In Re mallett/johnson Minors ( 2023 )

If this opinion indicates that it is “FOR PUBLICATION,” it is subject to
revision until final publication in the Michigan Appeals Reports.
STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
UNPUBLISHED
In re MALLETT/JOHNSON, Minors. December 21, 2023
No. 366518
Saginaw Circuit Court
Family Division
LC No. 21-049621-NA
Before: RIORDAN, P.J., and MURRAY and M. J. KELLY, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Respondent appeals by right the trial court’s order terminating her parental rights to the
minor children, CAAJ and ALM, pursuant to MCL 712A.19b(3)(c)(i) (conditions that led to
adjudication continue to exist) and (j) (reasonable likelihood of harm if returned to parent). On
appeal, respondent does not challenge whether the evidence supported the statutory grounds for
termination or whether termination was in the children’s best interests. Instead, respondent
contends that her due-process rights were violated on multiple grounds. Discerning no error in the
proceedings below with respect to the issues raised by respondent, we affirm.
I. RELEVANT FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
On April 9, 2021, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) alleged that
respondent had severe substance abuse and mental health issues that affected her parenting ability
and that, on two occasions, respondent had repeatedly driven her car into fences and cars while
she was highly intoxicated with the children in the backseat. DHHS requested that the trial court
remove the children from respondent’s care and custody and exercise jurisdiction. The petition
was authorized, the children were removed from respondent’s care, and respondent was granted
supervised parenting time.
On April 19, 2021, a bench trial was conducted to determine whether the court could
exercise jurisdiction over the children. At the beginning of the trial, respondent pleaded to
jurisdiction pursuant to MCL 712A.2(b)(1) and (b)(2). Respondent admitted that she had a
substance abuse problem that negatively impacted her parenting ability. The trial court exercised
its jurisdiction, continued respondent’s supervised parenting time, and ordered DHHS to engage
in reasonable efforts toward reunification. DHHS created a case service plan, which the trial court
adopted at the initial disposition hearing on June 4, 2021. Respondent was ordered to participate
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in and benefit from substance abuse treatment, individual and group therapy, and parenting
education. Respondent was also ordered to complete random drug screens, complete a
psychological evaluation, and follow all recommendations from the psychological evaluation,
including but not limited to attending substance abuse treatment at an inpatient facility.
Respondent’s participation in the case service plan was poor. Though she had completed
a psychological evaluation, she failed to consistently attend counseling sessions, and she was
discharged from several mental health services for failing to attend and noncompliance.
Respondent also completed substance abuse treatment at an inpatient facility in June 2021, but she
failed to participate in the outpatient treatment program as she was required to do. Respondent
also largely failed to complete her random drug screens, and when she did complete drug screens
for her caseworkers, she tested positive for substances. Respondent did not consistently attend
scheduled visitations with the children. Respondent was incarcerated several times throughout the
case, and though she was referred to a specialty court to assist her with her mental health and
substance abuse, respondent was subsequently dismissed for failing to attend her mandatory court
hearings. DHHS struggled to communicate with respondent because she frequently failed to
respond to text messages or answer phone calls from DHHS employees.
On October 7, 2022, DHHS filed a supplemental petition requesting that the trial court
terminate respondent’s parental rights to the children under MCL 712A.19b(3)(c)(i), (g) (failure
to provide proper care and custody), and (j). A termination hearing was held on November 18,
2022. Respondent was present at the hearing and actively participated in it through the assistance
of counsel by cross-examining witnesses and presenting her own testimony.
The caseworker testified that termination was in the children’s best interests because, while
the children and respondent had a bond, respondent had not participated in her services, and, as a
result, there was still a concern that the children would be subjected to “continued ongoing neglect”
and potential physical harm if returned to respondent. The caseworker stated that, because of
respondent’s lack of participation in the offered services, there was nothing to show that if the
children returned home they would be provided with appropriate shelter, food, water, supervision,
education, structure, and medical appointments. The caseworker also noted that, at the time of the
termination hearing, CAAJ and ALM were four and three years of age, respectively, and they had
spent half their lives in foster care. The caseworker testified that the children were thriving in their
foster home, all of the children’s needs were being met, and the children referred to their foster
mother as “mom.” After the close of proofs, the referee stated that he would take the matter “under
advisement” and issue a written opinion containing his recommendations after he reviewed the
entire record again.
By December 27, 2022, another review hearing was held, and the referee had not yet
released a written opinion on his recommendations regarding termination. A temporary substitute
referee presided over the hearing, and he acknowledged the original referee’s absence:
Before I move on to the exhibits, I’ll identify for the record that on or about
November 18th of 2022 a hearing on the supplemental petition to terminate parental
rights was heard. [Referee Keuvelaar] took that under advisement. [Referee
Keuvelaar] is not available, he has not been available since the Wednesday before
Thanksgiving. I am not certain if he will be able to return. A recommendation has
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not been completed regarding that petition and so at this time the court is going to
proceed forward with purposes of the review today.
The parties proceeded with the review hearing, and the caseworker reported that respondent
had still not made any progress with any of her services and that respondent was largely
noncommunicative with DHHS. At the close of proofs, the referee again addressed the termination
hearing and the progress of the case going forward:
I am not the regular hearing officer responsible for this case. I did have a
chance to review some of the information leading up to today as well as the exhibits
entered in the hearing as well as listen to the testimony . . . . A hearing on a
supplemental petition was held on November 18th of 2022. That was taken under
advisement and a recommendation has not been presented to [the trial judge] for
review and I do not know if there will be one. Based on the information presented
today, I will indicate that [respondent] has not made any progress in her case service
plan . . . .
* * *
I understand that this is somewhat unusual for the court not to have resolved the
hearing for termination of parental rights before this hearing today, I apologize to
everyone on behalf of the court that that matter has not been resolved timely,
however I don’t think that it is appropriate to start and stop potential parenting time
as that decision or another decision regarding that hearing the supplemental petition
would be made at some point in the future . . . .
As I indicated previously a hearing on the supplemental petition will have
to be reevaluated. It may be that it is rescheduled or the referee may issue a
recommendation in the meantime. I do not know fully what that will be but I’ll
keep evaluating it on behalf of this case . . . .
The referee informed the parties that the next review hearing was scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on March
7, 2023, and he reminded them that he was a referee and that his recommendations could be
reviewed by the trial judge within seven days of the hearing if a party requested review.
As scheduled, another review hearing was held on March 7, 2023. Respondent failed to
appear, but respondent’s counsel appeared on respondent’s behalf. A new substitute referee
presided over the hearing, and he indicated at the start of the hearing that he had “taken over this
case” from the original referee because he was no longer available. After conducting the review
hearing, the parties addressed the change in referees, and the new referee asked the parties if they
were willing to stipulate to his reviewing the prior record and making a decision based upon that
information. None of the parties objected. Respondent’s counsel stated:
Since my client has made no contact with me [and] hasn’t advised me of her address
or her phone number where I can contact her I cannot consult with her and get her
consent. As an attorney I can say that we all presented all the evidence that we had
at that [termination hearing], that my client was present, that she was able to
provide—to assist in her own defense in that [termination hearing] and I cannot see
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any harm that would come to her case from allowing this referee to go back and
review the entire record and issue a decision. I would appreciate it if the court
would give her a period of time to respond in writing if she objects, but otherwise
I can’t see as counsel how this would be at all prejudicial to her case. So I would
stipulate.
The new referee stated he would “offer a 14 day window for anyone to file an objection,” and he
indicated that he would review the record and the termination hearing so that he could make an
informed decision about the termination of parental rights. The referee then reminded the parties
that they had the right to have the trial judge review his findings if they requested the review within
seven days. Each party was served with a copy of the March 7, 2023 order on March 28, 2023,
and respondent was served by first-class mail. On April 13, 2023, the court issued an amended
copy of the order to indicate that the parties had received verbal notice at the March 7, 2023 hearing
that they had 14 days to object to the new substitute referee “reviewing the recordings of the
termination [hearing] and issuing an order,” and respondent was again served by first-class mail.
None of the parties ever objected to the new referee handling the case, and, on May 15,
2023, the referee issued a written opinion and recommended that the trial court terminate
respondent’s parental rights pursuant to MCL 712A.19b(3)(c)(i) and (j) because DHHS had
established those statutory grounds by clear and convincing evidence and termination was in the
children’s best interests. Relying on the referee’s written opinion, the trial court terminated
respondent’s parental rights on May 15, 2023. This appeal followed.
II. PROCEDURAL DUE PROCESS
Respondent argues that her due-process rights were violated because a substitute attorney
referee who did not preside over the termination hearing recommended that her parental rights be
terminated. Specifically, respondent asserts that she was provided inadequate notice that a
substitute referee would be taking over her case and of her right to object to the substitute attorney
presiding over the case.
Because respondent did not argue in the trial court that her due-process rights were
violated, the issue is unpreserved. See In re VanDalen, 293 Mich App 120, 135; 809 NW2d 412(2011). This Court reviews unpreserved claims of constitutional error arising out of child
protective proceedings for plain error affecting substantial rights. Id.; In re Pederson, 331 Mich
App 445, 462-463; 951 NW2d 704 (2020). The respondent bears the burden of persuasion and, to
obtain appellate relief, must show: (1) an error occurred, (2) the error was clear or obvious, and
(3) the error affected substantial rights. In re Ferranti, 504 Mich 1, 29; 934 NW2d 610 (2019).
To satisfy the third element, the respondent must show that the error “affected the outcome of the
proceedings.” In re Utrera, 281 Mich App 1, 9; 761 NW2d 253 (2008). Reversal is not warranted
unless the plain error seriously affected the integrity, fairness, or public reputation of the judicial
proceedings. In re MOTA, 334 Mich App 300, 311; 964 NW2d 881 (2020).
“A natural parent has a fundamental liberty interest in the care, custody, and management
of his [or her] child that is protected by the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States
Constitution . . . and by article 1, § 17, of the Michigan Constitution[.]” In re Rood, 483 Mich 73,
91; 763 NW2d 587 (2009) (opinion by CORRIGAN, J.) (quotation marks and citations omitted).
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“At its core, due process requires the opportunity to be heard at a meaningful time and in a
meaningful manner.” In re BGP, 320 Mich App 338, 343; 906 NW2d 228 (2017) (quotation
marks, citation, and alteration omitted). “The opportunity to be heard includes the right to notice
of that opportunity,” and “[a]n elementary and fundamental requirement of due process in any
proceeding which is to be accorded finality is notice reasonably calculated, under all the
circumstances, to apprise interested parties of the pendency of the action and afford them an
opportunity to present their objections.” Rood, 483 Mich at 92 (quotation marks and citation
omitted). Therefore, “a parent is entitled to procedural due process if the state seeks to terminate
his [or her] parental rights,” and “[t]he state must make reasonable efforts to notify [the parent] of
the proceedings and allow him [or her] a meaningful opportunity to participate.” Id. at 122.
Respondent primarily argues that her due-process rights were violated because the trial
court did not adhere to the procedural requirements detailed in MCR 6.440(B) when substituting
the new referee for the old one. MCR 6.440(B) is wholly inapplicable to this case. MCR 6.440
specifically governs criminal procedure, and child protective proceedings are not governed by the
rule. See Ferranti, 501 Mich at 14 (“Child protective proceedings are governed by the juvenile
code, MCL 712A.1 et seq., and Subchapter 3.900 of the Michigan Court Rules.”). Additionally,
the proceedings that respondent principally complains of—the termination hearing and the March
7, 2023 review hearing—neither constituted a trial nor involved a judge. In a child protective
proceeding, a “trial” is “the fact-finding adjudication of an authorized petition to determine if the
minor comes within the jurisdiction of the court” and “a specific adjudication of a parent’s
unfitness to determine whether the parent is subject to the dispositional authority of the court.”
MCR 3.903(A)(27). The termination hearing and the March 7, 2023 review hearing were therefore
not “trials.” See id. Moreover, referees in child protective proceedings are not judges. Referees
are ordinarily individuals who are “licensed to practice law in Michigan,” and the trial court is
permitted to “assign a referee to conduct a preliminary inquiry,” “preside at a hearing,” and “make
recommended findings and conclusions.” MCR 3.913(A)(1), (2)(b). Referees may also “conduct
the trial and further proceedings through disposition” absent a demand for a “trial by jury or by a
judge pursuant to MCR 3.911 or [MCR] 3.912[.]” MCR 3.913(B); see also MCR 3.911(B); MCR
3.912(B). Given that the proceedings were not criminal, did not involve a trial, and did not involve
a judge, MCR 6.440(B) is inapplicable to this case, and respondent’s arguments relying on the
statute as the basis for her due-process claims are without merit.
When removing the substance of respondent’s argument from the cloak of MCR 6.440(B),
respondent argues that her due-process rights were violated because she was not provided adequate
notice that a substitute referee would be providing recommendations in her case or of her right to
object to the substitute referee’s handling of her case. This argument is without merit. Respondent
was physically present at the December 27, 2022 hearing at which a temporary substitute referee
had informed her that the original referee was unavailable and that he was uncertain if the original
referee would ever be able to return or provide his recommendations regarding termination. The
temporary substitute referee reiterated at the end of that hearing that he was “not the regular hearing
officer responsible for this case” and that “a hearing on the supplemental petition [would] have to
be reevaluated.” Respondent was served with a copy of the order following that hearing via first-
class mail, which indicated that the court would determine whether “the hearing on the
supplemental petition [needed to] be rescheduled.” Moreover, respondent was informed
throughout the case by the presiding referee that she had the right at every proceeding to have a
trial judge review a referee’s “recommended findings and conclusions” if she requested review
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within seven days of the hearing, including at the December 27, 2022 hearing, at which a substitute
referee had informed her that he or another referee may have to replace the original referee going
forward. See MCR 3.913(C)(1) and MCR 3.991(A)(1), (B). Respondent took no issue with the
temporary substitute referee providing the trial court with his recommendations in lieu of the
original referee, which is evidenced by the fact that she did not demand that his findings be
reviewed by a trial judge despite being informed that she could do so. Therefore, it cannot be said
that the state failed to comply with required procedures that deprived respondent of due process.
Further, this Court may examine whether a “respondent was sufficiently responsible for
his [or her] own lack of participation” as to excuse a due-process violation. Rood, 483 Mich at
111-114. The crux of respondent’s argument was not that she did not receive adequate notice of
the March 7, 2023 hearing, but that she did not receive adequate notice of the substitute referee
providing recommendations in her case going forward because she was not present at the March
7, 2023 hearing at which the subject was discussed. This argument is also without merit. It is well
known by “[p]ractitioners in the field of child protective proceedings . . . that some parents do not
always show up for hearings,” but, “assuming proper notice was given, a parent’s interests are
protected by counsel.” In re Collier, 314 Mich App 558, 570 n 5; 887 NW2d 431 (2016).
Respondent was provided actual notice of the March 7, 2023 hearing when she was physically
present at the December 27, 2022 hearing, and she was served via first-class mail a copy of the
order following the December 27, 2022 hearing, which indicated that the next hearing was
scheduled for March 7, 2023. Respondent’s counsel was also provided with notice of the date of
the March 7, 2023 hearing; service on a respondent’s attorney is deemed sufficient notice after the
respondent’s first appearance in court, and the notice need not be served on respondent if his or
her attorney received proper notice. See MCR 3.920(G); In re BAD, 264 Mich App 66, 70 n 2;
690 NW2d 287 (2004) (citing an older version of the court rule).
The record also reflects that respondent made herself wholly unavailable and ceased
virtually all communication with DHHS employees and her own counsel for nearly all of the time
that had passed between the December 27, 2022 and the March 7, 2023 hearings. Had respondent
attended the March 2023 hearing that she was adequately notified of, she could have objected to
the new referee providing recommendations. See Rood, 483 Mich at 111-114. Additionally,
respondent’s counsel was present at the March 2023 hearing, and respondent was served through
first-class mail a copy of the order following the March 2023 hearing, thereby making her aware
of the court’s intention to substitute a new referee for the old one. See MCR 3.920(G); BAD, 264
Mich App at 70 n 2. The substitute referee left open a 14-day window for any of the parties to
object to his review of the record, and more than two months had passed before the substitute
ultimately made any recommendations. Respondent never raised any objections during that time.
Accordingly, respondent’s absence from the proceeding at which the substitute referee was
discussed does not present a procedural due-process violation because her interests were
adequately protected by counsel, see Collier, 314 Mich App at 570 n 5, and she received adequate
notice of the hearing and was responsible for her own lack of participation, see Rood, 483 Mich at
111-114.
We conclude that respondent did not show any error, much less plain error, with respect to
her due-process issues raised on appeal. However, even if respondent had shown plain error, we
would alternatively conclude that she has failed to show prejudice. Respondent contends that “she
would have objected” to the substitute referee making recommendations to the trial court “if given
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the opportunity.” However, procedural errors can be considered harmless if they do not affect the
fundamental fairness of the proceedings or the outcome of the case. See In re AMB, 248 Mich
App 144, 235; 640 NW2d 262 (2001); see also MCR 2.613(A). Given that the trial judge adopted
all of the referees’ recommendations throughout the case, including the substitute referee’s
termination recommendation, it is clear that the trial judge would not have reached a different
result had respondent successfully objected to the substitute referee and had the trial judge
personally presided over the case. See MCR 3.991(E) (stating that a trial judge must enter an order
adopting a referee’s recommendations unless (1) “the judge would have reached a different result
had he or she heard the case” or (2) “the referee committed a clear error of law” that “likely would
have affected the outcome” of the proceedings or “cannot otherwise be considered harmless”).
Furthermore, respondent does not challenge the trial court’s finding that there was
sufficient evidence to terminate her parental rights and that it was in the best interests of the
children to do so. Respondent was not arbitrarily deprived of her parental rights, and the March
2023 hearing itself was conducted with notice, a meaningful opportunity to be heard, and an
impartial decision-maker. See In re TK, 306 Mich App 698, 706; 859 NW2d 208 (2014).
Respondent was apprised of her right to challenge a referee’s findings and conclusions had she
ever wished to do so, but she never did. See MCR 3.913(C)(1); MCR 3.991.
Perhaps most importantly, the trial court conducted a termination hearing, and respondent
was not only present at the termination hearing but actively participated in it. The substitute
referee indicated that he would review the entire record and watch a recording of the termination
hearing so that he could make “an informed decision” before providing his recommendations, and
his written recommendations suggest that he did so. Being afforded a meaningful opportunity to
present one’s case is the gravamen of due process, see BGP, 320 Mich App at 343, and it is quite
clear from the record that respondent was afforded that opportunity. Accordingly, respondent has
failed to show that the replacement of the unavailable referee with a substitute referee affected the
outcome of the proceedings. See Utrera, 281 Mich App at 9; see also MOTA, 334 Mich App at
318-319.
Affirmed.
/s/ Michael J. Riordan
/s/ Christopher M. Murray
/s/ Michael J. Kelly
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