In the Matter of the Dependency of D.D. ( 2020 )

FILED
JANUARY 2, 2020
In the Office of the Clerk of Court
WA State Court of Appeals, Division III
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION THREE
In the Matter of the Dependency of: ) No. 36485-2-III
)
D.D. ) UNPUBLISHED OPINION
)
PENNELL, A.C.J. — D.D.’s father challenges the sufficiency of the evidence for the
juvenile court’s determination that D.D. was dependent under RCW 13.34.030(6)(b) and
(c). 1 We affirm.
FACTS
Three-month-old D.D. was removed from his parents’ care after he was brought to
the hospital due to breathing problems and loss of consciousness. Although D.D. was
born prematurely, previous doctors’ visits had not revealed any preexisting health
problems, including eye or vision problems. Once at the hospital, D.D. did not show signs
of bruising or physical injury. But he was lethargic and not visually tracking. The soft
spot on D.D.’s head was full and bulging, when it should have been flat and soft. A
computerized tomography (CT) scan revealed a subdural hematoma—a collection of
1
D.D.’s mother has signed an agreed order of dependency and is not part of this
appeal.
No. 36485-2-III
In re Dependency of D.D.
blood gathered between D.D.’s skull and brain. Numerous retinal hemorrhages (bleeding
in the back part of the eyeball) were found during an eye exam, along with maculoschisis
(separation of retinal layers). D.D.’s treating physicians surmised he was the victim of
abusive head trauma. A specialist confirmed this diagnosis. 2
Based on information supplied by D.D.’s parents, the source of D.D.’s injuries
appeared to be his father, who had been watching D.D. outside the presence of D.D.’s
mother and admitted shaking D.D. to revive him. D.D.’s father also exhibited an angry
outburst at the hospital, necessitating an intervention by hospital security.
Hospital staff contacted Child Protective Services (CPS) and expressed their
concerns. The Department of Children, Youth, and Families initiated an investigation,
filed a dependency action, and placed D.D. in protective custody. D.D. spent several
months in foster care until being placed with his mother in April 2018. D.D.’s father was
the subject of a criminal investigation and was prohibited from having contact with D.D.
D.D.’s father was confrontational during the dependency process. During a May
2018 meeting, D.D.’s father called the Department’s social worker a “bitch” who “needed
2
“Abusive head trauma” refers to a head injury inflicted on a child or toddler by
an adult. 1 Report of Proceedings (Sept. 6, 2018) at 160. It is a diagnostic term developed
by the American Academy of Pediatrics to replace the term “shaken baby syndrome.”
Id. at 117.
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No. 36485-2-III
In re Dependency of D.D.
to watch her back.” 1 Report of Proceedings (Sept. 7, 2018) at 255. D.D.’s father added,
“CPS was going to go down and that everyone [needed] to watch their back.” Id.
In September 2018, the juvenile court held a three-day fact finding hearing. The
Department presented testimony from medical treatment providers and forensic experts,
opining that D.D.’s brain injury was caused by abusive head trauma. According to the
Department’s witnesses, abusive head trauma can occur without signs of external injury.
D.D.’s father presented competing testimony from three forensic experts. While
recognizing the Department’s experts relied on mainstream science, including guidelines
set by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the father’s experts claimed mainstream
science was flawed. According to the father’s experts, D.D.’s injuries were caused by
birth-related trauma, a seizure, or a combination of both. They claimed the absence of
external injuries ruled out the possibility of abusive head trauma.
D.D.’s father also testified and disputed several of the allegations that he
mistreated D.D.’s medical providers and the social worker. D.D.’s father claimed the
Department’s witnesses lied about him. He also asserted he was misunderstood due to his
Russian cultural heritage. D.D.’s father denied an anger problem or the need for services.
After hearing the case, the juvenile court commissioner took the matter under
advisement. The court then issued a letter opinion, carefully analyzing the witness
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testimony. The commissioner made credibility determinations favoring the Department’s
witnesses and disfavoring D.D.’s father and his experts. The court determined D.D.’s
head injury was caused by nonaccidental trauma inflicted by his father. The court also
found D.D.’s father lacked insight into the nature and seriousness of D.D.’s injuries.
Based on these findings, the court concluded D.D.’s father was “currently not capable of
caring for [D.D.] such that [D.D.] is in circumstances which constitute a danger of
substantial damage to his psychological or physical development.” Clerk’s Papers at 175.
D.D. was adjudicated dependent as to his father. His father now timely appeals.
ANALYSIS
In a dependency action, the Department is required to prove a child is dependent
within the meaning of RCW 13.34.030 by a preponderance of the evidence. RCW
13.34.110(1). A dependent child is defined as one who:
(a) Has been abandoned;
(b) Is abused or neglected as defined in chapter 26.44 RCW by a
person legally responsible for care of the child;
(c) Has no parent, guardian or custodian capable of adequately
caring for the child, such that the child is in circumstances which constitute
a danger of substantial damage to the child’s psychological or physical
development; or
(d) Is receiving extended foster care services, as authorized by
RCW 74.13.03.
RCW 13.34.030(6).
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The juvenile court found D.D. dependent pursuant to subsections (b) and (c) of the
statute. In this appeal, D.D.’s father challenges the adequacy of these findings. He argues
the testimony presented by his medical experts precluded the State from establishing
abuse under subsection (b) and, as a result, the court had no basis for determining D.D.
lacked a capable parent or guardian under subsection (c). We review the juvenile court’s
determination for substantial evidence. In re Dependency of M.S.D., 144 Wash. App. 468,
478, 182 P.3d 978 (2008).
The substantial evidence standard requires giving significant deference to the
juvenile court. We must look at the evidence “in the light most favorable to the prevailing
party.” In re Welfare of A.L.C., 8 Wash. App. 2d 864, 871, 439 P.3d 694 (2019). Here, that
means the Department. Once the facts are viewed in this light, we ask only whether a
rational fact finder “could” reach the same findings as the juvenile court according to the
preponderance of the evidence standard. Id. We do not review “credibility determinations
or weigh conflicting evidence.” In re Marriage of Black, 188 Wash. 2d 114, 127, 392 P.3d
1041 (2017).
The juvenile court’s dependency determination was driven by permissible
credibility determinations. Although the court could have credited the testimony of D.D.’s
father and the father’s experts, it was not required to do so. The Department’s witnesses
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provided competent evidence that D.D.’s brain injury was caused by a nonaccidental
traumatic event. It was further undisputed that, prior to his hospitalization, D.D. was
in the exclusive care of his parents. Around the time D.D. lost consciousness, he was
alone with his father. D.D.’s father also admitted to shaking D.D. Throughout his
interactions with the Department, D.D.’s father was combative and failed to express
contrition or insight into his behavior. Given this combination of circumstances, the
juvenile court had sufficient reasons for finding D.D. dependent as to his father based
on both RCW 13.34.030(6)(b) and (c).
It bears emphasis that a finding of dependency does not mean D.D. and his father
can never be reunited. Dependency proceedings are preliminary and remedial in nature.
In re Welfare of K.K., 119 Wash. 2d 600, 609, 836 P.2d 200 (1992). They “are designed to
protect children from harm, reunite families, and help parents alleviate the problems that
led to intervention.” In re Dependency of A.L.F., 192 Wash. App. 512, 523, 371 P.3d 537
(2016). While the allegations against D.D.’s father are serious, they are not necessarily
insurmountable. D.D.’s father clearly loves his family. The Department never alleged any
sort of premeditated intent to harm. D.D.’s father is encouraged to engage in
recommended services and work in good faith with the Department toward family
reunification.
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CONCLUSION
The order of dependency is affirmed.
A majority of the panel has determined this opinion will not be printed in
the Washington Appellate Reports, but it will be filed for public record pursuant to
RCW 2.06.040.
Q
Pennell, A.CJ.
WE CONCUR:
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