In the Matter of: Ja.N., M.N. & Jy.N (minor children), Children in Need of Services, and J.C. (mother) & J.N. (father) v. The Indiana Department of Child Services (mem. dec.) ( 2016 )

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),
this Memorandum Decision shall not be Feb 03 2016, 7:48 am
regarded as precedent or cited before any
court except for the purpose of establishing
the defense of res judicata, collateral
estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEY FOR MOTHER ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Danielle L. Gregory Gregory F. Zoeller
Indianapolis, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
ATTORNEY FOR FATHER
Robert J. Henke
Amy Karozos James D. Boyer
Greenwood, Indiana Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
In the Matter of: February 3, 2016
Ja.N., M.N. & Jy.N (minor Court of Appeals Case No.
49A05-1506-JC-490
children),
Appeal from the Marion County
Children in Need of Services, Superior Court
and The Honorable Marilyn A.
Moores, Judge
J.C. (mother) & J.N. (father), The Honorable Jennifer Hubartt,
Appellants-Respondents, Magistrate;
Trial Court Cause No.
v. 49D09-1501-JC-86
49D09-1501-JC-87
The Indiana Department of 49D09-1501-JC-88
Child Services,
Appellee-Petitioner.
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May, Judge.
[1] J.C. (Mother) and J.N. (Father) (collectively, Parents) appeal the adjudication
of their children, Ja.N., M.N., and Jy.N. (collectively, Children), as Children in
Need of Services (CHINS). Parents argue the trial court abused its discretion
when it denied Parents’ request for continuance at the fact-finding hearing and
the Department of Child Services (DCS) did not present sufficient evidence
Children were CHINS. Mother argues the trial court abused its discretion
when it required her to complete certain services. We affirm.
Facts and Procedural History
[2] Parents’ children, Ja.N., M.N., and Jy.N., were born October 16, 2012;
September 29, 2013; and January 6, 2015; respectively. Shortly after Jy.N.’s
birth, DCS received an allegation Jy.N. tested positive for methamphetamine at
birth and Mother had not participated in prenatal care. When DCS
investigated, Mother denied using drugs during her pregnancy and Father
admitted to using marijuana once a week. When she visited the family’s home
DCS Family Case Manager (FCM) Kayla Day observed the house did not have
gas utilities, the house was heated using space heaters and an open oven,
Parents had placed a baby gate in the kitchen to prevent Ja.N. and M.N. from
coming in contact with the open oven, and there was “a spoon with a burnt-like
substance and a broken lighter sitting on the table.” (Tr. at 60.)
[3] On January 12, 2015, DCS alleged Children were CHINS and the trial court
held an initial hearing and a detention hearing. The trial court placed Children
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in foster care and allowed Mother to continue breastfeeding Jy.N. The trial
court also appointed defense counsel and a Guardian ad Litem (GAL).
[4] On January 26, 2015, the trial court held a pre-trial hearing and placed Children
with their maternal great-grandmother, allowed Mother to live with Children
and maternal great-grandmother, and ordered Father to have visitation. The
visitation would be supervised by maternal great-grandparents because Father
tested positive for marijuana. FCM Dajour Crawford recommended Parents
participate in home-based counseling, random drug screens, and substance
abuse assessments. The trial court did not order these services, as Parents were
voluntarily participating in these services.
[5] The trial court held another pre-trial hearing on February 9, 2015, at which the
parties waived the sixty-day trial deadline. The trial court noted Parents’ clean
drug screens and voluntary participation in services. It ordered Children to
remain in relative care but authorized increased visitation including temporary
in-home visitation on the positive recommendations from the FCM, GAL, and
service providers. It scheduled mediation for April 14, 2015, and a fact-finding
hearing for April 27, 2015.
[6] On April 14, 2015, Children were placed with Parents because the family home
was appropriate, the electricity was on at the family home, Parents interacted
with Children well, and “Parents had cooperated in the services to the extent
that [DCS] had no safety concerns.” (Id. at 78.) However, for thirteen days
after the return of Children to Parents’ care, the FCM was unable to contact
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Parents via telephone or at the family home, and the FCM believed the
electricity had been shut off at the family home based on her observations when
she stopped by the house twice during that time.
[7] On April 27, 2015, the trial court held a fact-finding hearing. Parents did not
appear, but their counsel were present. Parents’ attorneys requested a
continuance because Parents were not present at the hearing, but the trial court
denied their requests. After DCS presented its evidence, Parents’ attorneys
requested judgments on the evidence, both of which requests were denied. The
trial court adjudicated Children as CHINS.
[8] On May 11, 2015, the trial court held a dispositional hearing that Parents
attended. Parents indicated they did not attend the fact-finding hearing because
they received a card with the incorrect time for the hearing, and they asked the
trial court to vacate the adjudications. The trial court denied Parents’ request.
Parents indicated the family was residing with paternal grandmother. FCM
Crawford testified she had visited parental grandmother’s home and it was
appropriate. The trial court ordered the continued placement of Children in
Parents’ care.
[9] DCS recommended Parents continue home-based counseling, submit to
random drug screens, and attend to Children’s medical needs. DCS also
recommended Father complete substance abuse treatment and Mother
complete substance abuse education. Mother objected to her participation in
random drug screens because she did not test positive for drugs at any time in
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the proceedings. Parents both objected to the order requiring them to attend to
Children’s medical needs, as there had been no evidence to suggest doing so
was an issue. The trial court ordered Parents to participate in a home-based
case management program, submit to random drug screens, meet all medical
and mental needs of Children, and to adhere to the Safety Plan. Father was
ordered to complete a substance abuse assessment and follow all
recommendations, and Mother was ordered to participate in substance abuse
education.
Discussion and Decision
Motion to Continue
[10] We defer to the sound discretion of the trial court regarding the decision to
grant or deny a continuance. Rowlett v. Vanderburgh Cty. Office of Family &
Children, 841 N.E.2d 615, 619 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006), trans. denied. We will
reverse the trial court’s decision only on an abuse of that discretion. Id. An
abuse of discretion “may be found in the denial of a motion for a continuance
when the moving party has shown good cause for granting the motion.” Id.Under Trial Rule 53.5, a trial court shall grant a continuance upon motion and
“a showing of good cause established by affidavit or other evidence.”
[11] Parents argue they were denied their due process rights because the trial court
would not continue the April 27 fact-finding hearing. Due process is essentially
“the opportunity to be heard at a meaningful time and in a meaningful
manner.” Mathews v. Eldridge, 424 U.S. 319, 333 (1976). We recognize that,
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“although due process is not dependent on the underlying facts of the particular
case, it is nevertheless ‘flexible and calls for such procedural protections as the
particular situation demands.’” Lawson v. Marion Cnty. Office of Family &
Children, 835 N.E.2d 577, 580 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005) (quoting In re B.T., 791
N.E.2d 792, 795 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003), trans. denied).
[12] Parents were present at all pre-trial hearings. At the February 9, 2015, pre-trial
hearing, the trial court set a mediation date of April 14, 2015, and a fact-finding
hearing for April 27, 2015, at 10:30 a.m. It announced those dates orally and
also included in its order the dates and times of the mediation session and fact-
finding hearing. Parents were present at the April 14 mediation session and
were granted temporary custody of Children at that time.
[13] For thirteen days prior to the fact-finding hearing, DCS was unable to
communicate with Parents. Parents did not attend the fact-finding hearing and
not provide a reason via affidavit or evidence under TR 53.5 why the fact-
finding hearing should be continued. However, Parents’ respective counsels
were present at the fact-finding hearing. They cross-examined witnesses and
presented arguments. When Parents appeared at the May 11, 2015,
dispositional hearing, they did not indicate they would have presented
additional evidence had they attended the fact-finding hearing, nor did they
provide evidence they arrived at the hearing at the time they claim their notice
indicated.
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[14] Therefore, as Parents have not demonstrated prejudice based on the trial court’s
denial of their motions for continuance, we cannot say the trial court abused its
discretion. Parents did not provide the trial court with a reason for their
absence via affidavit or evidence as required by TR 53.5. Parents were each
represented by counsel at the fact-finding hearing and their counsels were able
to cross-examine witnesses, present evidence, and present argument. We
therefore cannot say their due process rights were violated. See In re E.E., 853
N.E.2d 1037, 1044 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006) (parental due process rights not
violated when parent is represented throughout the proceedings by counsel, and
counsel attends hearing and has opportunity to cross-examine witnesses and
offer argument), trans. denied.
Sufficiency of the Evidence
[15] A CHINS proceeding is civil in nature, so DCS must prove by a preponderance
of the evidence that a child is a CHINS as defined by the juvenile code. In re
N.E., 919 N.E.2d 102, 105 (Ind. 2010). Ind. Code § 31-34-1-1 states:
Sec. 1. A child is a child in need of services if before the child
becomes eighteen (18) years of age:
(1) the child’s physical or mental condition is seriously
impaired or seriously endangered as a result of the
inability, refusal, or neglect of the child’s parent, guardian,
or custodian to supply the child with necessary food,
clothing, shelter, medical care, education, or supervision;
and
(2) the child needs care, treatment, or rehabilitation that:
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(A) the child is not receiving; and
(B) is unlikely to be provided or accepted without
the coercive intervention of the court.
A CHINS adjudication “focuses on the condition of the child,” and not the
culpability of the parent. In re N.E., 919 N.E.2d at 105. The purpose of finding
a child to be a CHINS is to provide proper services for the benefit of the child,
not to punish the parent. Id. at 106.
[16] When a juvenile court enters findings of fact and conclusions of law in a
CHINS decision, we apply a two-tiered standard of review. Parmeter v. Cass
County DCS, 878 N.E.2d 444, 450 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007), reh’g denied. We first
consider whether the evidence supports the findings and then whether the
findings support the judgment. Id. We may not set aside the findings or
judgment unless they are clearly erroneous. Id. Findings are clearly erroneous
when the record contains no facts to support them either directly or by
inference, and a judgment is clearly erroneous if it relies on an incorrect legal
standard. Id. We give due regard to the juvenile court’s ability to assess
witness credibility and do not reweigh the evidence; we instead consider the
evidence most favorable to the judgment with all reasonable inferences drawn
in favor of the judgment. Id. We defer substantially to findings of fact, but not
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to conclusions of law. Id. Parents 1 challenge many of the trial court’s findings,
claiming they are not supported by the evidence.
Finding Three
[17] Mother contends DCS did not present evidence to support Finding 3, which
states, “[Jy.N.] was born on 1/6/15 and is 3 months old.” (Mother’s App. at
83.) Mother argues DCS did not prove Jy.N. was under eighteen years of age
as required by Ind. Code § 31-34-1-1. It did; during the fact-finding hearing,
FCM Crawford testified Jy.N. was four months old.
Finding Seven
[18] Father challenges Finding 7, which states, “On or about 1/13/15 [FCM Day]
was assigned a report regarding [Children].” (Id.) Father argues the date was
before January 13, 2015, as Children were removed from Parents on January 8,
2015. However, the finding is not specific as to the exact date, as it includes the
clause, “on or about[.]” (Id.) Further, the issue is of no consequence because it
does not affect the ultimate outcome of the proceedings because DCS presented
other evidence, such as Father’s drug use and the lack of utilities in the family
home, to support the CHINS adjudication. See, e.g., In re B.J., 879 N.E.2d 7, 20
1
Parents, in separate appellate briefs, challenge a number of the trial court’s findings, many of which are the
same. We address the challenged findings in the aggregate.
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(Ind. Ct. App. 2008) (erroneous finding was not grounds for reversal because
other evidence supported the trial court’s decision), trans. denied.
Finding Ten
Mother challenges Finding 10, which states, “[FCM Day] observed safety
concerns in the home on or about 1/13/15, including a burnt spoon and lighter
on a table within reach of [Children], a lack of heat/utility disconnected, and
the oven door open to provide heat to the home.” (Mother’s App. at 83.) FCM
Day testified the gas at the family home had been disconnected and Parents
were using space heaters and an open oven to heat the house. FCM Day also
testified she observed “a spoon with a burnt-like substance and a broken lighter
sitting on the table” within the reach of Children. (Tr. at 60.) We decline
Mother’s invitation for us to reweigh the evidence and judge the credibility of
witnesses, which we cannot do. See Parmeter, 878 N.E.2d at 450 (appellate
court does not reweigh evidence or judge the credibility of witnesses). Thus, we
conclude DCS presented evidence to support Finding 10.
Finding Eleven
[19] Parents challenge Finding 11, which states, “[FCM Day’s] concerns for
[Children] included lack of supervision, risk of injury, and parental substance
abuse. [FCM Day] recommended a substance abuse evaluation and home
based casemanagement [sic] services for [Parents] in January, 2015.” (Mother’s
App. at 83.) Mother argues the “finding is not supported by the evidence as a
whole” because “[FCM Day] offered no statements or facts to support her
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general concerns regarding lack of supervision or risk of injury.” (Br. of Mother
at 18.)
FCM Day testified she had safety concerns regarding Children “due to the heat,
the open oven.” (Tr. at 61.) Mother’s alternative version of the testimony and
facts is an invitation for us to reweigh the evidence and judge the credibility of
witnesses, which we cannot do. See Parmeter, 878 N.E.2d at 450 (appellate
court does not reweigh evidence or judge the credibility of witnesses). Thus, we
conclude DCS presented evidence to support Finding 11.
[20] Father argues Finding 11 is erroneous because FCM Day did not recommend a
substance abuse evaluation and home based case management in January 2015.
DCS concedes FCM Day did not “make a formal recommendation” for these
services. (Br. of Appellee at 27.) But FCM Crawford did make those
recommendations in January, 2015, so the error in the identification of the
FCM is of no consequence because DCS presented other evidence, such as
Father’s drug use and a lack of utilities in the family home, to support the
CHINS adjudication. See In re B.J., 879 N.E.2d at 20 (erroneous finding was
not grounds for reversal because there existed other sufficient evidence to
support trial court’s decision).
Finding Regarding the Status of the Family Home Prior to the Fact-Finding Hearing
[21] Mother challenges Findings 18, 20, and 25, which concern the status of the
family home prior to the fact-finding hearing:
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18. [FCM Crawford] observed the family home from the outside
on 4/22/14 [sic]. [FCM Crawford] believed there were no lights
on/lack of utilities in the home.
*****
20. [FCM Crawford] has safety concerns for [Children] at this
time as currently [Parents] have failed to communicate with her
since [Children] were returned to their care and she has not been
able to see the family home. She has safety concerns regarding
parental substance abuse and a lack of utilities in the home.
*****
25. [Homebased Services Provider Regina Johnson] has current
safety concerns for [Children]. [Johnson] visited the family
home on the morning of 4/27/14 [sic], however, no one was
home. [Johnson] believed there was a lack of utility service to
the home on this date.
(Mother’s App. at 84.) Mother does not dispute the findings regarding their
lack of communication with FCM Crawford for the thirteen days after the date
Children were returned to Parents’ care. Mother argues it was a “giant leap,”
(Br. of Mother at 19), for FCM Crawford to conclude there were not utilities in
the family home on April 22 and April 27 because “[s]he did not enter the
home, and she did not try to turn on any light switches.” (Id.)
[22] FCM Crawford testified she visited the family home on April 22 and “there was
[sic] no lights on.” (Tr. at 72.) She knew the house had electric heat and she
was concerned the utilities had been disconnected, as that had been the case in
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the past. Johnson testified she visited the family home on April 27, and
observed
there [didn’t] appear to be any electricity in their home. . . . it
looked [like] someone [had] been there but it still don’t [sic] look
like any lights in the home and there’s a note in the door,
somebody left a note and the house seemed like nobody lives in
the, nobody’s been there for a while.
(Id. at 88.) Mother’s arguments to the contrary are invitations for us to reweigh
the evidence and judge the credibility of witnesses, which we cannot do. See
Parmeter, 878 N.E.2d at 450 (appellate court does not reweigh evidence or judge
the credibility of witnesses). Thus, we conclude DCS presented evidence to
support findings 18, 20, and 25.
Finding Twenty-Two
[23] Parents challenge Finding 22, which states, “[Johnson] provided
casemanagement [sic] services to [Parents] from February, 2015 through April,
2015. [Johnson] worked more extensively with [Mother] than with [Father]
due to [Father] “no-showing” for several casemanagement [sic] appointments.”
(Mother’s App. at 84.) Mother argues the finding ignores her voluntary
participation in services prior to February 2015. Father argues while he did
miss a few appointments, Johnson worked with Mother more because Mother
was living with Children during the time of the services.
[24] The evidence indicates the trial court ordered referrals to services for Parents at
the February 9, 2015, pre-trial hearing. Johnson testified:
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Sometimes [Father] was a no show. When we went to his house
it was a couple times he had been no show. In the last, in April
he was a no show. February I didn’t meet with him but, but [sic]
at the team meeting and then he started engaging with me in
March.
(Tr. at 84.) Johnson testified she met with Father “[a]t least three times in
March.” (Id.) Parents’ arguments to the contrary are invitations for us to
reweigh the evidence and judge the credibility of witnesses, which we cannot
do. See Parmeter, 878 N.E.2d at 450 (appellate court does not reweigh evidence
or judge the credibility of witnesses). Thus, we conclude DCS presented
evidence to support Finding 22.
Finding Twenty-Six
[25] Mother argues Finding 26 is not supported by the evidence. It states,
“[Johnson] offered community based services and information to [Parents],
however, they declined to accept those services.” (Mother’s App. at 84-5.)
Johnson testified:
[Counsel]: You indicated that the family’s continuing needs
include addressing finding community resources, correct?
[Johnson]: Yes.
[Counsel]: When you were working with the family, when
you’ve been working with the family, did you talk to them about
community resources that are available to them?
[Johnson]: Yes I did.
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[Counsel]: So they do have knowledge of what is available to
them at this point, correct?
[Johnson]: They declined it.
[Counsel]: Okay. But in the future they would have the
knowledge that you’ve provided to them about where to go?
[Johnson]: Yes.
(Tr. at 84-5.) Mother’s argument is an invitation for us to reweigh the evidence
and judge the credibility of witnesses, which we cannot do. See Parmeter, 878
N.E.2d at 450 (appellate court does not reweigh evidence or judge the
credibility of witnesses). Thus, we conclude DCS presented evidence to support
Finding 26.
Additional Sufficiency Challenges
[26] Many of Parents’ arguments focus on a specific finding in isolation, and cite
case law indicating a child cannot be declared a CHINS based solely on that
finding. The challenged findings are supported by the evidence, and those
findings as a whole concerning the family’s living conditions, substance abuse,
and lack of communication support the conclusion Children are CHINS.
Further, our Indiana Supreme Court recently held the absence of any vital
finding is not in error, “because no statute requires special findings in a CHINS
fact-finding order, nor did any party move for such findings under Indiana Trial
Rule 52(A).” In re S.D., 2 N.E.3d 1283, 1288 (Ind. 2014), reh’g denied.
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[27] Father argues the trial court should have granted Parents’ motions for judgment
on the evidence because DCS did not prove Children were CHINS. As we
conclude the opposite, we need not entertain this argument.
Requirements of Parental Participation Decree
[28] Ind. Code § 31-35-20-3 provides:
If the juvenile court determines that a parent, guardian, or
custodian should participate in a program of care, treatment, or
rehabilitation for the child, the court may order the parent,
guardian, or custodian to do the following:
(1) Obtain assistance in fulfilling the obligations as a parent,
guardian, or custodian.
(2) Provide specified care, treatment, or supervision for the child.
(3) Work with a person providing care, treatment, or
rehabilitation for the child.
(4) Participate in a program operated by or through the
department of correction.
The trial court “has broad discretion in determining what programs and services
in which a parent is required to participate,” but “the requirements must relate
to some behavior or circumstance that was revealed by the evidence.” In re
A.C., 905 N.E.2d 456, 464 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009).
The trial court did not abuse its discretion when it ordered Mother to participate
in substance abuse education, undergo random drug screens, and meet the
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medical needs of Children as part of the parental participation plan. DCS
presented evidence Jy.N. tested positive for methamphetamine at birth. Father,
with whom Mother and Children lived, admitted to using marijuana and tested
positive for marijuana multiple times in January 2015. The GAL testified,
regarding Children’s medical appointments:
I visited with [Children] at that point in time with maternal
grandmother. Mother was in the home. We discussed some of
the, the [sic] medical needs of [Children] at that point in time
regarding medical appointments and medical concerns. At that
point [Ja.N.] was in need of a medical appointment. He has a his
eye [sic] is crossing and it’s a severe, the severity level of it [is] to
the point that the doctor definitely told [Mother] that she needed
to get in to see a specialist ASAP. And then at that point [Jy.N.]
had an appointment, follow up appointment regarding I believe
there was some, some medical needs that I actually can’t recall at
this point. However, since that point in time, [Jy.N.] went in for
his medical appointment; however, [Mother] has not, [Mother]
did not ensure that the medical appointment took place for
[Ja.N.]. There was also a First Steps appointment that was, that
was not followed up with for [Children] at that point in time.
(Tr. at 91-2.) Based on that evidence, we conclude the trial court’s orders were
related to some behavior or circumstance presented to the court. Mother’s
arguments to the contrary are invitations for us to reweigh the evidence and
judge the credibility of witnesses, which we cannot do. See Parmeter, 878
N.E.2d at 450 (appellate court does not reweigh evidence or judge the
credibility of witnesses).
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Conclusion
[29] Parents’ due process rights were not violated when the trial court denied their
motions to continue because their counsel were present at the April 27, 2015,
fact-finding hearing to offer argument and cross-examine witnesses. DCS
provided sufficient evidence to support the trial court’s findings and those
findings supported the trial court’s conclusion Children were CHINS. Finally,
the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it ordered Mother to complete
substance abuse education, to undergo random drug screens, and to attend to
Children’s medical needs. Accordingly, we affirm the adjudication of Children
as CHINS.
[30] Affirmed.
Najam, J., and Riley, J., concur.
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