Court Opinion

ID: 6111688
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-21 22:03:49.499362+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:54:20.397878
License: Public Domain

2022 IL App (2d) 210493-U
                                          No. 2-21-0493
                                   Order filed January 21, 2022

      NOTICE: This order was filed under Supreme Court Rule 23(b) and is not precedent
      except in the limited circumstances allowed under Rule 23(e)(l).
______________________________________________________________________________

                                                IN THE

                               APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS

                              SECOND DISTRICT
______________________________________________________________________________

In re S.S., W.L., M.L., N.R., I.G., and L.G., ) Appeal from the Circuit Court
Minors                                        ) of Winnebago County
                                              )
                                              ) Nos. 18-JA-308
                                              )        18-JA-309
                                              )        18-JA-310
                                              )        18-JA-311
                                              )        18-JA-313
                                              )        18-JA-314
                                              )
                                              ) Honorable
(People of the State of Illinois, Petitioner- ) Francis M. Martinez,
Appellee, v. Maria S., Respondent-Appellant). ) Judge, Presiding.
______________________________________________________________________________

       PRESIDING JUSTICE BRIDGES delivered the judgment of the court.
       Justices Hutchinson and Zenoff concurred in the judgment.

                                                ORDER

¶1     Held: Counsel’s motion to withdraw is granted as there are no issues of arguable merit to
             be raised on respondent’s behalf. Therefore, we affirm.

¶2     Respondent, Maria S., appeals from the trial court’s ruling (1) that she was an unfit person

under section 1(D) of the Adoption Act (750 ILCS 50/1(D) (West 2020) (Act)) and (2) that the

termination of her parental rights was in the best interests of six of her children: S.S., W.L., M.L.,
2022 IL App (2d) 210493-U

N.R., I.G., and L.G.1 respondent’s appointed appellate counsel has filed a motion to withdraw

pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), and In re S.M., 314 Ill. App. 3d 682, 685

(2000), asserting that there are no issues of arguable merit to be raised on respondent’s behalf.

¶3       In his motion, counsel states that he has reviewed the record and found no issue of arguable

merit. We advised respondent that she had 30 days to respond to the motion. Respondent has filed

a response, in which she argues that she complied with all of the Illinois Department of Children

and Family Services’s (DCFS) recommendations, and that many of the allegations pertain to her

ex-husband Luis’s new wife, whose middle name is Maria.

¶4       Counsel suggests five potential issues, two of which address the sufficiency of the evidence

and three of which present procedural issues, but concludes that none have arguable merit. We

agree.

¶5                             1. Sufficiency of the Evidence: Unfitness

¶6       Counsel first addresses the argument that the trial court’s findings as to unfitness were

contrary to the law or evidence presented at trial. Parental rights cannot be involuntarily terminated

absent a finding by clear and convincing evidence that the parent is an “unfit person” as defined

by section 1(D) of the Adoption Act (750 ILCS 50/1(D) (West 2020)). In the instant case it was

alleged that respondent was an unfit person because she failed to maintain a reasonable degree of

interest, concern, or responsibility as to the children’s welfare pursuant to section 50/l(D)(b) (750

ILCS 50/1(D)(b) (West 2020)) (count 1); failed to make reasonable efforts to correct the conditions

that caused the children to be removed during a nine-month period after the adjudication of neglect

         1
             Respondent had two other children, E.G. and A.M., who were placed in the custody of

their fathers. These two children were not the subject of this appeal.

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pursuant to section 50/1(D)(m)(i) (750 ILCS 50/1(D)(m)(i) (West 2020)) (count 2); and failed to

make reasonable progress toward the return of the children to her during a nine-month period after

the adjudication of neglect pursuant to section 50/1(D)(m)(ii) (750 ILCS 50/1(D)(m)(ii) (West

2020)) (count 3).2 The applicable nine-month periods stated in the motions were from June 18,

2019, to March 17, 2020, and February 10, 2020, to November 9, 2020.

¶7     The State filed its initial neglect petitions on September 17, 2018, alleging that the children

were neglected minors as their environment was injurious to their welfare in that respondent had

prior indicated reports for neglect and had mental health problems which prevented her from

properly parenting the children.

¶8     A shelter care hearing took place on October 17 and 18, 2018, after which the trial court

found probable cause that the children were neglected, but not an immediate and urgent necessity

to remove them from respondent’s care.

¶9     On January 10, 2019, the State filed amended neglect petitions adding an additional count

which overlapped with the allegations in the initial petition, and which also included counts

alleging that two of the children required mental health treatment which respondent had failed to

provide. Additionally, N.R.’s neglect petition alleged that he had been educationally neglected.

¶ 10    The impetus for the DCFS investigation which ultimately led to the neglect and

termination procedure was a call to DCFS’s hotline from a psychic who respondent had consulted

because she had been receiving messages that told her to leave her four oldest children at an

unknown address in Machesney Park which did not exist. However, respondent claimed that these

were dreams she had asked her psychic to interpret.

       2
           In the petition counts 2 and 3 are mislabeled as counts 3 and 4 respectively.

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¶ 11   Another shelter care hearing took place on January 16, 2019, after which the trial court

found probable cause that the children were neglected, and an urgent and immediate necessity that

they be removed from respondent’s care. Respondent had been previously diagnosed with post-

traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the trial court emphasized that the main concern regarding

respondent’s fitness to care for her children stemmed from her mental health issues and failure to

demonstrate that she was seeking help for them.

¶ 12   M.L., N.R., I.G., and L.G. were placed with respondent’s sister, Cristal T., and her fiancé

Mitchell Z. S.S. and W.L. were placed with Angelica and Maynor F.

¶ 13   As part of her service plan, respondent was required inter alia to undergo a psychological

evaluation to determine the nature of her mental health issues and formulate a treatment plan,

participate in “visit coaching” sessions, and to submit to drug tests.

¶ 14   The trial court held permanency reviews on November 12, 2019, June 11, 2020, and

November 9, 2020, with the goal to return to home. After the November 9, 2020, review, the trial

court changed the goal to substitute care pending termination of parental rights. The State filed

petitions to terminate respondent’s parental rights on January 11, 2021. The trial held hearings on

unfitness on February 19, April 9, May 6, 2021, June 18, 2021.

¶ 15   According to the permanency hearing reports, family service plans, and the testimony of

Chloe Howaniec and Andrea Hernandez from Children’s Home and Aid Society, there were

several issues regarding respondent’s participation in her service plan. The agency had increasing

difficulty communicating with and coordinating services for respondent. Respondent would

frequently not respond to communications, cancel or fail to appear at scheduled meetings and

visitations, fail to provide requested documentation regarding her employment and mental health

treatments, and show up unannounced at foster parents’ homes or agency facilities. During the

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2022 IL App (2d) 210493-U

relevant time period, respondent was traveling back and forth between Rockford and Waukegan

for work, often without informing the agency where she was. She reported living in her car in

Waukegan in order to work various jobs, many of which could not be verified. The agency reported

that respondent became increasingly confrontational with its workers.

¶ 16   With regard to her recommended mental health services, respondent was reluctant to

provide DCFS with the necessary releases to enable her to undergo the recommended

psychological evaluation. Respondent likewise refused to participate in any services other than

those provided by Arden Shore in Waukegan. Even then respondent’s participation in those

services was less than satisfactory, with respondent initially attending eight sessions and missing

six. Respondent finally submitted the necessary releases and completed the recommended

psychological evaluation on June 24, 2020, and she was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder.

As such, it was recommended that respondent complete a psychiatric assessment and medication

management. Respondent refused to do so, claiming that the diagnosis was incorrect, and that the

diagnosis actually applied to her ex-husband Luis’s new wife, whose middle name was also Maria.

Respondent claimed that several of the agency’s reports actually pertained to this “Maria” and not

to her, though this was not the case.

¶ 17   Respondent also failed to consistently complete the random drug tests prescribed by the

service plan, though the ones she did complete all came up negative with the exception of a June

24, 2020, test which was positive for THC. Respondent claimed she had a medical marijuana card,

but she never produced one.

¶ 18   Based on these factors, and on respondent’s long history of DCFS involvement, the trial

court found respondent unfit to care for the children on July 16, 2021.

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2022 IL App (2d) 210493-U

¶ 19    Counsel maintains that in light of the evidence presented, the trial court’s findings of

unfitness were supported by clear and convincing evidence and no meritorious argument can be

advanced to the contrary. Counsel also correctly notes that “a single alleged ground for unfitness

is sufficient to terminate a parent’s rights where it has been established by clear and convincing

evidence.” In re Gwynne P., 215 Ill. 2d 340, 363 (2005).

¶ 20    In her response to appointed appellate counsel’s motion respondent argues that the

diagnosis of schizophrenia actually applied to her ex-husband’s new wife whose middle name was

Maria, and that she has completed everything that DCFS had asked her to do. However, there is

no evidence in the record which supports respondent’s assertion that the psychological evaluation

diagnosing her with schizoaffective disorder was for anyone other than her.

¶ 21    With regard to Respondent’s assertion that she complied with all of DCFS’s instructions,

that assertion is belied by the evidence. It could be argued that some of the delay in respondent’s

services was partially attributable to matters beyond her control. For instance, her psychological

evaluation was scheduled for March 27, 2020, but was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic as

the psychologist was no longer taking appointments. Likewise, respondent’s failure to participate

in visitation with S.S. and W.L. was due in part to an order of protection obtained by foster parents

Angelica and Maynor F. Further, her failure to participate in some of the random drug tests was

due to her being unavailable as she was working or living in Waukegan at the time.

¶ 22    However, but for her actions, these delays could have been avoided. Had she provided the

necessary release, her psychological evaluation could have been completed well before the

pandemic, and had she kept DCFS informed of her whereabouts, she would not have had to miss

the drug tests.

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2022 IL App (2d) 210493-U

¶ 23   Similarly, respondent made some efforts and progress towards completing the

recommended services. She completed a YWCA parenting class, and Raul Bravo, who was

respondent’s counselor at Arden Shore, testified that as of May 2020, respondent had been

consistently attending sessions and had made progress towards recognizing healthy relationships.

However, Bravo also testified that respondent was not yet ready to address her underlying trauma

or her children and the DCFS case.

¶ 23   In spite of this, after examining the record, we agree with counsel that in light of

respondent’s failure or refusal to participate in all of the recommended services, and the lack of

meaningful progress towards addressing the mental health issues which prevented her from being

able to properly care for her children, no issue of arguable merit exists as to unfitness.

¶ 24                        2. Sufficiency of the Evidence: Best Interest

¶ 25   As to the trial court’s best interest finding, at this stage of a termination proceeding the trial

court must find by a preponderance of the evidence that it is in the child’s best interest to terminate

parental rights. In re B.B., 386 Ill. App. 3d 686, 699 (2008). In doing so, the trial court must

consider the following factors:

               “(a) the physical safety and welfare of the child, including food, shelter, health, and

       clothing;

               (b) the development of the child’s identity;

               (c) the child’s background and ties, including familial, cultural, and religious;

               (d) the child’s sense of attachments, including:

                       (i) where the child actually feels love, attachment, and a sense of being

               valued (as opposed to where adults believe the child should feel such love,

               attachment, and a sense of being valued);

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2022 IL App (2d) 210493-U

                        (ii) the child’s sense of security;

                        (iii) the child’s sense of familiarity;

                        (iv) continuity of affection for the child;

                        (v) the least disruptive placement alternative for the child;

               (e) the child’s wishes and long-term goals;

               (f) the child’s community ties, including church, school, and friends;

               (g) the child’s need for permanence which includes the child’s need for stability

       and continuity of relationships with parent figures and with siblings and other relatives;

               (h) the uniqueness of every family and child;

               (i) the risks attendant to entering and being in substitute care; and

               (j) the preferences of the persons available to care for the child.” 705 ILCS 405/1-

       3 (West 2020).

¶ 26   The trial court held a best interest hearing on July 16, 2021, and found on August 26, 2021,

that it was in the best interest of the children to terminate respondent’s parental rights. Counsel

suggests the possible argument that the trial court’s best interest finding was insufficient as it did

not explicitly address the statutory factors in its ruling. However, counsel maintains that there is

no arguable merit in this argument as the trial court’s ruling demonstrates that there was evidence

in the record to support its findings.

¶ 27   At the time of the best interest hearing S.S. and W.L. had been removed from the care

Angelica and Maynor F. after a DCFS investigation related to a day care operation the they were

operating out of their home. In the meantime, they had been placed with Cristal T., and Mitchell

Z. While the investigation was still ongoing, DCFS had made it clear to S.S. and W.L.’s

caseworker that the result of the investigation would be that abuse was indicated. As a result, S.S.

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2022 IL App (2d) 210493-U

and W.L. would not be returned to the F’s. However, Cristal T., and Mitchell Z. declined to seek

adoption of S.S. and W.L. as they were already caring for the four other children. At the time of

the best interest hearing a permanent placement for S.S. and W.L. had not yet been found, but at

the August 26, 2021, ruling they had been placed with a new foster family. No evidence was heard

as to how the children had bonded with the new family.

¶ 28   As for M.L., N.R., I.G., and L.G., the testimony and best interests report indicated that

Cristal T. and Mitchell Z. provided for the children’s needs. The children had bonded with their

foster parents and had ties to their community through their school and activities. The children all

loved their mother but understood it was in their best interests to stay with Cristal T. and Mitchell

Z. L.G. expressed that she wished to stay with Cristal.

¶ 29   In making its ruling, the trial court found that the prospect of unification was minimal, and

the denial of the petitions would unreasonably prolong the children’s time in care. M.L., N.R.,

I.G., and L.G. had bonded with their foster parents, and their needs were taken care of. These

findings, which are supported by the evidence, align with factors, (a), (b), (d), and (g).

¶ 30    As to S.S. and W.L. the trial court found that while their placement had been disrupted,

finding a permanent adoptive home was still in their best interest. The lack of an immediate

adoptive placement does not preclude a finding that the termination of respondent’s parental rights

was in the best interests of the children. “In termination-of-parental-rights cases, often the trial

court is left without a perfect solution, and the court must choose what in its judgment is the best

alternative. It may be in a child’s best interest to have his parents’ parental rights terminated, even

if no adoptive candidate exists.” In re J.R., 342 Ill. App. 3d 310, 322 (2003). “ ‘[T]he child[ren’s]

interest in a loving, stable[,] and safe home environment’ might best be served by ‘freeing [them]

for adoption,’ even if no one had offered, as of yet, to adopt them.” In re F.P., 2014 IL App (4th)

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140360, ¶ 92 (quoting In re D.T., 212 Ill.2d 347, 363-64 (2004)). “Although ‘the current

availability of an adoptive home is one [important] consideration[ ]’ in the best-interest

determination, this court has observed that ‘[i]t may be just as important to free children from

continued involvement with a [parent] whose chaotic and disruptive lifestyle is a detriment to their

welfare.’ ” In re J.B., 2019 IL App (4th) 190537, ¶ 37 (quoting In re B.S., 317 Ill. App. 3d 650,

665 (2000), rev’d on other grounds by, In re R.C., 195 Ill. 2d 291, 304 (2001)).

¶ 31    In light of the circumstances, particularly respondent’s failure to engage in the necessary

psychiatric treatment for her mental health, and despite the lack of a permanent placement, we do

not believe that any non-frivolous argument could be advanced that the State failed to prove by a

preponderance of the evidence that the termination of respondent’s parental rights was in the best

interest of S.S. and W.L. Accordingly, we agree with counsel that there is no issue of arguable

merit regarding the trial court’s best interest findings.

¶ 32    Counsel then suggests three potential procedural issues. The first is that the trial court erred

in denying respondent’s motion to transfer venue to Lake County.

¶ 33                                 3. Forum Non Conveniens

¶ 34    At the third permanency review hearing, respondent’s trial counsel made an oral motion to

transfer the case to Lake County, arguing that respondent lived in Waukegan, several of the

children’s foster placements were in Waukegan with the rest in Cook County, and the

psychological evaluation had been performed in Cook County. The trial court denied the motion

as untimely.

¶ 35    A trial court’s denial of a forum non conveniens motion lies within the trial court’s sound

discretion and will not be reversed unless it can be shown that the trial court abused its discretion.

Ellis v. AAR Parts Trading, Inc., 357 Ill. App. 3d 723, 742, (2005. The factors to be considered

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when ruling on a motion for forum non conveniens include: “the availability of an alternate forum,

the access to sources of proof, the accessibility of witnesses, the relative advantages and obstacles

to obtaining a fair trial, the congestion of the court dockets, and the convenience of the parties.”

Torres v. Walsh, 98 Ill. 2d 338, 351 (1983). Additionally, a forum non conveniens motion must be

filed “not later than 90 days after the last day allowed for the filing of that party’s answer.” Ill. S.

Ct. R. 187 (eff. Jan 1, 2018).

¶ 36    Although respondent and the children may have no longer been located in Winnebago

County, several of the DCFS caseworkers and supervisors who would be called as witnesses were

located there. Additionally, given the length of time the case had been ongoing, the motion was

made well beyond the 90-day limit for such a motion. Accordingly, we agree with counsel that

there is no issue of arguable merit as to this issue.

¶ 37                                    4. Untimely Exhibits

¶ 38    Counsel next suggests and rejects the argument that the trial court improperly allowed the

February 19, 2021, unfitness hearing to move forward when some of the State’s exhibits may have

been untimely disclosed. At the hearing the State sought to introduce several family service plans

dated January 16, 2019; July 1, 2019; December 26, 2019; June 15, 2020; November 9, 2020.

Respondent’s trial counsel objected to the admission of all but the July 1, 2019, plan on the basis

that they had only been filed two days prior. The State maintained that the exhibits had simply

been re-filed and that the exhibits were already in the record. The trial court initially overruled the

objection and allowed the State’s examination to continue. At the conclusion of that day’s hearing

respondent’s counsel renewed their objection and the court indicated it would reserve judgment

on the issue and allow additional cross examination at the next hearing date of April 9, 2021.

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¶ 39    At the April 9, 2021, hearing the trial court ruled that respondent’s objection as to

untimeliness was now moot as counsel had now had several weeks to review the services plans

and would be allowed cross examination as to their contents. The State continued to maintain that

the exhibits were already in the record. 3 Accordingly, there was no timeliness issue and therefore

no issues of arguable merit as to this point.

¶ 40                                 5. Admissibility of Evidence

¶ 41    Finally, counsel posits the argument that it was error to allow testimony regarding

respondent’s visitation with the children, from a witness who lacked first-hand knowledge of the

visitation.

¶ 42    At the February 19, 2021, unfitness hearing Andrea Hernandez testified that she was a

foster care case manager at Children’s Home and Aid Society. She testified regarding respondent’s

visits with S.S. and W.L. She indicated that her information was derived from discussions she had

with case aides who had observed the visitation or from Chloe Howaniec, another foster care case

manager, who also did not observe the visitations and got her information from case aides. Trial

counsel objected to this testimony on the basis that Hernandez did not have firsthand knowledge

of the visitations. The trial court overruled the objection on the grounds that her lack of firsthand

knowledge went towards the weight afforded to her testimony, not the admissibility. Upon further

examination, Hernandez testified that she had access to the case aides’ notes regarding the

visitation.

        3
            Appellate counsel maintains that at the May 6, 2021, hearing, trial counsel admitted to

having received the service plan exhibits in 2018 or 2019. However, trial counsel was addressing

a CD with a packet of indicated reports from DCFS.

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2022 IL App (2d) 210493-U

¶ 43   Counsel argues that section 2-18(4)(a) of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 (705 ILCS 405/2-

18(4)(a) (West 2020)) allows for the admission of Hernandez’s testimony, and that the trial court’s

ruling that her lack of firsthand knowledge goes towards the weight to be afforded her testimony.

Section 2-18(4)(a) provides:

               “Any writing, record, photograph or x-ray of any hospital or public or private

       agency, whether in the form of an entry in a book or otherwise, made as a memorandum or

       record of any condition, act, transaction, occurrence or event relating to a minor in an

       abuse, neglect or dependency proceeding, shall be admissible in evidence as proof of that

       condition, act, transaction, occurrence or event, if the court finds that the document was

       made in the regular course of the business of the hospital or agency and that it was in the

       regular course of such business to make it, at the time of the act, transaction, occurrence or

       event, or within a reasonable time thereafter. * * * All other circumstances of the making

       of the memorandum, record, photograph or x-ray, including lack of personal knowledge of

       the maker, may be proved to affect the weight to be accorded such evidence, but shall not

       affect its admissibility.” (Emphasis added.) Id.

While we agree with counsel’s assertion that this issue does not contain arguable merit, we disagree

with this reasoning. Section 2-18(4)(a) addresses records, writings, photograph or x-ray, or

memorandum, which Hernandez’s testimony is not. Therefore, her testimony was hearsay.

¶ 44   However, the content of her testimony (i.e., that respondent would sometimes behave

inappropriately during visitations with S.S. and W.L. by not paying attention to them, passing

notes, or arguing with case aides) is contained within the family service plans, best interest reports,

and permanency hearing reports already admitted into the record. “[E]rroneous admission of

hearsay evidence is harmless error where it is merely cumulative of other, properly admitted,

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evidence in the record” In re Zariyah A., 2017 IL App (1st) 170971, ¶ 90. As Hernandez’s

testimony was merely cumulative of other properly admitted evidence, the admission of her

testimony was harmless error, and no issue of arguable merit exists as to this point.

¶ 45   In conclusion, after examining the record and motion to withdraw, we agree with counsel

that this appeal presents no issue of arguable merit. Thus, we grant counsel's motion to withdraw,

and we affirm the judgment of the circuit court of Winnebago County finding respondent unfit and

terminating her parental rights.

¶ 46   Affirmed.

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