In re G.C. ( 2020 )

Filed 4/24/20
CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION TWO
In re G.C. et al., Persons Coming Under
the Juvenile Court Law.
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES, E072514
Plaintiff and Respondent, (Super.Ct.Nos. J279908 &
J279909 & J279910)
v.
OPINION
K.C. et al.,
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from the Superior Court of San Bernardino County. Annemarie G.
Pace, Judge. Affirmed.
Christopher R. Booth, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant
and Appellant K.C.
Christine E. Johnson, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant
and Appellant A.C.
1
Michelle D. Blakemore, County Counsel, Dawn M. Martin, Deputy County
Counsel for Plaintiff and Respondent.
Defendants and appellants A.C. (Father) and K.C. (Mother) are the parents of
Gi.C. (a girl born January 2009; hereinafter G.I.), J.C. (a boy born December 2009), and
Ga.C. (a boy born February 2018; hereinafter G.A.). Father, with Mother joining,
appeals the juvenile court’s dispositional order removing G.I., J.C., and G.A.
(collectively, the children) from Father’s and Mother’s (collectively, Parents) custody.
For the reasons set forth below, we affirm the court’s findings and orders.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
A. DETENTION
On February 25, 2019, plaintiff and respondent San Bernardino County Children
and Family Services (CFS) received an immediate response referral alleging general
neglect of the children by Mother. It was reported that the home was filthy, the floors
were covered in feces and urine, a majority of the food in the refrigerator was expired, the
food in the cabinets had mold, and the home smelled of marijuana. Mother also did not
have any formula for G.A.
When social worker Imani Austin arrived at the home, Mother had already been
taken into custody, and she was having suicidal disclosures. Law enforcement was at the
home with the children because Father was deployed and no one was available to care for
the children. The investigator informed Austin that he observed a bowl that appeared to
have drug paraphernalia in it. Rolled-up marijuana cigars were in G.I.’s room. G.A. was
taken to the hospital for an overall assessment of his heath due to the condition of the
2
home, possible exposure to drug paraphernalia and the lack of formula. When he was
assessed, he was cleared for discharge with no concerns reported.
Austin spoke with Father. Father was deployed in Syria and was trying to return
home after being advised of the situation. Father reported knowing that Mother was
stressed the past few weeks. He also disclosed that she had a history of mental illness;
she was diagnosed with anxiety in 2014. Father believed that Mother had failed to take
her medication in the past month because a neighbor had stolen it and they could not
afford to replace it. Father also stated that Mother had told him that she refilled the
medication about two weeks prior. Father further indicated that to his knowledge,
Mother last used marijuana in 2016 at a friend’s house. He claimed that he did not know
about the condition of the home. The children did not disclose any concerns to him.
G.I. told Austin that she helped with chores, cooking and babysitting G.A. G.I.
and J.C. both attempt to clean up the animal feces. G.I. recalled Mother taking “sleeping
pills.” She denied observing substance abuse, domestic violence, or physical or sexual
abuse in the home.
J.D. reported that the home is normally clean. The feces on the floor was from
their dogs and he said that it was his responsibility to take care of one of the dogs. He
was unsure whether Mother took any medication. He also denied any abuse or domestic
violence in the home.
The children were transported to CFS and placed together in a foster home. Social
worker Austin interviewed Mother at the jail the next day, and Mother reported being
diagnosed with ADHD, anxiety, and depression. Her insurance would not cover
3
replacement of her medication, so she had to wait three months to refill since she could
not afford to replace them. She had not informed Father about the change in her mental
health diagnosis because she did not want to concern him while he was deployed. She
denied having a history of substance abuse, but she admitted using marijuana; she
recently used it on February 21, 2019. Mother had a difficult time acknowledging the
severity of the living conditions at the home.
On February 26, 2019, CFS filed Welfare and Institutions Code1 section 300
petitions on behalf of the children under subdivisions (b)(1) and (g). The petitions
alleged that (1) Mother failed to provide adequate care and shelter for the children
because the home was found to be filthy and hazardous due to dirty clothing, trash, feces,
and lack of provisions, which placed the children at substantial risk of serious physical
harm; (2) Mother had an untreated substance abuse issue, which prevented her from
being able to parent the children adequately; (3) Mother had been diagnosed with ADHD,
anxiety, and depression, but had not taken her medication since it was stolen, and Mother
had mental health issues, which, if left untreated, placed the children at risk of serious
physical harm; (4) Father failed to protect the children from Mother’s behavior, and he
knew or should have known the dangers to which they were exposed while under
Mother’s care; and (5) Father was deployed in Syria and unable to make appropriate
arrangements for the children.
1 All statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code unless
otherwise specified.
4
At the February 27, 2019, detention hearing, the juvenile court found a prima facie
case for detaining the children.
B. JURISDICTON / DISPOSITION
On March 6, 2019, social worker Reese interviewed Parents in their home.
Mother stated that the home “got out of hand” and said it had never happened
before. She understood how the home could be an unsafe environment for the children.
As to the substance abuse allegations, she claimed she was “shocked and surprised” and
had not been using marijuana “not even for a month.” Mother said that she would be
wiling to take an on-demand drug test. She, however, also admitted that “There may be
weed in my system.” With regards to Mother’s mental health history, she said that she
was off her medications for two and a half months. She was now back on her
medications and felt better.
Father stated that it was “100% not true” that he failed to protect the children or
should have known what they were exposed to at the home because Mother’s mental
health was “okay” and she had no issues with her mental health in the past.
The social workers also assessed the home. They found the home to meet
community standards. It was clean, stocked with food, had new furniture, and the pets
were no longer at the home. Parents stated that the paternal grandmother, who resided in
New York, came to the home immediately and cleaned the home once she became aware
of the concerns for the children.
5
Mother revealed that the family had a prior child welfare history in North Carolina
in 2015 or 2016. Mother stated that she had kicked friends out of their home and the
friends “called on them” but that nothing had happened.
On March 9, 2019, Reese monitored a visit between the children, Parents, and the
paternal grandmother. The social worker noted that Parents were engaging to all of the
children and attentive to their needs.
On March 11, 2019, Mother was asked to take a drug test; she was noncompliant.
Although Mother told Reese that she was not on the list to test that date, the social worker
confirmed that Mother was on the list and they would be testing her. The following day,
Mother said she went back to drug test but she was told to leave. The social worker
contacted the facility and a staff member reported that Mother was asked to leave because
she was “rude” to the staff. Mother told staff she was going to get water from her car and
staff informed Mother that if she left the facility, she would be unable to take the drug
test. Mother continued to be rude and walked out.
On March 19, 2019, CFS filed additional information with the court regarding the
family’s prior dependency case in North Carolina. In 2013, a case was opened in North
Carolina “due to allegations of neglect noted, as the smell of marijuana, trash, clothes, old
food, dog urine, dog feces, and vomit were reported. Also reported were concerns
regarding the mother’s mental health due to a previous incident of her trying to kill
herself. [¶] North Carolina also reported in 2015 the mother became physical with an
officer and was charged with simple assault due to hitting the law enforcement officer
with a lamp.” At that time, law enforcement had been called because Parents’ neighbor
6
had reported screaming coming from Parents’ home. Mother was intoxicated when law
enforcement arrived. In April 2016 a case was opened when G.I. and J.C. were left alone
in the home after school, unsupervised, and Mother arrived two to three hours later.
There was documentation between 2015 and 2016 evidencing the prior social worker’s
attempts to contact Mother and Mother not returning phone calls, and numerous attempts
to make unannounced house visits that were unsuccessful because no one would be
home, or Mother would not allow the social worker into the home.
CFS recommended “family reunification services for both parents having
significant involvement with child protective services due to neglect of the children in
North Carolina and both parents having knowledge of the mother’s mental health
conditions which impaires [sic] her ability to keep the children safe. Throughout the
documentation received from North Carolina, there are instances of substance abuse and
domestic violence from both parents.”
On April 4, 2019, CFS submitted additional information to the court. Reese
reported that a child and family team meeting was held with Parents and paternal
grandmother. “The meeting was held to see which recommendation the family wanted to
choose moving forward in regard to family maintenance with the father and family
reunification with the mother versus the current recommendations of family reunification
with both parents.” Parents stated that if Mother moved out of the home, it would be a
financial burden “and that is not possible at this time.” Parents also noted that the
paternal grandmother could not “ ‘stay forever’ ” Moreover, the paternal grandmother
indicated “that her time is ‘limited’ in California, but does not have a specific time frame
7
as to when she will return back to the state of New York.” Parents stated “that they will
continue to participate in family reunification services.”
At the April 8, 2019, jurisdiction/disposition hearing, social worker Jonathean
Reese testified. Reese testified that when he went to Parents’ home on March 6, 2019,
the condition of the home was acceptable. The children were initially removed based on
the allegation of general neglect. However, during the course of the dependency, he
learned about Parents’ previous child protective services history in North Carolina, which
became a concern. He noted that Mother had a voluntary family maintenance case and
she failed to complete services. Father completed parenting classes and then was
deployed. Reese was also concerned about Mother using marijuana in the home.
Reese also testified regarding the physical condition of the home. He stated that
there were safety concerns regarding the condition of the home and Mother’s
inconsistencies in completing her services: “Safety concerns as far as the environment.
Safety concerns as far as the inconsistencies as far as services for the mom.”
Additionally, Reese expressed concern that the family’s current issues were similar to
those in North Carolina in 2013.
Reese further testified that he had no information regarding the children’s
attendance at school. Also, when he observed visits between the children and Parents,
there were no concerns.
8
When asked about the risk to the children if they were returned to Parents’ care,
Reese responded that he could not predict the future. Based on the family’s history with
child protective services, however, Reese noted that the current involvement was for the
same conduct as in North Carolina’s case.
Reese testified that CFS was not recommending return of the children to Father
because Mother was still in the home. If Mother were not in the home, CFS would have
returned the children to Father provided that he had the support of paternal grandmother,
because Father was in military service. Reese further testified that Mother had a history
of violence; in 2015, she struck a police officer. Mother also had a history of being
uncooperative with services based on her past case in North Carolina.
Mother testified that she had a history of depression and anxiety. She also
acknowledged that she had no local family or friend support. She said the home was a
“huge mess” and claimed that it was because she was depressed and not taking her
medication. She admitted that the home was inappropriate for the children. Mother
testified that her plan was to keep her house clean; it was easier with Father home. She
had not smoked marijuana since February 23, 2019. She also received a referral to a
psychiatrist and had an upcoming appointment. She had been arrested because of the
condition of the home but believed that the charges would be dropped if she took
parenting classes. Mother was willing to take classes, be cooperative with the social
worker, and allow the social worker into the home to check up on the children if they
were returned to her care.
9
At the conclusion of the hearing, the juvenile court found true the following:
(1) Mother failed to provide adequate care and shelter for the children because the home
was found to be filthy, creating a hazard due to dirty clothing, trash, feces and lack of
provisions, which placed the children at substantial risk of serious physical harm;
(2) Mother had an untreated substance abuse issue that prevented her from being able to
adequately parent the children, and marijuana was within reach of the children;
(3) Mother had been diagnosed with ADHD, anxiety, depression and other mental health
issues, Mother had failed to take medication since it was stolen, and if her mental health
issues were left untreated, she placed the children at risk of serious physical harm; (4) and
Father failed to protect the children from Mother’s behavior, and he knew or should have
known the dangers to which they were exposed while under her care. The section 300,
subdivision (g) allegation that Father was deployed and unable to make appropriate
arrangements for the children was found not true.
With regard to the disposition, the court stated: “These are issues that keep
reoccurring, and they have not been resolved. And simply cleaning up the home and
getting involved in services doesn’t alleviate the fact that this is the third time a social
services agency has been involved with the family and the issues are still unresolved.”
The court ordered reunification services and noted it took into account that family
maintenance was discussed with Parents if Mother moved out of the home. Parents
indicated that Mother moving out of the home was not an option. The court also gave
authority for unsupervised, overnight and weekend visits for both parents with return to
Father if Mother was not in the home.
10
C. NOTICES OF APPEALS
On April 12, 2019, Mother filed a notice of appeal and on April 24, 2019, Father
filed a notice of appeal. Both challenge the jurisdiction and disposition findings.
DISCUSSION
A. SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE SUPPPORTS THE JUVENILE COURT’S
ORDER REMOVING THE CHILDREN FROM PARENTS’ CUSTODY
Father contends that “there was insufficient evidence to support the removal of the
children from their parents’ custody at the disposition hearing.” Mother joins in Father’s
contention.
1. STANDARD OF REVIEW
When a minor has been adjudged a dependent child of the court on the ground that
he or she is a person described by section 300, the court may limit the control to be
exercised over the dependent child by the parent or guardian. (§ 361, subd. (a).) A
dependent child may not be taken from the physical custody of his or her parents or
guardians unless the juvenile court finds, by clear and convincing evidence, certain
circumstances exist. (§ 361, subd. (c).) A finding that there is or would be a substantial
danger to the physical health, safety, protection, or physical or emotional well-being of
the minor if the minor were returned home, and there are no reasonable means by which
the minor’s physical health can be protected without removing the minor, is one of the
circumstances that justifies removal. (§ 361, subd. (c)(1).)
11
The court’s dispositional findings are reviewed for substantial evidence. (In re
Lana S. (2012) 207 Cal.App.4th 94, 105.) Under this standard, we determine whether
there is any substantial evidence, contradicted or uncontradicted, which supports the
conclusion of the trier of fact. (In re Tracy Z.(1987) 195 Cal.App.3d 107, 113.) All
evidentiary conflicts are resolved in favor of the respondent, and where more than one
inference can reasonably be deduced from the facts, we cannot substitute our own
deductions for those of the trier of fact. (In re John V. (1991) 5 Cal.App.4th 1201, 1212.)
2. THE JUVENILE COURT’S FINDING IS SUPPORTED BY
SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE
Father contends that “[a]t the time of the disposition hearing, there was no
evidence before the juvenile court which demonstrated the children were at substantial
risk of serious physical harm if they remained in their parents’ custody.” (§ 361, subd.
(c)(1).) Citing numerous cases, Father argues that there was insufficient evidence of
substantial risk of harm to the children in Parents’ custody because a messy home is
insufficient in itself to show danger to a child; and there was no evidence that Mother’s
mental health made her derelict in her parental duties. We disagree with Father’s
assessment of the evidence.
In this case, we find that substantial evidence supports the trial court’s removal
order. First, Parents have a history of involvement with child protective services in North
Carolina from November 2013 through 2017. In North Carolina, similar to this case,
Parents faced allegations of neglect as a result of a filthy home, substance abuse concerns
and Mother’s mental health issues. At that time, Mother had a voluntary family
12
maintenance case that she did not complete. During Mother’s testimony in the instant
case, she even acknowledged that the condition of her home was not appropriate. In
making its ruling, the juvenile court stated: “In isolation this case looks a lot different.
With all of the history provided, 150 pages or so from the other state, it looks much
different. There are issues that keep reoccurring, and they have not been resolved. And
simply cleaning up the home and getting involved in services doesn’t alleviate the fact
that this is the third time a social services agency has been involved with the family and
the issues are still unresolved. [¶] And so that is why I am going to order family
reunification services for the family.” Substantial evidence supports the juvenile court’s
finding.
Father also argues that “the juvenile court’s findings were not supported as the
juvenile court failed to make findings regarding the reasonable efforts to prevent or
eliminate the need for removal” as required under section 361, subdivision (d). Mother
joins in Father’s argument. Again, we disagree with Parents.
In this case, Reese spoke with Parents about choosing a recommendation between
family maintenance with Father along with family reunification with Mother, as opposed
to family reunification for Father and Mother. Parents, however, made it clear that
Mother moving out of the home was not an option. Therefore, while the social worker
presented a viable option to prevent the removal of the children from the home, it was
Parents that decided that Mother could not move out. The juvenile court stated: “The
minors are detained and removed from the parents. Temporary care and placement is
vested with CFS. [¶] Reunification services are ordered for the parents, and I am taking
13
into account the 6.7 regarding the CFT where family maintenance was discussed if Mom
moved out of the house, but the parents indicated that was not an option.”
Moreover, Father suggests that “there were numerous reasonable means available
to prevent the removal of the children from their parents’ custody.” “The juvenile court
could have ordered frequent unannounced visits to the home by CFS to ensure the home
remained clean and appropriate. Although paternal grandmother stated she could not stay
in the home indefinitely, she stated she would be present ‘as long as she [was] needed for
support.’ [Citation.] The juvenile court could have ordered that the children remain in
the home so long as paternal grandmother remained in the home. The juvenile court
could have ordered additional wrap-around services to provide additional supervision and
in-home support to the family.” We agree with Father that the court could have done the
things suggested by Father. However, under the substantial evidence standard of review,
there is ample evidence to support the court’s order removing the children. As noted
above, Mother failed to complete family maintenance services in the prior 2013 case.
Moreover, the record shows that Mother has a history of avoiding contact with social
workers. Given Mother’s history, there was substantial evidence to support the court’s
order removing the children.
In sum, based on the facts of this case—including Parents’ involvement with child
protective services in North Carolina—we find that substantial evidence supports the
court’s order removing the children from parental custody.
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DISPOSITION
The juvenile court’s orders and findings are affirmed.
CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION
MILLER
J.
I concur:
RAMIREZ
P. J.
15
[In re G.C. et al., E072514]
RAMIREZ, P.J., Concurring
I agree fully with the reasoning and the conclusion of Justice Miller in this matter.
Our colleague, in his dissent, however, contends that this court has done an injustice to
the family. I write separately to respectfully point out how the views of the dissent are
based on a misunderstanding of the record facts of this case and the need to respect the
appellate process. When this case is viewed from the appropriate appellate perspective,
in conformity with the appropriate standards of review, the conclusion drawn by the
majority on this record, the law, and our appellate role, affirmance is the only just
conclusion.
Our colleague, in writing his dissent begins by maintaining this case highlights the
“fundamental conceptual distinction” between the “assessment of risk” at the jurisdiction
hearing and the “assessment of risk” at the dispositional hearing. This view reflects a
fundamental misunderstanding of the function of the juvenile court, which does not
“assess risk” at either hearing; rather, it makes findings and orders based on the
assessments of risk that are performed by San Bernardino County Children and Family
Services (CFS), the independent investigative arm of the court. (In re Malinda S. (1990)
51 Cal.3d 368, 377, fn. 8.) This fundamental misunderstanding is then compounded by
our colleague’s speculating as to the risk of recurrence, rather than following the well-
established standards of appellate review. This puts our colleague on a path towards the
substitution his own judgment for that of the of the trial court.
1
Our colleague begins by stating, “At jurisdiction, the court’s task is to determine
whether, in the absence of court intervention, the children would be at substantial risk of
serious physical harm. But once the court takes jurisdiction and moves on to consider
removal at disposition, the court’s task is to determine whether, given that the children
will be under court supervision, the children can be safely maintained in the custody of
one or both parents.” (Diss. opn., p. 1, original italics.) There is no citation of authority
for this view, and none of the statutes which inform the juvenile court’s duties, or the
cases interpreting those statutes, describe such tasks.
To the contrary, and bottomed on years of well settled law, it is the function of
CFS (not the trial court), to assess risk. It is CFS that investigates reports of abuse or
neglect, determines whether there are grounds for a petition and whether the children
need to be detained out-of-home (Welf. & Inst. Code, §§ 280, 281, 281.5)1, determines
whether child welfare services should be offered and whether a petition should be filed
(§ 328), reports to the court the reasons for detaining a child away from the parent’s
physical custody (§ 319, subd. (a)), and prepares and files with the court written reports
and written recommendations, including a social study of the minor, for consideration by
the court (§§ 280, 281). Thus, by the initial detention hearing, intervention has already
occurred.
In other words, at the jurisdiction hearing, the court does not determine whether
intervention is required. Instead, at the jurisdictional hearing, the juvenile court is
1 All further statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code, unless
otherwise indicated.
2
specifically “tasked” with ascertainment of the jurisdictional facts and the ascertainment
of all information relative to the present condition and future welfare of the child (§ 350),
relying on the social studies prepared by the social worker, which constitute competent
evidence upon which jurisdiction may be based. (§ 355, subds. (a), (b); In re Malinda S.,
supra, 51 Cal.3d at pp. 372, 379-380.)
That is, the juvenile court, after receiving evidence and hearing testimony, makes
findings whether the child is at substantial risk of serious of serious physical harm or
illness based on whether the child falls within one of the statutory definitions of a
dependent child found in section 300. (Cal.Rules of Ct., rule 5.684(e).) This is a fact-
finding function, based on CFS’s assessment of risk and other evidence presented at the
hearing.
Here, the trial court made true findings on the petition — and those findings are
not challenged in this appeal — which leaves us with factual findings that mother failed
to provide adequate care and shelter for the children by virtue of the unhygienic
conditions allowed to exist; mother had an untreated substance abuse issue; mother had
mental health issues, which, if left untreated, placed the children at risk of serious
physical harm; and father failed to protect the children from mother’s behavior.
Furthermore, these true findings properly include consideration of the fact that this
is the third time this family has come to the attention of child welfare agencies based on
nearly identical concerns: mother’s mental health, unresolved substance abuse, and a
house littered with animal feces and other unhygienic conditions. Note that evidence of
past conduct may be probative of current conditions (In re Kristin H. (1996) 46
3
Cal.App.4th 1635, 1650), so the past child welfare history, which included a voluntary
services plan agreed to - but not completed - by mother in North Carolina, was properly
considered in determining whether a current incident warranted jurisdiction over the
family.2 After all, the trial court cannot make a jurisdictional finding based on a one-time
situation that is unlikely to reoccur. (See In re J.N. (2010) 181 Cal.App.4th 1010, 1023,
citing In re Savannah M. (2005) 131 Cal.App.4th 1387, 1396 [section 300 “effectively
requires a showing that at the time of the jurisdictional hearing the child is at substantial
risk of serious physical harm in the future (e.g., evidence showing a substantial risk that
past physical harm will reoccur). [Citations.]”].) It is for that reason that child welfare
history of a family was properly taken into account by the juvenile court.
Once true findings are made on the allegations of the petition, as in this case, they
are prima facie evidence that the child cannot safely remain in the home. (§ 361, subd.
(c)(1).) Neither parent challenges the jurisdictional findings made in this case, and it is
not our function to second guess an unchallenged finding, where the trial court had before
it the parent’s past conduct as well as present circumstances in considering the
disposition. (In re Cole C. (2009) 174 Cal.App.4th 900, 917, citing In re S. O. (2002)
103 Cal.App.4th 453, 461.)
It is a fundamental tenet of appellate review that we are not authorized to
substitute our judgment for that of the trial court: Challenges to the resolution of
disputed factual questions are governed by the substantial evidence standard of review,
2In this respect, our colleague’s criticism of the inclusion of the North Carolina
proceedings in the calculus of substantial risk is mistaken.
4
however, and that standard does not permit a reviewing court to “substitute its judgment
for that of the juvenile court.” (In re Michael G. (2012) 203 Cal.App.4th 580, 584.) We
do not “reweigh the evidence, evaluate the credibility of witnesses or indulge in
inferences contrary to the findings of the trial court.” (Id. at p. 589.) We are bound by
principles of stare decisis (Auto Equity Sales, Inc. v. Superior Court (1962) 57 Cal.2d
450, 455), and numerous decisions, including those of our Supreme Court, which have
stated with clarity our well-defined role. (See In re I.J. (2013) 56 Cal.4th 766, 773,
quoting In re Heather A. (1996) 52 Cal.App.4th 183, 193; see also, In re Angelia P.
(1981) 28 Cal.3d 908, 924; In re Matthew S. (1988) 201 Cal. App. 3d 315, 321.)
Instead, we must “‘“accept [] the evidence most favorable to the order as true and
discard [] the unfavorable evidence as not having sufficient verity to be accepted by the
trier of fact.”’ [Citation.]” (In re Aurora P. (2015) 241 Cal.App.4th 1142, 1167.) We
review a removal order for substantial evidence. (In re R.T. (2017) 3 Cal.5th 622, 633.)
Our colleague ignores these basic and fundamental concepts and maintains that
there is there is no evidence mother’s presence in the home would create a substantial
danger to the children. (Diss. opn., p. 3.) Such a conclusion is contrary to the record
evidence showing mother had a long history of mental illness, and that the family
experienced repeated interventions based on the same or similar child welfare concerns.
Only by ignoring the family history and the record on appeal, as well as the limitations on
our role on appeal, can a contrary assertion be made.
In our colleague’s dissent, he arrives at the conclusion that return of the children
was compelled because the situation had been ameliorated prior to the disposition hearing
5
(diss. opn., p. 2), but this conclusion also ignores the evidence: that it was the
grandmother who cleaned up the house after CFS intervened, and, in each of the prior
child welfare interventions, a very similar pattern was followed by mother, only to end up
with mother “backsliding” again. To urge return of the children to the parental home
because “there is no evidence that those risks were likely to recur overnight and without
warning,” (diss. opn., p. 3) is unsupported by the record, while simultaneously ignoring
the governing standards of review.
It is a fundamental rule of appellate review: “that a judgment is presumed correct,
all intendments and presumptions are indulged in its favor, and ambiguities are resolved
in favor of affirmance. [Citations.]” (Hirshfield v. Schwartz (2001) 91 Cal.App.4th 749,
765-766.) The dissent’s view that mother’s conduct is not likely to recur “overnight” is
an exercise in speculation, and inconsistent with the limitations on our review, not to
mention the welfare of the children.
Our colleague further maintains that the record contains no evidence that there
were no reasonable means to protect the children without removal. (Diss. opn., p. 4.)
Yet, the dissent acknowledges that the requisite statutory findings were made.3 (Diss.
opn., pp. 1-2.) Contrary to the dissent’s views, the necessary findings of substantial
danger to the physical health, safety, protection, or physical or emotional well-being of
the child if the minor were returned home do not require that the parent be found to be
3 The fact that the juvenile court may not have orally made the specific findings is
of little moment where the court had admitted the reports into evidence, adopted the
recommendations of the social worker’s report, and made its ruling based on the evidence
presented. This is a practice commonly employed by the juvenile courts.
6
dangerous and the child need not have been actually harmed for removal to be
appropriate. The focus of the statute is on averting harm to the child. (In re I.J., supra,
56 Cal.4th at p. 773; In re A.E. (2014) 228 Cal.App.4th 820, 825-826, citing Diamond H.
(2000) 82 Cal.App.4th 1127, 1136, disapproved on another ground in Renee J. v.
Superior Court (2001) 26 Cal.4th 735, 748, fn. 6.) Consequently, our colleague’s focus
on this not being a case in which a parent physically, sexually or emotionally abused the
children (diss. opn., p. 3) ignores that basic rule. (In re I.J., supra, at p. 773.)
Our colleague then argues that CFS’s position “amounts to a concession that there
was no substantial danger to the children at home in father’s custody, as long as mother
was not there.” (Diss.opn. p. 3.) However, what is overlooked is the substantial risk to
the children’s safety with mother present, and the fact the parents were financially unable
to have mother move out. To answer the rhetorical question of what danger there would
be in returning the children to the parents’ home, posed by the dissent: mother would be
in the home, she has a history of non-compliance with child welfare agencies and a long
history of mental illness that brought the children to the attention of the juvenile court. It
also bears mentioning that the dissent’s reference to the grandmother’s willingness to
remain with the family “for as long as she is needed” is contradicted by the record
showing that grandmother’s time in California was limited, and she could not stay
indefinitely. (Typed. Opn., p. 7.)
The majority opinion, deferring to the record, correctly concludes that the removal
was supported by substantial evidence, grounding that conclusion on the record facts
viewed through the lens of proper appellate review. Removal was justified. On appeal, it
7
is neither our role nor our function to substitute our judgment for that of the trial court
unless - unlike the present case - there is insufficient evidence to support the findings
made by the court. The record here demonstrates substantial evidence to support the
judgment, because the parents failed to meet their appellate burden, notwithstanding the
views maintained in the dissent. It is not our job to gamble on the children’s welfare by
assuming, without citation to authority or evidence in the record, that the risks were not
likely to recur overnight. The views of the majority are based on the record facts and
settled law.
The views expressed by our colleague are based on speculation, and the only
potential for injustice in this case is that which would inure to the children, whose welfare
would be threatened if the views of the dissent influenced our opinion.
RAMIREZ
P. J.
8
[In re G.C. et al., E072514]
MENETREZ, J., Dissenting.
The juvenile court did an injustice to this family by removing these children from
parental custody. The majority compounds that injustice by affirming the court’s
decision despite the lack of evidence to support it. I therefore respectfully dissent. In
Part I, I explain why the record does not support the trial court’s findings. In Part II, I
discuss a common legal error that is repeated in the concurrence, which has important
consequences for appellate review in dependency cases.
I.
This case highlights the fundamental conceptual distinction between (1) the
assessment of risk at the jurisdiction hearing on a petition under subdivision (b)(1) of
Welfare and Institutions Code section 300,1 and (2) the assessment of risk when the court
is considering removal from parental custody at the disposition hearing. At jurisdiction,
the court’s task is to determine whether, in the absence of court intervention, the children
would be at substantial risk of serious physical harm. (See, e.g., In re Rocco M. (1991) 1
Cal.App.4th 814, 824 [at jurisdiction, the court determines “whether circumstances at the
time of the hearing subject the minor to the defined risk of harm”].) But once the court
takes jurisdiction and moves on to consider removal at disposition, the court’s task is to
1 Subsequent statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code.
1
determine whether, given that the court has taken jurisdiction, the children can be safely
maintained in the custody of one or both parents.2
No parent challenges jurisdiction in this case, and rightly so. The parents argue
only that there was no basis to remove the children from parental custody. I agree.
To order the children removed from their parents’ physical custody, the trial court
had to find by clear and convincing evidence that there “would be a substantial danger to
the physical health, safety, protection, or physical or emotional well-being” of the
children in the parents’ home, and “there are no reasonable means by which the
[children’s] physical health can be protected without” removal. (§ 361, subd. (c)(1).)
The trial court’s minute order contains all of those required findings (though the court
made no such findings orally), and we review them under the substantial evidence
2 It is not clear what point the concurrence is trying to make by claiming that San
Bernardino County Children and Family Services (CFS), rather than the court, assesses
risk, and that the court makes factual findings based on CFS’s assessments of risk.
(Conc. opn., ante, at p. 1 [the court “makes findings and orders based on the assessments
of risk that are performed by” CFS]; id. at p. 2 [“it is the function of CFS (not the trial
court), to assess risk”].) At jurisdiction, the court makes factual findings concerning the
kind and degree of risk faced by the children at that time. (In re Rocco M., supra, 1
Cal.App.4th at p. 824.) At disposition, the court again makes factual findings concerning
the danger to the children and whether there are reasonable means to protect the children
without removal from parental custody. (In re Heather A. (1996) 52 Cal.App.4th 183,
193.) In making those factual findings, the court assesses the risks to the children, on any
reasonable understanding of the terms “assess” and “risk.” And the court makes its
factual findings on the basis of all of the evidence introduced by the parties, not solely on
the basis of CFS’s risk assessments. (See § 355, subd. (a) [at jurisdiction, “[a]ny legally
admissible evidence that is relevant to the circumstances or acts that are alleged to bring
the minor within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court is admissible and may be received
in evidence”]; § 358, subd. (b) [at disposition, the court “shall receive in evidence” such
“other relevant and material evidence as may be offered”].)
2
standard. (In re Heather A., supra, 52 Cal.App.4th at p. 193.) The problem is that the
record contains no evidence to support them.
This case began with a referral alleging that the home was filthy and unsanitary
and smelled of marijuana, and that there were feces and urine on the floors, expired food
in the refrigerator, moldy food in the cabinets, and no formula for the baby. Mother was
taken into custody and made “suicidal disclosures.” When interviewed, she said that she
had been off her psychotropic medications because they were stolen and she had to wait
three months before her insurer would authorize refills. Father is an active duty member
of the United States Marine Corps and was deployed in Syria at the time.
By the time of the jurisdiction and disposition hearings, all of the immediate risks
had been addressed. Mother was back on her medications and felt better. Father was
home. The paternal grandmother was also staying with the family and stated that she
would remain “as long as she is needed for support,” though she and the parents
acknowledged that she could not stay “forever.” The home was clean, met community
standards, and was stocked with appropriate food, including for the baby. The family no
longer had any pets (who were the sources of the urine and feces on the floors), having
gotten rid of them the day the children were detained. The social worker testified that the
parents requested parenting classes and counseling and, as of the date of the jurisdiction
and disposition hearings, had “been cooperative.”
Mother also admitted that she had been using marijuana to self-medicate and that
she might test positive for it. She agreed to comply with on-demand drug testing, failed
3
to comply with tests on March 11 and 12, 2019, but then did test on March 15. It appears
the test was positive for marijuana, as mother had predicted.
Given those facts, there was no showing of a substantial danger to the children in
the parents’ home. Every single safety risk identified at the time of the referral was gone.
There was, of course, the risk of backsliding by the parents. But because the court had
taken jurisdiction, the children were going to be under the supervision of both the court
and CFS going forward. In addition, the grandmother would be there “as long as she is
needed.” All told, the evidence discloses no danger—let alone a substantial danger—to
the children in the parents’ physical custody at the time of disposition.
To a significant extent, CFS actually concedes the point, because the social worker
testified that there were “no concerns” with father and that CFS was willing to
recommend that the children be returned to father if mother moved out. The parents had
informed CFS that mother could not move out, for financial reasons, and CFS
consequently recommended removal from both parents. CFS’s position amounts to a
concession that there was no substantial danger to the children at home in father’s
custody, as long as mother was not there.
So the question becomes: What substantial danger to the children would mother’s
mere presence in the home create? The answer on this record is: None. This is not a
case in which a parent was physically, sexually, or emotionally abusing the children,
which might put the children at risk of harm any time they were left alone in the parent’s
care. Rather, the risks here related entirely to the deterioration of the home environment
as a result of mother’s apparent decompensation when off her psychotropic medications.
4
There is no evidence that those risks were likely to recur overnight and without warning.
Father and paternal grandmother were in the home, and the entire family was under the
watchful eyes of the court and CFS. If the situation began to deteriorate, CFS could help
the parents take steps to stop the decline and keep the children safe. And if such steps
proved ineffective, CFS could file a supplemental petition. But the record contains no
evidence of a substantial danger to the children at the time of disposition if returned to the
physical custody of both parents.
For similar reasons, the record contains no evidence that there were no reasonable
means to protect the children without removal. The court could have placed the children
with the parents on condition that (1) the paternal grandmother remain in the home, (2)
the mother continue to comply with her mental health treatment, (3) both parents comply
with their case plans, and/or (4) both parents comply with frequent (perhaps weekly),
unannounced home visits. The court could also have ordered additional in-home support
services, such as Wraparound or Family Preservation, in order to make sure there were
additional eyes on both the children and the home on a regular basis. The record contains
no evidence that such measures would have been inadequate to see to the children’s
safety.
Evidence of the parents’ child welfare history is relevant, but it too is insufficient
to support the trial court’s findings. The family previously lived in North Carolina and
had some contacts with child protective services there. The majority asserts that “[i]n
2013, a case was opened in North Carolina” based on allegations similar to those in the
February 2019 referral (dog feces, urine, and vomit in the home, the smell of marijuana,
5
and an alleged prior suicide attempt by mother). (Maj. opn., ante, at p. 6.) What the
majority neglects to mention is that the 2013 “case” was merely a referral, which North
Carolina child protective services investigated and closed as “Unsubstantiated,” with
services “Not Recommended.” (Boldface omitted.) The record contains no evidence of a
prior suicide attempt.
On the basis of that history, the majority faults mother for having “failed to
complete family maintenance services in the prior 2013 case.” (Maj. opn., ante, at p. 14.)
But there were no services and no court case at all in 2013. There was just an
unsubstantiated referral, with no services recommended.
The majority also describes an incident in 2015 in which mother was charged with
assault for hitting a law enforcement officer with a lamp, and the majority asserts that
another “case was opened” in 2016 when the children were left alone at home. (Maj.
opn., ante, at pp. 6-7.) The documents from North Carolina present the following
picture: In 2015, the family was living on the military base where father was stationed.
A loud verbal altercation between the parents led a neighbor to call the police, who
responded to the home. The home was not messy. Mother appeared to be intoxicated
and registered .09 blood-alcohol content according to a breathalyzer; father admitted
drinking beer but did not appear intoxicated and was not tested. The cause of the
altercation was a series of text messages that mother had seen on father’s phone, which
made her think he was cheating on her; father claimed that mother had misinterpreted the
texts, and it was all a misunderstanding. When one of the police officers tried to remove
mother from the home, she picked up a lamp and hit him with it. Child protective
6
services opened a voluntary family maintenance case, meaning that the social workers
would provide services and work with the family without court involvement.
The record does not contain the case plan for either parent. The case notes,
however, appear to reflect that father completed his entire case plan except for a mental
health assessment, which he hoped to complete while deployed overseas in Japan. The
record contains no evidence that father has ever had any mental health problems. Father
asked the North Carolina social worker why the case was remaining open when he had
completed almost everything, and the social worker told him that because “there was DV
[i.e., domestic violence] involved that both people would need to complet[e] the case
plan.” Mother claimed the altercation with the police was a one-time incident, and she
expressed frustration that the parents had to do anything; it appears she did not participate
in programs. Notwithstanding the North Carolina social worker’s statement that it was a
domestic violence case, the record contains no evidence that there has ever been any
violence between the parents, or any violence in the home apart from the single incident
with the police and the lamp.
While that voluntary case was ongoing, an additional referral was received,
alleging that one day there was no adult at home when the children got home from
school. Child protective services apparently addressed that issue within the context of the
existing voluntary case. Eventually father was transferred to Twentynine Palms,
California, and the family moved with him. The North Carolina social workers closed
their case after confirming that the children were in school in Twentynine Palms.
7
That is the parents’ child welfare history. To be sure, it reveals that mother and
father are not pure as the driven snow. They have one unsubstantiated referral and one
voluntary family maintenance case, based on an alcohol-fueled verbal altercation over
alleged infidelity in which mother struck a police officer who was trying to remove her
from her home, plus an additional referral during that case because on one occasion no
parent was home when the children got home from school. Father complied with
services in the voluntary case, mother did not, and the case closed when father was
transferred to California.
But it takes more than an imperfect record to justify removal from parental
custody. Even when the evidence of the parents’ child welfare history in North Carolina
is added to the evidence developed in the instant case, along with all reasonable
inferences therefrom, it does not constitute substantial evidence that the children would
be in danger in the parents’ custody under court supervision or that there are no
reasonable means to protect them without removal.
The juvenile court’s visitation order is also worth noting. Although the court
ordered the children removed from both parents, it also ordered unmonitored overnight
and weekend visits for both parents. Although such a disposition—removal coupled with
unmonitored overnight and weekend visitation—may be valid in some cases, here the
visitation order is tantamount to a concession that there was no basis for removal. Again,
the only risks to the children were the potential for deterioration of either the home
environment or mother’s mental health. The visitation order makes sense in light of the
lack of any evidence that either risk was likely to manifest suddenly or without
8
warning—the court recognized that the children would be safe with both parents
unmonitored for entire weekends. On these facts, it follows that the children would be
safe in the parents’ care under the ongoing supervision of the court and CFS.
II.
I do not believe that the concurring opinion contains either meaningful criticism of
this dissent or meaningful support for the majority opinion. It does, however, contain a
significant legal error.
The concurring opinion asserts that the jurisdictional findings “are prima facie
evidence that the child cannot safely remain in the home,” citing section 361, subdivision
(c)(1). (Conc. opn., ante, at p. 4.) That is incorrect as a matter of law. The cited
statutory provision does not state that jurisdictional findings constitute prima facie
evidence for removal in general. Rather, it states that jurisdictional findings constitute
prima facie evidence for removal if jurisdiction was based on severe physical abuse of a
child under age five. (§ 361, subd. (c)(1) [“[t]he fact that a minor has been adjudicated a
dependent child of the court pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 300 shall constitute
prima facie evidence that the minor cannot be safely left [in the home]” (italics added)];
§ 300, subd. (e) [providing for dependency jurisdiction in cases of “severe physical
abuse” of a child “under the age of five years”].) By singling out cases under subdivision
(e) of section 300 for special treatment, the statute implies that other cases should not be
so treated. (In re Bryce C. (1995) 12 Cal.4th 226, 231 [“Generally, the expression of
some things in a statute implies the exclusion of others not expressed”].) Thus, in cases
like this one, in which jurisdiction was taken under subdivision (b) of section 300, the
9
jurisdictional findings do not constitute prima facie evidence that the children cannot
safely remain in the home. The concurrence consequently is wrong as a matter of law.
The concurrence is also wrong as a matter of more general principles of
dependency law, for the following reasons: At jurisdiction the court does not make any
findings concerning the availability of reasonable means to protect the children without
removal, but such findings are required for removal at disposition under section 361,
subdivision (c)(1). The statute’s special treatment of cases involving severe physical
abuse of children under age five reflects a legislative judgment that in those cases such
means are presumptively unavailable (though even there the presumption can be rebutted;
the jurisdictional findings are only prima facie evidence). But the Legislature has
expressed no such judgment about other cases. Moreover, jurisdictional findings cannot
generally constitute prima facie evidence supporting removal because of the fundamental
conceptual distinction I described at the start of Part I: When the court makes its
jurisdictional findings, it is evaluating the risk to which the children would be subjected
in the absence of court intervention.3 But when the court makes removal findings and
3 Suppose, for example, the petition alleges that one parent’s abuse of
methamphetamine puts the child at substantial risk of serious physical harm and that the
other parent fails to protect the child from the first parent’s drug abuse. At the detention
hearing, the court detains the child from the drug-abusing parent but releases the child to
the other parent, with a monitored visitation order for the drug-abusing parent. If the
parents comply with all of the court’s orders, then the child will not be at risk at the time
of the jurisdiction hearing—the court’s detention and visitation orders will have made the
child safe. But the absence of actual risk at the time of the jurisdiction hearing obviously
does not require that the petition be dismissed, even though the court’s jurisdictional
findings must be based on the circumstances existing at the time of the hearing. (In re
Rocco M., supra, 1 Cal.App.4th at p. 824.) Rather, the court may sustain the petition if
10
orders at disposition, the court has already taken jurisdiction, so the court’s inquiry is
different—now that the court has taken jurisdiction, can the children be safely maintained
in the custody of one or both parents? Given that conceptual distinction, there cannot be
a general rule that jurisdictional findings constitute prima facie evidence for removal.
I have found nine published cases, including one cited by the concurrence, that
make the same mistake as the concurrence by asserting that jurisdictional findings are, in
general, prima facie evidence that the children cannot safely remain in the home. (In re
D.B. (2018) 26 Cal.App.5th 320, 332; In re A.F. (2016) 3 Cal.App.5th 283, 292; In re J.S.
(2014) 228 Cal.App.4th 1483, 1492; In re A.E. (2014) 228 Cal.App.4th 820, 825; In re
T.V. (2013) 217 Cal.App.4th 126, 135; In re John M. (2012) 212 Cal.App.4th 1117,
1126; In re Hailey T. (2012) 212 Cal.App.4th 139, 146; In re R.V. (2012) 208
Cal.App.4th 837, 849; In re Cole C. (2009) 174 Cal.App.4th 900, 917.) Not one of those
cases contains any discussion or analysis in support of that proposition. In each case, the
only authority cited is either subdivision (c)(1) of section 361 or another case based on it.
In addition, my research indicates that the unpublished cases perpetuating and relying
upon this legal error number in the hundreds. Mere repetition does not, however, convert
falsehood into truth.
This legal error has severe consequences for appellate review of removal from
parental custody in dependency cases. The juvenile court’s removal findings and orders
must be affirmed if they are supported by substantial evidence, contradicted or
the evidence supports a finding that the child would be at substantial risk of physical
harm but for the court’s intervention.
11
uncontradicted. (In re R.T. (2017) 3 Cal.5th 622, 633.) If jurisdictional findings always
constitute prima facie evidence that the children cannot safely remain in the home, then
whenever there is substantial evidence to support the jurisdictional findings, the removal
findings and orders must be affirmed as well. In effect, the error deprives parents of
appellate review of removal if there was a sufficient evidentiary basis for jurisdiction.
The children in this case were not adjudicated dependents under subdivision (e) of
section 300. The petition contains no allegations under that provision, and the record
contains no evidence that any of the children (including the one under age five) have
suffered any physical abuse, let alone severe physical abuse. The jurisdictional findings
accordingly do not constitute prima facie evidence that the children cannot safely remain
in the home. There is no substitute for analysis of the evidence of the actual risk faced by
the children and the availability of reasonable means to protect them without removal.
For all of the foregoing reasons, I respectfully dissent. Because the removal
findings are not supported by substantial evidence, I would reverse the removal orders
and direct the juvenile court to return the children to the custody of both parents.
MENETREZ
J.
12