In re Interest of Cordale M.

IN THE NEBRASKA COURT OF APPEALS
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND JUDGMENT ON APPEAL
(Memorandum Web Opinion)
IN RE INTEREST OF CORDALE M. ET AL.
NOTICE: THIS OPINION IS NOT DESIGNATED FOR PERMANENT PUBLICATION
AND MAY NOT BE CITED EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY NEB. CT. R. APP. P. § 2-102(E).
IN RE INTEREST OF CORDALE M. ET AL.,
CHILDREN UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE.
STATE OF NEBRASKA, APPELLEE,
V.
STACY M., APPELLANT, AND CLARENCE M. AND
ROSEBUD SIOUX TRIBE, APPELLEES.
Filed December 28, 2021. No. A-21-296.
Appeal from the County Court for Cass County: LAWRENCE D. GENDLER, Judge. Affirmed.
Karen S. Nelson, of Burnett Wilson Law, L.L.P., for appellant.
Sarah M. Sutter, Deputy Cass County Attorney, for appellee State of Nebraska.
PIRTLE, Chief Judge, and RIEDMANN and WELCH, Judges.
PIRTLE, Chief Judge.
INTRODUCTION
Stacy M. appeals from an order of the Cass County Court, sitting as a juvenile court, which
overruled her motion to dismiss the State’s amended petition to adjudicate her children. She argues
that her motion to dismiss should have been granted because her due process rights were violated
and the State’s amended petition failed to comply with the requirements of the Indian Child
Welfare Act (ICWA), Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 43-1501 to 43-1517 (Reissue 2016). Based on the reasons
that follow, we affirm.
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BACKGROUND
On July 23, 2020, the State filed a petition alleging Stacy’s three minor children were
within the meaning of Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-247(3)(a) (Reissue 2016) because their father had
committed felony assault on one child, and Stacy did not render immediate aid to the child and
condoned the actions of the father, thereby placing the children at risk for harm. A motion for ex
parte temporary custody was also filed, which the court granted.
A detention hearing was held on August 5, 2020. Stacy did not contest removal of the
children or the Department of Health and Human Services (Department) taking custody of the
children. Rather, she contested the children’s placement and had filed a motion to have all three
children placed with their maternal uncle.
At the end of the hearing, the court overruled Stacy’s motion for placement of all the
children with her uncle. Further, the court stated it appeared that the child named Dametre may
fall under ICWA and that if he did, the State would have a higher burden of proof for removal.
The court stated that the case would be called back for a pretrial conference and if ICWA applied
to Dametre, then the court “need[ed] to do some things a little differently.”
Following the August 5, 2020, hearing, the court entered a protective custody order
detaining the children, finding it was contrary to their welfare to return home based on the initial
reasons for removal, and placing the children in the custody of the Department.
On August 11, 2020, the Department sent notification to the Rosebud Sioux Tribe
informing them that a petition to adjudicate has been filed in regard to Dametre and that he might
be eligible for membership in the tribe. A copy of the ICWA notification sent to the tribe was also
sent to Stacy. On September 15, 2020, the tribe filed a notice of intervention in regard to Dametre.
The next hearing was held on January 20, 2021, and was set to address several motions, as
well as Dametre’s eligibility under ICWA. At the start of the hearing, Stacy’s attorney told the
court that she had just received a packet of information from the Department, including an August
19, 2020, letter indicating that Dametre qualified for enrollment in the tribe, as well as the notice
of intervention filed by the tribe on September 15, 2020. Stacy’s attorney stated that she was not
sure if she ever received a copy of these documents before that day. She further stated that
regardless of when she received those documents, it was clear to her from the beginning of the
case that Dametre was an Indian child for purposes of ICWA and, therefore, a new detention
hearing needed to take place that complied with ICWA. She expressed concern that because
Dametre is an Indian child, the wrong standards were applied at the August 2020 detention hearing.
The State agreed that a new detention hearing should be held because Dametre was eligible for
enrollment in the tribe, but stated that was the purpose of the January 20 hearing. The court
subsequently allowed the State’s ICWA expert to testify at the hearing.
Following the hearing, the court entered an order on January 21, 2021. It found that based
on the testimony of the ICWA expert, active efforts as required by § 43-1505(4) had been made to
prevent Dametre’s removal from his parent’s home and that he would face imminent harm if he
were to be returned. The court also stated that it would consider at a subsequent hearing whether
or not the active efforts standard had continued to be addressed with regard to Dametre.
The State subsequently filed an amended petition to adjudicate Stacy’s three children on
February 4, 2021. Stacy filed a motion to dismiss the amended petition on February 12, alleging
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the amended petition did not comply with § 43-1505 of ICWA in that it did not allege that active
efforts needed to be made or that continued custody of the child by Stacy was likely to result in
serious emotional or physical damage to the child. The motion to dismiss also alleged that the
delay between the tribe’s notice of intervention on September 15, 2020, and the January 20, 2021,
detention hearing violated her due process rights.
A further hearing took place on March 10, 2021. The caseworker from the Department
testified and identified the measures she took to ensure compliance with ICWA. She also noted
Dametre’s fears about returning home. An Indian child welfare specialist for the tribe also testified.
She concluded Dametre would likely suffer serious emotional damage if he was returned home.
The court entered an order on March 11, 2021, overruling Stacy’s motion to dismiss. It
granted the State leave to amend the amended petition to conform to ICWA. In regard to the
detention hearing, the court noted that an extensive hearing was held on January 20, 2021, once
notice was provided that Dametre was eligible for enrollment in the tribe. The court stated that at
the January 20 hearing, all parties were put on notice that the higher standards of ICWA would be
applied prospectively as to Dametre. The court also found that the prior January 21, 2021, findings
were sufficient to keep Dametre out of the family home subject to the March 10 proceeding where
additional evidence was required for such to continue. The court concluded that the State had met
the burden required by § 43-1505(5) in regard to Dametre.
ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
Stacy assigns that the juvenile court erred in (1) ordering that the minor children remain in
out-of-home placement because her due process rights were violated due to insufficient notice that
ICWA applied and because of substantial delay between the tribal intervention and a detention
hearing under ICWA, and (2) overruling her motion to dismiss because the State’s petition failed
to comply with the required provisions of ICWA.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
Juvenile cases are reviewed de novo on the record, and an appellate court is required to
reach a conclusion independent of the juvenile court’s findings. In re Interest of Noah C., 306 Neb.
359, 945 N.W.2d 143 (2020). However, when the evidence is in conflict, an appellate court may
consider and give weight to the fact that the trial court observed the witnesses and accepted one
version of the facts over the other. Id.The determination of whether the procedures afforded to an individual comport with
constitutional requirements for procedural due process presents a question of law. Dycus v. Dycus,
307 Neb. 426, 949 N.W.2d 357 (2020).
ANALYSIS
Stacy first assigns that the juvenile court erred in ordering that the minor children remain
in out-of-home placement because her due process rights were violated in two ways: (1) she
received insufficient notice that ICWA applied and (2) there was a substantial delay between the
tribal intervention and a detention hearing under ICWA. We first note that Stacy’s assignment of
error refers to “the minor children” but alleges errors that relate to ICWA. Because ICWA only
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applies to Dametre, we address her assignment of error only as it relates to Dametre, and not the
other two children.
Stacy argues that her due process rights were violated because she received insufficient
notice that ICWA applied to Dametre. She contends that when the tribe filed its notice of
intervention on September 15, 2020, she did not receive proper notice of the intervention. The
notice filed by the tribe was file stamped and made part of the record on September 15. Stacy
acknowledges that the Department and the Cass County Attorney’s office received notice at the
same time the intervention was filed with the court, but contends she did not receive notice that
Dametre was eligible for enrollment in the tribe until the hearing on January 20, 2021.
Stacy primarily focuses on § 43-1505(1), which sets forth the notice requirements for
ICWA:
In any involuntary proceeding in a state court, when the court knows or has reason to know
that an Indian child is involved, the party seeking the foster care placement of, or
termination of parental rights to, an Indian child shall send a notice conforming to the
requirements of 25 C.F.R. 23.11 to the parents, the Indian custodian, and the Indian child’s
tribe or tribes, by registered mail with return receipt requested, of the pending proceedings
and of their right of intervention. . . .
Stacy argues that she did not receive notice as required by § 43-1505(1) when the tribe
filed its notice of intervention on September 15, 2020. However, the statute does not require such
notice. The statute requires notice to the parents, as well as the Indian custodian and the Indian
child’s tribe, of a pending proceeding and the tribe’s right of intervention when the court knows
or has reason to know that an Indian child is involved in a proceeding seeking foster care placement
of that child. The record reflects that the Department sent notice of the pending proceedings and
of the tribe’s right of intervention as required by § 43-1505(1) to the tribe on August 11, 2020. The
same notice was sent to Stacy, in which she was advised of the potential applicability of ICWA to
Dametre. Accordingly, Stacy is deemed to have received the notice required by § 43-1505(1). She
does not argue that she did not receive it. The tribe subsequently filed its notice of intervention on
September 15. The statute does not require that Stacy receive notice again at that point.
Further, it is clear from the record that Stacy’s due process rights were not violated because
Stacy was made aware from the beginning of the case that ICWA may apply. At the first hearing
held on August 5, 2020, the court told Stacy that Dametre may fall under ICWA and that if he did,
there would be a higher burden for the State in regard to removal. The court also stated that the
case would be called back for a pretrial conference and if ICWA applied then it would need to do
“some things a little differently.”
At the January 20, 2021, hearing, Stacy’s counsel claimed she had just received the tribe’s
notice of intervention and the letter indicating Dametre qualified for enrollment in the tribe, but
also stated she was uncertain if she had received a copy of these documents previously. The court
noted that these documents had been filed in the case file at the time they were received. The
parties agreed that at the time of the initial detention hearing in August 2020 it was not known if
Dametre was eligible for enrollment in the tribe so the ICWA standards were not applied. At the
January 20, 2021, hearing, Stacy’s counsel stated it was clear to her from the beginning of the case
that Dametre was an Indian child for purposes of ICWA.
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As of the January 20, 2021, hearing, all parties had notice that Dametre was eligible for
enrollment in the tribe under ICWA and all parties were put on notice that the higher standards
would be applied prospectively as to Dametre. A subsequent detention hearing was held to comply
with ICWA standards. As the juvenile court stated in its March 11 order, there was “abundant
notice” to the parties that the elevated ICWA standards would apply. As a result, it concluded that
Stacy received sufficient notice that ICWA applied to Dametre and that her due process rights
were not violated in that regard.
Stacy next argues that her due process rights were violated because there was an
unreasonable delay in conducting a protective custody hearing between September 15, 2020, the
day the tribe filed its notice of intervention, and March 10, 2021, the day the detention hearing was
completed. She relies on In re Interest of Carmelo G., 296 Neb. 805, 896 N.W.2d 902 (2017), and
In re Interest of R.G., 238 Neb. 405, 470 N.W.2d 780 (1991), disapproved on other grounds,
O’Connor v. Kaufman, 255 Neb. 120, 582 N.W.2d 350 (1998), in support of her argument.
In In re Interest of Carmelo G., supra, there was an 8-month delay between the child’s
removal from the home by an ex parte order and the detention hearing. The Nebraska Supreme
Court recognized that Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-248(2) (Cum. Supp. 2018) allows the State to take a
juvenile into custody without a warrant or order of the court when it appears the juvenile “is
seriously endangered in his or her surroundings and immediate removal appears to be necessary
for the juvenile’s protection.” However, the parent retains a liberty interest in the continuous
custody of his or her child. In re Interest of Carmelo G., supra. The court stated that an ex parte
order authorizing temporary custody with the Department is permitted because of its short duration
and the requirement of further action by the State before custody can be continued. Id. See, also,
In re Interest of R.G., supra. But “the State may not, in exercising its parens patriae interest,
unreasonably delay in notifying a parent that the State has taken emergency action regarding that
parent’s child nor unreasonably delay in providing the parent a meaningful hearing.” In re Interest
of Carmelo G., 296 Neb. at 813-14, 896 N.W.2d at 908 (emphasis omitted), quoting In re Interest
of R.G., supra. The court concluded therefore, that following the issuance of an ex parte order for
temporary immediate custody, “[a] prompt detention hearing is required in order to protect the
parent against the risk of an erroneous deprivation of his or her parental interests.” In re Interest
of Carmelo G., 296 Neb. at 814, 896 N.W.2d at 908, quoting In re Interest of Mainor T. & Estela
T., 267 Neb. 232, 674 N.W.2d 442 (2004). The court reversed the trial court’s detention order after
determining the 8-month delay was an unreasonable delay in providing the parent a meaningful
hearing and violated the parent’s procedural due process rights.
In In re Interest of R.G., supra, the Supreme Court concluded that the mother’s due process
rights were not violated by a 14-day delay between the entry of an ex parte order and that of a
detention order when she was given an opportunity to be heard at the detention hearing and was
allowed to visit her children in the interim. The Court cautioned, however, that “the 14 days
elapsing between the entry of the ex parte order and the hearing poise the procedures employed in
this case on the brink of unreasonableness.” Id. at 423, 470 N.W.2d at 792.
Stacy argues that once the tribe filed its notice of intervention on September 15, 2020, the
heightened safeguards of ICWA applied prospectively, and the required ICWA detention hearing
did not occur until either 127 days (January 20, 2021) or 176 days (March 10, 2021) after the filing
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of the tribal intervention. She asserts that such a delay is inherently unreasonable and the type of
delay contemplated under In re Interest of Carmelo G., supra. We disagree.
In the present case, a detention hearing took place 13 days after the filing of the ex parte
order, and the court entered a protective custody order on August 6, 2020. At the time of the initial
detention hearing, it had not been determined that ICWA was applicable to Dametre. However,
once the tribe intervened, a further hearing needed to take place.
A further hearing was held on January 20, 2021, at which time various motions were
considered as well as whether ICWA applied to Dametre. Upon determining ICWA did apply, the
court found that active efforts had been made to prevent Dametre’s removal from Stacy’s home
and that he would face “imminent harm” if he were returned to the parental home. A further hearing
continuing the detention hearing was held on March 10. Such delay was not unreasonable given
the circumstances in this case. We conclude that Stacy’s due process rights were not violated.
Stacy next assigns that the juvenile court erred in overruling her motion to dismiss because
the State’s petition failed to comply with the required provisions of ICWA. Under this assignment
of error, however, Stacy argues that the evidence presented was insufficient for the juvenile court
to find that active efforts had been provided. She also argues the juvenile court failed to specifically
find that continued placement in the parental home would likely result in the child experiencing
serious emotional or physical damage. Accordingly, Stacy assigns one issue as error, but argues
two other issues. To be considered by an appellate court, the party asserting the alleged error must
both specifically assign and specifically argue it in the party’s initial brief. In re Interest of Victor
L., 309 Neb. 21, 958 N.W.2d 413 (2021). Because Stacy has failed to assign and argue her second
alleged error correctly, we do not address it.
CONCLUSION
We conclude that the juvenile court did not err in overruling Stacy’s motion to dismiss the
State’s amended petition to adjudicate her children. Accordingly, the court’s order is affirmed.
AFFIRMED.
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