Nance v. Arkansas Dept. of Human Services

870 S.W.2d 721 (1994)

316 Ark. 43

Vicki NANCE, Appellant, v. ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, Appellee.

No. 93-736.

Supreme Court of Arkansas.

February 21, 1994.

Rehearing Denied April 18, 1994.

*722 Kent L. Tharel, Fayetteville, for appellant.

Kay West Forrest, West Memphis, for D.H.S.

Alene Cox, West Fork, for Mary Lila Nance.

Mark Lindsay, Fayetteville, for Roy David Nance.

NEWBERN, Justice.

Vicki Nance appeals an order of the Juvenile Court placing custody of her daughter with her former husband, Roy David Nance. The order is the result of juvenile court hearings which were extensive in number and duration. Ms. Nance has presented five points of appeal, the last of which contains several subpoints. The main question is whether a juvenile division of a chancery court, having found a child to be dependent or neglected, has the authority to make an award of custody of the child between competing parents. We find no error and affirm.

Vicki and Roy Nance were married in Texas in 1978. As a result of their divorce in 1982, Ms. Nance was awarded custody of their two children. Ms. Nance subsequently relocated to Fayetteville in 1986 with these children and a younger daughter.

While visiting her father in Texas during the summer of 1992, the oldest daughter, Mary Lila, then fourteen, allegedly stated she did not want to return to her mother. Mr. Nance failed to return her, and a custody battle ensued. Ms. Nance sought a contempt citation in Washington County Chancery Court. Mr. Nance moved to modify the custody award in a district court in Montgomery County, Texas. Each court dismissed for lack of jurisdiction. The Texas court ultimately ordered Mary Lila returned to her mother pursuant to Ms. Nance's petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus.

Mary Lila's mother subsequently enrolled her in a boarding school near Chicago for the 1992-93 school year. Very shortly after her arrival, Mary Lila began to exhibit psychological problems, and became incoherent. Ms. Nance removed her from the school, and they returned to Fayetteville.

On August 27, 1992, Ms. Nance was attempting to take Mary Lila to a doctor in Oklahoma and was involved in a serious car accident. Both Ms. Nance and Mary Lila were taken to Springdale Memorial Hospital. At the hospital, Mary Lila was catatonic, and at times hallucinated, thinking that a serpent was in her throat. A psychological evaluation was ordered. Ms. Nance demanded that her daughter be evaluated by a Christian psychiatrist. The hospital and Ms. Nance were unable to agree on a suitable doctor to perform the evaluation. By September 1, 1992, Mary Lila had still not had a psychological examination.

Ms. Nance allegedly attempted to remove her daughter from the hospital contrary to medical advice. As a result, the Washington County Department of Children and Family Services supervisor placed a 72-hour protective hold on Mary Lila and ordered a psychological examination.

The doctor performing the examination concluded that Mary Lila was suffering "acute adjustment disorder with psychotic thinking," and recommended in-patient psychiatric treatment as soon as possible. Brookhaven in Tulsa was recommended based on Ms. Nance's request for a Christian-affiliated facility. Brookhaven refused to admit Mary Lila because of lack of medicaid or insurance to pay for treatment. When Ms. Nance was unable to find another religiously affiliated psychiatric facility, Harborview in Fort Smith was suggested.

At this point doctors evaluating Mary Lila believed Ms. Nance was not willing to take Mary Lila to Harborview. They also believed Ms. Nance might remove her daughter from the facility before her treatment was completed.

As a result of these circumstances, the Department of Human Services (DHS) petitioned for emergency custody of Mary Lila, *723 stating probable cause existed that she was dependent-neglected as defined by the Juvenile Code. The Washington County Juvenile Court granted custody of Mary Lila to DHS and notified Mr. and Ms. Nance of their right to counsel. Mary Lila was placed in the Harborview facility for psychiatric treatment.

Subsequent to the emergency order, Mr. Nance petitioned to modify the custody aspect of his divorce decree in Washington County Chancery Court. On September 28, 1992, he moved to transfer the petition and consolidate it with the DHS case in juvenile court. The Juvenile Court declined to order the transfer.

Several hearings were held in Juvenile Court as the result of the emergency order. At the first hearing, the Juvenile Court concluded that probable cause existed that Mary Lila was in need of medical care that her family could not provide and ordered Mary Lila's continued custody with DHS.

During the next two hearings, the Juvenile Court heard testimony concerning Mary Lila and Ms. Nance's household. Additionally, the Court held an in camera discussion with Mary Lila in which she indicated her desire to move to her father's home after being discharged from Harborview. Although the Court concluded that both Mr. and Ms. Nance were fit to raise Mary Lila, he ordered that she be placed temporarily with her father upon her release from Harborview.

Subsequent hearings were held to monitor Mary Lila's progress and address visitation and child support issues presented by the parties. On June 30, 1993, the Juvenile Court ruled that it was in Mary Lila's best interest to be placed with her father, and dismissed the proceedings.

Ms. Nance appeals from that order.

1. Jurisdiction

Ms. Nance contends the Juvenile Court lacked jurisdiction to enter an order changing custody to Mr. Nance. Ms. Nance argues that custody may only be established pursuant to a divorce, and as Mr. Nance's petition to modify the custody order from his divorce was not transferred to the Juvenile Court, the Court lacked jurisdiction to enter an order of custody. Ms. Nance cites several cases following our ruling which originated in Robins v. Arkansas Social Services, 273 Ark. 241, 617 S.W.2d 857 (1981), to the effect that there can be no separate action for custody which must be established pursuant to divorce.

The Robins case, as well as the other cases cited, were decided before the enactment of the Arkansas Juvenile Code of 1989, Ark.Code Ann. §§ 9-27-301 through 9-27-352. Section 9-27-305 states any juvenile within the State may be subjected to the jurisdiction of a juvenile court. Section 9-27-306(a)(1) grants juvenile courts exclusive original jurisdiction of proceedings in which a juvenile is alleged to be dependent-neglected.

Section 9-27-334(a)(2) allows a juvenile court, pursuant to a finding that a juvenile is dependent-neglected, to transfer custody to DHS, another licensed agency, "or to a relative or other individual." From the language in § 9-27-334 it is clear that the Juvenile Court had the power to award custody of Mary Lila to Mr. Nance once DHS initiated dependency-neglect proceedings. While it does not apply to this case, we note that in 1993 the General Assembly made it clear that a juvenile court's custody order supersedes any existing court order and remains in effect until a subsequent custody order is entered by a court of competent jurisdiction. See § 9-27-334(b).

Ms. Nance cites § 9-27-338(a), which lists disposition alternatives a juvenile court may consider in its 18-month review of dependency-neglect cases, pointing out that transfer of custody is not included. As the Juvenile Court's order in this case was not one made pursuant to an 18-month review, we reject the argument, especially in view of the language of § 9-27-334(a)(2) and the General Assembly's subsequent expression of juvenile court priority in § 9-27-334(b).

2. Dependency-neglect holding

The Juvenile Code requires proof by a preponderance of the evidence in dependent-neglected proceedings. Ark.Code Ann. § 9-27-325(h)(2) (Repl.1993). We review a Chancellor's *724 findings of fact de novo, and will not set them aside unless they are clearly erroneous. Ark.R.Civ.P. 52(a). Ms. Nance argues the Juvenile Court's holding in this respect was clearly against the preponderance of the evidence.

A dependent-neglected juvenile is one who "as a result of abandonment, abuse, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, neglect, or parental unfitness is at substantial risk of serious harm." § 9-27-303(12). The Juvenile Code further defines "neglect" as an act or omission by a parent which constitutes failure or refusal to provide "medical treatment necessary for a juvenile's well being, except when the failure or refusal is caused primarily by the financial inability of the person legally responsible and no services for relief have been offered or rejected." § 9-27-303(23)(B).

The record reflects a dispute between Ms. Nance and Mary Lila's doctors about a proper psychological examiner and that, but for DHS intervention, treatment could have been delayed even more than it was. The record also indicates that some of the doctors and social workers involved in this case were concerned Ms. Nance would not allow Mary Lila to remain at a psychiatric facility for the duration of her treatment. Under these circumstances we have little difficulty concluding the evidence of "neglect" was sufficient, even though it may have stemmed from parental motives which could not be characterized as neglectful in the sense of being intended to harm the child or not to care for her.

3. Former attorney's testimony

During July and August of 1992, Kelly Proctor represented Ms. Nance in her attempt to enforce the order granting custody of Mary Lila to her. Ms. Proctor was also Ms. Nance's house guest at that time.

The guardian ad litem for Mary Lila Nance subpoenaed Ms. Proctor to testify at an October, 1992, hearing. The testimony, which was unfavorable to Ms. Nance, concerned Ms. Nance's treatment of her children, and the conditions in the home, while Ms. Proctor was a guest there.

Ms. Nance's attorney at the hearing objected to the testimony and refused to waive the attorney-client privilege. The attorney argued that Ms. Proctor's testimony had to do with furtherance of Ms. Proctor's representation of Ms. Nance and was confidential. The Trial Court overruled the objection, limiting Ms. Proctor's testimony to her observations of conditions in Ms. Nance's home. Ms. Nance argues the testimony is barred by the Model Rules of Professional Conduct and Ark.R.Evid. 502.

Model Rule 1.6 concerns a lawyer's duty not to reveal "information relating to representation of a client unless the client consents after consultation." According to the scope note accompanying them, the Model Rules of Professional Conduct were designed to regulate the practice of law, and to provide a mechanism for disciplining attorneys and not to form the basis of substantive law decisions. Nevertheless, we cite the Model Rules from time to time as having an effect on the outcome of litigation. For example, we cited Model Rule 1.6 in Burnette v. Morgan, 303 Ark. 150, 794 S.W.2d 145 (1990), in the process of deciding whether we should reverse a trial court decision on the ground that a participating attorney should have been disqualified.

We have some doubt whether Ms. Proctor's testimony about the conditions in Ms. Nance's home qualifies as information "relating to representation" of Ms. Nance. We need not dwell on Model Rule 1.6, however, as the matter of attorney-client privilege is clearly regulated by Ark.R.Evid. 502(b).

Rule 502(b) concerns the admissibility of information disclosed to an attorney by her client. It allows a client to prevent the disclosure of any confidential communications "made for the purpose of facilitating the rendition of professional legal services to the client." There is no evidence before us suggesting that Ms. Nance revealed or "communicated confidentially" anything about the conditions in her home to which Ms. Proctor testified.

4. Absence of attorney

On April 19, 1993, a hearing was held for the limited purposes of considering requests *725 to modify visitation rights and child support. The hearing was scheduled for a date when Mary Lila would be present in Fayetteville to testify.

Ms. Nance's attorney failed to appear at the hearing. Ms. Nance informed the Trial Court her attorney believed the hearing had been continued to a later date. The Juvenile Court unsuccessfully attempted to contact the attorney. Attorneys for the other parties objected to a continuance due to the prospective difficulty of rescheduling Mary Lila's presence.

The Juvenile Court commenced the hearing, and allowed Ms. Nance to represent herself. Mary Lila testified that her mother had acted in a very hostile and threatening manner during their last visit. After cross examining Mary Lila, Ms. Nance became frustrated and stated she was willing to place her daughter in Mr. Nance's custody. Ms. Nance stated that she was tired of the proceedings and had no money to continue further. The Court stated Ms. Nance would not be held to those remarks until she had talked to her attorney.

Ms. Nance argues her right to due process of law was violated. Section 9-27-302(4) states the Juvenile Code is designed to protect a party's due process rights, and § 9-27-314(b) provides that a parent has a right to an attorney. We fail to see how Ms. Nance's rights were violated. She was notified of her right to counsel, and indeed had obtained counsel to represent her. Ms. Nance did not object to the hearing commencing, and neither did the attorney representing her at the subsequent hearing. She was clearly not denied the right to counsel, and the Court attempted to protect her interests.

5. Other statutory requirements

Ms. Nance finally contends the Court erred by failing to require DHS to comply with the requirements of the juvenile code. She argues that the Juvenile Court failed to require a case plan aimed at reunification of Mary Lila with her mother in accordance with § 9-27-303(6)(G). We agree that an important goal of the statutory juvenile justice system is reunification of the juvenile with the parent, custodian, or guardian from whom the juvenile has been separated. § 9-27-303(17). We do not, however, conclude that reunification must be achieved if it proves to be against the best interests of the juvenile.

In response to this argument, DHS and the guardian ad litem of Mary Lila point out a number of actions taken which could be seen as efforts to effect reconciliation and thus reunification of Mary Lila with Ms. Nance. They include DHS's payment for long-distance phone calls and air travel for Mary Lila from Texas to Fayetteville and back for visitation in addition to some DHS home services.

Ms. Nance argues that the home study requirements found in § 9-27-303(19) were not met. Two home studies were done on Mr. Nance's home. The first was an informal one conducted by DHS, and the second was by Texas Child Protective Services, resulting in a written report which appears in the record. No home study was done on Ms. Nance's home because she and her lawyer declined after being informed it was available at Ms. Nance's option. There was, as noted above, however, considerable testimony about conditions in Ms. Nance's home.

Finally, Ms. Nance argues that there was no compliance with the mandatory provisions of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children found at Ark.Code Ann. § 9-29-201 (Repl.1993). Subsection (a) of Article III of the compact makes it clear that it is meant to deal with children who are sent from a sending state into a receiving state "for placement in foster care or as a preliminary to a possible adoption." That is not the case here.

Affirmed.

GLAZE, J., concurs.