In Re: E.T. and R.B. Jr. (Memorandum Decision)
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STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS FILED In Re: E.T. & R.B. Jr. No. 13-0687 (Logan County 11-JA-102 & 11-JA-103) January 17, 2014 RORY L. PERRY II, CLERK SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS OF WEST VIRGINIA MEMORANDUM DECISION Petitioner Father, by counsel K. Brian Adkins, appeals the Circuit Court of Logan County s order entered on June 10, 2013, terminating his parental rights to his children, E.T. and R.B. Jr. The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources ( DHHR ), by Michael L. Jackson, its attorney, filed its response. The guardian ad litem, Allison Dingess, filed a response on behalf of the children in support of the circuit court s order. On appeal, petitioner argues that the circuit court erred by denying him a dispositional improvement period after it received evidence that he partially complied with his adjudicatory improvement period. As more fully explained herein, the Court is of the opinion that the circuit court erred in failing to adjudicate the children to be abused or neglected. Because the issue before this Court is limited to the circuit court s failure to comply with the requirements of Rule 27 of the West Virginia Rules of Procedure for Abuse and Neglect Proceedings, the decision of the Court is set forth in a memorandum decision rather than an opinion. As noted below, this Court has held that when these rules [have] been substantially disregarded or frustrated, any resulting order will be vacated and the case remanded for compliance with that process and entry of an appropriate . . . order. Syl. Pt. 3, In re Emily G., 224 W.Va. 390, 686 S.E.2d 41 (2009) (quoting Syl. Pt. 5, in part, In re Edward B., 210 W.Va. 621, 558 S.E.2d 620 (2001)). Accordingly, this case satisfies the limited circumstance requirement of Rule 21(d) of the Rules of Appellate Procedure and it is appropriate for the Court to issue a memorandum decision rather than an opinion. The DHHR filed the underlying abuse and neglect petition against Petitioner Father and the children s mother in November of 2011.1 The petition alleged that petitioner abused drugs and physically abused the children. Petitioner was alleged to have been involved in a domestic assault with the children s mother when he pulled her into the bedroom, hit her in the face, and busted her nose. After arriving, the Child Protective Services ( CPS ) worker found needles and a plate with blue powder drug residue, as well as a straw and credit card, all within reach of the children. The children s mother appeared to be impaired due to her manner of speaking and drowsy eyes, and petitioner was no longer present. The children were put into the DHHR s custody as a result of this incident. In January of 2012, petitioner denied having a substance abuse problem. However, the circuit court did not make any finding regarding whether the children were abused or neglected. In May of 2012, the circuit court required petitioner to 1 A putative father to one of the children was included in the initial petition but was later dismissed after a DNA test revealed that petitioner was the father of both children. 1 complete a substance abuse evaluation and random screens, among other requirements.2 Again, no findings were made regarding the children or whether petitioner was an abusing parent. In August of 2012, a paternity test established that both children are petitioner s biological children, so the putative father was dismissed from the case. Over the ensuing six months, petitioner failed to follow through with all required drug screens and visitations and had only sporadic contact with his attorney. By order entered June 10, 2013, following a dispositional hearing, the circuit court terminated the parents parental rights to the children, finding that he failed to comply with in-home services and failed to correct the situation that led to the filing of the petition. The circuit court further found that the DHHR made reasonable efforts to preserve the family, prevent removal, and promote reunification, but that termination was the least restrictive alternative. It is from this order that petitioner appeals.3 The Court has previously established the following standard of review: 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 Interest of Tiffany Marie S., 196 W.Va. 223, 470 S.E.2d 177 (1996). Syl. Pt. 1, In re Cecil T., 228 W.Va. 89, 717 S.E.2d 873 (2011). On appeal, petitioner argues that he was entitled to a dispositional improvement period, based upon the fact that he took part in an initial improvement period and that poverty exacerbated his situation due to changing housing and transportation issues. A review of the record reveals that petitioner failed to comply with the terms of his post-adjudicatory improvement period due to his failure to address the issues that led to the filing of the petition and comply with in-home services. We hold that the circuit court had an adequate basis for finding that there was no reasonable likelihood that the conditions of neglect or abuse could be substantially corrected in the near future and that termination was necessary for the welfare of 2 The order making these requirements explicitly stated that the children s mother was granted an improvement period but did not do so for petitioner. We assume, however, that the circuit court intended for petitioner to be granted an improvement period as well, as both parents were given essentially the same requirements and their parental rights were later terminated on the same date for essentially the same reasons. 3 The children s mother appealed the termination of her parental rights to the children in Case No. 13-0625. 2 the children. Pursuant to West Virginia Code § 49-6-5(a)(6), circuit courts are directed to terminate parental rights upon such findings. The circuit court below, however, never adjudicated the children as abused or neglected. In any [abuse or neglect proceeding], the party or parties having custodial or other parental rights or responsibilities to the child shall be afforded a meaningful opportunity to be heard, including the opportunity to testify and to present and cross-examine witnesses. . . . At the conclusion of the hearing, the 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. . . . The findings must be based upon conditions existing at the time of the filing of the petition and proven by clear and convincing proof. W.Va. Code § 49-6-2(c). Here, while the circuit court ordered an improvement period that was labeled post-adjudicatory, there was no adjudication nor any finding of fact that shows an adjudication in the record. We hold that the circuit court, therefore, must enter an order adjudicating E.T. and R.B. Jr. to be abused or neglected children based on sufficient findings of fact and conclusions of law. For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the portion of the circuit court s order terminating petitioner s parental rights to E.T. and R.B. Jr., but remand for entry of an order in compliance with the statute, including appropriate findings of fact. Affirmed in part and remanded in part. ISSUED: January 17, 2014 CONCURRED IN BY: Chief Justice Robin Jean Davis Justice Brent D. Benjamin Justice Menis E. Ketchum CONCURRING IN PART AND DISSENTING IN PART: Justice Margaret L. Workman Justice Allen H. Loughry II 3 No. 13-0687 In Re: E.T. & R.B. Jr. Loughry, Justice, concurring in part and dissenting in part: I concur with the majority s decision in this case insofar as it concludes that there was sufficient evidence for the circuit court to find that there was no reasonable likelihood that the conditions of neglect or abuse could be substantially corrected in the near future and that termination of the petitioner s parental rights was necessary for the welfare of the children. I dissent, however, from the majority s decision to remand this case for entry of an adjudicatory order because the record shows that the petitioner admitted that he neglected the children. Specifically, the May 10, 2010, order of circuit court, which was included in the appendix record submitted to this Court, states: Respondent, Ronald B. admitted on the record that he resided in an environment in which his child was living at the time of the removal was neglectful to the childs [sic] needs. 1 Given this admission that was memorialized in the May 10, 2010, order, I do not believe that there is any basis to conclude that the circuit court failed to comply with the requirements of Rule 27 of the Rules of Procedure for Child and Abuse Neglect Proceedings. Accordingly, I would have affirmed the decision of the circuit court. I am authorized to state that Justice Workman joins me in this separate opinion. 1 At the time this order was entered, it had not yet been determined that Ronald B. was the father of both children. 4
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