Court Opinion

ID: 4150475
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-03-06 21:07:27.28308+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:22:41.796801
License: Public Domain

Digitally signed by
                           Illinois Official Reports                           Reporter of Decisions
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                                                                               accuracy and integrity
                                                                               of this document
                                   Appellate Court                             Date: 2017.03.06
                                                                               10:04:16 -06'00'

                      In re Jeanette L., 2017 IL App (1st) 161944

Appellate Court       In re Jeanette L., a Minor, Respondent-Appellee (The People of the
Caption               State of Illinois, Petitioner-Appellee, v. Georgina L., and Clarence M.,
                      Respondents-Appellants).

District & No.        First District, Sixth Division
                      Docket Nos. 1-16-1944, 1-16-2053 cons.

Rule 23 order filed   December 9, 2016
Rule 23 order
withdrawn             January 17, 2017
Opinion filed         January 27, 2017

Decision Under        Appeal from the Circuit Court of Cook County, No. 10-JA-1441; the
Review                Hon. Demetrios Kottaras, Judge, presiding.

Judgment              No. 1-16-1944 Affirmed; No. 1-16-2053 Affirmed.

Counsel on            Amy P. Campanelli, Public Defender, of Chicago (Denise R. Avant,
Appeal                of counsel), for appellant Georgina L.

                      Bruce H. Bornstein, of Chicago, for appellant Clarence M.

                      Anita M. Alvarez, State’s Attorney, of Chicago (Alan J. Spellberg,
                      Nancy Kisicki, and Ashlee Cuza, Assistant State’s Attorneys, of
                      counsel), for the People.

                      Robert F. Harris, Public Guardian, of Chicago (Kass A. Plain and John
                      David Jarrett, of counsel), guardian ad litem.
     Panel                    JUSTICE DELORT delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
                              Presiding Justice Hoffman and Justice Cunningham concurred in the
                              judgment and opinion.

                                                OPINION

¶1         Following a hearing, the trial court adjudicated minor-respondent, Jeanette L., to be an
       abused and neglected minor, and made her a ward of the court. The trial court subsequently
       found Jeanette L.’s biological parents, respondents Georgina L.1 and Clarence M., unfit
       parents and terminated their parental rights. Georgina L. appeals, contending that the trial
       court’s findings should be reversed because the State failed to provide her with reasonable
       accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) (42 U.S.C.
       § 12132 (2012)). With respect to Clarence M.’s appeal, his counsel has filed a motion to
       withdraw pursuant to Pennsylvania v. Finley, 481 U.S. 551 (1987), arguing that there are no
       issues of arguable merit. We consolidated the appeals. For the following reasons, we grant
       the motion of Clarence M.’s appellate counsel to withdraw, and affirm the judgment of the
       circuit court in both appeals.

¶2                                           BACKGROUND
¶3         On February 24, 2010, the State filed a petition for the adjudication of wardship, alleging
       that then-15-month-old respondent Jeanette L. was abused and neglected pursuant to section
       2-3(1)(b) and 2-3(2)(ii) of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 (705 ILCS 405/2-3(1)(b), (2)(ii)
       (West 2010)). The State also moved for temporary custody of respondent. The State alleged
       that the whereabouts of respondent’s mother and father were unknown, and that respondent
       was in the custody of the child’s aunt, Frances S.2 The State further alleged that Frances’s
       residence was “dirty” and had “trash strewn about” it, and that “dog urine and feces[,] and
       rats” were present. In addition, Frances was not compliant with services offered to her. The
       petition further alleged that Frances had witnessed another minor in the residence in bed with
       that other minor’s father, and that the minor stated that the father digitally penetrated her.
       The State subsequently amended its petition based upon a failure to provide necessary care to
       Jeanette. 705 ILCS 405/2-3(1)(a) (West 2010). The State noted that, on February 26, 2010,
       Jeanette had been admitted to the hospital weighing only 8.2 kilograms, which hospital
       personnel indicated was less than the fifth percentile for her age, and she was diagnosed with
       “non-organic failure to thrive.” The State also alleged that her primary care physician had not
       seen her since April 2009.
¶4         On November 10, 2011, after an adjudicatory hearing, the trial court found that Jeanette
       was abused or neglected on the grounds of a lack of care, exposure to an injurious
       environment, and being at substantial risk of physical injury. 705 ILCS 405/2-3(1)(a), (1)(b),
       (2)(ii) (West 2010). On January 20, 2012, the trial court entered a dispositional order, making

           The mother’s name is also spelled “Georgene” and “Georgean” in the record.
             1

           Although the parties spell the aunt’s first name “Francis,” the record repeatedly spells it as
             2

       “Frances.”

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     Jeanette a ward of the court, finding both parents unable to care for her, and placing Jeanette
     under the guardianship of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).
¶5       On March 5, 2014, the State filed a supplemental petition, seeking the appointment of a
     guardian with the right to consent to the adoption of Jeanette. The State alleged that both
     parents were unfit because they failed to make reasonable progress toward the return of
     Jeanette within nine months after the neglect and abuse adjudication (750 ILCS 50/1(D)(m)
     (West 2012)). The State further alleged that they failed to maintain a reasonable degree of
     interest in Jeanette’s welfare (750 ILCS 50/1(D)(b) (West 2012)) and failed to protect
     Jeanette from the injurious environment (750 ILCS 50/1(D)(g) (West 2012)). In addition, the
     State alleged that Clarence was unfit because he deserted Jeanette for more than three months
     prior to the commencement of termination proceedings (750 ILCS 50/1(D)(c) (West 2012))
     and that Georgina was unfit because she was unable to discharge her parental responsibilities
     because of developmental disabilities that are likely to extend beyond a reasonable time (750
     ILCS 50/1(D)(p) (West 2012)). The following evidence was then presented at trial.
¶6       Among the exhibits admitted at trial was DCFS’s May 24, 2010, “Integrated Assessment”
     report on Georgina. That report stated that Georgina had cognitive delays, was illiterate,
     dropped out of school after the ninth grade, had a history of alcohol abuse, and had two prior
     drug-related arrests. The trial court also admitted an August 31, 2011, “Initial Clinical
     Report” from SOS Children’s Villages Illinois (SOS), which indicated that Georgina was
     referred to a therapist to participate in “individual therapy to address the issue[s] that brought
     this case [in]to the system, including *** developmental delays” and her parenting ability.
     The report detailed, however, that Georgina was inconsistent in her attendance and had also
     missed four sessions in a row. Georgina also would fail to call when she had to miss a
     session.
¶7       Saneeta Auster-Golden, a caseworker from SOS, testified that she had been assigned to
     this case in June 2012 until February 2014. Golden said that, in 2010, the recommendations
     for Georgina included a psychological evaluation, parenting classes, individual therapy
     (which Golden said would address Georgina’s developmental delays), and visitation.
     According to Golden, Georgina completed the psychological evaluation and parenting
     classes. With respect to individual therapy, Golden explained that Georgina began the
     therapy in 2011 but was discharged in 2012 as unsuccessful. As to visitation, Georgina was
     frequently late to the twice-weekly supervised visitation and behaved inappropriately.
     Golden stated that, during the time she was assigned to this case, Georgina failed to complete
     the recommended services.
¶8       In addition, Golden testified that Clarence had not started his recommended individual
     therapy in 2010, resulting in an “unsatisfactory” rating. This service was still outstanding for
     Clarence in 2011. Clarence did complete a psychological evaluation in 2012, which
     concluded that he was unable to parent Jeanette because of his “cognitive level of
     functioning.” Golden further described Clarence’s visitation with Jeanette as “very sporadic.”
     Golden said that Clarence was provided with another referral for individual therapy, which
     he began but did not complete and had not completed in 2014, when Golden was no longer
     assigned to this case. Golden further did not see any certificates of completion for any
     services recommended to Clarence other than the psychological evaluation. Clarence also
     never provided Golden with the name of any individual or any other support system that
     would be able to assist him in his parenting responsibilities.

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¶9         Corretta Rivers, another case worker at SOS, testified that she was assigned to this case
       on April 29, 2014. At that time, Georgina still needed individual therapy but according to
       Rivers, Georgina refused to participate in therapy and only wanted to visit with Jeanette.
       Rivers added that Georgina’s assigned therapist even offered to meet closer to Georgina’s
       home, but Georgina refused the offer and any further therapy sessions. Georgina also
       declined any subsequent services because, according to Georgina, she had done all that she
       needed to do to be reunited with Jeanette.
¶ 10       Rivers testified that, when she was assigned to this case on April 29, 2014, the
       outstanding required services for Clarence were a psychiatric evaluation and individual
       therapy. Rivers testified that she had no contact information for Clarence and that the first
       time she spoke to him was at a May 2014 court appearance. According to Rivers, Clarence
       informed her that he had moved to Rockford and told her that he would not complete any of
       the outstanding services because he believed that he had completed all of the services he
       needed to complete. With respect to visitation, Rivers recounted that there was a scheduled
       visit that day, and Clarence did visit with Jeanette, but he told her that he was not going to
       travel from Rockford to Chicago to visit Jeanette and that this was going to be his “last” visit
       with her. Rivers said that, although she gave Clarence her contact information, he never
       contacted her since the May 2014 court date. Rivers added that she had sent about three
       letters to Clarence, stating that he still had to undergo a psychiatric evaluation to obtain
       reunification with Jeanette, and that the letters also offered him opportunities for visitation
       with Jeanette. Rivers, however, said that Clarence never contacted her regarding these
       services. Rivers confirmed that, since her assignment to this case, Clarence has neither
       expressed a desire to reunify with Jeanette nor requested any reunification services. Rivers
       added, however, that if Clarence had requested any reunification services, she would have
       referred him to community-based services.
¶ 11       At the conclusion of the hearing, the trial court found Georgina unfit based upon sections
       (b) (reasonable progress) and (m) (reasonable degree of interest), but not (p) (mental
       disability). 750 ILCS 50/1(D)(b), (m), (p) (West 2012). The trial court further found Clarence
       unfit based upon all grounds. After holding a best interests hearing, the trial court found that
       it was in Jeanette’s best interest to terminate Georgina’s and Clarence’s parental rights, and
       did so.
¶ 12       This consolidated appeal followed.

¶ 13                                            ANALYSIS
¶ 14                              Appeal No. 1-16-1944 (Georgina L.)
¶ 15       Georgina’s sole contention on appeal is that we must reverse both the trial court’s finding
       that she is an unfit parent and also its termination of her parent rights because the
       parent-child reunification services that the State required her to complete were not reasonably
       accommodated to her developmental disability, in violation of the ADA.
¶ 16       At the outset, we find that Georgina has forfeited this claim. At no point during the
       proceedings below did she or her counsel make a claim that the services were not compliant
       with the ADA. “A trial judge should have an opportunity to appraise the errors which are
       asserted to have taken place. It is unfair to charge him with errors in a reviewing court
       without having brought them to his attention so that a new trial could have been granted if he
       found it advisable.” Perez v. Baltimore & Ohio R.R. Co., 24 Ill. App. 2d 204, 210 (1960); see

                                                  -4-
       also 1010 Lake Shore Ass’n v. Deutsche Bank National Trust Co., 2015 IL 118372, ¶ 14 (“The
       purpose of this court’s forfeiture rules is to encourage parties to raise issues in the trial court,
       thus ensuring both that the trial court is given an opportunity to correct any errors prior to
       appeal and that a party does not obtain a reversal through his or her own inaction.” (citing
       People v. Denson, 2014 IL 116231, ¶ 13)). On this basis alone, we may reject Georgina’s
       claim.
¶ 17       Forfeiture aside, however, Georgina’s contention of error is meritless. Parental rights
       termination proceedings are not “ ‘ “services, programs, or activities” ’ ” that would subject
       them to the requirements of the ADA. In re S.R., 2014 IL App (3d) 140565, ¶ 28 (quoting In
       re B.S, 693 A.2d 716, 720 (Vt. 1997); accord In re Adoption of Gregory, 747 N.E.2d 120
       (Mass. 2001). Georgina makes no argument that we should disregard the holding in S.R. In
       any event, a parent’s developmental disabilities per se are not sufficient grounds to terminate
       parental rights; rather, developmental disability is a ground for parental unfitness only where
       “there is sufficient justification to believe that the inability to discharge parental
       responsibilities shall extend beyond a reasonable time period.” 750 ILCS 50/1(D)(p) (West
       2012). Here, however, the trial court did not find unfitness on that ground; instead, it relied
       upon sections (b) (reasonable progress) and (m) (reasonable degree of interest), and there was
       overwhelming evidence supporting the trial court’s findings.
¶ 18       First, Georgina missed several sessions without contacting the therapist. Georgina was
       required to attend individual therapy, but she never completed this service while Golden was
       assigned to her case, and when Rivers took over Georgina’s case, Georgina completely
       refused to participate in therapy—even refusing an offer to meet closer to Georgina’s home.
       Georgina indicated that she only wanted to visit with Jeanette, but as to visitation, Golden
       testified that Georgina was frequently late to the twice-weekly supervised visitation and
       behaved inappropriately. It is well established that a failure to comply with an imposed
       service plan and infrequent or irregular visitation with the child may support a finding of
       unfitness under both sections (b) and (m). See In re Konstantinos H., 387 Ill. App. 3d 192,
       204 (2008) (citing In re Jaron Z., 348 Ill. App. 3d 239, 259 (2004) (construing subsection
       (b))); In re B’Yata I., 2013 IL App (2d) 130558, ¶ 35 (subsection (m)). We may not disturb
       the trial court’s finding of unfitness it is against the manifest weight of the evidence, i.e.,
       “where the opposite conclusion is clearly the proper result.” In re D.D., 196 Ill. 2d 405, 417
       (2001). On these facts, we will not reverse the trial court’s findings.
¶ 19       Finally, the record reveals that, with respect to Georgina’s required services, the State did
       offer accommodations that took her developmental disabilities into account. As noted above,
       both the August 31, 2011, “Initial Clinical Report” from SOS and also Golden’s testimony
       indicated that Georgina was referred for individual therapy to address, inter alia, her
       developmental delays. On this point, Georgina’s reliance upon In re M.I., 2015 IL App (3d)
150403, is unavailing for multiple reasons. At the outset, our supreme court subsequently
       reversed the third district’s holding that “failing to complete a task that is beyond one’s
       intellectual capacity is the same as refusing to comply with court-ordered directives and
       willfully *** failing to maintain a reasonable degree of interest in the child.” (Internal
       quotation marks omitted.) In re M.I., 2016 IL 120232, ¶¶ 25, 26 (holding that the statute
       neither contains a “state of mind requirement” nor “carve[s] out an exception for faultless
       failure”). Second, unlike here, the majority in M.I. specifically stated that it was not relying
       upon the ADA for its holding (M.I., 2015 IL App (3d) 150403, ¶ 16), although the dissenting

                                                    -5-
       justice stated that the parent had made a claim that DCFS violated the ADA (id. ¶ 39
       (Schmidt, J., dissenting))). The appellate decision in M.I. is therefore unavailing.

¶ 20                              Appeal No. 1-16-2053 (Clarence M.)
¶ 21       Clarence M.’s trial counsel, who represents Clarence on appeal, has filed a motion for
       leave to withdraw as appellate counsel. A memorandum in support of the motion has been
       submitted pursuant to Pennsylvania v. Finley, 481 U.S. 551 (1987), in which counsel
       concludes that there are no issues of arguable merit on appeal. Copies of the motion and
       memorandum were sent to Clarence, and he was advised that he might submit any points in
       support of his appeal. Clarence, however, has not responded.
¶ 22       We have carefully reviewed the record in this case and the aforesaid memorandum, and
       we find no issues of arguable merit.

¶ 23                                       CONCLUSION
¶ 24       With respect to Georgina’s appeal (No. 1-16-1944), we hold that she has forfeited her
       claim (namely, that the State was required pursuant to the ADA to provide her with
       reasonable accommodations to the services DCFS required her to complete in order to be
       reunified with her daughter) because she raised this issue for the first time on appeal.
       Forfeiture aside, we hold that the ADA does not provide a defense in parental termination
       proceedings because those proceedings are not programs, services, or activities that would
       fall under the purview of the ADA. As to Clarence’s appeal (No. 1-16-2053), we grant
       appellate counsel’s motion to withdraw because there are no issues of arguable merit.
       Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the trial court in both appeals.

¶ 25   No. 1-16-1944 Affirmed.
¶ 26   No. 1-16-2053 Affirmed.

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