Court Opinion

ID: 4158473
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-04-06 15:03:13.066672+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:30:25.839579
License: Public Domain

Cite as 2017 Ark. 115

                SUPREME COURT OF ARKANSAS
                                      No.   CV-16-1018

                                                Opinion Delivered: April   6, 2017
BRANDON MARTIN
                               APPELLANT APPEAL FROM THE LAWRENCE
                                         COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
V.                                       [NO. JV-2014-97]

ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF                          HONORABLE KEVIN KING, JUDGE
HUMAN SERVICES

AND
                                    AFFIRMED; COURT OF APPEALS
B.D., J.M., AND A.M., MINORS        OPINION VACATED.
                          APPELLEES

                              JOHN DAN KEMP, Chief Justice

       Appellant Brandon Martin appeals an order of the Lawrence County Circuit Court

terminating his parental rights to his three children, B.D., J.M., and A.M., pursuant to

Arkansas Code Annotated section 9-27-341 (Supp. 2013).1 For reversal, Brandon contends

that the circuit court erred in finding (1) that appellee Arkansas Department of Human

Services (DHS) proved the grounds alleged in the petition by clear and convincing evidence

and (2) that termination was in the best interest of the children. He further contends that

the termination decision must be reversed because it was based on a mistake of fact that the

juveniles had been adjudicated dependent-neglected as a result of abuse. We affirm.

       1
          The children’s mother, Megan Martin, consented to the termination of her parental
rights. She is not a party to this appeal. To avoid confusion, we will refer to the Martins by
their first names.
                                   Cite as 2017 Ark. 115

                             I. Factual and Procedural Background

       On October 20, 2014, DHS filed a petition for emergency custody of B.D., born

March 23, 2012, and J.M., born December 26, 2013. A seventy-two-hour hold was taken

on both children on October 17, 2014, after the Martins had taken J.M. to the hospital on

October 16 based on concerns about an injury to his left leg. According to affidavits, the

Martins sought treatment for J.M. at Le Bonheur Hospital, where it was determined that

J.M. had suffered a traverse fracture to the left femur. A report was made to the child-abuse

hotline for suspected physical abuse because explanations for the broken bone were

inconsistent and unconvincing. An investigator learned that J.M. had a two-year-old sibling,

B.D., and went to the grandparents’ home where B.D. was staying. While there, the

investigator discovered that B.D.’s feet had been burned. The investigator observed “thickly

wrapped gauze” on B.D.’s feet and noted that the gauze was yellowish and had a strong

odor emanating from it. The investigator also observed that B.D. began to cry in pain when

her grandfather attempted to unwrap her feet. Meanwhile, Megan and Brandon appeared

at the grandparents’ home, and Megan claimed that B.D.’s feet were burned because she

had been sitting in front of a space heater for too long. Megan said that she put B.D. in cold

water to cool her feet off; then, she put gel on B.D.’s feet and wrapped them. The

investigator noted that B.D. had “red, peeling, burnt skin going all the way around her feet

and up to her ankles,” that the “bottom of her big toes did not have any skin at all,” and

that the “sides of her feet were also peeling.” The investigator believed the burns were

caused by immersion. B.D. also had bruising on her face, back, and left side, a knot on the

top left side of her forehead, and scratches on her neck and arms. B.D. was transferred to

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Arkansas Children’s Hospital, where she underwent surgery for the injuries to her feet. An

ex parte order for emergency custody and a probable-cause order were entered on October

21.

       On November 13, 2014, DHS filed a petition for emergency custody and

dependency-neglect for A.M., who was born on November 7, 2014, based on the alleged

physical abuse to B.D. and J.M. An ex parte order for emergency custody of A.M. was

entered on November 17, and a probable-cause order was entered on November 18.

       Following continuances, an adjudication hearing was held on February 10, 2015. In

the adjudication order,2 the circuit court accepted the Martins’ stipulation that B.D., by a

preponderance of the evidence, was a dependent-neglected child because of inadequate

supervision by the parents. The circuit court found that J.M. and A.M. were also dependent-

neglected juveniles based on their sibling’s status as a dependent-neglected juvenile. The

Martins were given supervised visitation with B.D. and J.M. once per week for one hour

and supervised visitation with A.M. once per month for one hour. The circuit court found

that DHS had made reasonable efforts to prevent the removal of the children. The goal of

the case was reunification.

       A review hearing was held on May 12, 2015. The goal of the case continued to be

reunification, and the circuit court found that DHS had made reasonable efforts to provide

family services. The circuit court permitted Brandon to have unsupervised visitation with

the children every other weekend but prohibited Brandon from allowing Megan to have

contact with the children during his visitation.

       2
           The adjudication order was not filed until August 27, 2015.
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       On May 15, DHS filed an emergency motion to modify visitation and requested that

Brandon’s visitation be restricted to weekly supervised visits. In the motion, DHS alleged

that, on May 12, Brandon had been given unsupervised visitation based on his testimony

that he and Megan were separated and that he would not allow Megan to have contact with

the children, but the Martins were seen together in Brandon’s car on May 14. DHS further

alleged, “Brandon and Megan Martin continue to have contact. Any appearance of

separation is solely for the purpose [of] Mr. Martin being in a better position to regain

custody of the children.” DHS requested that Brandon’s visitation be restricted to weekly

supervised visits. Brandon responded and admitted that he continued to have contact with

Megan, but he stated that he would not allow contact between Megan and his children at

any time while he was exercising visitation.

       On August 17, 2015, DHS filed a petition to terminate the Martins’ parental rights

and alleged multiple grounds against each parent, including the failure-to-remedy ground;

failure-to-provide-significant-support-ground; adjudicated-as-a-result-of-abuse-that-could

endanger-the-child’s-life    ground;    subsequent-factors     ground;    substantial-period-of-

incarceration-ground; and the aggravated-circumstances ground. See Ark. Code Ann. §§ 9-

27-341(b)(3)(B)(i)(a), (ii)(a), (vi)(a); (vii)(a), and (ix)(a)(3). DHS alleged that Megan had been

charged with a felony for causing B.D.’s injuries and that the case was still pending; that

Brandon had failed to separate himself from Megan; that Brandon had been given the

opportunity to have unsupervised visitation with his children, but that opportunity ceased

when he continued to have contact with Megan; and that he had chosen his children’s

abuser over his children. Brandon responded and denied that DHS had established any

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ground for termination. Specifically, he denied that DHS had made meaningful efforts to

rehabilitate and correct the conditions that caused removal. He denied that he had failed to

separate himself from Megan, and he denied that his choosing Megan over the children

prevented placement with him.

       On January 19, 2016, the circuit court held a termination hearing. Brandon testified

that his divorce from Megan had been finalized “a couple of hours” before the hearing.

When asked why it had taken so long to obtain a divorce, Brandon testified that he wanted

to see what happened in the termination proceedings and in the criminal proceedings against

Megan. Brandon stated that, at first, he did not think that Megan had caused the children’s

injuries, but because the court had found her guilty, he believed Megan had harmed the

children. Later, he changed his testimony and said that he still did not know whether Megan

had harmed the children. He said that he did not go to court for Megan’s plea, that he did

not know whether she had admitted guilt, that he did not know the length of Megan’s

sentence to prison, and that he did not know her expected release date. Brandon

acknowledged that Megan was the only adult present when B.D.’s injuries occurred, but

when he was asked whether Megan had burned B.D.’s feet, he answered that he honestly

did not know. Brandon testified that he had listened to medical testimony about B.D.’s

burns, but he could not remember what was said. He also testified that he could not

remember if he had asked how J.M.’s leg had been broken.

       Brandon testified that his mother would assist him with the children if they were

returned to him. He acknowledged that his mother was not present at the termination

hearing, although she had been at the divorce hearing earlier that day. Brandon stated that

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if his mother could not help him, his sister would, but he admitted that he had not been to

his sister’s house in over a year. He testified that he had called Kidsney Zone and some other

daycare centers, but he had nothing set up yet for the children “because they had to fill the

positions.” Brandon said that he remembered signing a case plan and discussing services,

such as vouchers for daycare, but that he did not apply for vouchers because “they never

gave me anything in paperwork.”

       On cross-examination, Brandon stated that, although he did not file for divorce until

November 13, he and Megan separated on May 9. He admitted that he did not inform DHS

of the date of separation. He testified that the only contact he had with Megan since they

had separated was during joint visitation, which was scheduled by DHS, and during attorney

visits when they were represented by the same attorney. Brandon testified that he accepted

the finding of Megan’s guilt in harming their children and that he would not allow Megan

to be around the children when she is released from prison. He also testified that if his

children were injured, he would take them to the doctor.

       On redirect, Brandon said that he found out B.D.’s feet were burned only after

Megan had called him and told him; he then brought bandages home and returned to work.

He said that he could not remember how long B.D. had the burns before they took her to

the hospital. He said that B.D.’s injuries were not “that bad when it first happen[ed],” but

he admitted that he never looked at B.D.’s feet. He said that when he saw B.D.’s bandaged

feet, he wondered what had happened. Brandon said that he did not talk to doctors about

B.D.’s burns because DHS asked him to leave the hospital.

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       Cassie Slater, the family service worker assigned to the case, testified that there had

been no trial placements or weekend visits with Brandon. She said that the opportunity for

weekend visitation was suspended after Brandon was seen with Megan when they were not

supposed to be together. Slater acknowledged that Brandon had complied with the

requirements of the case plan. She stated that DHS was asking for his parental rights to be

terminated because he was not prepared to protect the children. She believed that Brandon

was unwilling to protect the children because he and Megan were together when B.D.’s

injuries occurred, and he did not take B.D. to the doctor; he stayed married to Megan until

the day of the termination hearing; he did not notify DHS that he and Megan had separated;

and he did not have a plan in place for the children if he regained custody. Slater noted that

J.M. had sustained a broken femur and that B.D.’s feet were so badly burned that she

required skin grafts and had to wear a compression sock. She added that B.D. might have

permanent nerve damage to her feet. Slater testified that the injuries did not prohibit the

children from being adopted and that there was interest from potential adoptive parents. In

Slater’s opinion, Brandon had not made substantial measurable progress in the case and had

not worked diligently toward the goal of reunification because he had not shown that he

could provide for the children and keep them safe from harm.

       On cross-examination, Slater admitted that during the pendency of the case, she had

been on leave on three different occasions and that during her leave, she was not an active

participant in the case. Slater acknowledged that Brandon and Megan were divorced and

that Megan had gone to prison, but she stated that, based on J.M.’s broken femur and B.D.’s

burned feet, DHS had concerns about Brandon’s ability to protect the children.

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       Brandon testified again. He stated that he believed Megan “could have” caused the

children’s injuries but that he “[did not] know if she did or not because [he] wasn’t there.”

He also stated that when he and Megan were seen together, he was giving her a ride.

Brandon testified that he and Megan had not lived together since they separated in May.

       Following the hearing, the circuit court terminated the parental rights of both

Brandon and Megan. The circuit court concluded that DHS had proved by clear and

convincing evidence that termination of Brandon’s rights was warranted under the

subsequent-factors ground, the failure-to-remedy ground, and the adjudicated-as-a-result-

of-abuse-that-could endanger-the-child’s-life ground. In doing so, the circuit court found

that

       [t]he question is the credibility of Mr. Martin in pursuing this matter, requesting that
       the children go back home with him. And the Court finds that his testimony is not
       credible. And that Mr. Martin, I think, loves his kids and wants to do what’s right.
       But at the same time, I think, all of his - - all of his thoughts in this matter have dealt
       with the fact that he would wait and see what would happen regarding his wife. And,
       you know, he wouldn’t be divorced today except the Court would go ahead - -
       went ahead and allowed him to present his divorce at this time. So the Court’s
       concerned that - - there’s a great hesitation on the part of Mr. Martin to admit that
       Ms. Martin had anything to do with the injuries that were sustained by these children.
       And the Court based upon the testimony and the evidence provided, the Court finds
       no other conclusion - - reasonable conclusion is that Ms. Martin is responsible for
       these injuries.

                                              ....

       The Court feels that there is a threat of harm by returning the children home. The
       Court has great concerns whether or not Mr. Martin would actually protect the
       children. I think if Ms. Martin showed up, Mr. Martin would allow her to have
       access to the children. That seems to be the whole problem that we’ve had.
                                            ....

       The Court’s making a finding that Mr. Martin - - he’s done parenting, has watched
       the Clock is ticking, he’s done a physiological, but as far as noncompliance, he’s not
       been able to show that he’s got a support group. And even though he has indicated
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       that his mother was available even up to the point of retiring - - the mom was here.
       Mom left.
                                           ....

       We don’t have any other testimony. You know, my concern is that if - - it’s kind
       of, too little too late as far as that goes. . . .[W]e’ve never been able to substantiate
       anything regarding help by a family member. He indicated that his sister might be a
       possibility. He has very little contact with his sister.

       Mr. Martin has never asked for extended visitation even though that was available.
       They have discussed that. There has always been concerns about his continual contact
       with Ms. Martin.
                                           ....

       The Court’s concern is when the injuries were noted from both children, very much
       a hesitancy on the part of the mother and the father to see that they received medical
       care. And in fact the one with burned feet, the Court’s seen the pictures in prior
       hearings. It’s unbelievable that anybody could determine that the child did not need
       immediate . . . medical services. And that I cannot imagine a parent not wanting to
       see - - not wanting to inquire about the injuries sustained by the child to the extent
       that we’ve had them shown today.

       It boils down to the fact that the father seems to have made a choice. His choice is
       more of a relationship with the mother. He does not want to admit that the mother
       may have done this. He waited until the last minute; did not go to the hearing. So
       it’s real easy for him to say, I don’t know exactly what she pled. I know she was
       convicted. And, you know, apparently she [may] have done it because she was
       convicted. He would not say in his own word - - make any expression at all
       indicating that she was at fault.
                                             ....

       Testimony was that there was not any discussion by the father or mother either one
       indicating that they had separated. Just all of a sudden they were not together, but
       still there has been testimony of contact, contact at the time of visitation.

The circuit court also found by clear and convincing evidence that it was in the best interest

of B.D., J.M., and A.M., to terminate Brandon’s parental rights. In making this finding, the

circuit court specifically considered the likelihood that the children would be adopted if the

termination petition were granted and the potential harm to the health and safety of the

children if they were returned to Brandon.
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       Brandon appealed the order terminating his parental rights to the court of appeals,

which affirmed. See Martin v. Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs., 2016 Ark. App. 521, 504 S.W.3d
628. Martin then petitioned this court for review, and we granted the petition. 3 When we

grant a petition for review, we consider the appeal as if it were originally filed in this court.

E.g., Earls v. Harvest Credit Mgmt. VI-B, LLC, 2015 Ark. 175, 460 S.W.3d 795.

                                       II. Applicable Law

       The termination of parental rights is a two-step process requiring a determination

that the parent is unfit and that termination is in the best interest of the child. See J.T. v.

Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs., 329 Ark. 243, 947 S.W.2d 761 (1997). The first step requires

proof of one or more statutory grounds for termination. See Ark. Code Ann. § 9-27-

341(b)(3)(B). The second step requires consideration of whether termination is in the

juveniles’ best interest. Id. § 9-27-341(b)(3)(A). The best-interest analysis includes

consideration of the likelihood that the juvenile will be adopted if the termination petition

is granted and the potential harm caused by returning custody of the child to the parent. Id.

§ 9-27-341(b)(3)(A)(i) & (ii).

       3
          We granted Brandon’s petition for review to resolve a conflict between the court
of appeals’ decision in this case and prior decisions of this court. In Martin, 2016 Ark. App.
521, 504 S.W.3d 628, the court of appeals held that Brandon failed to preserve the issue of
whether DHS presented sufficient proof that appropriate family services were offered.
Brandon contends that Martin is at odds with prior decisions of this court in which we have
held that, in a civil bench trial, a party may challenge the sufficiency of the evidence for the
first time on appeal. We agree. In a long line of cases, this court had held that, in a civil
bench trial, a party who does not challenge the sufficiency of the evidence at trial does not
waive the right to so do on appeal. See, e.g., Contreras v. Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs., 2014
Ark. 51, 431 S.W.3d 297; Oates v. Oates, 340 Ark. 431, 10 S.W.3d 861 (2000); Bass v.
Koller, 276 Ark. 93, 632 S.W.2d 410 (1982).
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       We review termination-of-parental-rights cases de novo. E.g., Brumley v. Ark. Dep’t

of Human Servs., 2015 Ark. 356. An order terminating parental rights must be based on clear

and convincing evidence, which is that degree of proof that will produce in the fact-finder

a firm conviction as to the allegation sought to be established. See id. When the burden of

proving a disputed fact is by clear and convincing evidence, the question that must be

answered on appeal is whether the circuit court’s finding is clearly erroneous. E.g., Payne v.

Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs., 2013 Ark. 284. A finding is clearly erroneous when, although

there is evidence to support it, the reviewing court on the entire evidence is left with a

definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been made. E.g., Seago v. Ark. Dep’t of Human

Servs., 2011 Ark. 184, 380 S.W.3d 894.

                                 III. Ground for Termination

       Brandon contends that DHS failed to prove that a ground for termination existed by

clear and convincing evidence. The circuit court found that DHS had proved three grounds

by clear and convincing evidence: the failure-to-remedy ground, the subsequent-factors

ground, and the adjudicated-as-a-result-of-abuse-that-could-endanger-the-child’s-life

ground. We first consider Brandon’s contention that DHS failed to prove the subsequent-

factors ground, because he ended his relationship with Megan in May 2015 when they

separated.

       The subsequent-factors ground states that rights may be terminated when

       other factors or issues arose subsequent to the filing of the original petition for
       dependency-neglect that demonstrate that placement of the juvenile in the custody
       of the parent is contrary to the juvenile’s health, safety, or welfare and that, despite
       the offer of appropriate family services, the parent has manifested the incapacity or
       indifference to remedy the subsequent issues or factors or rehabilitate the parent’s
       circumstances that prevent the placement of the juvenile in the custody of the parent.
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Ark. Code Ann. § 9-27-341(b)(3)(B)(vii)(a).

       DHS filed the original dependency-neglect petition for J.M. and B.D. on October

20, 2014, and the petition for A.M. was filed on November 13, 2014. Since the petitions

were filed, in a separate criminal proceeding, Megan was found to be responsible for causing

B.D.’s injuries, and she pleaded guilty to a battery charge. The circuit court found that,

despite Megan’s admission, Brandon continued his relationship with her and, therefore,

“chose[] his children’s abuser over his children.” The circuit court did not find credible

Brandon’s testimony that he had separated from Megan in May, and the circuit court did

not credit Brandon’s testimony that he would protect the children if custody were returned

to him.

       Here, by his own testimony, Brandon had taken a “wait and see” approach to ending

his relationship with Megan, and he was reluctant to admit that Megan had caused the

children’s injuries. He vacillated between acknowledging that Megan had caused the

children’s injuries and claiming that he did not know if Megan had harmed the children,

because he was “not there.” Brandon was given the opportunity to have unsupervised

visitation with the children. The circuit court approved the visitation plan based on

Brandon’s assertion that he and Megan were separated and his promise that he would not

allow Megan to have contact with the children during his visitation. Brandon lost the

opportunity to spend more time with his children when the court found that he had

maintained contact with Megan. The evidence showed that Brandon had maintained a

relationship with Megan throughout the proceedings and that he was either incapable of

severing contact with Megan or indifferent to doing so.
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       The circuit court found that Brandon failed to show that he had a support group to

help take care of the children if they were returned to his custody. Brandon’s testimony

demonstrated that he had no plan for the children’s care if he regained custody. He stated

that he had called a few daycares; however, he said that he did not obtain the daycare

vouchers offered by DHS because “they never gave me anything in paperwork.” He testified

that his mother was willing to help him care for the children, but she was not present at the

hearing to testify about her willingness to help, even though she had gone to the divorce

hearing that took place just before the termination hearing. Brandon also claimed that his

sister could help with the children, but she, too, failed to appear and testify about her

willingness to do so.

       Brandon disagrees with the circuit court’s finding that DHS presented sufficient proof

that appropriate family services were offered. In this case, the circuit court made two

reasonable-efforts findings—one at the adjudication hearing on February 10, 2015, and

another at the review hearing on May 12, 2015. Brandon did not appeal from either order.

He concedes that his failure to challenge the circuit court’s prior reasonable-efforts findings

precludes this court from now reviewing any adverse rulings resulting from those orders not

appealed from. See Lewis v. Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs., 364 Ark. 243, 217 S.W.3d 788

(2005). Brandon maintains, however, that DHS failed to offer sufficient proof of the services

element during the eight-month period between the review hearing on May 12, 2015, and

the termination hearing on January 19, 2016. We disagree. The record reflects that DHS

offered daycare vouchers to Brandon, but he failed to take advantage of the services.

Moreover, we disagree with Brandon’s contention that his failure to separate from Megan

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cannot serve as a basis to terminate his parental rights because there was no evidence

presented that DHS ever offered him any services to address his relationship with Megan.

Brandon does not indicate what particular services DHS could have offered him that would

have prevented him from choosing Megan—his children’s abuser—over his children. We

hold that the circuit court did not clearly err in finding that DHS offered appropriate family

services.

       In reviewing the circuit court’s evaluation of the evidence, we will not reverse unless

the circuit court’s finding of clear and convincing evidence is clearly erroneous. E.g., Bearden

v. Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs., 344 Ark. 317, 42 S.W.3d 397 (2001). In resolving the clearly

erroneous question, we must give due regard to the opportunity of the circuit court to judge

the credibility of witnesses and the weight to be given to their testimony. See id., 42 S.W.3d
397. In this case, after hearing the evidence and determining that Brandon was not credible,

the circuit court concluded that DHS had proved by clear and convincing evidence the

subsequent-factors ground. We hold that the circuit court’s decision was not clearly

erroneous. Because DHS is required to prove only one ground for termination, see Ark.

Code Ann. § 9-27-341(b)(3)(B), it is not necessary for us to consider Brandon’s arguments

concerning the other grounds for termination. See Brumley, 2015 Ark. 356.4

       4
         We are not persuaded by Brandon’s contention that the circuit court’s “mistake of
fact” concerning a prior finding of abuse compels reversal because the alleged mistake “was
woven throughout and the basis for the grounds for termination and best interest
determination.” Abuse is but one of the grounds the circuit court found to terminate
Brandon’s parental rights.
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                                        IV. Best Interest

       Brandon contends that the circuit court erred in finding that termination of parental

rights was in the children’s best interest. Two factors to consider in determining best interest

are the likelihood of adoption and potential harm caused by returning the child to the

custody of the parent. See Ark. Code Ann. § 9-27-341(b)(3)(A). Brandon does not contest

the adoptability prong of the best-interest analysis. At the termination hearing, there was

testimony from DHS worker Slater that the children’s injuries did not prohibit adoption

and that there was interest from potential adoptive parents. The circuit court properly found

that the children are adoptable. See Brumley, 2015 Ark. 356 (citing Thompson v. Ark. Dep’t

of Human Servs., 2012 Ark. App. 124 (stating that testimony from a caseworker or an

adoption specialist that the children were adoptable is sufficient)).

       Brandon contends that the evidence was wholly insufficient to support a finding that

he posed a risk of potential harm to his children. He states that the children were injured

while he was working; that once the children were placed in foster care, he participated

fully and did everything DHS requested; and that DHS’s concern that he was not separated

from Megan was based purely on speculation.

       In considering potential harm caused by returning the child to the parent, the circuit

court is not required to find that actual harm would result or to affirmatively identify a

potential harm. Reid v. Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs., 2011 Ark. 187, 380 S.W.3d 918.

Potential harm must be viewed in broad terms, including the harm the child suffers from

the lack of stability in a permanent home. See Brumley, 2015 Ark. 356.

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       In this case, the circuit court found that Brandon had failed to seek immediate

medical care for the children’s injuries. The evidence showed that Brandon was either

unable or unwilling to recognize the seriousness of the injuries to his children. He testified

that when he saw that B.D.’s feet had been bandaged, he wondered what had happened.

But there was no evidence that Brandon ever asked about the cause of her injuries. He

admitted that he never looked at B.D.’s feet after they had been burned. He could not

remember if he had asked how J.M.’s leg had been broken.

       The circuit court noted that Brandon did not obtain a divorce from Megan until the

day of the termination hearing and found that even after Megan pleaded guilty to a felony-

battery charge, Brandon was still hesitant to believe that she had anything to do with his

children’s injuries. Based on this evidence, the circuit court found that Brandon had chosen

Megan over his children, and it expressed concern whether Brandon would protect the

children from Megan upon her release from prison. We conclude that this evidence of

potential harm, coupled with the children’s adoptability, supports the circuit court’s finding

that termination of Brandon’s parental rights was in the best interest of the children.

       Affirmed; court of appeals opinion vacated.

       WOOD, J., concurs.

       RHONDA K. WOOD, Justice, concurring. I join the majority opinion but write

separately to emphasize the failure of the attorneys and the circuit court to ensure that the

statutory scheme passed by the General Assembly was followed in this case. The children

undoubtedly suffered unspeakable abuse and neglect. Cases such as this are difficult for all

involved. Dockets are crowded and attorneys in this area are typically underpaid and

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overworked. However, there is no excuse for repeatedly failing to have timely hearings.

Cases involving abused and neglected children must be a priority in our justice system. Here,

the adjudication and review hearings were not held in a timely fashion. The orders were

not timely entered. Additionally, the circuit court failed to hold the second six-month

review hearing and failed to hold a permanency planning hearing.

       An adjudication hearing in a dependency-neglect case “shall be held” within 30 days

of the probable cause hearing. Ark. Code Ann. § 9-27-327(a)(4)(A) (Repl. 2015). As the

law now stands, upon a motion by the court or a party, this hearing may be continued up

to 60 days after removal. Ark. Code Ann. § 9-27-327(a)(4)(B). At the time this case took

place, the law provided that the hearing could be continued up to 60 days after the probable

cause hearing for good cause shown. Ark. Code Ann. § 9-27-327(a)(2)(A) (Supp. 2013). In

the present case, the adjudication hearing was not held within 30 days. Rather at the

probable cause hearing, the case was set for 56 days out. The record reflects that the parties

appeared for the adjudication, but the Department of Human Services sought a continuance

thus the adjudication hearing was rescheduled for 95 days from the probable cause hearing,

well past the statutory time frame. That hearing likewise did not happen because the judge

continued it for health reasons. The result was that the adjudication hearing for B.D. and

J.M. was held 112 days following the probable cause hearing, and the adjudication hearing

for A.M. was held 84 days following the probable cause hearing. Both well beyond the

statutory maximum time frame then of 60 days. To compound the issue, the adjudication

order was not filed until August 27, 2015, which was six months after the adjudication

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hearing, three months after the one and only review hearing, and ten days after the

Department filed the petition for termination of parental rights.

       Next, a review hearing shall take place every six months if the child is placed outside

of the home. Ark. Code Ann. § 9-27-337(a)(1)(A) (Supp. 2013). The first review hearing

shall be held no later than six months from the initial out-of-home placement and every six

months thereafter if the child continues to be placed out of the home. Ark. Code Ann. §

9-27-337(a)(2)(A),(B). In this case, the court did not hold the first review hearing until

almost seven months from the initial removal of B.D. and J.M. No subsequent review

hearing was ever held. Rather, the next court hearing was the termination hearing, which

was almost nine months after the first, and only, review hearing.

       Last, a court shall hold a permanency planning hearing “no later than twelve months”

from the date the child is removed from the home. Ark. Code Ann. § 9-27-338(a)(1)(A)

(Supp. 2013). In this case, the court never held a permanency planning hearing even though

B.D. and J.M. were placed out of their home for fifteen months prior to termination and

A.M. was placed out of the home for fourteen months.

       To summarize, these children were removed from the home but not adjudicated

dependent-neglected for almost four months. That order was not entered for another six

months. The circuit court held only one review hearing and then severed these children

from their parents a little over a year later. While I can find no legal error regarding the

circuit court’s termination decision, there was most certainly a failure in the process of

protecting these children. The mother had three older children previously removed and

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B.D. had been removed in the past and returned to her mother’s care only to be seriously

abused. The father refused to recognize the danger and protect the children.

      However, even in the face of horrendous abuse, the system must function in a timely

and orderly manner, especially when children are involved. The General Assembly designed

the law to protect children. Here, the record is eerily silent as to why counsel for the

Department of Human Services, parent counsel, and the children’s ad litem did not demand

these hearings occur and occur timely and that orders were entered. Circuit courts and

attorneys in dependency-neglect cases must be aware of the statutory time periods and

ensure that dependency-neglect cases proceed as required. To do otherwise is simply

unacceptable.

      Tabitha McNulty, Arkansas Public Defender Commission, for appellant.

      Andrew Firth, Office of Chief Counsel, for appellee.

       Chrestman Group, PLLC, by:      Keith L. Chrestman, attorney ad litem for minor
children.

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