In re Meena H. , 2018 ME 13 ( 2018 )

MAINE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT Reporter of Decisions
Decision: 2018 ME 13Docket: Ken-17-344
Submitted
On Briefs: January 11, 2018
Decided: January 23, 2018
Panel: ALEXANDER, MEAD, GORMAN, JABAR, HJELM, and HUMPHREY, JJ.
IN RE MEENA H. et al.
PER CURIAM
[¶1] The mother of Meena H. and Blayne H. and the father of Blayne H.
appeal from a judgment of the District Court (Waterville, Stanfill, J.)
terminating their parental rights pursuant to 22 M.R.S. § 4055(1)(A)(1)(a)
and (B)(2)(a), (b)(i)-(ii) (2017).1 The mother challenges the sufficiency of the
evidence to support the trial court’s finding of parental unfitness.2 Counsel for
the father filed a brief indicating that there are no arguable issues with merit
in this appeal and, by order signed September 26, 2017, we granted the father
the opportunity to file a supplemental brief. The father did not file any
1 Meena’s biological father is unknown, was served with the petition to terminate parental
rights by publication, and has never participated in this proceeding. In its judgment, the court
terminated the parental rights of the “[u]nknown genetic father.” Blayne’s father did participate in
this case. The court terminated his parental rights to Blaine and also did so with respect to Meena
“[t]o the extent [he] may have a parentage claim with regard to Meena.”
2 Following the court’s judgment, the mother filed a motion for additional findings of fact and
conclusions of law and a motion to amend the judgment, pursuant to M.R. Civ. P. 52(b) and 59(e).
The court denied the motion, stating that the findings made were sufficient and that the proposed
findings, even those that were true and uncontroverted, were irrelevant to the court’s analysis. On
appeal, the mother does not challenge the court’s denial of her Rule 52(b) motion.
2
supplemental materials. Concluding that the evidence supports the court’s
findings, we affirm the judgment.
[¶2] The court found, by clear and convincing evidence, that the mother
and Blayne’s father were unable to protect the children from jeopardy or take
responsibility for the children within a time reasonably calculated to meet
their needs, and that the termination of their parental rights is in the
children’s best interests. See 22 M.R.S. § 4055(1)(B)(2)(a), (b)(i)-(ii). We
review the factual findings supporting the determination of parental unfitness
for clear error. See In re Logan M., 2017 ME 23, ¶ 3, 155 A.3d 430. The court
based its determination of unfitness on the following findings of fact.
This case began in January 2016, but the family’s
involvement with the Department started long before that.
Blayne and Meena . . . were the subjects of petitions for child
protective orders filed on December 4, 2013. . . . The children
remained in Department custody until the case was dismissed on
October 2, 2015[,] after successful reunification with Mother . . . .
Reunification with [Blayne’s father] was not pursued at [Blayne’s
father’s] request as he did not wish to pursue anything but visits
with Blayne. . . .
. . . Very quickly after reunification [in 2015, the mother]
became more disengaged . . . . By January 27, 2016, [the mother’s]
mental health had deteriorated so significantly that she was
hospitalized at Maine General Hospital for almost a month and
was completely unable to care for the children. [Blayne’s father],
although aware that [the mother] needed hospitalization, did not
step up to protect the children or be their primary caretaker.
3
On January 28, 2016, the Department sought and this court
granted a [preliminary protection order], bringing the children
back into Department custody. . . .
[The mother] has struggled with mental health issues
resulting in multiple psychiatric hospitalizations since she was a
teenager. . . . She carries a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder,
which means she exhibits both a psychotic component and mood
disorder.
. . . [The mother’s] continued medication compliance has
historically been a big issue. When she is on her medications she
generally does quite well. When [the mother] is symptomatic, she
experiences thought broadcasting and paranoia; she can be
depressed, manic, and psychotic. This can happen in a matter of
days, and she is unable to care for herself or the children.
. . . .
. . . Although acknowledging that her actions contributed to
[her children’s anger, anxiousness and behaviors], [the mother]
does not squarely take responsibility for her role in the harm the
children have suffered. . . . [S]he does not understand the
devastating impact that her spiraling mental health has had on
these children.
. . . .
The second removal was devastating for the children. When
she came back into care in January 2016, Meena was much more
anxious tha[n] she had been the first time. She is parentified, and
is always looking out for Blayne. . . . Her compulsive behaviors
have increased. She has presented with somatic symptoms of
anxiety. . . .
Meena reported a lot of fighting between her mother and
[Blayne’s father]. . . . She reported that her mother “bopped” her
in the mouth and she did not understand why. . . .
4
Blayne is younger and does not have as high a level of
anxiety as Meena. Blayne is angry and defiant and acts out
aggressively. He is diagnosed with an adjustment disorder. He
does not know what “home” is. . . .
[The mother] has been stable since February 2017, but she
has had periods of stability before. . . . The court is very wary as to
[the mother’s] ability to recognize any future mental health crisis
and seek appropriate safety for the children. When her disease
flares up and is more active, she becomes paranoid, keeps the
children close to her, will not ask for help, and is afraid someone
will take the children. . . .
With regard to [Blayne’s father], he did not participate in
reunification services during the first case. . . . He only began to
participate in reunification services in the fall of 2016. He has a
history of domestic violence and was incarcerated . . . during this
case. . . .
. . . .
[Blayne’s father] has no insight into the harm Meena and
Blayne have suffered, what their needs are, or the impact of [the
mother’s] mental illness. He admits that [his] relationship with
[the mother] had a history of being rocky and [a] history of
domestic violence. He denied that the domestic violence would
have had any impact on the children because they were too
young. . . .
. . . .
[The mother and Blayne’s father] clearly love the children,
and the children clearly love them. If Meena has a steady and
predictable and consistent environment, she does well. She
becomes destabilized with change . . . . In order to develop in a
healthy manner, she needs safety, predictability, and security. She
especially needs permanency in the form of a regular, safe, and
5
stable support system. . . . If returned to her mother, Meena would
regress . . . .
The impact on Meena of her chaotic life with [her mother] is
obvious; it is profound and significant. The impact on Blayne is
less apparent. However, the past is prologue, both for parents and
for the children. . . .
. . . [The mother] has worked very hard, especially in 2017,
to address some of the many issues that existed in her case, and
she has come a long way. Despite all the wonderful progress [the
mother] has made in reunification, however, the court is sadly
persuaded by clear and convincing evidence that she does not
have the ability to provide a consistent, safe, stable and
predictable environment for Meena and Blayne, which is the
environment these children must have. With regard to [Blayne’s
father], the court is likewise persuaded by clear and convincing
evidence that he does not have the ability to provide a consistent,
safe, stable and predictable environment for Meena and Blayne
and cannot do so within a time reasonably calculated to meet
their needs.
The children are very fragile and highly anxious. . . . If
returned to [their] mother’s care, this court has no doubt that
their mental and emotional health will decline no matter how well
[the mother] does. . . . In other words, [the mother] simply cannot
protect the children from jeopardy or meet their needs without
regard to how well she has done in her services. . . . [T]his court is
convinced that there will be another episode because that is the
nature of [the mother’s] disease.
. . . This case has been pending for well over [eighteen]
months, and follows shortly after another episode of care for
almost two years. Reunification services have been provided for
almost [three and one-half] years. Permanency is of the utmost
critical importance for these children, and they cannot get
permanency in the form of a regular, safe, and stable support
system with their parents.
6
(Citations omitted) (footnotes omitted).
[¶3] These findings are sufficient to support the court’s conclusion that
the parents are unable to protect the children from jeopardy or take
responsibility for the children within a time reasonably calculated to meet the
children’s needs. See 22 M.R.S. § 4055(1)(B)(2)(b)(i)-(ii). We therefore
conclude that the court did not err when it determined that the parents are
unfit pursuant to section 4055(1)(B)(2)(b). See In re Logan M., 2017 ME 23,
¶ 3, 155 A.3d 430.
[¶4] Even though neither parent challenged the court’s finding that
termination is in the children’s best interests, we also conclude that the court
did not err or abuse its discretion in making that determination. See In re
Arturo G., 2017 ME 228, ¶ 11 n.3, --- A.3d ---. The record supports the court’s
conclusion that “termination will allow [the children] to heal, to grow and to
thrive whereas a return to either parent will not.”
The entry is:
Judgment affirmed.
7
Elyse M. Apantaku, Esq., Schneider & Brewer, Waterville, for appellant mother
Heidi M. Pushard, Esq., Lewiston, for appellant father
Janet T. Mills, Attorney General, and Meghan Szylvian, Asst. Atty. Gen., Office of
the Attorney General, Augusta, for appellee Department of Health and Human
Services
Waterville District Court docket numbers PC-2016-5 and PC-2016-6
FOR CLERK REFERENCE ONLY