In re Adolfo M. CA4/1 ( 2013 )

Filed 9/19/13 In re Adolfo M. CA4/1
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication
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COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION ONE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
In re ADOLFO M., a Person Coming
Under the Juvenile Court Law.
D063789
SAN DIEGO COUNTY HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY,
(Super. Ct. No. SJ12887)
Plaintiff and Respondent,
v.
ALYSSA M.,
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of San Diego County, Garry G.
Haehnle, Judge. Reversed and remanded with directions.
Monica Vogelmann, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant.
Thomas E. Montgomery, County Counsel, John E. Philips, Chief Deputy County
Counsel and Patrice Plattner-Grainger, Deputy County Counsel, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
This case involves the applicability of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and
Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) (Fam. Code, § 3400 et seq.).1 Alyssa M. appeals a judgment
declaring her minor son, Adolfo M., a dependent of the juvenile court and removing him from
parental custody, contending the court erred by asserting subject matter jurisdiction under
section 3421, subdivision (a)(2). We conclude the UCCJEA controls the jurisdictional analysis
the court must undertake before it can properly make its dependency findings and orders. We
reverse the judgment and remand the matter to the juvenile court to conduct a hearing on
subject matter jurisdiction in accordance with the UCCJEA.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
In March 2013, Alyssa crossed the border from Mexico to San Diego, California, with
her six-year-old son Adolfo. She turned herself in to law enforcement authorities on an
outstanding arrest warrant for a drug-related crime. Alyssa, who was born and raised in the
state of Washington, said she had been living in Mexico, was currently homeless, and had been
using methamphetamine for the past year. She also said her current relationship with Cesar C.
involved domestic violence. Alyssa initially reported she had no relatives in the United States
or Mexico who could care for Adolfo. She was taken to Las Colinas Detention Facility and
Adolfo was taken to Polinsky Children's Center.
Adolfo told the social worker that Alyssa worked "where they sell beer to men and then
she takes them somewhere." He said Alyssa and Cesar smoked light bulbs with dust or sand in
them. He also said Alyssa and Cesar fight, which made him sad and caused him to cry.
1 All further statutory references are to the Family Code unless otherwise specified.
2
The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (Agency) filed a petition in
the juvenile court under Welfare and Institutions Code section 300, subdivision (b),2 alleging
Adolfo was at substantial risk of harm because Alyssa had been using and selling
methamphetamine for the past year, and had been hiding with Adolfo in an abandoned home to
avoid being arrested. The petition listed Cesar and another man, Antonio S., as Adolfo's
alleged fathers, both of whom lived in Mexico.
At a detention hearing, counsel for Alyssa argued that under the UCCJEA, Mexico was
Adolfo's home state and, thus, the court lacked subject matter jurisdiction unless it had
temporary emergency jurisdiction. Counsel further argued there was no emergency because
Adolfo was not in immediate danger when he was taken from Alyssa. The court disagreed,
finding Adolfo was at risk because Alyssa and Cesar used drugs, and, thus, the court had
jurisdiction. The court then asked Alyssa whether there were any custody or visitation orders,
or any family court proceedings, involving Adolfo in Mexico. Alyssa answered, "No,
nothing." The court proceeded to make its findings and detained Adolfo in out-of-home care.
When Alyssa's counsel asked for clarification about whether the court was taking temporary
emergency jurisdiction, the court said it was finding the UCCJEA did not apply.
According to a jurisdiction report, Adolfo was living in a foster home and doing well.
Adolfo told the social worker that Cesar had physically abused him, and Alyssa corroborated
this statement. Alyssa, who was no longer incarcerated, said she would like Adolfo placed
with a relative in San Diego. The maternal grandmother in Washington also expressed interest
2 Agency also filed a petition under Welfare and Institutions Code section 300,
subdivision (g), but that allegation was later dismissed.
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in having Adolfo placed with her. Alyssa was regularly visiting Adolfo and began
participating in services, including a residential substance abuse treatment program.
At a jurisdiction and disposition hearing, the court again addressed the applicability of
the UCCJEA, and expressly declined to take temporary emergency jurisdiction under section
3424, subdivision (b). Because no court in any other state or country had asserted jurisdiction
over Adolfo, the court found it had subject matter jurisdiction under section 3421, subdivision
(a)(2). The court sustained the allegations of the petition under Welfare and Institutions Code
section 300, subdivision (b), declared Adolfo a dependent, removed him from Alyssa's
custody, placed him in foster care and ordered Alyssa to comply with the provisions of her
case plan.
DISCUSSION
Alyssa contends the court erred by asserting subject matter jurisdiction under section
3421, subdivision (a)(2), because Mexico, not California, was Adolfo's home state. County
counsel concedes the error, but asserts it was harmless because the court could have properly
exercised temporary emergency jurisdiction under section 3424.
A
Overview of the UCCJEA
The UCCJEA is the exclusive method in California to determine the proper forum in
child custody proceedings involving other jurisdictions. (In re C.T. (2002) 100 Cal.App.4th
101, 106.) "Under the UCCJEA, a California court must 'treat a foreign country as if it were a
state of the United States for the purpose of' determining jurisdiction. (§ 3405, subd. (a).)" (In
re Marriage of Nurie (2009) 176 Cal.App.4th 478, 490.) A dependency action is a " '[c]hild
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custody proceeding' " subject to the UCCJEA. (§ 3402, subd. (d); In re Angel L. (2008) 159
Cal.App.4th 1127, 1136.) The purposes of the UCCJEA in the context of dependency
proceedings include avoiding jurisdictional competition and conflict, promoting interstate
cooperation, litigating custody where the child and his or her family have the closest
connections, avoiding relitigation of another state's custody decisions and promoting the
exchange of information and other mutual assistance between courts of other states. (In re
C.T., at p. 106.)
Subject matter jurisdiction either exists or does not exist at the time the action is
commenced and cannot be conferred by stipulation, consent, waiver or estoppel. (In re A.C.
(2005) 130 Cal.App.4th 854, 860.) "We are not bound by the juvenile court's findings
regarding subject matter jurisdiction, but rather 'independently reweigh the jurisdictional
facts.' " (Ibid.)
Section 3421—Home State Jurisdiction
Under section 3421, California may assume jurisdiction to make an initial child custody
determination only if any of the following apply: California is the child's "home state,"
meaning the state in which a child lived with a parent or a person acting as a parent for at least
six consecutive months immediately before the child custody proceeding was commenced
(§§ 3421, subd. (a)(1) & 3402, subd. (g)); a court of another state does not have jurisdiction
because it is not the child's home state (§ 3421, subd. (a)(2)); a court of the child's home state
has declined to exercise jurisdiction on the ground California is the more appropriate forum
(ibid.); all courts having jurisdiction have declined to exercise jurisdiction on the ground
California is the more appropriate forum (§ 3421, subd. (a)(3)); or no other state has
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jurisdiction under the foregoing tests (§ 3421, subd. (a)(4)). "Physical presence of, or personal
jurisdiction over, a party or a child is not necessary or sufficient to make a child custody
determination." (§ 3421, subd. (c).)
C
Section 3424—Temporary Emergency Jurisdiction
Section 3424 provides an exception to the exclusive jurisdictional bases for making a
child custody determination in California. (§ 3421, subds. (a) & (b).) A court may exercise
"temporary emergency jurisdiction" when a "child is present in this state and . . . it is necessary
in an emergency to protect the child because the child . . . is subjected to, or threatened with,
mistreatment or abuse." (§ 3424, subd. (a).) An "emergency" exists when there is an
immediate risk of danger to the child if he or she is returned to a parent. (In re Nada R. (2001)
89 Cal.App.4th 1166, 1174-1175.) Although emergency jurisdiction is generally intended to
be short term and limited, the juvenile court may continue to exercise its authority as long as
the reasons underlying the dependency exist. (Id. at p. 1175; In re Angel L., supra, 159
Cal.App.4th at p. 1139; see also In re Stephanie M. (1994) 7 Cal.4th 295, 312 [court had
continuing jurisdiction because of emergency presented and impossibility of returning minor
immediately to parents].) The Legislature has expressly declared its intent to expand the
grounds on which a court may exercise temporary emergency jurisdiction. (§ 3424, subd. (e).)
Nevertheless, even an appropriate "[a]ssumption of emergency jurisdiction does not
confer upon the state exercising emergency jurisdiction the authority to make a permanent
custody disposition." (In re C.T., supra, 100 Cal.App.4th at p. 108.) Section 3424, subdivision
(b), provides that when "there is no previous child custody determination that is entitled to be
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enforced under the UCCJEA and a child custody proceeding has not been commenced in a
court of a state having jurisdiction under the UCCJEA, a child custody determination made
under section [3424] remains in effect until an order is obtained from a court of a state having
jurisdiction under the UCCJEA. If a child custody proceeding has not been or is not
commenced in a court of a state having jurisdiction under the UCCJEA, a child custody
determination made under section 3424, subdivision (b) 'becomes a final determination, if it so
provides and this state becomes the home state of the child.' " (In re Angel L., supra, 159
Cal.App.4th at p. 1138, quoting § 3424, subd. (b).) Thus, the statutory language makes clear
that emergency jurisdiction can be exercised to protect a child only on a temporary basis until
the court with appropriate jurisdiction issues a permanent order or, alternatively, until the court
exercising emergency jurisdiction finds a basis to "properly assume jurisdiction under section
[3421 or] 3423 apart from its emergency jurisdiction under section 3424." (In re C.T., supra,
100 Cal.App.4th at pp. 113, 112.)
D
The Court Improperly Asserted Subject Matter Jurisdiction
Under Section 3421, Subdivision (a)(2)
Here, the court expressly declined to assert temporary emergency jurisdiction under
section 3424. Instead, the court asserted subject matter jurisdiction under section 3421,
subdivision (a)(2), which provides that the California court has jurisdiction to make an initial
child custody determination if the court of another state (or foreign country) does not have
"home state" jurisdiction or has declined to exercise jurisdiction on the ground California is the
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more appropriate forum based on certain criteria.3 However, the undisputed evidence here
showed Mexico had home state jurisdiction because Adolfo had lived there with Alyssa for at
least six consecutive months immediately before the dependency proceedings began. (§ 3402,
subd. (g).) Further, the court in Mexico did not decline to exercise jurisdiction as Adolfo's
home state because it was never given notice or the opportunity to do so. (§ 3421, subd.
(a)(2).)
In asserting subject matter jurisdiction under section 3421, subdivision (a)(2), the court
presumably believed it could proceed based on Alyssa's unsworn testimony that there were no
custody or visitation orders or family court proceedings in Mexico involving Adolfo.4
However, regardless of whether a proceeding has commenced in another jurisdiction, the
child's home state must be given the opportunity to either assume or decline jurisdiction. In
this regard, the court purporting to assert subject matter jurisdiction is authorized to
communicate with the court in the home state. (§ 3410, subd. (a).) The juvenile court here
made no attempt to contact the court in Mexico or otherwise verify Alyssa's statement as to the
existence of any custody orders or proceedings in Mexico. It also failed to hold a hearing at
which the parties could present evidence and cross-examine witnesses to enable the court to
3 The home state court can decline to exercise jurisdiction if it finds California is the
more appropriate forum under section 3427 (home state is an inconvenient forum under the
circumstances) or section 3428 (person seeking to invoke jurisdiction has engaged in
unjustifiable conduct) and both of the following are true: (1) the child and his or her parent or
parents have a significant connection with California other than mere physical presence; and
(2) substantial evidence is available in California concerning the child's care, protection,
training and personal relationships. (§ 3421, subd. (a)(2)(A) & (B).)
4 As we previously noted, a child's physical presence in a state, without more, is not
sufficient for the court to make a custody determination. (§ 3421, subd. (c).)
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determine whether California or Mexico had subject matter jurisdiction under the UCCJEA.
Under these circumstances, the juvenile court erred by exercising subject matter jurisdiction,
and the error cannot be deemed harmless. (See In re Marriage of Jackson (2006) 136
Cal.App.4th 980, 997 [if jurisdictional error has occurred, the resulting judgment or order is
voidable and reversible on appeal even where it is clear from the record that no prejudice
resulted].)
E
The Record Does Not Permit an Inference the
Court Had Temporary Emergency Jurisdiction
Agency concedes the court erroneously asserted subject matter jurisdiction under
section 3421, subdivision (a)(2), but nevertheless contends the court had temporary emergency
jurisdiction under section 3424. We agree the facts here showed that at the time the
dependency petition was filed, Adolfo would have been at immediate risk of harm if returned
to parental custody because Alyssa used and sold methamphetamine for the past year, exposed
Adolfo to domestic violence and allowed Adolfo's only other caregiver, Cesar, to physically
abuse him. (§ 3424, subd. (a); see In re Nada R., supra, 89 Cal.App.4th at pp. 1174-1175.)
However, Agency's argument that the court had the power to proceed under section 3424 is
based on the faulty premise that there was no competing custody order entered in Mexico and
no jurisdictional conflict with the Mexican court. As we previously discussed, the record
contains no admissible evidence as to whether there was a previous child custody
determination or pending custody proceeding in Mexico, and no proper inquiry was made. In
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the absence of that information, we cannot conclude the juvenile court was entitled to assert
temporary emergency jurisdiction.5
DISPOSITION
The judgment is reversed. The case is remanded to the juvenile court with directions to
hold a hearing at which the parties may present evidence and cross-examine witnesses
regarding whether California or Mexico has subject matter jurisdiction under the UCCJEA, or
whether California has temporary emergency jurisdiction.
MCDONALD, J.
WE CONCUR:
NARES, Acting P. J.
AARON, J.
5 If, on remand, the court in Mexico declines jurisdiction or determines that California
would be a more convenient forum under section 3421, subdivision (a)(2), the issue of
temporary emergency jurisdiction will be moot and the juvenile court can proceed to make its
jurisdictional findings and dispositional order.
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