In re: Adoption/G'ship of T.A., Jr. ( 2017 )

Circuit Court for Baltimore City
Case No. T16130002
REPORTED
IN THE COURT OF SPECIAL APPEALS
OF MARYLAND
No. 2110
September Term, 2016
_________________________
IN RE: ADOPTION/GUARDIANSHIP OF
T.A., JR.
_________________________
Eyler, Deborah S.,
Nazarian,
Friedman,
JJ.
_________________________
Opinion by Friedman, J.
_________________________
Filed: August 30, 2017
This appeal stems from the erroneous admission of hearsay evidence (Exhibit 91)
during proceedings that terminated the rights of T.A.’s biological parents. Mother did not
appeal. Father has brought this appeal arguing that the erroneous admission of Exhibit 91
(a group of five reports) requires reversal of the judgment, and that he should, therefore,
have another opportunity to defend against the termination of his parental rights. Because
we conclude that the admission of Exhibit 91 was harmless error, we affirm.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
T.A. was born January 4, 2012, premature and drug-exposed. He tested positive for
opiates at birth and suffered from withdrawal symptoms that required the intravenous
administration of morphine. T.A.’s mother also tested positive for opiates at the time of his
birth. Mother had a history of abusing illicit drugs and had past and continuing interactions
with Child Protective Services for her other two children (the full history and outcome of
which is not included in the record for this case). At the time of T.A.’s birth, neither his
Mother nor his Father had any supplies prepared such as infant formula, a car seat, or
diapers. Neither Mother nor Father had employment or housing.
Upon his release from the hospital, T.A. was immediately placed in the care of Mr.
and Ms. B. Shortly thereafter, T.A. was found to be CINA (Child in Need of Assistance)
and was committed to the Baltimore City Department of Social Services (DSS). The
permanency plan for T.A. was initially set as reunification with his birth parents, primarily
his Mother. Father and Mother were both referred to the Family Recovery Program (FRP)1,
as well as drug treatment and parenting classes.
Due to his premature birth, T.A. has chronic lung disease and takes several
medications to manage his condition. A consequence of T.A.’s condition is that occasional
short-term exposure to second-hand cigarette smoke could trigger serious medical events,
while long-term exposure to second-hand cigarette smoke could be detrimental to T.A.’s
already diminished lung function. Moreover, any exposure to cigarette smoke could lower
T.A.’s immune responses to viruses, placing him at higher risk of developing serious
respiratory infections, such as pneumonia. By January of 2013, he had been hospitalized
several times and required daily medications and monitoring.
At the time of the CINA Contested Review hearing in January of 2013, Father was
incarcerated and awaiting trial. Prior to his incarceration, Father had last visited T.A. in
July of 2012. He had also failed to complete a drug treatment program. Although Mother
had not visited T.A. since August of 2012, at the January 2013 review hearing, she “re-
engaged” with the department, asking to be re-referred to a drug treatment program and
1
FRP and the Baltimore City DSS have partnered together to run a drug court
program to serve “adult parents whose children have been removed from their care for
reasons related to substance abuse.” Family Drug Court, Peer Learning Court, Baltimore
City Family Recovery Program, Children and Family Futures, available at
https://perma.cc/2GNN-WPQ4 (link captured June 28, 2017). “FRP coordinates services
with [DSS] … to develop a Recovery Services Plan that is coordinated with the [DSS]
Service Plan. This coordinates the parents’ efforts and increases the likelihood of
reunification.” Id.
2
offered her mother, T.A.’s maternal grandmother, as a possible placement. Following that
review hearing, the juvenile court continued T.A.’s commitment and changed the
permanency plan to “placement with a relative for custody and guardianship.”
Following the next CINA Contested Review hearing on October 28, 2014, the
permanency plan was again modified to “reunification with parent concurrent with custody
and guardianship or adoption by a non-relative.” At that hearing it was reiterated that T.A.’s
respiratory disease was made worse by viral infections and environmental irritants such as
dust, mold, and smoke exposure. At the time of the October 2014 hearing, Mother was
incarcerated awaiting trial, but Father had been released from incarceration. Although
Father had re-initiated visitation with T.A. and indicated that he was “interested in working
towards reunification,” Father did not have housing or employment. At the hearing, Father
volunteered to be referred to FRP and was instructed to complete a psychological
evaluation, and attend parenting classes and substance abuse treatment. Also at that
hearing, T.A.’s paternal grandmother and great-grandmother, who had been suggested by
Father as possible placement options, were ruled out as possible care givers for T.A.
because they had not visited T.A. or attended medical appointments.
In 2015, Father was re-arrested but released after three weeks’ incarceration. Father
was participating in FRP, but was in poor compliance and had not submitted satisfactory
urinalysis. Father was also in the Powell Recovery Program and had signed a service
agreement, but still did not have employment or housing.
3
At the April 2015 “26-Month Review” hearing, the juvenile court noted that T.A.
was still in the care of Mr. and Ms. B., with whom he had resided since birth, and that he
was “being well taken care of in their care.” T.A. continued to take medications for his
chronic lung disease and asthma and received treatment from a pediatrician, pulmonologist,
and nephrologist. At the time of the April 2015 hearing, Mother remained incarcerated. By
September of 2015, however, Mother was no longer incarcerated and both Father and
Mother had completed the “Circle of Security Parenting” course.
When T.A. was four years old, T.A., Father, Mother, and the B.s attended another
CINA Contested Review hearing. At the hearing, on March 16, 2016, Ms. B. testified about
T.A. She testified that T.A. is an outgoing four-year old. T.A. attends pre-school, helps Ms.
B. cook, attends Boy Scouts, participates in a baseball league, and swims. The B.s consider
T.A. part of their family and he is very attached to their son. Although T.A. is healthy now,
he does require proactive supervision and constant review of his medications. Ms. B. also
testified that although T.A. will talk about his visits to DSS and refer to Ms. Hemingway
(his case worker) and what he does on the visits, he does not talk about Father or Mother.
The hearing was adjourned after Ms. B.’s testimony.
The contested review hearing resumed two days later. Ms. Hemingway, T.A.’s case
worker since days after his birth, testified that T.A. is “well bonded to the [B.s] (calling
them ‘mommy’ and ‘daddy’) and their son.” Ms. Hemingway described the speech,
physical, and behavioral therapies that T.A. has received and stated that his chronic
pulmonary disease is improved and managed. Ms. Hemingway testified that, as of April
4
24, 2014, Father and Mother had kept all of their weekly visits with T.A. and that T.A.
interacts well with them. Ms. Hemingway also described the service agreements signed by
Father and Mother. Pursuant to his servicing agreement, Father completed parenting
classes, attended T.A.’s medical appointments, and enrolled in a smoking cessation
program. Father, however, did not complete the smoking cessation program, and did not
obtain employment. Additionally, although Father was enrolled in Powell Recovery, there
was no certificate of completion, nor was he compliant with FRP. Following Ms.
Hemingway’s testimony, the juvenile court held the matter sub curia.
At the next hearing, a month later, Mother testified. Mother admitted that her drugs
of choice are heroin and Percocet and the court found that she was in full relapse. Although
Mother testified that she had stopped smoking in the past two weeks, the juvenile court
found that statement not credible given the failure to stop smoking over the past four years
and the admitted CDS relapse. After closing arguments, the juvenile court found that Father
and Mother have completed a parenting program and have visited with T.A. either every
week or every other week, but neither has ceased smoking or achieved sustained sobriety.
The juvenile court concluded that “Mother and Father’s progress toward reunification is
very fundamentally inadequate on these core issues of [addiction,] relapse[,] and smoking.
There is no likelihood that Mother or Father would overcome the significant barriers to
reunification in the foreseeable future.” The juvenile court recognized Father’s
unwillingness to offer himself as a resource for T.A., and Mother’s long history of relapses
and excuses. The juvenile court concluded that DSS had made reasonable efforts to achieve
5
the concurrent permanency plan of reunification or adoption by a non-relative, but that it
was in the best interests of T.A. to change the permanency plan to “adoption by a non-
relative.” As a result, the juvenile court also terminated the parental rights of Father and
Mother.
Father’s casefile from FRP confirms much of the information contained in the court
orders but also explains additional background information about Father. 2 Father
completed the intake process with FRP on October 31, 2014. Father and his caseworker
discussed his drug and alcohol use, medical history, employment history, relationship
status, and legal status. During the intake, Father admitted using alcohol, drugs, and
tobacco in the last 30 days. He reported some hospitalizations for medical problems, but
denied that he had any current medical problems. Father admitted that he experiences
depression, sadness, and hopelessness, but denied contemplating suicide and appeared
motivated to change his substance abuse patterns. Father also reported that he had not
worked in the past six months and that his longest full-time job was for one year and six
months.
The detailed staff notes contained in Father’s FRP casefile reveal that Father
continued to use heroin in 2014 and 2015. In the beginning of 2015, Father reported
2
There is a similar casefile in evidence for Mother that describes her struggles to
remain compliant with FRP and to stop smoking and taking drugs. Because Mother has not
challenged the court’s findings, however, we will not detail the information contained in
her file.
6
considering suicide and was referred to Hope Health. Shortly thereafter, Father was
incarcerated for a time, before again, in March of 2015, reporting being suicidal. Father
was then referred to Powell Recovery for detox and inpatient treatment. In May of 2015,
Powell Recovery contacted FRP to report that Father was hearing voices telling him to
commit suicide. Father was hospitalized for a brief period. In the months following,
Father’s urinalysis tested positive for cocaine. In August of 2015, Father reported to FRP
that his attorney had advised him to turn himself in on an open arrest warrant, but that he
was not ready to do so yet. FRP warned Father that if Powell Recovery discovered that he
had an open warrant he could be discharged from residential treatment. Father was arrested
on that open warrant while at FRP, but then reported that he had been released by mistake
and did not plan to return to the FRP court hearings. The FRP records indicate that Father
was in either poor compliance or no compliance with the program, with brief periods of
good compliance.
The juvenile court gave a clear summary of this case:
Frankly, the same issues that encountered the parents when
Respondent was born in January of 2012 are the same issues
that remain today in November [of] 2016. … The parents have
demonstrated no real desire to raise their son.
7
DISCUSSION
Exhibit 91 is a set of five reports:3
(1) a bonding evaluation of the B.s and T.A.;
(2) a parental fitness evaluation of Mother;
(3) a parental fitness evaluation of Father;
(4) a fitness evaluation of the B.s; and
(5) a bonding evaluation of Father and Mother with T.A.
The parental fitness evaluations of Father and Mother (#2 and #3), and all of the
bonding evaluations (#1 and #5) were authored by Dr. Ruth Zajdel, consulting psychologist
for Medical Services-Juvenile Court. The bonding evaluations were based on Dr. Zajdel’s
observation of each adult interacting with T.A. in a play room for 30 minutes. Dr. Zajdel
observed their interactions through a one-way mirror. Dr. Zajdel authored the parental
fitness evaluations of both Father and Mother (#2 and #3) after she interviewed them
individually. Brenda Harriel, a social worker for Medical Services, wrote the fitness
evaluation of the B.s (#4). Ms. Harriel based her recommendations on interviews with Ms.
B. and Mr. B., her review of court orders, and a letter written by Dr. Jay Gopal (head of
pediatrics at Union Memorial Hospital and a member of T.A.’s medical team). Neither Ms.
Harriel nor Dr. Zajdel testified at the hearings.
3
It has been our experience that it is easier to give a separate discrete exhibit number
to each document. The decision not to do so here, to label five separate reports collectively
as Exhibit 91, makes our discussion grammatically stilted.
8
Exhibit 91 was admitted during DSS’s case. DSS sought to admit Exhibit 91 into
evidence without a witness on the stand. Father objected to the admission stating that it
was “hearsay within hearsay and there is no reason why the authors of those reports cannot
be here to testify. ... I can’t cross examine a document.” DSS argued in response that
Exhibit 91 was a certified business record and that there had been a 10-day notice to each
party that DSS intended to introduce Exhibit 91. Thus, DSS concluded that Father should
have filed an objection or motion in response to the 10-day notice if he wished to exclude
Exhibit 91 from evidence. The juvenile court, without further explanation, admitted Exhibit
91.
On appeal, Father argues that the juvenile court erred by admitting Exhibit 91
because it was inadmissible hearsay. Both DSS and T.A. (through his assigned attorney)
concede that Exhibit 91 is inadmissible hearsay. They argue, however, that the admission
of Exhibit 91 was harmless error because Exhibit 91 is merely cumulative of all of the other
exhibits and testimony offered in the case.
Despite this confession of error, we will begin our analysis by explaining that it was
error for the juvenile court to admit Exhibit 91. We will then turn to the question of whether
the admission of Exhibit 91 was harmless error. Because we conclude that the admission
of Exhibit 91 did not create a substantial likelihood of prejudice to Father, we conclude
that the admission of Exhibit 91 was harmless error.
9
1. Hearsay and the Business Records Exception
All of the parties now concede that Exhibit 91 is hearsay because each of the reports
within Exhibit 91 were out of court statements made by Dr. Zajdel and Ms. Harriel, offered
for the truth of the matters asserted in the reports. At the juvenile court, however, DSS
argued that the reports fell under the business records exception to the hearsay rule and
was, therefore, admissible. Father argued at the juvenile court, and continues to argue now,
that Exhibit 91 did not fall under the business records exception for several reasons: first,
the reports were prepared specifically for the CINA hearings and have nothing to do with
the day to day operations of the Court Medical Services; second, the reports are the
opinions of Dr. Zajdel and Ms. Harriel based on their interactions with, and observations
of, the parties; and finally, as a matter of fundamental fairness, the juvenile court should
have allowed Father to cross-examine Dr. Zajdel and Ms. Harriel about the reports.
Hearsay is not admissible unless it falls into an exception. Md. Rule 5-802. One
such hearsay exception is for “Records of Regularly Conducted Business Activity.” Md.
Rule 5-803(b)(6). This exception allows for the admission of a report (memoranda, record,
or data), despite the report being hearsay, if it was created in the regular course of business
by a person with knowledge of the event at or near the time of the event. Md. Rule 5-
803(b)(6). Also, it must be the regular practice of the business “to make and keep the
memorandum, report, record, or data compilation.” Md. Rule 5-803(b)(6). The business
record exception “is based on the premise that because the records are reliable enough for
the running of a business … they are reliable enough to be admissible at trial.” Hall v. Univ.
10
of Maryland Med. Sys. Corp., 398 Md. 67, 89 (2007). The exception does not, however,
“embrace statements by persons outside the business, because those persons are under no
business duty to record or transmit information truthfully.” Id. (quoting Lynn McLain,
Maryland Rules of Evidence, Rule 5-803(b)(6), § 4(q)(i), 237 (2d ed. 2002)). The exception
also does not “embrace self-serving records, made in anticipation of litigation.” Sail
Zambezi, Ltd. v. Maryland State Highway Admin., 217 Md. App. 138, 156 (2014) (citing
Hall, 398 Md. at 89).
Reports created by Court Medical Services for review in child access cases do not
qualify for the business records exception. In re Adoption/Guardianship No.
95195062/CAD in Circuit Court for Baltimore City, 116 Md. App. 443, 464 (1997). In that
case, a Court Medical Services report was ordered for a CINA case. Id. at 462. The Court
Medical Services doctor evaluated the mother and issued a report that was entered into
evidence without testimony from a custodian of records or from the doctor who wrote the
report. Id. at 462-64. This Court held that the juvenile court erred by admitting the record
and that the report did not qualify for the business records exception. Id. Judge Ellen L.
Hollander, for this Court, held that:
the report was prepared when [the parent] was evaluated in
anticipation of a CINA hearing. It had nothing to do with the
“running” of the Juvenile Court Medical Service of the Circuit
Court for Baltimore City. Although hospital records often are
admitted under this exception, the kind of information at issue
here is qualitatively different. This report constitutes the
opinion of an expert who was directed to evaluate [the parent]
and opine about her mental health. Plainly, as a matter of
11
fundamental fairness, [the parent] was entitled to cross-
examine the doctor in order to challenge his opinion.
Id. at 464 (emphasis added). The case was remanded for further proceedings and the
juvenile court was instructed not to consider the Court Medical Services report on remand
unless the doctor who authored the report was called to testify. Id. at 461, 466.
It is clear from In re Adoption/Guardianship No. 95195062/CAD, that Father is
correct in each of his arguments. First, the reports contained in Exhibit 91 “had nothing to
do with the ‘running’ of the Juvenile Court Medical Service.” Id. Second, the reports
contained in Exhibit 91 were the opinions of Dr. Zajdel and Ms. Harriel and, therefore are
“qualitatively different” from the information typically contained in a business record. Id.
And finally, “as a matter of fundamental fairness,” id., Father should have been allowed to
cross-examine Dr. Zajdel and Ms. Harriel about the reports contained in Exhibit 91. As a
result, the reports contained in Exhibit 91 do not qualify for the business records exception.4
4
We determine here that Exhibit 91 is hearsay, was not admissible under the
business records exception, and, therefore, required a sponsoring witness with knowledge
of the subject matter rather than just a custodian of records. No argument was offered below
or in this Court, and therefore we have not considered whether Exhibit 91 might have been
admissible under “relaxed” rules of evidence permitted by Rule 5-101(c)(6) or (7). See Md.
Rule 5-101(c)(6) (“[T]he court, in the interest of justice, may decline to require strict
application of the rules in … [d]isposition hearings … including permanency planning
hearings.”); Rule 5-101(c)(7) (“[T]he court, in the interest of justice, may decline to require
strict application of the rules in [child custody or visitation] [m]odification hearings.”).
Neither were we asked to consider and therefore make no intimation whether, despite our
observations about Exhibit 91 as a whole, a severable portion of it might, nevertheless
satisfy requirements of the business document exception and might be admissible with only
a custodian of records as a sponsoring witness.
12
Moreover, although the parties have conceded here that Exhibit 91 is hearsay, and although
In re Adoption/Guardianship No. 95195062/CAD expressly held twenty years ago that
such reports are inadmissible hearsay, we now repeat that Exhibit 91, and reports like them,
do not meet the requirement of the business records exception.5
DSS tried to salvage the situation by arguing in the juvenile court that, because it
sent a 10-day notice of its intent to introduce Exhibit 91 pursuant to Rule 5-902, Exhibit
91 was authenticated and admissible. This argument does not withstand scrutiny. Rule 5-
902(b)(1) states that:
Testimony of authenticity as a condition precedent to
admissibility is not required as to the original or duplicate of a
record of regularly conducted business activity, within the
scope of Rule 5-803(b)(6) that has been certified pursuant to
… this Rule, provided that at least ten days prior to the
commencement of the proceeding in which the record will be
offered into evidence, (A) the proponent (i) notifies the
adverse party of the proponent’s intention to authenticate the
record under this subsection and (ii) makes a copy of the
certificate and record available to the adverse party and (B) the
adverse party has not filed within five days after service of the
proponent’s notice written objection on the ground that the
sources of information or the method or circumstances of
preparation indicate lack of trustworthiness.
5
At oral argument, we were advised that it has become standard practice for DSS
to introduce reports of this kind without offering a sponsoring witness. Although we
understand budget and personnel limitations, we cannot permit a failure to abide by the
Rules of Evidence, particularly (but by no means exclusively) when fundamental
constitutional rights are at stake.
13
Md. Rule 5-902(b)(1). The 10-day notice allowed by Rule 5-902 only authenticates a
document, however, and does not render that document automatically admissible. Md. Rule
5-902(b)(1). The rule states that by following its procedure, “[t]estimony of authenticity as
a condition precedent to admissibility is not required.” Md. Rule 5-902(b)(1) (emphasis
added). The rule does not state that the document becomes automatically admissible. DSS’s
argument, therefore, that Exhibit 91 was automatically admissible because DSS provided
10-day notice, must fail.
2. Harmless Error
While Exhibit 91 should not have been admitted, and the juvenile judge erred by
overruling Father’s objection, this error does not necessarily require reversal. It is this
court’s policy “not to reverse for harmless error.” In re: Yve S., 373 Md. 551, 616 (2003).
Therefore, we must determine whether the error in admitting Exhibit 91 was harmless. Id.
at 616-17. In In re: Yve S., the Court of Appeals concluded that although there is no precise
standard, a reversible error must be one that affects the outcome of the case, the error must
be “substantially injurious,” and “[i]t is not the possibility, but the probability, of prejudice”
that is the focus. Id. at 618 (internal citations omitted). The Yve S. Court reasoned that
appellate review of harmless error must be on a case-by-case basis and must balance “the
probability of prejudice in relation to the circumstances of the particular case.” Id.Here, Father’s allegation of prejudice is that the juvenile court “relied on the
information in the reports to reach several critical conclusions about the bond T.A. had
with his [biological] parents, the [biological] parents’ fitness to parent, T.A.’s adjustment
14
to the care of, and bond with, the foster care providers, and the potential harm to T.A. if
his placement were to change.” Father reasons that the juvenile court’s conclusions about
those bonds and about Father and Mother’s fitness to parent “formed a substantial basis for
its ultimate conclusion to terminate parental rights.” DSS responds that Exhibit 91 was not
critical to the juvenile court’s ultimate decision because the information contained in
Exhibit 91 was merely duplicative of the ample evidence presented at the hearings
regarding Father and Mother’s bonds with T.A. and their unfitness to parent.
We will, first, individually review the juvenile court’s analysis of each factor. For
each factor we will determine if the court explicitly or implicitly referenced Exhibit 91. If
it did, we will then review the evidence available that pertains to that factor to conclude if
there is a probability that Exhibit 91 prejudiced the juvenile court’s analysis of that factor.
Second, after reviewing the factors individually, we will then review them collectively.
a. Termination of Parental Rights Factors
The legislature has directed that “a juvenile court shall give primary consideration
to the health and safety of the child and consideration to all other factors needed to
determine whether terminating a parent’s rights is in the child’s best interests.” Md. Code
Ann., Family Law (FL) § 5-323(d). The legislature has provided a non-exclusive list of
factors to guide this consideration including:
(1)(i) all services offered to the parent before the child’s placement,
whether offered by a local department, another agency, or a
professional;
15
(ii) the extent, nature, and timeliness of services offered by a local
department to facilitate reunion of the child and parent; and
(iii) the extent to which a local department and parent have
fulfilled their obligations under a social services agreement, if any;
(2) the results of the parent’s efforts to adjust the parent’s
circumstances, condition, or conduct to make it in the child’s best
interests for the child to be returned to the parent’s home, including:
(i) the extent to which the parent has maintained regular contact
with:
1. the child;
2. the local department to which the child is committed; and
3. if feasible, the child’s caregiver;
(ii) the parent’s contribution to a reasonable part of the child’s care
and support, if the parent is financially able to do so;
(iii) the existence of a parental disability that makes the parent
consistently unable to care for the child’s immediate and ongoing
physical or psychological needs for long periods of time; and
(iv) whether additional services would be likely to bring about a
lasting parental adjustment so that the child could be returned to
the parent within an ascertainable time not to exceed 18 months
from the date of placement unless the juvenile court makes a
specific finding that it is in the child’s best interests to extend the
time for a specified period;
(3) whether:
(i) the parent has abused or neglected the child or a minor and the
seriousness of the abuse or neglect;
(ii)1.A. on admission to a hospital for the child’s delivery, the
mother tested positive for a drug as evidenced by a positive
toxicology test; or
B. upon the birth of the child, the child tested positive for a
drug as evidenced by a positive toxicology test; and
16
2. the mother refused the level of drug treatment recommended
by a qualified addictions specialist, as defined in § 5-1201 of
this title, or by a physician or psychologist, as defined in the
Health Occupations Article;
(iii) the parent subjected the child to:
1. chronic abuse…
* * *
(iv) the parent has been convicted, in any state or any court of the
United States, of:
1. a crime of violence …
* * *
(v) the parent has involuntarily lost parental rights to a sibling of
the child; and
(4)(i) the child’s emotional ties with and feelings toward the child’s
parents, the child’s siblings, and others who may affect the child’s
best interests significantly;
(ii) the child’s adjustment to:
1. community
2. home;
3. placement; and
4. school;
(iii) the child’s feelings about severance of the parent-child
relationship; and
(iv) the likely impact of terminating parental rights on the child’s
well-being.
FL § 5-323(d). The juvenile court considers this extensive list of factors to determine
whether terminating a parent’s rights is in the best interest of the child—all while giving
17
primary consideration to the health and safety of the child. Id. Once the juvenile court has
completed this multi-part analysis, if it finds by clear and convincing evidence that “a
parent is unfit to remain in a parental relationship with the child or that exceptional
circumstances exist,” the juvenile court may terminate parental rights and grant
guardianship of the child to another individual. FL § 5-323(b).
b. Review of the Factors
The juvenile court began its oral opinion by extensively discussing the documentary
evidence and testimony introduced in the case. The documentary evidence included the
many detailed orders that continued T.A. in the custody of DSS, which each contained a
review of the case history, detailed findings, and the next steps to be taken in T.A.’s case.
The documentary evidence also included voluminous casefiles for both Father and Mother
from the FRP, and records of the other services offered to Father and Mother by DSS such
as counseling and drug program referrals. It also included detailed “case plans” created by
DSS and “recommendations” submitted by the parties that—like the orders described
above—included background information on Father, Mother, and T.A., and the next steps
proposed to be taken in the case. The testimony introduced in the case and reviewed by the
juvenile court included that of Ms. Hemingway (T.A.’s caseworker), Ms. B., and Mother.
After reviewing the documentary evidence and testimony, the juvenile court made specific
findings as to each of the Section 5-323(d) factors. Below we will quote the juvenile court’s
oral findings related to each factor.
18
“All services offered to the parent before the child’s
placement by a local department, another agency, or a
professional.” FL § 5-323(d)(1)(i).
The first factor requires the juvenile court to review the services that had been
offered to the parent before the child’s placement, including services offered by DSS or
another agency or professional. The juvenile court made the following explicit findings
regarding this factor:
o “That even after services were provided for his older sibling, [A.], [T.A.]
was born drug-exposed and addicted.”
o “The Department had previously worked with the parents in [A.’s] case.”
o “The previous service, this is before placement, included housing,
transportation and drug treatment referrals.”
While discussing the services offered to Father and Mother before T.A.’s birth, the
juvenile court did not mention Exhibit 91 at all. Moreover, the court did not implicitly
consider any information contained in Exhibit 91, particularly because the information was
readily available in the original CINA order, the orders continuing T.A. in shelter care, and
the case plans for T.A. There was, therefore, no probability that Exhibit 91 prejudiced the
juvenile court’s analysis of this factor.
“[T]he extent, nature, and timeliness of services offered by
a local department to facilitate reunion of the child and
parent.” FL § 5-323(d)(1)(ii).
This factor requires the juvenile court consider the services provided by DSS to
facilitate the reunion of parent and child. The juvenile court considers the extent, nature,
and timeliness of those services. Here, the juvenile court found that:
19
o “The Department in [T.A.’s] case again offered appropriate services and
referrals to the parents [that] were timely.”
o “These services were timely in an effort at reunification.”
o “The parents were offered housing assistance, drug treatment, mental
health treatment, parenting classes of which they – it is evidenced that
they completed and, for Father, anger management.”
o “Visitation was offered to parents and occasionally they would visit with
[T.A.] unless [T.A. had an] appointment or the parents failed to appear
for the visit.”
The juvenile court’s findings that services were offered in an appropriate and timely
manner are supported by ample evidence in the record. Namely, the court’s orders
continuing T.A. in care describe each of the steps taken by DSS to facilitate the reunion of
T.A. with his parents. Additionally, many exhibits summarize the efforts taken to refer
Father and Mother to smoking cessation, parenting classes, housing assistance, and anger
management. The juvenile court did not explicitly or implicitly refer to Exhibit 91 as it
considered this factor and, therefore, there was no probability that Exhibit 91 prejudiced
the analysis.
“[T]he extent to which a local department and parent have
fulfilled their obligations under a social services agreement,
if any.” FL § 5-323(d)(1)(iii).
This factor requires the juvenile court to consider whether DSS and the parents have
fulfilled their respective obligations under the service agreements. Here, the juvenile court
found that:
o “Although a couple of medical appointments were attended by the
parents, they missed appointments after having been provided notice of
the appointments by the Department of Social Services.”
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o “It is noted there is some evidence that Mother has a part-time job at Taco
Bell but there’s no evidence of a pay stub to support that claim.”
o “Father is unemployed and without housing.”
o “[B]ecause of [T.A.’s] chronic pulmonary problems and – that both
parents were provided smoking cessation programs. Their toxicologies
with regard to the smoking cessation programs indicates that they have
not stopped smoking.”
After each hearing updating the juvenile court on the status of T.A.’s case, the
juvenile court issued an order continuing T.A. in the care of DSS. Those orders describe
the failure of Father and Mother to fulfill their obligations and the steps taken by DSS to
meet its obligations. The juvenile court’s consideration of whether DSS, Father, and
Mother have fulfilled their obligations under the service agreements did not require any
consideration of Exhibit 91. Exhibit 91 does not address the service agreements or the
parties’ obligations and, therefore, there was no probability that the admission of Exhibit
91 into evidence could prejudice the juvenile court’s analysis of this factor.
“[T]he results of the parent’s efforts to adjust the parent’s
circumstances, condition, or conduct to make it in the
child’s best interests for the child to be returned to the
parent’s home.” FL § 5-323(d)(2).
The next factor requires the juvenile court to consider the parent’s efforts to adjust
the parent’s circumstances, conditions, or conduct. The focus in this factor is on whether
the parents have adjusted their circumstances to make it in the child’s best interests to return
to their care. Here, the juvenile court found that:
o “The parents have not adjusted their circumstances such that it would be
appropriate or safe to return [T.A.] to them in the foreseeable future and
the services to them have been exhausted and not without expense.”
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o “During this period when [T.A.] has been in care the parents identified
other relatives to care for [T.A.] but they have been ruled out.”
o “Having been born drug-exposed with several health conditions and
withdrawal problems, notwithstanding his pulmonary issues among
others, Mother and Father have not adjusted their circumstances, conduct
or conditions to make reunification in [T.A.’s] best interest.”
There is clear and convincing evidence to support the juvenile court’s findings that
Father and Mother failed to adjust their circumstances, condition, or conduct. There was
ample evidence in the record regarding Father and Mother’s failures to find employment
or housing so that they could provide a physical home to which T.A. could return. There
was also ample evidence that Father and Mother failed to take parenting and anger
management classes or to stop smoking, and, as a result, to make it to be in T.A.’s best
interest to be returned to their care.
The evidence reviewed by the juvenile court to determine if Father or Mother
adjusted their circumstances to meet T.A.’s needs did not include Exhibit 91. The
information regarding attendance to medical appointments can be found in the orders
continuing T.A.’s case, Ms. B.’s testimony, and Ms. Hemingway’s testimony. The
information regarding possible family placements is also found in the court orders, the case
plans for T.A., and the recommendations of the parties for the permanency hearings. There
was, therefore, no probability that Exhibit 91 prejudiced the analysis of this factor.
“[I]ncluding… the extent to which the parent has
maintained regular contact with 1. the child; 2. the local
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department; 3. if feasible, the child’s caregiver.” FL § 5-
323(d)(2)(i)(1)-(3).
The next factor continues with the inquiry into whether the parents have adjusted
their circumstances and asks the juvenile court to determine the extent to which the parents
have maintained contact with the child and DSS. Here, the juvenile court found that:
o “The parents maintaining contact with the worker in this case, that is, the
worker for the Department of Social Services, that contact occurred
during visits and they had minimal contact with the care givers, other than
the contact that … was had at Kennedy Krieger and some of the
pulmonology … appointments wherein it was noted that Mother did take
some notes and spoke with Mrs. B.”
o “So there was some contact at some of the medical appointments. But
there is absolutely no evidence that either parent has trained to care for
this medically-fragile child.”
o “The parent’s efforts at visits could be considered somewhat reasonable
but their attending medical appointments, completing drug treatment,
completing a smoking cessation program and stable housing is rather
non-existent.”
o “They would not be able to address or handle [T.A.’s] psychological
needs or medical needs.”
o “And as [T.A.’s] Counsel indicated in her closing statement, quote, …
the parents have struggled to the very minimum, end quote, in meeting
their own needs.”
o “As pointed out by Dr. McGrath, [T.A.] requires a lot of treatment and
his, quote, rescue meds, end quote, must be properly administered. The
parents do not have any care giving training medically required for
[T.A.].”
o “[N]or have [the parents] maintained regular contact with [T.A.’s] care
givers.”
The juvenile court found that Mother and Father have maintained a minimum level
of contact with T.A. and DSS. This finding is supported by evidence in the record outside
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of Exhibit 91, and, as a result, there was no probability that the admission of Exhibit 91
prejudiced the analysis of this factor. The history of Father and Mother’s contact with T.A.,
DSS, and the B.s is revealed through the testimony of Ms. B., Ms. Hemingway, and
Mother, and the orders, reports, and case plans that detail the efforts made by Father and
Mother. Although Exhibit 91 discusses Father and Mother’s desire to continue to have
contact with T.A. generally, and the bonding study is an observation of one of their contacts
with T.A., Exhibit 91 is not a record of how Father and Mother maintained contact with
DSS, T.A., or the B.s.
“[I]ncluding… the parent’s contribution to a reasonable
part of the child’s care and support, if the parent is
financially able to do so.” FL § 5-323(d)(2)(ii).
This factor requires the juvenile court to determine if the parent has reasonably
contributed to the child’s financial support. Here, the juvenile court found that:
o “There is no evidence of reasonable financial support by the parents for
[T.A.’s] care… .”
The record supports the juvenile court’s finding that Father and Mother did not
contribute to T.A.’s financial support. The juvenile court orders frequently noted that
Father and Mother were unemployed. The evidence regarding Father and Mother’s lack of
financial support is not found in Exhibit 91 and, as a result, Exhibit 91 did not prejudice
the juvenile court’s analysis of this factor.
“[I]ncluding… the existence of a parental disability that
makes the parent consistently unable to care for the child’s
immediate and ongoing physical or psychological needs for
long periods of time.” FL § 5-323(d)(2)(iii).
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This factor requires that the juvenile court take into consideration any parental
disability. This factor was not applicable in this case.
“[I]ncluding… whether additional services would be likely
to bring about a lasting parental adjustment so that the
child could be returned to the parent within an
ascertainable time not to exceed 18 months from the date
of placement unless the juvenile court makes a specific
finding that it is in the child’s best interests to extend the
time for a specified period.” FL § 5-323(d)(2)(iv).
The next factor requires the juvenile court to consider whether additional
services would result in the child being able to return to the parent within 18 months.
Here, the juvenile court found that:
o “After a review of the testimony and exhibits the Court finds that any
additional services offered to the parents would not change their
circumstances such that reunification could occur and this case is well
beyond the 18-month period after placement.”
The juvenile court’s findings regarding this factor are more than sufficient. T.A. was
taken in by DSS at birth. By the time the juvenile court was determining whether it should
terminate the parental rights of Father and Mother, T.A. was just over four years old. The
juvenile court noted that the same issues that plagued Father and Mother at the time of
T.A.’s birth were the same issues that plagued them four years later. The failure to change
over the span of four years was more than sufficient to convince the juvenile court that an
additional 18 months would not change the situation.
Although the juvenile court generally referenced “the testimony and exhibits” here,
we conclude that the juvenile court’s finding may be derived inferentially from all the
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exhibits, excluding Exhibit 91 and, therefore, that there was no probability of prejudice
from its admission. Father’s FRP Casefile printout details his struggle with drug use over
many years. The case plans detail the steps Father needed to take, starting in 2012, to stop
smoking, stop using drugs, stop drinking, find housing and employment, and complete
parenting courses. Subsequent updates to the case plans also reveal that Father had not
completed most of those steps. It was logical for the juvenile court to conclude, therefore,
based on the FRP Casefile and the case plans, that additional services would not result in
reunification within 18 months. Therefore, even though the juvenile court generally
referred to “all exhibits,” we conclude that there was no probability that Exhibit 91
prejudiced the analysis of this factor.
“[W]hether the parent has abused or neglected the child or
a minor and the seriousness of the abuse or neglect.”
“[W]hether the parent subjected the child to … chronic
abuse.” FL § 5-323(d)(3)(i), (iii).
The juvenile court is also required to consider whether the parent has abused or
neglected the child. Here, the juvenile court found that:
o “[The] Court does not find an issue of chronic abuse or life threatening
neglect … .”
T.A. was placed directly with the B.s upon his release from the hospital and has
never resided with either of his biological parents. The prior court orders reviewed by the
juvenile court did not evidence abuse or neglect charges. Because this factor was
inapplicable to T.A.’s circumstances, there was no probability of prejudice.
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“[W]hether… A. on admission to a hospital for the child’s
delivery, the mother tested positive for a drug as evidenced
by a positive toxicology test; or B. upon the birth of the
child, the child tested positive for a drug as evidenced by a
positive toxicology test.” FL § 5-323(d)(3)(ii).
This factor inquires into whether the child or the mother tested positive for drugs at
the time of the child’s birth. Here, the juvenile court found that:
o “[T.A.] was born drug-exposed and addicted.”
The fact that both T.A. and Mother tested positive for opiates at T.A.’s birth is
repeated in numerous exhibits. Almost all of the prior court orders reference this fact, the
case plans for T.A. reference this fact, and the recommendations of the parties for the
permanency hearings reference that T.A. was born drug-exposed. Although Exhibit 91
does mention in the summary section of Father and Mother’s parental fitness evaluations
that T.A. was born drug-exposed, Exhibit 91 merely cites the court records already in
evidence as the source of that information. We conclude, therefore, that there was no
probability that the admission of Exhibit 91 into evidence affected the juvenile court’s
findings regarding T.A. and Mother’s toxicology results.
“[W]hether… the parent has been convicted, in any state
or any court of the United States, of … a crime of violence.”
FL § 5-323(d)(3)(iv).
The juvenile court must also consider whether either parent has been convicted of a
crime of violence. Here, the juvenile court found that:
o “There are … no aggravated circumstances nor crimes of violence that
apply here.”
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As this factor is inapplicable to T.A.’s life, there could be no probability of
prejudice.
“[W]hether… the parent has involuntarily lost parental
rights to a sibling of the child.” FL § 5-323(d)(3)(v).
The juvenile court must also consider whether the parent has involuntarily lost
parental rights to another child. Here, the juvenile court found that:
o “There are [not] … any involuntary termination of previous – involuntary
termination of parental rights.”
Several exhibits reference the ongoing case of A., T.A.’s older sibling, but the
outcome of that case had not yet been determined. Exhibit 91 did not discuss A.’s ongoing
case. The juvenile court did not explicitly refer to Exhibit 91, nor could Exhibit 91 have
been the source of this information. There was, therefore, no probability that Exhibit 91
prejudiced the juvenile court’s consideration of this factor.
“[T]he child’s emotional ties with and feelings toward the
child’s parents, the child’s siblings, and others who may
affect the child’s best interests significantly; the child’s
adjustment to 1. community; 2. home; 3. placement; and
4. school; the child’s feelings about severance of the parent-
child relationship; and the likely impact of terminating
parental rights on the child’s well-being.” FL § 5-
323(d)(4)(i)-(iv).
This final grouping of factors requires the juvenile court to consider the child’s
connections to those around him or her. This includes the child’s emotional ties with the
biological parents, with siblings, and with others who significantly affect the child’s best
interests. Also, the juvenile court must consider the child’s adjustment to his or her
community, home, placement, and school, and forecast how the child feels regarding the
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severance of the parent-child relationship, and the likely impact that terminating parental
rights will have on the child’s well-being. Thus this grouping of factors examines the
child’s connections to those around him or her.
The only time in its entire analysis that the juvenile court explicitly commented on
Exhibit 91 was in its analysis of this final grouping of factors. The juvenile court found
that “[p]er the bonding studies and the testimony of the case worker, Ms. Hemingway,
[T.A.] is … bonded to his care givers and the care givers have become his parents.” The
juvenile court then found that:
o “To change his current living situation per the testimony quote, they
would have to restart the process.”
o “That is, uprooting [T.A.], per this Court’s findings, would be detrimental
to his best interest and particularly detrimental to his physical status
considering his physical fragility and vulnerability.”
o “He is bonded and secure with his care givers.”
o “He has adjusted to home, community, school and placement.”
o “He has a foster brother.”
o “He attends the YMCA.”
o “He does well academically.”
o “He is nurtured and stable with all of his extensive medical needs met –
being met by his care givers who take him to and from his many medical
appointment.”
o “The Court finds that [T.A.’s] feelings regarding severance of the
parental relationship practically does not exist.”
o “He does not have any feelings regarding severance, as the care givers,
who he calls Mom and Dad, are the only parents that he has known since
he was five days old.”
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o “[T.A.] will be 5 years old in two months.”
We hold that the juvenile court’s findings for this group of factors were supported
by clear and convincing evidence outside of Exhibit 91. We come to this conclusion, even
though the juvenile court expressly referenced the bonding studies in Exhibit 91, because
the basis for the juvenile court’s findings may be found either in the testimony of Ms.
Hemingway or Ms. B., or can be inferred from the record as a whole outside of Exhibit 91.
To explain our conclusion, we will discuss the findings that could be, first, attributed to the
testimony of Ms. Hemingway; second, attributed to the testimony of Ms. B.; and finally,
inferred from the testimony and the record in general.
First, several of the juvenile court’s findings for this group of factors are taken from
the testimony of Ms. Hemingway. Ms. Hemingway testified that when T.A. was younger
and first started visits with Father and Mother, T.A. “would hang up under me, you know,
until he got, you know, used to them.” Ms. Hemingway also testified that after Father and
Mother were released from incarceration, T.A.’s relationship with them had to “start all
over again.” In regard to the B.s, Ms. Hemingway testified that T.A. responds to them “[a]s
Mom, Dad. It’s a loving, healthy, caring relationship. … [H]e interacts well with them.”
As a result, from Ms. Hemingway’s testimony the juvenile court was able to find that T.A.
is “bonded and secure with his care givers,” that changing T.A.’s living situation would
require that they “restart the process,” that T.A. is “adjusted to home, community, school
and placement,” and that he is “nurtured and stable.” Thus, much of the juvenile court’s
findings for this factor can be directly attributed to Ms. Hemingway’s testimony.
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Second, support for another portion of the findings made by the juvenile court is
found in the testimony of Ms. B. For example, Ms. B. testified that T.A. refers to her and
her husband as Mom and Dad. Ms. B. testified about T.A.’s daily activities such as school,
after school activities, family activities, and medical appointments. Ms. B. also testified
about T.A.’s interactions with the B.’s extended family and how T.A. initiates phone calls
and video chats with the extended family. From Ms. B.’s testimony, the juvenile court
could find that T.A. is bonded to his care givers, is “adjusted to home, community, school
and placement,” has a foster brother, attends the YMCA, does well academically, that the
B.’s meet his extensive medical needs and take him to medical appointments, and that he
calls the B.’s Mom and Dad. Thus, much of the juvenile court’s findings for this factor can
be attributed to the testimony of Ms. B.
Finally, the remaining findings that were not taken directly from the testimony of
Ms. Hemingway or Ms. B., can be inferred from the record as a whole, without reference
to Exhibit 91. That T.A. does not have any feelings regarding severance of the parental
relationship may be inferred from T.A.’s age, from the fact that he calls the B.s Mom and
Dad, and from the fact that he has only ever resided with the Bs. Likewise, the finding that
T.A. does not have feelings regarding severance of the parental relationship may also be
inferred from his age and from the testimony of Ms. B. that he does not talk about Father
and Mother after visits. Thus, the findings that are not directly taken from testimony may
be discerned from the context of the record as a whole, without reference to Exhibit 91.
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In conclusion, although the juvenile court prefaced its findings by stating, “per the
bonding studies and the testimony of the case worker,” we conclude that there was
sufficient testimony for the juvenile court to make the same findings without a need for
Exhibit 91. The testimony of Ms. Hemingway, the testimony of Ms. B., and the context of
the record as a whole, provided sufficient evidence for each of the findings discussed above
without reference to Exhibit 91. As a result, we conclude that there was no probability that
the juvenile court’s consideration of Exhibit 91 prejudiced its analysis of this grouping of
factors either.
c. Termination of Parental Rights Factors Collectively
The juvenile court must give “primary consideration to the health and safety of the
child” and then give “consideration to all other factors needed to determine whether
terminating a parent’s rights is in the child’s best interests.” FL § 5-323(d). Thus, the
juvenile court must keep in its mind the health and safety of the child, and then balance all
of the factors previously discussed to determine if the termination of parental rights is in
the child’s best interest. Even though the factors discussed in the previous section are
individually important, the collective weight of the factors allows the juvenile court to
determine the child’s best interests. Ordinarily, if the health and safety of the child and the
child’s best interests both weigh in favor of termination, the juvenile court will not err or
abuse its discretion by terminating parental rights.
We conclude that there was no probability that the admission of Exhibit 91 into
evidence prejudiced the juvenile court’s finding that T.A.’s best interests was to terminate
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parental rights. During its analysis of all the factors, the juvenile court explicitly referenced
Exhibit 91 one time. That reference was only in passing, “per the bonding studies and the
testimony of the case worker,” and, as explained above, the findings were backed by other
testimony. The one-time observation of T.A. with the B.s and with his Father and Mother
was unique to Exhibit 91. But the general discussion of the level of bonding he had with
the adults, was not unique to Exhibit 91. The record contained exhibits showing the entire
history of the case and the years of bonding that T.A. had with the B.s but not with Father
and Mother. We conclude, therefore, that there was no probability that the admission of
Exhibit 91 prejudiced the juvenile court’s analysis of T.A.’s best interests and that its
admission was harmless error.
JUDGMENT OF THE CIRCUIT COURT
FOR BALTIMORE CITY AFFIRMED.
COSTS TO BE PAID BY APPELLANT.
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