In Re: M., Mark, III

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS OF WEST VIRGINIA

September 1997 Term

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No. 24154
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IN RE: MARK M., III

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Appeal from the Circuit Court of Berkeley County
Honorable Thomas Steptoe, Jr., Judge
Civil Action No. 96-JA-3

REVERSED AND REMANDED
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Submitted: September 10, 1997
Filed: October 28, 1997

                                
Robert E. Barrat                        Paul E. Lane
Charles Town, West Virginia                Martinsburg, West Virginia
Guardian ad Litem for the infant,             Attorney for Mark M., II
Mark M., III            

Pamela Games-Neely                    Amanda Lewis
Prosecuting Attorney                    Martinsburg, West Virginia
Martinsburg, West Virginia                Attorney for Elizabeth M.
Attorney for the State of West Virginia

The opinion of the Court was delivered PER CURIAM.

SYLLABUS BY THE COURT 

        1.    " ' "Although conclusions of law reached by a circuit court are subject to de novo review, when an action, such as an abuse and neglect case, is tried upon the facts without a jury, the circuit court shall make a determination based upon the evidence and shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law as to whether such child is abused or neglected. These findings shall not be set aside by a reviewing court unless clearly erroneous. A finding is clearly erroneous when, although there is evidence to support the finding, the reviewing court on the entire evidence is left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed. However, a reviewing court may not overturn a finding simply because it would have decided the case differently, and it must affirm a finding if the circuit court's account of the evidence is plausible in light of the record viewed in its entirety." Syl. Pt. 1, In the Interest of Tiffany Marie S., 196 W.Va. 223, 470 S.E.2d 177 (1996).' State ex rel. Virginia M. v. Virgil Eugene S. II, 197 W.Va. 456, 475 S.E.2d 548 (1996)." Syl. Pt. 1, In the Interest of Diva P., ___ W.Va. ___, ___ S.E.2d ___ (No. 23928, July 11, 1997).

        2.    "The purpose of the child's case plan is the same as the family case plan, except that the focus of the child's case plan is on the child rather than the family unit. The child's case plan is to include, where applicable, the requirements of a family case plan, as set forth in W.Va.Code, 49-6-5(a) [1992] and 49-6D-3(a) [1984], as well

as the additional requirements articulated in W.Va.Code, 49-6-5(a)." Syl. Pt. 4, In the Interest of S.C., 191 W.Va. 184, 444 S.E.2d 62 (1994).

        3.    "A motion for continuance is addressed to the sound discretion of the trial court, and its ruling will not be disturbed on appeal unless there is a showing that there has been an abuse of discretion." Syl. Pt. 2, State v. Bush, 163 W.Va. 168, 255 S.E.2d 539 (1979).

        4.    "Whether there has been an abuse of discretion in denying a continuance must be decided on a case-by-case basis in light of the factual circumstances presented, particularly the reasons for the continuance that were presented to the trial court at the time the request was denied." Syl. Pt. 4, State v. Bush, 163 W.Va. 168, 255 S.E.2d 539 (1979).

        5.    "There is a clear legislative directive that guardians ad litem and counsel for both sides be given an opportunity to advocate for their clients in child abuse or neglect proceedings. West Virginia Code § 49-6-5(a) (1995) states that the circuit court shall give both the petitioner and respondents an opportunity to be heard when proceeding to the disposition of the case. This right must be understood to mean that the circuit court may not impose unreasonable limitations upon the function of guardians ad litem in

representing their clients in accord with the traditions of the adversarial fact-finding process." Syl. Pt. 3, State ex rel. Amy M. v. Kaufman,196 W.Va. 251, 470 S.E.2d 205 (1996).

Per Curiam:See footnote 1 1
        This appeal arises from a final order issued under the civil abuse and neglect statutes by the Circuit Court of Berkeley County, which order gave custody of the appellant, Mark M., III, (hereinafter Mark M.) to his father the appellee, Mark M., II (hereinafter Mark Sr.). The guardian ad litem for Mark M. argues on appeal that it was error for the circuit court to grant custody of the child to Mark Sr., without a permanency plan being submitted to and approved by the court. Additionally, the guardian ad litem asserts error due to the circuit court's failure to grant the guardian ad litem's motion for a continuance based upon information obtained only a few days before the scheduled dispositional hearing. We agree.

I.
        This case was initiated by a civil neglect and abuse petition filed on January 30, 1996, against the child's mother, appellee Elizabeth M.See footnote 2 2 The petition alleged that the

child was abused, as a result of being born with traces of cocaine in his blood. At an adjudication hearing held on August 14, 1996, it was determined that the child had been abused due to his mother's use of cocaine while she was pregnant. A dispositional hearing was held on September 20, 1996. At the dispositional hearing the circuit court terminated the parental rights of the mother to the child. Additionally, the circuit court ordered the child be returned to his father, Mark Sr. The guardian ad litem objected to the child being released without a permanency plan being formulated and approved by the court. The circuit court ruled that there was no need for a permanency plan. The guardian ad litem contends the latter ruling was error.

        Additionally, the guardian ad litem argues that three days before the dispositional hearing, the Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) abruptly changed its position regarding placement of Mark M. without consultation with or notice to the guardian ad litem. Given the seriousness of the newly-acquired information regarding the father, the father's unwillingness to cooperate and the lack of communication between the DHHR and the guardian ad litem, the guardian ad litem filed motions: (a) requesting the court continue the dispositional phase until an investigation was made; (b) requesting the court's assistance in obtaining information from the father; and (c) requesting the court to order the DHHR to conduct an investigation into the newly acquired information. The circuit court denied the guardian ad litem's motions. The guardian ad

litem asserts error. We agree.
II.
        The standard of review appropriate here is the clearly erroneous standard. Syl. Pt. 1, In the Interest of Diva P., ___ W.Va. ___, ___ S.E.2d ___ (No. 23928, July 11, 1997). It is mandatory under W.Va. Code § 49-6-5(a) (1996) that a child's case plan, which must include a permanency plan, be submitted to and approved by a circuit court whenever a child is adjudged abused or neglected. See Syl. Pt. 4, In the Interest of S.C., 191 W.Va. 184, 444 S.E.2d 62 (1994). Therefore, in the instant proceeding it was reversible error for the circuit court to release the child without a child's case plan being submitted to and approved by the court. On remand the circuit court shall obtain a child's case plan in accordance with W.Va. Code § 49-6-5(a) and In the Interest of S.C.

        As to the denial of the motion to continue, this Court has long held that "[a] motion for continuance is addressed to the sound discretion of the trial court, and its ruling will not be disturbed on appeal unless there is a showing that there has been an abuse of discretion." Syl. Pt. 2, State v. Bush, 163 W.Va. 168, 255 S.E.2d 539 (1979). In syllabus point 4 of Bush we held that "[w]hether there has been an abuse of discretion in denying a continuance must be decided on a case-by-case basis in light of the factual circumstances presented, particularly the reasons for the continuance that were presented to the trial court at the time the request was denied. Our holdings in Bush must be reconciled with our

decision in syllabus point 3 of State ex rel. Amy M. v. Kaufman,196 W.Va. 251, 470 S.E.2d 205 (1996) wherein we held:
        There is a clear legislative directive that guardians ad litem and counsel for both sides be given an opportunity to advocate for their clients in child abuse or neglect proceedings. West Virginia Code § 49-6-5(a) (1995) states that the circuit court shall give both the petitioner and respondents an opportunity to be heard when proceeding to the disposition of the case. This right must be understood to mean that the circuit court may not impose unreasonable limitations upon the function of guardians ad litem in representing their clients in accord with the traditions of the adversarial fact-finding process. (Emphasis added.)

The circuit court's refusal to continue the matter precluded the guardian ad litem from fulfilling his obligations to properly represent the best interests of his client, Mark M. Allowing the motions would have had no impact on the rights of the father. Moreover, granting the motions would have insured that, in fact, the guardian ad litem's report and recommendation on disposition contained all pertinent information. We find that the circuit court abused its discretion in denying the guardian ad litem's motion for continuance.

        We therefore reverse and remand this case with directions that the circuit court obtain a child's case plan in accordance with W.Va. Code § 49-6-5(a) and In the Interest of S.C. and schedule a hearing during which the guardian ad litem can present his position regarding disposition of the case.
                                Reversed and Remanded.

Footnote: 1     1 We point out that a per curiam opinion is not legal precedent. See Lieving v. Hadley, 188 W.Va. 197, 201 n.4, 423 S.E.2d 600, 604 n 4. (1992) ("Per curiam opinions ... are used to decide only the specific case before the Court; everything in a per curiam opinion beyond the syllabus point is merely obiter dicta.... Other courts, such as many of the United States Circuit Courts of Appeals, have gone to non-published (not-to-be-cited) opinions to deal with similar cases. We do not have such a specific practice, but instead use published per curiam opinions. However, if rules of law or accepted ways of doing things are to be changed, then this Court will do so in a signed opinion, not a per curiam opinion.").

Footnote: 2     2 The child's father, Mark Sr., was named in the petition. No allegations of abuse or neglect were made against him.

Converted by Andrew Scriven