Michael Taylor v. Iowa Department of Human Services

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA
No. 14-1571
Filed August 5, 2015
MICHAEL TAYLOR,
Petitioner-Appellant,
vs.
IOWA DEPARTMENT OF
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent-Appellee.
________________________________________________________________
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, Eliza Ovrom, Judge.
A father appeals the district court decision affirming the agency action of
issuing a founded child abuse report against him and placing him on the child
abuse registry. REVERSED AND REMANDED WITH DIRECTIONS.
Steven P. DeVolder of The DeVolder Law Firm, Norwalk, for appellant.
Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, Kathryn K. Lang and Mary K.
Wickman, Assistant Attorneys General, for appellee.
Heard by Vogel, P.J., and Potterfield and Mullins, JJ.
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MULLINS, J.
Michael Taylor appeals from a district court ruling on judicial review
affirming the Iowa Department of Human Services’s (DHS) classification of a
reported incident of child abuse as founded. Taylor contends the district court
erred in concluding (1) the agency’s findings were supported by substantial
evidence and (2) the agency was not acting irrationally, illogically, unjustifiably,
and without authority when it placed Taylor on the abuse registry. Giving due
deference to the agency, we conclude substantial evidence supports its factual
finding that Taylor assaulted the child’s mother, C.E. On the child abuse issue,
however, we conclude the agency’s application of law to the facts was “irrational,
illogical, or wholly unjustifiable” when it failed to apply the proper law and
administrative rule. We therefore reverse the decision that Taylor should be
placed on the registry based on a finding that he committed child abuse by
denying critical care and remand to the district court to enter an order reversing
and remanding to the agency for further determinations consistent with this
opinion.
I. BACKGROUNDS FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS.
The following evidence was presented at the administrative hearing on
this matter:
C.E. testified she has two children, A.T. and G.T. Their father is Michael
Taylor. C.E. and Taylor lived together off-and-on between 2003 and 2012.
There was no formal custody order regarding the children or order of child
support. C.E. testified that in May 2013, Taylor was not living with her but came
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over a few times a week to stay with the children while she worked a night shift.
Taylor came over at about 4:00 p.m. on May 9. C.E. was in the home with G.T.,
who was then two-and-a-half years old. A.T. was at C.E.’s mother’s house.
C.E., Taylor, and G.T. were in the first-floor living room area, adjacent to the
kitchen.
C.E. and Taylor started arguing about money. C.E. testified Taylor was
raising his voice and getting agitated. She asked him to leave repeatedly, and he
refused. C.E. was sitting in a recliner chair. She picked up her cellular telephone
from an end table. C.E. testified Taylor took the phone from her hand and threw
it away from her, but the record is unclear as to where he threw it or with what
force. Then, Taylor pulled C.E. out of the recliner and dragged her toward the
entryway of the kitchen. She testified she was on the floor with Taylor behind
her, with Taylor holding her so she could not move. He had one arm wrapped
around her neck and the other arm pressed tightly against her jaw and mouth.
C.E. testified G.T. was standing close by, in front of the doorway to the kitchen
and that he started crying and screaming, “Mama and Daddy.” C.E. testified
Taylor said to her, “If you make a sound, I will snap your neck.”
C.E. stated Taylor then released her, and she sat back on the recliner.
G.T. walked to stand in front of her on the recliner, and she attempted to calm
him down by saying, “No, it’s okay. We were just playing.” G.T. calmed down
and went back to playing with his toys. C.E. testified the attack happened quickly
and she did not know where G.T. was when Taylor pulled her out of the recliner
but knew he was somewhere in the room. After the incident, A.T. came home
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from visiting C.E.’s mother. C.E. left the residence with A.T. and went to her
mother’s home, leaving G.T. in Taylor’s care. C.E. testified that after she left the
house, Taylor called her repeatedly, about every half hour. She spoke with G.T.
a couple times during these calls. C.E.’s mother encouraged her to make a
police report. At about 9:00 p.m., C.E. went to the police station and filed a
report. However, no charges were filed. The police officer did not identify any
physical injuries on C.E. She told the police officer she had a cut on the inside of
her mouth, but he did not examine it. After she made her report, a law
enforcement officer accompanied C.E. back to the home and asked Taylor to
vacate the home.
C.E. testified she went to the courthouse the next day to request a no-
contact order but was unable to do so because she arrived too late in the day
and the judge was about to leave. She intended to go back the following Monday
but testified she was too scared to follow through. She did later obtain a no-
contact order in July 2013. The no-contact order did not include the children. In
July or August 2013, C.E. filed an action against Taylor for a custody order
seeking primary physical care of the children and child support. That action was
ongoing at the time of the administrative hearing.
After C.E. made the May 2013 police report, the police department notified
DHS that a child was involved, and DHS opened an investigation. A social
worker visited the home and interviewed C.E. The worker filed a child abuse
report concluding the allegation of child abuse, based on a failure to provide
adequate supervision, was founded and listed Taylor as the perpetrator. Taylor
5
told the social worker the incident did not happen but refused to be interviewed
for the report.
At the administrative hearing, the social worker testified that children suffer
emotional harm when they see domestic violence and that this often remains with
them as they get older. She also testified the closer the physical proximity of the
child to the incident, the greater the chance of emotional and also physical harm.
Further, younger children who are less mobile or unable to protect themselves
are more vulnerable to emotional and physical harm. She testified G.T. was too
young to protect himself in the situation.
Taylor also testified at the administrative hearing. He testified that at the
time of the incident, he was living in the home with C.E. and the children. He
stated that on the afternoon of May 9 he and C.E. had a verbal argument. A.T.
returned home at that time. C.E. then left to run errands, taking A.T. with her.
Taylor testified he remained at home with G.T. for several hours. Then, when
C.E. came back three-and-a-half to four hours later, there was a police officer
escorting her. He testified the police officer informed him C.E. felt unsafe and
wanted him to leave. Taylor said, “That’s fine.” He packed a few personal items
and left.
Police Detective David Baylock also testified on behalf of Taylor. He
testified that it is state law and police department policy that in domestic violence
situations, the aggressor is arrested if there is “probable cause.” He defined
“probable cause” as “reasonable suspicion that I believe a criminal activity is
afoot.” On cross-examination, the officer stated that even in domestic violence
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cases where no charges are filed, if children are involved, the report is sent to
DHS because there may still be child protective issues. He agreed that he was
not involved in either the criminal or the child protective aspects of this case.
The administrative law judge (ALJ) found Taylor had assaulted C.E.
consistent with her testimony. The ALJ specifically found C.E. was credible, and
Taylor was not credible. The ALJ further found, by a preponderance of the
evidence, that Taylor’s conduct constituted child abuse. The ALJ’s proposed
decision concluded Taylor should be placed on the central child abuse registry
due to Taylor having had one prior founded child abuse assessment. Taylor filed
for judicial review. The district court found substantial evidence supported the
agency’s factual conclusions and affirmed the report and Taylor’s placement on
the child abuse registry. Taylor appeals.
II. STANDARD AND SCOPE OF REVIEW.
We apply the standards of judicial review set forth in the Iowa
Administrative Procedure Act, Iowa Code chapter 17A, in our review of the
agency’s findings concerning child abuse reports. See Iowa Code § 235A.19(3);
Mauk v. Iowa Dep’t Human Servs., 617 N.W.2d 909, 911 (Iowa 2000). We
review the district court’s decision to see if we reach the same conclusions.
Burton v. Hilltop Care Ctr., 813 N.W.2d 250, 255-56 (Iowa 2012).
When the claimed error lies with the agency’s findings of fact, we ask
whether substantial evidence supports those findings when the record is viewed
as a whole. Meyer v. IBP, Inc., 710 N.W.2d 213, 218 (Iowa 2006). Substantial
evidence is defined statutorily as:
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the quantity and quality of evidence that would be deemed
sufficient by a neutral, detached, and reasonable person, to
establish the fact at issue when the consequences resulting from
the establishment of that fact are understood to be serious and of
great importance.
Iowa Code § 17A.19(10)(f)(1). Where the evidence is in conflict or where
reasonable minds might disagree about the conclusion to be drawn from the
evidence, the court must give appropriate deference to the agency’s findings.
Freeland v. Emp’t Appeal Bd., 492 N.W.2d 193, 197 (Iowa 1992). It is the
agency’s duty as the trier of fact, not the reviewing court, to determine the
credibility of witnesses, to weigh the evidence, and to decide the facts in issue.
Arndt v. City of LeClaire, 728 N.W.2d 389, 394-95 (Iowa 2007).
[C]ourts should broadly and liberally apply those findings to uphold
rather than to defeat the agency’s decision. Evidence is not
insubstantial merely because it would have supported contrary
inferences. It is substantial when a reasonable mind could accept it
as adequate to reach the same findings. The determining factor is
not whether the evidence supports a different finding but whether
the evidence supports the finding actually made.
IBP, Inc. v. Al-Gharib, 604 N.W.2d 621, 632 (Iowa 2000) (internal citations
omitted). We give significant deference to the ALJ’s findings of credibility. Lange
v. Iowa Dep’t of Revenue, 710 N.W.2d 242, 247 (Iowa 2006).
In order to determine whether Taylor’s conduct constituted child abuse
and whether he should be placed on the registry, DHS was required to apply the
law to the facts. “An agency’s application of law to the facts can only be reversed
if we determine such an application was ‘irrational, illogical, or wholly
unjustifiable.’” Mycogen Seeds v. Sands, 686 N.W.2d 457, 465 (Iowa 2004)
(quoting Iowa Code § 17A.19(10)(m)). We give “appropriate deference to the
8
view of the agency with respect to particular matters that have been vested by a
provision of law in the discretion of the agency.” Iowa Code § 17A.19(11)(c).
III. ANALYSIS.
A. Taylor’s Assault on C.E.
Taylor contends the district court erred in finding he assaulted C.E.
because there was no evidence except the testimony of C.E. He argues C.E.
was inconsistent in her version of events to DHS, to law enforcement, and at the
administrative hearing. He also complains there were no physical marks on C.E.,
and the police officer did not file charges against him.1 He challenges C.E.’s
credibility by pointing out she left G.T. at home with him after the incident and did
not request a no-contact order until July 2013.
The ALJ made specific credibility findings and set out the factors
considered including “whether the person’s statements are reasonable; whether
the individual provides consistent statements over time; whether the person
appears credible to the listener; whether the person is competent in terms of age,
memory, and knowledge; and whether the person has a motive or bias.” The
ALJ made the following findings regarding C.E.:
I find that her testimony at the time of hearing was consistent with
previous statements made to both the Des Moines Police
Department and to [DHS] regarding this incident. Her responses to
the questions asked during direct testimony and cross-examination
were consistent, forthcoming and reasonable. Counsel for Taylor
highlighted different language used in the police report versus
[DHS’s] to describe the allegation of assault. I find the differences
1
Taylor also complains that C.E. testified at the hearing by phone and deprived the ALJ
and counsel of the opportunity to assess her credibility. Taylor did not raise this issue
before the ALJ; therefore, it is not preserved for our review. See Meier v. Senecaut, 641
N.W.2d 532, 537 (Iowa 2002).
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contained in the two reports to be insignificant. It has no bearing on
[C.E.’s] credibility as a witness.
The ALJ also made the following findings regarding Taylor:
Taylor testified in person at the hearing. I could not assess
whether Taylor’s statements at the hearing were consistent with
previous ones, because Taylor declined to be interviewed by
[DHS]. However, I did carefully evaluate Taylor’s testimony given
at hearing. I did not find it reasonable or credible. He claims that
he was not aware of [C.E.’s] allegations of assault until several
days after the incident. Taylor testified that when [C.E.] returned
with a police officer that evening, he never made inquiry regarding
why the police officer instructed him to pack his things and vacate
the residence. Taylor insists that he lived in the residence with
[C.E.] at the time of the incident. He also denies that any physical
altercation occurred on that date. Therefore, his assertion that he
never once asked why a police officer appeared without warning at
his home and requested that he leave is simply not believable.
Taylor claimed he did not ask questions of the officer because
[C.E.] had been increasingly hostile and explosive in front of the
children, something to which he was “documenting.” Taylor did not
further elaborate on these assertions, which I found to be evasive
and unreasonable.
We defer to the credibility determinations of the ALJ. See Arndt, 728 N.W.2d at
395-96; Lange, 710 N.W.2d at 247. C.E. testified she and Taylor were arguing,
that Taylor grabbed her cellular phone from her hand, then forcibly pulled her
from her chair and forced her to the floor. He wrapped one arm around her neck
and pressed another against her jaw and mouth. He gripped her tight enough
that she could not move. Taylor suggests that credible witness testimony
requires corroboration. It does not. See Claus v. Whyle, 526 N.W.2d 519, 524
(Iowa 1994) (finding the plaintiff’s credible testimony was substantial evidence to
support the court’s finding of sexual abuse); see also Iowa R. Crim. P. 2.21(3)
(“Corroboration of the testimony of victims shall not be required.”); State v.
Hildreth, 582 N.W.2d 167, 170 (Iowa 1998); State v. Knox, 536 N.W.2d 735, 742
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(Iowa 1995). The lack of a physical injury does not mean a physical assault did
not occur; physical assaults do not always result in a visible injury. See Hildreth,
582 N.W.2d at 170. The law enforcement officer’s determination not to file
charges likewise does not undermine the credibility of C.E.’s testimony about the
assault. The question is whether the record supports the ALJ’s findings. Upon
examining the record as a whole, we conclude the ALJ’s finding that Taylor
assaulted C.E. is supported by substantial evidence.
B. Denial of Critical Care.
After finding Taylor committed domestic abuse against C.E. in the
presence of G.T., DHS determined that the domestic abuse constituted child
abuse by denial of critical care as a result of failing to provide adequate
supervision of G.T. Taylor contends there was not substantial evidence
supporting this conclusion. He argues that DHS’s “conclusion of denial of critical
care is not supported by any facts,” and that it’s “conclusion is not supported
factually or even logically.” He also argues that DHS acted irrationally, illogically,
wholly unjustifiably, and without authority when it placed him on the registry.
At the ALJ hearing, C.E. testified that G.T. was present when Taylor
assaulted her, that G.T. began crying and screaming, “Mama and Daddy,” that
G.T. went to her immediately after the assault while she was sitting in the
recliner, and that she had to calm him down. She also testified she was
concerned because G.T. was playing in the living room and she was not aware of
exactly where he was when Taylor began assaulting her. She then saw him
standing in front of the kitchen doorway and crying.
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The social worker who investigated the claim testified generally that
children suffer lasting emotional harm when they see domestic violence. She
also testified there is a risk of physical harm to young children if they are present
during an episode of domestic violence because they lack mobility and are
unable to protect themselves when the attack is physically close to them.
After finding by a preponderance of the evidence that Taylor physically
assaulted C.E. in front of G.T., the ALJ concluded:
Witnessing a physical assault take place against a parent
can have a profound negative emotional impact on a young child.
Further, G.T. could have been physically injured by his close
proximity to the physical struggle in which his parents were
engaged. Therefore, by physically assaulting [C.E.] in front of G.T.,
Taylor failed to exercise the type of supervision that a reasonable
and prudent person would exercise under similar circumstances. I
find that Taylor’s conduct on May 9, 2013, constituted child abuse
by failure to provide proper supervision.
The ALJ then concluded the mandatory criteria were met to place Taylor’s name
on the central abuse registry.
The DHS final decision relied on the ALJ’s conclusions and reasoned:
Witnessing physical assault take place against a parent can
have a profound negative emotional impact on a young child.
Further, the child could have been physically injured by his close
proximity to the physical struggle in which his parent were engaged.
There is no requirement that the child actually be harmed to be
considered child abuse. The child was in danger of being harmed.
On May 9, 2013, the day of the domestic assault, the relevant part of the
definition of “child abuse” included:
(4)(a) The failure on the part of a person responsible for the
care of a child to provide for the adequate food, shelter, clothing,
medical or mental health treatment, supervision, or other care
necessary for the child’s health and welfare when financially able to
do so or when offered financial or other reasonable means to do so.
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(b) For the purposes of subparagraph division (a), failure to
provide for the adequate supervision of a child means the person
failed to provide proper supervision of a child that a reasonable and
prudent person would exercise under similar facts and
circumstances and the failure resulted in direct harm or created a
risk of harm to the child.
Iowa Code § 232.68(2)(a)(4)(a), (b) (2013) (adopted in 2011 Iowa Acts ch. 28, §
1). Iowa Administrative Code rule 441-175.21 identifies the DHS interpretation of
this code subsection as “denial of critical care.” See Doe v. Iowa Dep’t of Human
Servs., 786 N.W. 2d 853, 855 (Iowa 2010). The part of the administrative rule
applicable to this case at the time of the domestic abuse is the following:
“Denial of critical care” means the failure on the part of a
person responsible for the care of a child to provide for the
adequate food, shelter, clothing, medical or mental health
treatment, supervision or other care necessary for the child’s health
and welfare when financially able to do so, or when offered financial
or other reasonable means to do so, and shall mean any of the
following:
....
7. Failure to provide for the adequate supervision of the child
that a reasonable and prudent person would provide under similar
facts and circumstances when the failure results in direct harm or
creates a risk of harm to the child.
Iowa Admin. Code r. 441-175.21 (effective Sept. 7, 2011) (intended to implement
2011 Iowa Acts ch. 28, § 1 per 33 Iowa Admin. Bull., no. 26, at 1718-20 (June
29, 2011)).
Among the conclusions of law recited in the ALJ’s proposed decision are
these:
Child abuse is defined to include the failure on the part of a
person responsible for the care of a child to provide for the adequate
food, shelter, clothing or other care necessary for the child’s health
and welfare. The department’s rules define “adequate food, shelter,
clothing or other care” as “food, shelter, clothing or other care which,
if not provided, would constitute a denial of critical care.”
13
Denial of critical care includes, “failure to provide for the
proper supervision of the child to the extent that there is danger of
the child suffering injury or death, and which a reasonable and
prudent person would exercise under similar facts and
circumstances.” Proper supervision is defined as “supervision which
a reasonable and prudent person would exercise under similar facts
and circumstances.”
(Emphasis added.) Footnotes in the ALJ’s proposed decision cited to Iowa Code
sections 232.68(d) and 232.68(2)(a)(4)(a) and Iowa Administrative Code rule
441-175.21.
The definitions of “child abuse” and “denial of critical care” recited by the
ALJ, and adopted in the DHS final decision were not the statutory or
administrative law in effect at the time of the domestic abuse in this case. The
language used by the ALJ and DHS are paraphrases of the outdated language:
“danger of the child suffering injury.” The outdated language was applicable until
the 2011 legislative session adopted the statute quoted earlier in this division of
this opinion and until the administrative rule was amended to correspond to the
legislative change. These changes were applicable on May 9, 2013.2 Words
matter. The legislature thought so or it would not have amended the statute; and
DHS thought so or it would not have amended the rule.
2
Taylor’s brief cites to the rule upon which DHS relied in its decision, and thus his
argument is couched in terms of outdated law rather than the current statutory or rule
terms. The State’s brief argues current law, points out that Taylor relies on outdated
law, but makes no mention of the fact that DHS also ruled using outdated law. Taylor’s
reply brief cites the current statute but fails to address the differences between current
law and the law he cited in his appellant’s brief. The district court cites the current law,
makes no reference to the outdated law cited by DHS, but finds substantial evidence in
support of DHS under the current law.
14
In order to find Taylor committed child abuse and to place Taylor on the
registry, the facts must support the legal conclusion that his assault of C.E.
constituted a failure to supervise G.T., which “resulted in direct harm or created a
risk of harm to the child,” not “that there is a danger of the child suffering injury.”
For purposes of this appeal, we observe that the conclusions of both the ALJ and
DHS appear to be a mix of findings of fact and legal conclusions, and that neither
the ALJ nor DHS used the terms “direct harm” or “risk of harm” in their decisions.
The statute contains those terms, and DHS followed the statutory language in
adopting administrative rule 441-175.21(7). Because it used the outdated
terminology in its recitation of the applicable law and did not use the correct
terminology in its analysis, we cannot say with confidence DHS applied the
proper law to the facts in this case.
Although we determine the agency has been vested by a provision of law
with the discretion to apply the law to the facts in this child abuse registry case,
“we make an independent determination of the meaning of pertinent statutes.”
Midwest Automotive v. Iowa Dep’t of Transp., 646 N.W.2d 417, 422 (Iowa 2002).
The legislature has not defined the terms “direct harm” or “risk of harm.”
In a prior child abuse registry case interpreting Iowa Code section
232.71D, our supreme court explained:
The purpose of statutory interpretation is to determine the
legislature’s intent. State v. McCoy, 618 N.W.2d 324, 325 (Iowa
2000). We give words their ordinary and common meaning by
considering the context within which they are used, absent a
statutory definition or an established meaning in the law. Midwest
Auto. III, LLC v. Iowa Dep’t of Transp., 646 N.W.2d 417, 426 (Iowa
2002). We also consider the legislative history of a statute,
including prior enactments, when ascertaining legislative intent.
15
State v. Allen, 708 N.W.2d 361, 366 (Iowa 2006). When we
interpret a statute, we assess the statute in its entirety, not just
isolated words or phrases. Rojas v. Pine Ridge Farms, L.L.C., 779
N.W.2d 223, 231 (Iowa 2010). We may not extend, enlarge, or
otherwise change the meaning of a statute under the guise of
construction. Auen v. Alcoholic Beverages Div., 679 N.W.2d 586,
590 (Iowa 2004).
Doe, 786 N.W. 2d at 858.
Thus, in order to put context to the terms “direct harm” and “risk of harm”
we will examine the entirety of Iowa Code section 232.68(2)(a) defining what
conduct or other factors constitute “child abuse” or “abuse.” The first definition
states: “Any nonaccidental physical injury, or injury which is at variance with the
history given of it, suffered by a child as the result of the acts or omissions of a
person responsible for the care of the child.” Iowa Code § 232.68(2)(a)(1). This
provision requires a nonaccidental physical injury or an injury—presumably a
physical injury—at variance with the given history, resulting from acts or
omissions. The second definition requires a “mental injury to a child’s intellectual
or psychological capacity” requiring observable evidence and substantial
impairment of function and diagnosis by a licensed physician or qualified mental
health professional. Id. § 232.68(2)(a)(2). The third definition requires
commission of a sexual offense with or to a child. Id. § 232.68(2)(a)(3). The
fourth is the subject of this opinion, and requires failure to make certain
provisions for the care of a child as set forth verbatim earlier in this opinion. Id. §
232.68(2)(a)(4). The fifth relates to child prostitution. Id. § 232.68(2)(a)(5). The
sixth definition requires presence of an illegal drug in the child’s body. Id. §
232.68(2)(a)(6). The seventh involves the manufacture of certain illegal drugs.
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Id. § 232.68(2)(a)(7). The eighth requires commission of bestiality in the
presence of a minor. Id. § 232.68(2)(a)(8). Number nine involves access to a
registered sex offender. Id. § 232.68(2)(a)(9). And the tenth and last definition
involves access to obscene material. Id. § 232.68(2)(a)(10).
With the exception of section 232.68(2)(a)(4), all other subparagraphs
specifically identify the harm or exposure to which a child must be subjected in
order to satisfy the definition of “child abuse” or “abuse”: physical injury, mental
injury, sexual offense, prostitution, illegal drugs in the body, manufacture of illegal
drugs, bestiality, access to sex offender, and obscene materials. Subsection
(2)(a)(4)(a), however, is based solely on failure to provide specified items
necessary to the well-being of a child. Subparagraph division (b) of (2)(a)(4)
contains an additional requirement if the allegation is “failure to provide for the
adequate supervision of a child.” The legislature does not define a failure to
supervise a child as an adult’s assaultive behavior witnessed by a child. It
requires that “the person failed to provide proper supervision of a child that a
reasonable and prudent person would exercise under similar facts and
circumstances and the failure resulted in direct harm or created a risk of harm to
the child.” Id. § 232.68(2)(a)(4)(b) (emphasis added).
So, we conclude “risk of harm” requires a finding of risk of actual injury or
damage caused by or closely related to the alleged failure to provide proper
supervision. What then did the legislature intend for “risk” to mean in section
232.68(2)(a)(4)(b)? Within the context of the other enumerated factors, we
17
conclude ”risk” means the facts present more than just a theoretical possibility of
harm: there must be a real possibility of harm.
The ALJ and the district court both cited the possibility of a “negative
emotional impact” on G.T. as a result of witnessing the assault. Here, the State
also argues that G.T. was at risk for emotional harm. In In re J.S., our supreme
court determined that “harmful effects” could include mental harm. 846 N.W.2d
36, 41-42 (Iowa 2014). Iowa Code section 232.68(2)(a)(2) provides the definition
of “child abuse” or “abuse” includes:
[a]ny mental injury to a child’s intellectual or psychological capacity
as evidenced by an observable and substantial impairment in the
child’s ability to function within the child’s normal range of
performance and behavior as the result of the acts or omissions of
a person responsible for the care of the child, if the impairment is
diagnosed and confirmed by a licensed physician or qualified
mental health professional as defined in section 622.10.
That section reveals a clear intention by the legislature that a finding of child
abuse based on a mental injury to a child’s intellectual or psychological capacity
may be proven if diagnosed and confirmed by a physician or mental health
professional. The requirements for a determination of mental injury do not
include emotional harm or “negative emotional impact” unless the harm rises to
the level of a mental injury under the strictures of that subparagraph. No
definition of “child abuse” or “abuse” in section 232.68(2)(a) includes the terms
emotional harm, risk of emotional harm, or negative emotional impact. In
addition, the findings of DHS do not distinguish between a theoretical risk and a
real possibility of harm under the facts of this case. As we have determined that
these are not terms used by the legislature, and the agency found a “negative
18
emotional impact” without having applied the proper statutory or rule language,
we need not attempt to define them at this stage of the proceedings.
To summarize, the conclusions drawn by the ALJ, and adopted as the
final DHS decision, utilized the wrong statutory test and made a determination of
theoretical harm. DHS applied the wrong statutory language and administrative
rule when it found Taylor’s conduct constituted child abuse for registry purposes.
It failed to properly apply the law to the facts of this case. Therefore, we
conclude the DHS decision was based upon an irrational, illogical, or wholly
unjustifiable application of law to fact. Accordingly, this issue must be reversed
and remanded for application of the law and rule in effect at the time of the
domestic abuse to the facts of record. On remand, DHS must determine whether
the specific facts of this case satisfy the legislature’s words, “direct harm or risk
of harm.”
IV. CONCLUSION.
Giving proper deference to the agency’s credibility determinations,
substantial evidence supports the agency’s factual findings that Taylor assaulted
C.E., and we affirm that part of the decision by the district court. However, we
find the agency applied outdated versions of the relevant code and administrative
rule to conclude Taylor committed child abuse by denial of critical care.
Accordingly, the agency decision was based on an irrational, illogical, or wholly
unjustifiable application of law to fact. We reverse the district court decision
affirming the finding of denial of critical care and placement on the child abuse
registry and remand to the district court for it to enter an order reversing and
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remanding the case to the agency for further determinations consistent with this
opinion.
REVERSED AND REMANDED.