Court Opinion

ID: 3113761
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-16 07:18:29.254175+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:45:01.540436
License: Public Domain

Affirm; and Opinion Filed March 18, 2013.

                                                     In The
                                          øttrt nf Appiah
                             FiftI! Iistrirt nf !.1ixai at 1aIta
                                             No. 05-12-01283-CV

                                IN THE INTEREST OF L.J., A CHiLD

                           On Appeal from the 256th Judicial District Court
                                        Dallas County, Texas
                               Trial Court Cause No. DF-11-12980-Z

                                  MEMORANDUM OPINION
                     Before Chief Justice Wright, Justice Lang, and Justice Evans
                                       Opinion by Justice Evans
         Shannon    JT   appeals &om a judgment terminating her parental rights to U. In two issues,

appellant asserts that her trial counsel was ineffective and that she was denied due process of the

law protected by the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. After

reviewing the record and finding no reversible error, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.

                                               BACKGROUND

        The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services received a referral on June 14,

2011 alleging that Ashunte Minniefield, a convicted sex offender, had been arrested at

         l
        To protect the privacy of the parties, we identify the child’s relatives by their first names only. See TEx.
FAM. CODE ANN. § 109.002(d) (West Supp. 2012).
appellant’s apartment earlier that day and that appellant was threatening to kill herself Although

Li. was not present at the time of Minniefield’s arrest, LJ.’s sibling, N.T. was at the home, The

same day, a Department special investigator visited appellant at her home and had concerns that

appellant was not taking her prescribed medication    for mental   health issues and had allowed at

least one of her children to be around Minniefield. At the request of the Department special

investigator, appellant signed a child safety evaluation and plan agreeing that she and her

children wouki not have any further contact with Minniefield and that she would take her

medication.    The following day, in an interview with a Department caseworker, appellant

admitted she knew Minniefield was a convicted sex offender, but stated that she never allowed

him to care for her children at any time. Appellant also admitted to using drugs in the past, but

the record shows drug tests performed on June 14 and June 15 were negative. After assessment,

the Department determined the family would benefit from family based safety services and

would be monitored by the Department.

       The June 14 referral was not appellant’s first case with the Department involving

Minniefield.   In March of 2010, L.J. and N.T. were removed from appellant’s care because

Minniefield was in the home. The children were ultimately returned to appellant and the case

was closed after appellant successfully completed services and appellant agreed that she and her

children would not have any contact with Minniefield.

       On July 20, 2011, appellant contacted her caseworker to inform her that Minniefield’s

family made threats to kill appellant after learning that Minniefield had been diagnosed with a

critical medical condition that his family believed to be appellant’s fault. After appellant refused

the Department’s offer to go to a shelter with her children, the Department removed L.J. and

N.T. from appellant’s home.          Then, the Department filed a petition for protection,
conservatorship, and termination of appellant’s rights with respect to Li. only: The trial court

signed a temporary order on July 26, 201 1 appointing the Department temporary managing

conservator of both children. Several permanency hearings were held and orders entered during

the pendency of this case. At the permanency hearing on December 6, 2011, the trial court

signed an order appointing counsel to appellant.

         On March 23, 2012, the parties signed a “mediated settlement agreement” incorporating

an exhibit that, among other things, re-set the mediation for June 1, 2012. On April 12, the trial

court held another permanency hearing setting the case for mediation on June 1 and setting a trial

date of July 5 and 6. The case was not settled on June 1 and a trial before the court was held on

the scheduled dates.          At the conclusion of the trial, the court orally rendered judgment

terminating appellant’s parental rights to U. pursuant to subsections 161.OOi(l)(D) and (E) of

the Texas Family Code. Before the final judgment was signed, the trial court signed an order

dismissing L.J.’s termination case for want of prosecution. The case was later reinstated on the

Department’s motion.           On August 30, 2012, the trial court signed a decree terminating

appellant’s parental rights to L.J. This appeal followed.

                                                    ANALYSIS

         Before addressing the merits of this case, we note that the record in this appeal and the

record in the separate appeal involving the termination of appellant’s parental rights to N.T. are

virtually the same, although the termination decrees for each child have different trial court cause

numbers.      The cases were tried together below and the reporter’s record is identical in both

appeals. Additionally, appellant has filed substantively identical briefs in both appeals raising

         2
            Previously, in January 2011, the attorney general’s office filed a petition to establish paternity of N.T.
under trial court cause number DF-l l-00657-Z. It was in this separate case that the trial court terminated appellant’s
parental rights to N.T. That judgment is the subject of a separate appeal and opinion. See In re N. T, 05-12-01284-
CV (Tex. App—Dallas March 18, 2013, no pet .h.).
the same issues and arguments. However, some of the arguments appellant presents relate only

to the termination of appellant’s parental rights to NT. We do not address these arguments in

this opinion and limit our analysis to only those arguments relating to the trial court’s judgment

terminating appellants parental rights to U.

I. INEFFECTIVE ASSiSTANCE

          In her first issue, appellant asserts that her trial counsel was ineffective because he was

unprepared for trial in various ways and failed to: (1) file special exceptions and various motions,

(2) perform discovery, (3) make certain objections at trial, and (4) present evidence on certain

factors relative to whether termination was in UJ.’s best interest.

          In Texas, indigent parents have a statutory right to effective assistance of counsel in

termination proceedings that we evaluate under the same standards as those set forth for criminal

defense counsel in Strickland v. Washington, 466 US. 668 (1984). See In re M.S., 115 S.W.3d
534, 54445 (Tex. 2003).         To succeed on her ineffective assistance issue, appellant must

establish not only that her counsel’s performance was deficient, but also show counsel’s deficient

performance prejudiced her case. See id. With respect to the first prong of the test, we indulge

in a strong presumption that counsel’s conduct fell within the wide range of reasonable

professional assistance, which includes the possibility that counsel’s actions were strategic. Id.

at 545.     The challenged conduct will constitute ineffective assistance only when it was so

outrageous that no competent attorney would have engaged in it.          Id.   In analyzing whether

counsel’s performance in a particular case is deficient, we consider all of the circumstances

surrounding the case and focus primarily on whether counsel performed in a reasonably effective

manner. Id. With respect to Strickland        second prong, we must determine whether there is a

reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s deficient performance, the result of the proceeding

                                                   4
would have been       (lilterent.   Id. at 550.   An alleation of ineftctive assistance must be fully

supported by the record .See Doc’         i. Brazoria (fli.   ( h/Id   PIU1L’c’The   Seers.. 226 S.W3d 563.

572 (Tex. App.- Houston [1st Dist. j 2007, no pet).

      A.     Media ted Settlement Agreement

           Appellant initially asserts that her counsel’s performance was deficient because he failed

to move for a final judgment based upon the parties’ March 23, 2012 “Mediated Settlement

Agreemenf’ in accordance with section 1 53.0071(e) of the Texas Family Code .See TEX. FAM.

CODE ANN.         1530071(e) (West 2008). Appellant argues that entry of a final judgment on the

agreement, which did not call lbr the termination of her parental rights, would have been a better

result for appellant than the judgment the trial court signed after trial on the merits. Our review

of the purported agreement does not support appellant’s position.

           On March 23 the parties signed the “Mediated Settlement Agreement” to appear in court

to present evidence and secure rendition of judgment in accordance with the settlement terms.

The    agreement      further provided,       “THIS    AGREEMENT              IS     NOT   SUBJECT     TO

REVOCATiON.” The particular terms of the parties’ settlement, however, were set out in

Exhibit A. Exhibit A specifically re-set the March 23 mediation to June 1. The exhibit further

provided that during the interim, appellant would finish counseling, continue her drug treatment,

stay on her medication from “MFIMR,” continue with “MHMR” services, and refrain from

having contact with any registered sex offender. The settlement did not address the ultimate

disposition of the termination proceeding.

           Our review of the agreement shows there is nothing in the purported settlement upon

which appellant’s counsel could have sought a final judgment because nothing in the parties’

settlement involved an agreement with respect to the issues before the trial court for final
resolution, i.e., custody, placement, guardianship, or parental rights. Nor does the record contain

any indication that the trial court would have granted such a motion.                We therefore conclude

appellant’s counsel’s performance was not deficient for failing to move for a final judgment on a

“mediated settlement agreement” that addressed only interim actions appellant agreed to perform

before the June 1 mediation.

     B. Motion for Continuance

        Appellant next directs us to her counsel’s failure to file a written motion for a

continuance of the July 5 trial date after becoming aware that the State intended to proceed with

                                 3 Appellant acknowledges that her counsel orally moved
terminating appellant’s parental rights.

for a continuance on the day of trial which the trial court denied.                At trial, the Department

opposed counsel’s request for a continuance noting the case had a dismissal date of July 23

pursuant to section 263.401(a) of the family code. See TEX. FAM. CoDE ANN.                        § 263.401(a)
(West 2008). Appellant contends, however, that the Department’s decision to proceed with the

termination after signing the March 23 “mediated settlement agreement,” is an extraordinary

circumstance justifying a 180 day continuance to allow counsel additional time to prepare for

trial under section 263.401 of the family code. See id.          § 263.401(b). A trial court’s ruling on a
motion for continuance lies within the trial court’s sound discretion. BNC Sofiware Beig., N. V.

v. Marchand, 83 S.W.3d 789, 794 (Tex. 2002); see also In re D. W, 249 S.W.3d 625, 647 (Tex.

App.—Fort Worth 2008, pet. den.) (extension of dismissal date under section 263.40 1(b) similar

to continuance and reviewed for abuse of discretion).

          Appellant asserts that the Department unilaterally repudiated the “mediated settlement agreement” on or
about June 1, 2012. The Department contends that mediation continued on June 1 as ordered by the Court on April
24, but no final agreement was reached because appellant had not followed the terms set forth in the March 23
agreement.
         Appellant has not shown that the court would have granted a timely filed written motion

for continuance on the grounds she asserts or that she was in fact hanned by the failure to grant a

continuance. Even assuming the trial court would have granted a continuance to give counsel

additional time to prepare for trial as appellant urges, there is nothing in the record before us to

support a conclusion that if counsel had received additional time, there was a reasonable

probability that the result of the proeeedings would have been different. Accordingly, appellant

has failed to establish either prong of the Strickland test with respect to this complaint

     C Special Exceptions and Diicovey

       Appellant also contends that her counsel’s performance was deficient because he failed to

file special exceptions to the Department’s petition.        Appellant asserts that as a result of

counsel’s failure to specially except to the pleadings he was unaware of the specific statutory

grounds on which the Department based its request for tennination and was unprepared for trial.

The record does not support appellant’s contention.

       The caseworker affidavit attached to the Department’s termination petition recounted the

events of June 14 and July 20 and noted that appellant admitted to using marijuana “to cope with

things that are going on in her life at this time.” The afflant also questioned appellant’s ability to

provide a safe environment for her children and her ability to make decisions that are best for the

children, including her lack of follow-up with her mental health, knowingly allowing a sex

offender to reside in her home, and placing the children in an unsafe environment after

Minniefield’s family made threats to appellant These concerns were the Department’s focus at

Ma

       Appellant’s counsel was appointed on December 6, 2011 and later attended permanency

hearings on February 14 and April 12, as well as two mediation hearings. At the March 23

                                                  7
mediation, issues respecting appellant’s continuation with counseling, drug treatment, mental

health issues, as well as her contact with any convicted sex offender were raised by the

Department, as evidenced by the agreement the parties signed. Moreover, at the beginning of the

trial, counsel for the Department stated       Ofl   the record it was seeking termination based on section

161 .001(1 )(D) (endangerment by conditions or surroundings) and section 161 .001 (l)(E)(conduct

endangerment).       Accordingly, appellant’s contention that her counsel was unaware of the

grounds on which the Department were proceeding is not supported by the record.

        Appellant also contends that counsel was deficient because he failed to propound formal

discovery and was unprepared for trial and surprised by the Department’s trial exhibits and

theories. Appellant specifically references Minniefield’s penitentiary packet relating to his sex

offender conviction, Dallas County Sheriff records containing the number of times appellant

visited Minniefield in jail, records from a drug testing agency, and expert reports and opinions

from a professional counselor who treated appellant. The record before us is silent as to whether

counsel propounded any discovery in this case and also does not disclose what counsel knew

with respect to Minniefield’s sex offenses, appellant’s drug tests, visits to Minniefield, or the

opinions of appellant’s counselor. Accordingly, appellant has failed to establish counsel was

ineffective for failing to request discovery.

        To the extent appellant asserts that these exhibits would have been excluded as untimely

pursuant to Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 193 .6 had fonnal discovery been propounded, there is

nothing in the record to suggest that the Department would not have complied with time

requirements regarding discovery requests. Moreover, based on the record before us, we are

          Rule 193.6 provided that, absent a showing of good cause, or a lack of unfair surprise or unfair prejudice,
a party who fails to make, amend, or supplement a discovery response in a timely manner may not introduce in
evidence material or information that was not timely disclosed. See TEX. R. Civ. P. 193.6.

                                                          8
unpersuaded that the admission of Minniefield’s criminal records evidencing that he was a sex

offender or the record of appellant’s jail visits to Minnicfield prejudiced appellant’s case any

more than her own admissions at trial, In her testimony, appellant admitted that at some point in

2010 she learned that Minniefield was a registered sex offender and that her children were

removed from her care in 2010 based on her relationship with Minniefleid.            Appellant also

agreed that part of the reason her children were returned to her in 2010 was because she agreed

that she and her children would not have any contact with Minniefleld. She also admitted that on

June 14, 2011, less than one year after the 2010 case was dismissed, Minniefield was arrested at

her home when N.T, was present. Appellant further admitted that despite signing an agreement

at the March 23 meditation that she would refrain from having any contact with a registered sex

offender, she had visited Minniefield in jail over sixteen times through June. We are likewise

unpersuaded by appellant’s argument that early discovery of Minniefield’s criminal records

would have allowed counsel to argue that appellant’s children were of a different sex and age

than Minniefield’s child victims.    There is nothing in the record to indicate that appellant’s

counsel was unaware of the age and sex of Minniefield’s victims prior to trial. Furthermore, we

cannot determine on this record whether counsel’s failure to bring attention to the precise nature

of Minniefield’s sex offenses may have been part of his trial strategy to marginalize

Minniefield’s impact on the case because he was currently in prison.

       Appellant also complains about the admission of her drug testing records for May 25,

2012 that did not include the actual drug test results. Evidence that this drug test was positive for

cocaine came primarily from the testimony of a caseworker. Appellant denied using cocaine in

connection with the drug test. Appellant did acknowledge, however, that she had a history of

marijuana and cocaine use and last used cocaine in 2011.          Appellant’s counsel specifically
objected to the caseworker’s testimony about the drug test results on the grounds “that would be

asking a question about results that are not in evidence.” Although the trial court sustained the

objection, the caseworker subsequently testified the test came back positive for cocaine.

Appellant’s counsel then moved for a mistrial, which was denied. Absent evidence of whether

the actual test result was positive or negative, we cannot conclude that counsel’s failure to obtain

discovery on the results of appellant’s drug tests prejudiced her case.                We also reject any

ineffective assistance complaint based on counsel’s failure to obtain another drug test for

appellant for the same reason. There is no evidence in the record of what such a test would have

revealed had it been performed or whether it would have aided or prejudiced appellant’s case.

        Finally, appellant challenges counsel’s failure to obtain discovery with respect to the

recommendations and opinions of appellant’s counselor.                  Appellant contends this failure

prevented counsel from obtaining an objective risk assessment test that “could have combated

the Department’s subjective claims that appellant could not be protective of her children.”

Because there is nothing in the record to indicate what an objective risk assessment test would

have revealed had it been performed, we cannot conclude appellant’s counsel was ineffective for

failing to obtain such a test.      Accordingly we reject all of appellant’s ineffective assistance

complaints based on counsel’s failure to file special exceptions and propound discovery.

     D. Arguments and Questioning Based on Non-Existent Court Order

        Appellant also asserts she was harmed by her counsel’s failure to correct the impression

created at trial that appellant was currently under a court order prohibiting her from contact with

5 Appellant’s underlying assumption regarding this assertion is that if the trial court
Minniefield.

         Appellant asserts this impression was created by her counsel’s failure to object to adverse counsel’s
improper argument and questioning about appellant’s failure to comply with non-existent court orders and

                                                      10
knew there was no existing court order prohibiting appellant or her children from having contact

with Minniefield, there was a reasonable probability that the trial court would not have

terminated her parental rights. Our review of the record does not support appellant’s position.

There was ample evidence that, irrespective of a court order, appellant was aware that

Minniefield, a known sex offender, should not be around her children and that his presence in her

home in 2010 led to the children’s removal. Yet less than a year later, Minniefield was arrested

in her home while one of her children was present. Additionally, despite signing an agreement to

refrain from any contact with any sex offenders on March 23, 2012, appellant continued to visit

Minniefleld in jail regularly. In light of this evidence, we cannot say that counsel’s failure to

point out the absence of a specific court order prohibiting appellant’s conduct prejudiced the

result in this case.

     E. Other JneJjctive Assistance Claims

         Appellant also complains about her counsel’s questioning of a caseworker and

appellant’s aunt.      She asserts this questioning elicited damaging evidence that appellant had

refused to take a drug test and that the aunt had called the police on June 14, 2011 because

Minniefield was allegedly beating appellant. Appellant also directs us to questions her counsel

asked her about what she would do if Minniefield came to her home and started molesting her

children. She further attacks counsel’s failure to point out that appellant never signed the family

service plan and the lack of evidence it was ever served on her after the Department claimed she

failed to comply with the plan. Additionally, appellant complains of counsel’s failure to present

any evidence of her plan compliance.

appellant’s counsel’s own statements and questions to appellant suggesting that there were court orders prohibiting
appellant from having contact with Minniefield.

                                                        II
       Based upon this record, we cannot agree with appellant that these alleged deficiencies

prejudiced the outcome of her case such that she was deprived of a fair trial, a trial whose result

is reliable, See In re MS., 115 S.W.3d at 545 (quoting Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668,

687 (1984)).    The Department’s main focus throughout the termination proceeding was

appellant’s inability to adequately protect her children as evidenced by her continued contact

with a known sex offender even after various services were provided to her to help her make

appropriate decisions to create a safe environment for her children. For example, the caseworker

testified that appellant admitted to the caseworker that Minniefield slept in the only bed in the

apartment with the children separated by appellant which appellant denied in her testimony.

According to the record, appellant’s drug use, while relevant to the question of whether appellant

was adequately protecting the children, appears to have been a secondary concern to the

Department. Nevertheless, at the beginning of trial, appellant’s counsel sought a continuance

specifically requesting additional time to obtain another drug test fbr appellant. That request was

denied by the trial court. Throughout the trial, appellant’s counsel thoroughly cross-examined

the Department’s witnesses and took two witnesses on voir dire regarding certain testimony. He

made numerous objections to testimony, many of which were sustained. Counsel made an oral

motion for a mistrial after a caseworker testified to the results of the drug test that was not in

evidence.   We conclude the record here is insufficient to overcome the presumption that

counsel’s performance was competent. See In re MS., 115 S.W.3d at 145.

       Finally, appellant asserts counsel’s representation was ineffective because he failed to

present evidence of several factors that were relevant to the whether termination was in the best

interest of the children. See Holley v. Adams, 544 S.W.2d 367 (Tex. 1976). Once again, the

record does not reveal what the purported evidence would have been or whether it would have

                                                12
supported appellant’s position.     Therefore, we cannot conclude appellant was prejudiced by

counsel’s failure to present such evidence.      Appellant also argues that counsel should have

objected to the Department’s rejection of placement of the children with appellant’s aunt because

of the aunt’s need for financial support. However, there is no evidence that the Department

rejected placement with the aunt on this basis. Among other things, the caseworker testified her

main concern with the aunt was that she appeared at the last minute, less than one month before

trial. Further, the caseworker stated that to be able to care for the children, the aunt would need

financial assistance, which the Department could not provide immediately for placement with a

relative.    The caseworker also testified the aunt initially expressed a hesitancy about taking

custody of Li. because the aunt was not related to Li. Accordingly, appellant has not met her

burden with respect to this ineffective assistance complaint. Having rejected all of appellant’s

ineffective assistance complaints, we turn to her due process complaints.

11. DUE PROCESS

        in her second issue, for the first time on appeal, appellant complains her due process

rights were violated because (1) she was not given forty-five days’ “meaningful” notice of the

July 5 trial date after the Department allegedly repudiated the March 23 mediated settlement

agreement, (2) the Department repeatedly misrepresented that appellant was in violation of a

court order prohibiting her or her children from having contact with Minniefield when no such

court order existed, and (3) the trial court reinstated the termination case regarding L.J. on the

Department’s motion without a hearing or notice to appellant.

            Our review of the record reveals that none of appellant’s due process complaints were

ever presented to the trial court. To preserve most issues for review, a party must bring the issue

to the trial court’s attention by timely request, objection, or motion. See TEx. R. App. P. 33.1.

                                                 13
Even constitutional claims can be waived by failing to raise them in the trial court below. See In

re LML. 119 S.W.3d 707, 708 (Tex. 2003) (“[Ajdhering to our preservation rules isn’t a mere

technical nicety; the interests at stake are too important to relax rules that serve a critical

purpose”).     In fact, our review of possible reversible error never presented to the trial court

would undermine the legislative intent to ensure finality in termination proceedings and expedite

the resolution of these cases.    See In re B.L.D., 113 S.W.3d 340, 353 (Tex. 2003), Because

appellant failed to raise her due process complaints in the trial court, she has failed to preserve

these issues for our review. See id. at 349—50. Accordingly, we resolve appellant’s second issue

against her.

       Having resolved appellant’s two issues against her, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.

                                                            W. EVANS
121 283 F.P05                                         JUSTICE

                                                 14
                                 Qtiiirt nf Appiahi
                        FiftJi flitrirt rif       at Da11a
                                         JUDGMENT

IN THE INTEREST OF: L.J,, A CHiLD                   On Appeal from the 256th Judicial District
                                                    Court, Dallas County. Texas
No. 05-120l2$3-CV                                   Trial Court Cause No. DF-l l-l2980-Z.
                                                    Opinion delivered by Justice Evans. Chief
                                                    Justice Wright and Justice Lang
                                                    participating.

     In accordance with this Court’s opinion ot this date, the judgment of the trial court is
AFFiRMED.

Judgment entered this lth day of March. 2013.

                                                   DA              ANS
                                                   JUSTICE