A. S. T. v. Etowah County Department of Human Resources

Annotate this Case

Download PDF

REL: 10/30/2009 Notice: T h i s o p i n i o n i s s u b j e c t t o formal r e v i s i o n b e f o r e p u b l i c a t i o n i n t h e advance s h e e t s o f Southern R e p o r t e r . R e a d e r s a r e r e q u e s t e d t o n o t i f y t h e R e p o r t e r o f D e c i s i o n s , Alabama A p p e l l a t e C o u r t s , 300 D e x t e r A v e n u e , M o n t g o m e r y , A l a b a m a 3 6 1 0 4 - 3 7 4 1 ((334) 2 2 9 - 0 6 4 9 ) , o f a n y t y p o g r a p h i c a l o r o t h e r e r r o r s , i n o r d e r t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s may b e made b e f o r e t h e o p i n i o n i s p r i n t e d i n Southern R e p o r t e r . ALABAMA COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS OCTOBER TERM, 2009-2010 2080816 A.S.T. v. Etowah County Department o f Human Resources Appeal from Etowah J u v e n i l e Court (JU-05-445.02) THOMAS, J u d g e . This case. In of Human R e s o u r c e s ("DHR") t o o k A.S.F. ("the c h i l d " ) i n t o c u s t o d y after September receiving is a 2005, termination-of-parental-rights t h e Etowah County Department a l l e g a t i o n s t h a t her o l d e r h a l f brother had raped 2080816 her older half s i s t e r died suddenly a n d a f t e r M.P.F., t h e c h i l d ' s m o t h e r , from a b r i e f i l l n e s s . The c h i l d , who was two y e a r s o l d a t t h e t i m e , had been r e a r e d i n a S p a n i s h - s p e a k i n g home. A t t h e t i m e t h e c h i l d was t a k e n i n t o DHR's c u s t o d y , t h e child h a d no living with child's legally t h e mother father father"). ascertained f a t h e r ; A.S.T. a t the time (A.S.T. and c l a i m e d i s hereinafter referred had been t o be t h e t o as " t h e I n S e p t e m b e r 2006, p a t e r n i t y t e s t i n g e s t a b l i s h e d t h a t A.S.T. was t h e c h i l d ' s f a t h e r . The unrelated other, older alcohol. f a t h e r w o u l d h i t them w i t h cords i n t h e home, who were a l l t o t h e f a t h e r , a l l e g e d t h a t t h e f a t h e r w o u l d become a b u s i v e when he d r a n k the children and t h a t the father also The c h i l d r e n i n d i c a t e d electric that c o r d s and t e l e p h o n e had abused t h e mother. The f a t h e r denied ever h i t t i n g the older c h i l d r e n or the mother; h o w e v e r , he a d m i t t e d t h a t he h a d h a d a p r o b l e m At t h e time of the termination declined to testify, and, i n f a c t , trial, with alcohol. the older children they recanted t h e i r abuse allegations. Because endeavored the father admitted some t o p r o v i d e him substance-abuse 2 alcohol abuse, treatment. DHR However, 2080816 according the to Marlene L o v e l l , father's treatment from provider, outpatient the case the DHR September Mountain 2005 View, L o v e l l said that contact father the similar services Lovell, the b e c a u s e he testimony screens, to father had at which the that DHR the no longer the by evaluation, evidence. According hampered i n some r e s p e c t s Although the told the see father to was for no he i f i t might o f f e r had need treatment According a l l drug the to to and the alcohol father's past reunification. David Wilson, evaluation, a licensed Dr. W i l s o n t e s t i f i e d a t report Wilson, because evaluated 3 View's According his Dr. comprehend father that father a psychological and benefit community. considered Dr. the intensive s p e a k and father passed a b a r r i e r to performed his she he p s y c h o l o g i s t , on J u l y 18, 2007. regarding offered " k i c k e d the h a b i t " h i m s e l f . also provided was that to 2007, communicated Mountain Latino said trial, and and she to C a t h o l i c Center to a l c o h o l abuse t o be DHR early t r e a t m e n t , f e l t t h a t i t s program would not response to the should to which f a t h e r because of h i s i n a b i l i t y English. caseworker assigned of was his trial admitted into evaluation was the language through the barrier. aid of an 2080816 interpreter, t h e i n t e r p r e t e r was o f P u e r t o R i c a n d e s c e n t and s p o k e a d i f f e r e n t d i a l e c t t h a n t h e f a t h e r , who i s G u a t e m a l a n . Dr. W i l s o n s a i d t h a t he h a d some d i f f i c u l t y t e s t i n g t h e f a t h e r because English. have some he uses are a v a i l a b l e only in B a s e d on t h e p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t t h e t r a n s l a t i o n s m i g h t confused assessing did of the t e s t s the father, Dr. the father's verbal Wilson was uncomfortable IQ s c o r e ; h o w e v e r , D r . W i l s o n i n d i c a t e t h a t , b a s e d on what t e s t i n g he h a d a c c o m p l i s h e d , the father's retarded score indicated range o f i n t e l l e c t u a l that he was functioning. i n the m i l d l y Dr. W i l s o n said t h a t he was much more c e r t a i n t h a t t h e n o n v e r b a l t e s t i n g h a d y i e l d e d a c l e a r e r view of the father's i n t e l l e c t u a l according t o Dr. W i l s o n , the father's test capacity; scores n o n v e r b a l t e s t i n g i n d i c a t e d t h a t he was i n t h e m i l d l y retarded range of i n t e l l e c t u a l father's IQ s c o r e s , Dr. W i l s o n o p i n e d t h a t have d i f f i c u l t y p a r e n t i n g and intervention. functioning. on t h e mentally Based on t h e the father a c h i l d without constant might assistance I n h i s r e p o r t , h o w e v e r , w h i c h was a d m i t t e d i n t o e v i d e n c e , D r . W i l s o n n o t e d t h a t he c o u l d n o t d e f i n i t i v e l y state that the father "when a d a p t i v e behavior was m i l d l y m e n t a l l y i s considered, 4 retarded because he may n o t b e . " Dr. 2080816 W i l s o n n o t e d t h a t t h e f a t h e r ' s a b i l i t y and w i l l i n g n e s s t o work and h i s h a v i n g worked f o r years i n c h i c k e n some a d a p t i v e evidences Dr. Wilson also noted that ability. plants observing the f a t h e r a t home and w i t h t h e c h i l d w o u l d be way to determine whether the f a t h e r ' s l i m i t e d mental c a p a c i t y negatively impacted h i s a b i l i t y to r e a r the D u r i n g the t h r e e - a n d - a - h a l f - y e a r foster care, DHR also provided v i s i t a t i o n w i t h the c h i l d . the a more h e l p f u l child. p e r i o d t h e c h i l d was father At f i r s t , the with supervised father v i s i t e d t h e c h i l d o n l y once p e r m o n t h , o s t e n s i b l y b e c a u s e t h e paternity had not yet been established. In in with father's July 2007, v i s i t a t i o n i n c r e a s e d i n f r e q u e n c y t o once p e r week i n o r d e r assist with child. developing Workers who a visits; times f a t h e r , and she could father and the noted that the d i f f i c u l t y communicating during t h e c h i l d had the between the supervised f a t h e r and at bond child would the the visits simply w a l k away f r o m she had b e e n r e s i s t a n t t o l e a r n i n g S p a n i s h so t a l k with to him. In J u l y 2008 o r A u g u s t 2008, the that DHR a d d e d t h e use o f an i n t e r p r e t e r t o t h e i n d i v i d u a l i z e d s e r v i c e plan father f o r the to f a c i l i t a t e communication between 5 the 2080816 father and learning child at visits and to assist the child in Spanish. The for the f a t h e r was offered parenting a short period. was u n d e r s t a n d i n g the m a t e r i a l , which S i t z p r i n t e d i n S p a n i s h , and was for him told to during by the use sessions, of a Sitz felt friend who testified l i k e the Sitz father aided Although S i t z classes with Craig interpreted that he was d i s c o n t i n u e t h e p a r e n t i n g c l a s s e s when t h e f a t h e r moved a c r o s s town. S i t z s a i d t h a t he had the p a r e n t i n g c l a s s e s but r e q u e s t e d t o be a l l o w e d t h a t DHR t o resume n e v e r a u t h o r i z e d him to do so. Sitz child also supervised f o r a p p r o x i m a t e l y s i x months. notable p r o b l e m he and child the Sitz, v i s i t s between the he was interact with o b s e r v e d was the Sitz i n a b i l i t y of each o t h e r . required to the child, times who prompt w o u l d be and the most father According the playing. father Sitz t e s t i f i e d t h a t t h e f a t h e r was encouraged to " t e a c h " the Spanish, which S i t z father t r i e d s a i d the the s a i d t h a t the t o communicate w i t h at father f o r a few to to also child visits; h o w e v e r , S i t z commented t h a t t h e c h i l d w o u l d o f t e n w a l k away 6 2080816 from t h e f a t h e r , would n o t t r y t o communicate w i t h would u s u a l l y communicate w i t h S i t z The father married 2008, he a n d h i s w i f e him, and instead. i n the f a l l o f 2007, a n d , i n June a d o p t e d an i n f a n t f r o m a r e l a t i v e could not care f o r the i n f a n t . who The f a t h e r h a s been e m p l o y e d b y t h e same e m p l o y e r f o r 7 y e a r s ; he w o r k s a 4 0 - h o u r week on t h e d a y s h i f t a n d e a r n s $9.90 p e r h o u r . He w o r k s a s e c o n d j o b on S u n d a y s as a c o o k a t a r e s t a u r a n t . Although the father i s not has a citizen of this a l l o w i n g h i m t o work h e r e . country, he a current permit The f a t h e r t e s t i f i e d a t t r i a l he was c u r r e n t l y t a k i n g E n g l i s h - a s - a - s e c o n d - l a n g u a g e that classes a t a l o c a l j u n i o r c o l l e g e ; t h e f a t h e r s a i d t h a t he p l a n n e d t o continue taking the classes. during part of the t r i a l ; The f a t h e r t e s t i f i e d i n E n g l i s h a t o t h e r t i m e s , when t h e q u e s t i o n s were more d e t a i l e d , t h e f a t h e r t e s t i f i e d interpreter. The f a t h e r h a s a v a l i d with t h e a i d o f an international driver's l i c e n s e ; he d o e s n o t have an A l a b a m a d r i v e r s ' l i c e n s e , b u t he said at t r i a l At trial, termination father t h a t he p l a n n e d t o g e t one. and DHR petition the indicated was child. that the basis fori t s t h e language b a r r i e r between t h e Although 7 Michelle Morgan, the 2080816 caseworker mentioned alcohol assigned that to the father's case i n late 2007, a l l e g a t i o n s o f abuse h a d b e e n made a n d t h a t abuse h a d b e e n i n d i c a t e d as a p r o b l e m e a r l i e r , she f o c u s e d a l m o s t s o l e l y on t h e c o m m u n i c a t i o n b a r r i e r b e t w e e n t h e f a t h e r and t h e c h i l d as t h e b a s i s f o r t h e d e c i s i o n t o f i l e t h e termination concerns care, petition. about Morgan commenting When q u e s t i o n e d a b o u t w h e t h e r DHR h a d the father's testified that adoption that the infant DHR of the infant d i d n o t have could learn in his concerns, t o speak Spanish. Morgan f u r t h e r t e s t i f i e d t h a t DHR h a d o f f e r e d t h e f a t h e r t h e following services: a psychological language translation services c l a s s e s , and a r e f e r r a l The juvenile examination, during visitation, f o r substance-abuse court terminated visitation, parenting treatment. the father's parental rights, s t a t i n g i n i t s j u d g m e n t t h a t DHR h a d made r e a s o n a b l e efforts to reunite enumerating referrals, the father "psychological parenting evaluation, training, t r a n s l a t i o n " as t h e s e r v i c e s court also noted the fact and t h e c h i l d , substance visitation, DHR h a d o f f e r e d . that specifically the father's and language The j u v e n i l e psychological e v a l u a t i o n i n d i c a t e d t h a t he was " m e n t a l l y l i m i t e d . " 8 abuse Finally, 2080816 the j u v e n i l e court found that the c h i l d cannot effectively c o m m u n i c a t e w i t h t h e f a t h e r d u r i n g v i s i t s b e c a u s e she s p e a k s only English a n d he s p e a k s v e r y little English. B a s e d on those f i n d i n g s , the j u v e n i l e court determined that the f a t h e r was " u n a b l e o r u n w i l l i n g t o d i s c h a r g e and f o r t h i s c h i l d " and " t h a t t h e conduct o r c o n d i t i o n o f t h e father for his responsibilities to ... i s s u c h [ a s ] t o r e n d e r h i m u n a b l e t o p r o p e r l y the c h i l d , and such conduct o r c o n d i t i o n i s u n l i k e l y t o change i n t h e f o r e s e e a b l e concluded that termination care there future." The j u v e n i l e c o u r t f u r t h e r e x i s t e d no v i a b l e a l t e r n a t i v e s t o t h e of the father's parental rights. a p p e a l s t h e judgment t e r m i n a t i n g h i s p a r e n t a l The father rights. "A j u v e n i l e c o u r t i s r e q u i r e d t o a p p l y a t w o pronged t e s t i n determining whether t o terminate p a r e n t a l r i g h t s : ( 1 ) c l e a r and c o n v i n c i n g e v i d e n c e must s u p p o r t a f i n d i n g t h a t t h e c h i l d i s d e p e n d e n t ; and (2) t h e c o u r t must p r o p e r l y c o n s i d e r a n d r e j e c t a l l viable alternatives to a termination of parental r i g h t s . Ex p a r t e B e a s l e y , 564 So. 2d 950, 954 ( A l a . 1990). " B.M. v. S t a t e , 895 So. 2d 319, 331 ( A l a . C i v . App. 2 0 0 4 ) . A j u v e n i l e c o u r t ' s j u d g m e n t t e r m i n a t i n g p a r e n t a l r i g h t s must be s u p p o r t e d by c l e a r and c o n v i n c i n g Dep't 1988). evidence. o f Human R e s . , 534 So. 2d 304, 305 " C l e a r and c o n v i n c i n g evidence" 9 Bowman v . S t a t e (Ala. Civ. i s "'[e]vidence App. that, 2080816 when w e i g h e d a g a i n s t e v i d e n c e i n o p p o s i t i o n , w i l l p r o d u c e i n the mind o f t h e t r i e r essential element o f t h e c l a i m and a h i g h the c o r r e c t n e s s 2d 171, o f f a c t a f i r m c o n v i c t i o n as t o each of the conclusion.'" 179 ( A l a . C i v . App. 2002) 6-11-20(b)(4)). L.M. v. D.D.F., 840 So. ( q u o t i n g A l a . Code 1975, § A juvenile court's factual findings judgment terminating presented o r e tenus a r e presumed c o r r e c t . o f Human Res., parental p r o b a b i l i t y as t o rights based on in a evidence R.B. v . S t a t e Dep't 669 So. 2d 187 ( A l a . C i v . App. 1 9 9 5 ) . S e c t i o n 2 6 - 1 8 - 7 ( a ) , A l a . Code 1 9 7 5 , s p e c i f i e d t h e g r o u n d s 1 for terminating parental rights: "If the court f i n d s from c l e a r and c o n v i n c i n g evidence, competent, m a t e r i a l , and r e l e v a n t i n nature, t h a t the parents of a c h i l d are unable or u n w i l l i n g t o d i s c h a r g e t h e i r r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s t o and for the c h i l d , or t h a t the conduct o r c o n d i t i o n of t h e p a r e n t s i s s u c h a s t o r e n d e r them u n a b l e t o p r o p e r l y care f o r t h e c h i l d and t h a t such conduct o r c o n d i t i o n i s u n l i k e l y t o change i n t h e f o r e s e e a b l e f u t u r e , i t may t e r m i n a t e t h e p a r e n t a l r i g h t s o f t h e parents." By A c t No. 2 0 0 8 - 2 7 7 , A l a . Acts 2008, t h e Alabama L e g i s l a t u r e , among o t h e r t h i n g s , a m e n d e d a n d r e n u m b e r e d A l a . Code 1 9 7 5 , § 2 6 - 1 8 - 7 , a n d e n a c t e d t h e A l a b a m a J u v e n i l e J u s t i c e A c t ( " A J J A " ) , c o d i f i e d a t A l a . Code 1 9 7 5 , § 12-15-101 e t s e q . The e f f e c t i v e d a t e o f t h e A J J A i s J a n u a r y 1, 2 0 0 9 ; t h e f a t h e r has n o t a s s e r t e d t h a t t h e A J J A a p p l i e s i n t h i s c a s e . 1 10 2080816 In deciding whether a parent i s unable discharge h i s or her r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s or unwilling to t o and f o r t h e c h i l d , t h e j u v e n i l e c o u r t may c o n s i d e r s e v e r a l f a c t o r s , including: "(2) E m o t i o n a l i l l n e s s , m e n t a l i l l n e s s o r m e n t a l d e f i c i e n c y o f t h e p a r e n t , o r e x c e s s i v e use of a l c o h o l o r c o n t r o l l e d substances, o f such d u r a t i o n or n a t u r e as t o r e n d e r t h e p a r e n t u n a b l e t o c a r e f o r needs o f t h e c h i l d . II "(6) T h a t r e a s o n a b l e e f f o r t s b y t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f Human R e s o u r c e s o r l i c e n s e d p u b l i c o r p r i v a t e child care agencies leading toward the r e h a b i l i t a t i o n o f t h e p a r e n t s have f a i l e d . " Ala. Code 1975, § 2 6 - 1 8 - 7 ( a ) . I n a d d i t i o n , when t h e c h i l d i s not i n the p h y s i c a l custody of the p a r e n t , the j u v e n i l e c o u r t shall c o n s i d e r , among o t h e r things: "Lack o f e f f o r t by t h e p a r e n t t o a d j u s t h i s or h e r c i r c u m s t a n c e s t o meet t h e n e e d s o f t h e c h i l d i n accordance with agreements reached, including a g r e e m e n t s r e a c h e d w i t h l o c a l d e p a r t m e n t s o f human r e s o u r c e s o r l i c e n s e d c h i l d - p l a c i n g a g e n c i e s , i n an a d m i n i s t r a t i v e review or a j u d i c i a l review." Ala. Code 1975, § 2 6 - 1 8 - 7 ( b ) ( 4 ) . DHR relied on f a t h e r and t h e c h i l d parental argued, rights. the communication barrier between the as a b a s i s f o r t e r m i n a t i n g t h e f a t h e r ' s Based on t h a t c o m m u n i c a t i o n barrier, DHR a n d t h e j u v e n i l e c o u r t c o n c l u d e d , t h a t t h e f a t h e r was 11 2080816 " u n a b l e and u n w i l l i n g t o d i s c h a r g e h i s r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s t o and for the father care child" ... and "that the conduct condition [ w a s ] such [ a s ] t o r e n d e r him u n a b l e t o f o r the child, and such conduct u n l i k e l y t o change i n t h e f o r e s e e a b l e 7(a). or However, "suitable" the t o adopt adoption case father's parental father an only and or were year before the rights by the found to court, of and t h r o u g h M o r g a n , has s t a t e d t h a t i t has no c o n c e r n s a b o u t father's ability to rear that infant. The be in their termination juvenile [was] See § 26-18- i n f a n t by t h e p r o b a t e c o u r t one the properly condition future." h i s wife of probate the DHR, the court's j u d g m e n t f i n d i n g t h e f a t h e r t o be s u i t a b l e t o a d o p t and DHR's l a c k of concern about the f a t h e r ' s a b i l i t y t o r e a r the adopted infant juvenile parental are in sharp court that conflict the with father the conclusion should forever of the lose the r i g h t s t o h i s c h i l d because of the language b a r r i e r b e t w e e n them. DHR did not present clear and convincing evidence d e m o n s t r a t i n g t h a t the f a t h e r ' s conduct or c o n d i t i o n i s such t h a t he i s u n w i l l i n g o r u n a b l e t o c a r e f o r t h e c h i l d and his conduct or condition is 12 unlikely to change in that the 2080816 foreseeable future. DHR demonstrated o n l y t h a t the f a t h e r t h e c h i l d had d i f f i c u l t y c o m m u n i c a t i n g b e c a u s e o f t h e b a r r i e r b e t w e e n them. was taking continue to classes t a k i n g those c l a s s e s . communicate a basis for father t e s t i f i e d to l e a r n E n g l i s h because i n s u r m o u n t a b l e , and, as However, t h e the of The a and t h a t he language that he intended to mere l a c k o f t h e language barrier ability is termination of the father's parental REMANDED. Thompson, P . J . , not i n t h i s case, i t i s i n s u f f i c i e n t to serve rights. REVERSED AND and and Pittman, Moore, J . , c o n c u r s i n t h e J., concur. result, without Bryan, J . , d i s s e n t s , without 13 writing. writing.

Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.