Saj v. Saj ( 2015 )

THIS OPINION HAS NO PRECEDENTIAL VALUE. IT SHOULD NOT BE
CITED OR RELIED ON AS PRECEDENT IN ANY PROCEEDING
EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY RULE 268(d)(2), SCACR.
THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
In The Court of Appeals
James Allan Saj and Margaret-Jean Sprigg Saj,
Respondents,
v.
Jennifer Grey Wilson Saj, Appellant.
In the interest of a minor under the age of eighteen.
Appellate Case No. 2015-001329
Appeal From York County
David G. Guyton, Family Court Judge
Unpublished Opinion No. 2015-UP-571
Submitted December 8, 2015 – Filed December 23, 2015
AFFIRMED
N. Beth Ramsey Faulkner, of Brice Law Firm, LLC, of
York, for Appellant.
Larry Dale Dove, of Barton Family Law, LLC, of Rock
Hill, for Respondents.
Elizabeth Hope Rainey, of Rock Hill, for the Guardian ad
Litem.
PER CURIAM: Jennifer Gray Wilson Saj (Mother) appeals the family court's
termination of her parental rights to her minor daughter (Child), arguing clear and
convincing evidence does not support termination of parental rights (TPR).
Mother also contends the family court erred in considering the Guardian ad Litem
(GAL) report and attached medical records, refusing to exclude a medical report,
and refusing to exclude the GAL's testimony regarding Mother's diagnoses. We
affirm.
"In appeals from the family court, this [c]ourt reviews factual and legal issues de
novo." Simmons v. Simmons, 392 S.C. 412, 414, 709 S.E.2d 666, 667 (2011).
Although this court reviews the family court's findings de novo, we are not
required to ignore the fact that the family court, who saw and heard the witnesses,
was in a better position to evaluate their credibility. Lewis v. Lewis, 392 S.C. 381,
385, 709 S.E.2d 650, 652 (2011).
First, we find the family court did not err in considering the GAL report and in
admitting a medical report or the GAL's testimony regarding Mother's diagnoses.
Mother's argument the court erred in considering the GAL report is not preserved
because it was not presented to the family court. See Srivastava v. Srivastava, 411
S.C. 481, 487, 769 S.E.2d 442, 446 (Ct. App. 2015) ("To preserve an issue for
appellate review, the issue cannot be raised for the first time on appeal, but must
have been raised to and ruled upon by the [family] court." (quoting Doe v. Doe,
370 S.C. 206, 212, 634 S.E.2d 51, 54 (Ct. App. 2006))); id. ("Therefore, when an
appellant neither raises an issue at [the hearing] nor [files] a Rule 59(e), SCRCP,
motion, the issue is not preserved for appellate review." (quoting Doe, 370 S.C. at
212, 634 S.E.2d at 54-55)). Mother also did not argue to the family court the
medical records the GAL discussed were hearsay; thus, her argument the records
constitute inadmissible hearsay is not preserved. See id. ("To preserve an issue for
appellate review, the issue cannot be raised for the first time on appeal, but must
have been raised to and ruled upon by the [family] court." (quoting Doe, 370 S.C.
at 212, 634 S.E.2d at 54)); id. ("Therefore, when an appellant neither raises an
issue at [the hearing] nor [files] a Rule 59(e), SCRCP, motion, the issue is not
preserved for appellate review." (quoting Doe, 370 S.C. at 212, 634 S.E.2d at 54-
55)). Additionally, we find the family court did not err in admitting Mother's
October 2013 medical report because the report was self-authenticated by Mother.
See Deep Keel, LLC v. Atl. Private Equity Grp., LLC, 413 S.C. 58, 64, 773 S.E.2d
607, 610 (Ct. App. 2015) ("'[T]he burden to authenticate . . . is not high' and
requires only that the proponent 'offer[ ] a satisfactory foundation from which the
[fact finder] could reasonably find that the evidence is authentic.'" (quoting United
States v. Hassan, 742 F.3d 104, 133 (4th Cir. 2014))). During the hearing, Mother
was asked if the medical report was from a doctor visit about which she had
already testified. Mother stated it was, and the family court ruled Mother had self-
authenticated the document. We agree.1 Mother's admission that the medical
report was from the previously admitted doctor's visit is a "satisfactory foundation"
showing the "evidence is authentic." See id. Further, we find the family court did
not err in refusing to exclude the GAL's testimony about Mother's diagnoses. The
GAL testified she reviewed Mother's medical records with Mother and Mother's
attorney; thus, she had personal knowledge of the records. See Rule 602, SCRE
("A witness may not testify to a matter unless evidence is introduced sufficient to
support a finding that the witness has personal knowledge of the matter. Evidence
to prove personal knowledge may, but need not, consist of the witness' own
testimony.").
Second, we find clear and convincing evidence supports TPR based on the
statutory ground of diagnosable condition that made Mother unlikely to provide
minimally acceptable care to Child. See S.C. Code Ann. § 63-7-2570(6) (Supp.
2014) ("The family court may order [TPR] upon a finding . . . [t]he parent has a
diagnosable condition unlikely to change within a reasonable time including, but
not limited to . . . mental illness, . . . and the condition makes the parent unlikely to
provide minimally acceptable care of the child."). "When the diagnosable
condition alleged is mental deficiency, there must be clear and convincing
evidence that: (1) the parent has a diagnosed mental deficiency, and (2) this
deficiency makes it unlikely that the parent will be able to provide minimally
acceptable care of the child." S.C. Dep't of Soc. Servs. v. Roe, 371 S.C. 450, 456,
639 S.E.2d 165, 168-69 (Ct. App. 2006). The grounds for TPR must be proven by
clear and convincing evidence. S.C. Dep't of Soc. Servs. v. Parker, 336 S.C. 248,
254, 519 S.E.2d 351, 354 (Ct. App. 1999). Evidence presented at the hearing
showed Mother had a diagnosable condition. Specifically, the GAL testified she
and Mother discussed her medical records and she learned Mother had self-
reported mood swings, bipolar disorder, and psychosis with schizophrenia during
an admission to the emergency room in 2012. Evidence presented at the hearing
1
We also note the report was admissible under Rule 7(c), SCFCR. See Rule 7(c),
SCFCR ("The written statement by a physician showing that the patient was
treated at certain times and the type of ailment."); S.C. Dep't of Soc. Servs. v.
Flemming, 271 S.C. 15, 17, 244 S.E.2d 517, 518 (1978) ("Rule [7](c), here in
question, permits the reception of a physician's written statement that the patient
was treated at certain times and the ailment for which treatment was
administered.").
also showed Mother's condition made it unlikely she could provide minimally
acceptable care to Child. As recently as October 2014, because Mother believed
someone had poisoned her, she called the non-emergency administrative 911 line
six times within an hour. Additionally, a medical report noted that in October
2012, Mother presented with paranoia, hyperactivity, quick speech, and illogical
thinking. The family court noted Mother presented with the same behavior during
the TPR hearing, and the GAL testified Mother's grooming, speech, and memory
degraded in the months leading up to the TPR hearing. Finally, Mother's text
messages to Grandmother and her comment to Child about having drowned her
children are additional disturbing pieces of evidence showing Mother's likely
inability to properly care for Child. Accordingly, this court finds Mother's
diagnoses, disturbing statements, and behavior at the hearing, indicate the family
court did not err in finding TPR was proper based on Mother's diagnosable
condition that made it unlikely she could care for Child.2
Finally, we find clear and convincing evidence shows TPR is in Child's best
interest. "The purpose of [the TPR statute] is to establish procedures for the
reasonable and compassionate [TPR] where children are abused, neglected, or
abandoned in order to protect the health and welfare of these children and make
them eligible for adoption . . . ." S.C. Code Ann. § 63-7-2510 (2010). In a TPR
case, the best interest of the child is the paramount consideration. S.C. Dep't of
Soc. Servs. v. Smith, 343 S.C. 129, 133, 538 S.E.2d 285, 287 (Ct. App. 2000).
"The interest[] of the child shall prevail if the child's interest and the parental rights
conflict." S.C. Code Ann. § 63-7-2620 (2010). Since Child moved, her grades and
her mental health have improved. Child has lived with her grandparents for almost
four years, and in that time she has become involved in extra-curricular activities,
maintained part-time jobs for personal money, and received a metamorphosis
award for the extreme change she made at school. Child's grandparents love her
and view her as a daughter, and Child feels at home with them. Additionally, the
GAL testified TPR was in Child's best interest and Child, who was sixteen at the
time of the TPR hearing, testified she wished to be adopted by her grandparents.
Accordingly, we find TPR is in Child's best interest.
2
Because we find clear and convincing evidence exists to affirm TPR on one
ground, we decline to address any remaining TPR grounds. See S.C. Dep't of Soc.
Servs. v. Headden, 354 S.C. 602, 613, 582 S.E.2d 419, 425 (2003) (stating when
clear and convincing evidence exists to affirm TPR on one ground, the appellate
courts may decline to address any remaining TPR grounds on appeal).
AFFIRMED.3
FEW, C.J., and KONDUROS and LOCKEMY, JJ., concur.
3
We decide this case without oral argument pursuant to Rule 215, SCACR.