with multiple services, including drug screens and
parenting education, designed to facilitate petitioner’s correction of the underlying issues of
abuse and neglect. However, the record is clear that petitioner did not take advantage of these
services and, thus, failed to properly remedy the conditions of abuse and neglect.

        Specifically, the circuit court found that “[n]either . . . parent has made reasonable efforts
to address issues identified” during the proceedings. It further found that, aside from obtaining
stable housing, petitioner “accomplished nothing contained in her [f]amily [c]ase [p]lan.” As set
forth above, the brief period of time that the child left her placement in DHHR custody had no
bearing on petitioner’s failure to comply with services. Based on this evidence, the circuit court
concluded that there was no reason to believe that petitioner could substantially correct the
conditions of abuse and neglect in the near future. Pursuant to West Virginia Code § 49-4-
604(c), “‘no reasonable likelihood that conditions of neglect or abuse can be substantially
corrected’ means that, based upon the evidence before the court, the abusing adult or adults have
demonstrated an inadequate capacity to solve the problems of abuse or neglect on their own or
with help.” (emphasis added). This statute plainly illustrates that it was petitioner’s responsibility
to correct the conditions of abuse and neglect present. Accordingly, we find no error in the
proceedings below.

       Lastly, this Court reminds the circuit court of its duty to establish permanency for the
children. Rule 39(b) of the Rules of Procedure for Child Abuse and Neglect Proceedings
requires:

       At least once every three months until permanent placement is achieved as defined
       in Rule 6, the court shall conduct a permanent placement review conference,
       requiring the multidisciplinary treatment team to attend and report as to progress
       and development in the case, for the purpose of reviewing the progress in the
       permanent placement of the child.

                                                  4

 
       Further, this Court reminds the circuit court of its duty pursuant to Rule 43 of the Rules of
Procedure for Child Abuse and Neglect Proceedings to find permanent placement for the
children within twelve months of the date of the disposition order. As this Court has stated,

               [t]he [twelve]-month period provided in Rule 43 of the West Virginia
       Rules of Procedures for Child Abuse and Neglect Proceedings for permanent
       placement of an abused and neglected child following the final dispositional order
       must be strictly followed except in the most extraordinary circumstances which
       are fully substantiated in the record.

Cecil T., 228 W.Va. at 91, 717 S.E.2d at 875, Syl. Pt. 6. Moreover, this Court has stated that

               [i]n determining the appropriate permanent out-of-home placement of a
       child under W.Va.Code § 49-6-5(a)(6) [1996] [now West Virginia Code § 49-
       4604(b)(6)], the circuit court shall give priority to securing a suitable adoptive
       home for the child and shall consider other placement alternatives, including
       permanent foster care, only where the court finds that adoption would not provide
       custody, care, commitment, nurturing and discipline consistent with the child’s
       best interests or where a suitable adoptive home can not be found.

Syl. Pt. 3, State v. Michael M., 202 W.Va. 350, 504 S.E.2d 177 (1998). Finally, “[t]he guardian
ad litem’s role in abuse and neglect proceedings does not actually cease until such time as the
child is placed in a permanent home.” Syl. Pt. 5, James M. v. Maynard, 185 W.Va. 648, 408
S.E.2d 400 (1991).

      For the foregoing reasons, we find no error in the decision of the circuit court, and its
May 24, 2017, order is hereby affirmed.

                                                                                         Affirmed.

ISSUED: February 23, 2018

CONCURRED IN BY:

Chief Justice Margaret L. Workman
Justice Robin Jean Davis
Justice Menis E. Ketchum
Justice Allen H. Loughry II
Justice Elizabeth D. Walker

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