DCPP VS. T.T. AND M.T., IN THE MATTER OF H.T. (FN-19-0059-15, SUSSEX COUNTY AND STATEWIDE) (RECORD IMPOUNDED)

RECORD IMPOUNDED
NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE
APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION
This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court." Although it is posted on the
internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited . R. 1:36-3.
SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
APPELLATE DIVISION
DOCKET NO. A-1503-16T3
NEW JERSEY DIVISION OF
CHILD PROTECTION AND
PERMANENCY,
Plaintiff-Respondent,
v.
T.T.,
Defendant-Appellant,
and
M.T.,
Defendant.
_____________________________
IN THE MATTER OF H.T.,
a Minor.
_____________________________
Submitted December 4, 2018 – Decided December 20, 2018
Before Judges Suter and Firko.
On appeal from Superior Court of New Jersey,
Chancery Division, Family Part, Sussex County.
Docket No. FN-19-0059-15.
Joseph E. Krakora, Public Defender, attorney for
appellant (Lora B. Glick, Designated Counsel, on the
brief).
Gurbir S. Grewal, Attorney General, attorney for
respondent (Jason W. Rockwell, Assistant Attorney
General, of counsel; Joann M. Corsetto, Deputy
Attorney General, on the brief).
Joseph E. Krakora, Public Defender, Law Guardian,
attorney for minor (Lisa M. Black, Designated Counsel,
on the brief).
PER CURIAM
Defendant T.T. (Terry) 1 appeals the November 28, 2016 Family Division
order under N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.21(c) that she abused or neglected her child H.T.
(Hanna) by exaggerating the child's symptoms and causing her to believe she
was a sick child in need of services. We affirm the court's order because it is
fully supported by the evidence. We reject defendant's claim she lacked notice
of the claims against her or that the court's order was impermissibly based on
hearsay.
1
We use initials and fictitious names throughout the opinion to protect the
confidentiality of the parties and children.
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I.
When Hanna was six years old, her parents did not meet her at the bus
stop and could not be located. Her school contacted the police, who in turn
contacted the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP). Hanna told
DCPP's investigator her father was physically abusive to her and there was
domestic violence between her parents. At 10:30 that night, Terry's husband
and Hanna's father, M.T. (Michael), went to the police station and explained that
they had been looking for an apartment, became lost and ran out of gas, twice.2
They had not called or asked anyone to take care of Hanna nor did they explain
their lapse.
DCPP took custody of Hanna on an emergency basis, 3 filing an order to
show cause and verified complaint under Title Nine for her custody, care and
supervision. The Family Part judge found that DCPP's removal was appropriate
because neither parent had been available for the child. At the hearing, DCPP's
caseworker explained that Terry previously contacted DCPP for assistance in
dealing with Hanna's behavior. Its collateral investigation was positi ve
2
Michael is not an appellant in this case.
3
DCPP filed a notice of emergency removal without court order under N.J.S.A.
9:6-8.29 and 9:6-8.30.
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regarding Terry's parenting. The court ordered Hanna to be returned to Terry,
but also ordered the case to remain open for services. Both parents were ordered
to participate in psychiatric and psychological evaluations.
By the return date of the order to show cause in July 2015, DCPP had
obtained additional information. Hanna's school records showed she had been
absent sixty-three times for a total of eighty-one days in one academic year.
There were doctor's notes for just a portion of the absences. Hanna's medical
records reported that she was diagnosed by her pediatrician with Attention
Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Oppositional Defiant Disorder
(ODD), but she had not been evaluated by a neurologist. Family Preservation
Services reported that Terry discussed age inappropriate things in front of
Hanna. It recommended in home counseling.
DCPP told the court of its concern that Terry showed a pattern of behavior
with Hanna similar to a pattern it had seen in its previous involvement with
Terry and another child, S. (Steve). Steve had been examined for a host of
medical disorders, at Terry's urging, including Tourette's, Asperger's and a
pervasive developmental disorder. Terry was evaluated in 2000 by the Audrey
Hepburn Children's House (AHCH). The report indicated Terry met the criteria
for Fictitious Disorder Imposed on Another (FDIA), a disorder where a caretaker
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"provide[s] information that exaggerates, creates or induces symptoms in a child
in their care."4 The judge granted DCPP's request for an evaluation of the family
by Dr. Janet Cahill, a specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of FDIA.
Additionally, the parents were to complete a parenting program. Within a
month, DCPP again removed Hanna from her parents' custody on an emergent
basis, filing an amended complaint thereafter for Hanna's custody, care and
supervision under Title Nine.
Dr. Cahill's preliminary parental capacity evaluation concluded that Terry
met the criteria for FDIA. She completed her evaluation based on her in-person
meeting with Terry, a review of prior reports, Hanna's school logs and the excuse
notes regarding Hanna's absences from school. The school logs showed that
Terry believed Hanna suffered from:
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, an auditory
processing problem, visual processing problem . . .
[and] that she required dietary restrictions. She had
severe behavioral problems. She had sleep
disturbances. She engages in aggressive behavior such
as sucking her thumb, she was fat, physically unfit
. . . she gets on the floor, she can't get up. Her back and
4
FDIA previously was referred to as "Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy."
Munchausen syndrome is "a form of child maltreatment or abuse inflicted by a
caretaker . . . with fabrications of symptoms and/or induction of signs of disease,
leading to unnecessary investigations and interventions, with occasional serious
health consequences, including death of the child." Stedman's Medical
Dictionary 1906 (28th ed. 2005).
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feet hurt. . . . She's breathing hard. She gets headaches.
And then in the records for the excuses, she talked
about runny noses, sore throats, headaches, a number of
those kinds of problems.
Dr. Cahill testified this was "a very long list of disorders where the source of
the information is exclusively coming from mom. No one else is seeing these
things except in very rare occasions." Dr. Cahill recommended removing Hanna
from the home and placing her in a resource home to see if the symptoms
complained of by Terry persisted.
The court found removal of Hanna was appropriate and supported by the
record because of family dysfunction and safety issues. The court placed Hanna
in DCPP's custody, ordering a temporary six to eight week separation from Terry
and Michael with no visitation, to see whether the symptoms that Terry reported
regarding Hanna continued in Terry's absence.
Over the next several months, the court ordered Terry to attend therapy.
A hearing was conducted on whether Terry should have supervised visitation
with Hanna. Dr. Cahill testified that visitation would be emotionally disruptive
to Hanna until Terry engaged in therapy to gain insight that her behavior was
"disruptive and abusive towards the child." Moreover, the separation had
"vastly improved this child's functioning." The court found that Hanna would
not be benefited by Terry's visitation.
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The court conducted the Title Nine fact-finding hearing on several dates
beginning in mid-2016. Dr. Cahill testified she conducted a parenting capacity
evaluation to determine whether the parents could safely and effectively parent
Hanna by providing "minimally adequate parenting." In that evaluation, Dr.
Cahill noted Terry reported Hanna had a number of physical and emotional
problems that other professionals involved with the family had not observed. In
addition to the eighty-one days Hanna was absent from school, Terry also asked
for services or accommodations for Hanna that included half-day school
attendance, a restricted diet, and time to spend with "mommy."
Dr. Cahill reviewed the earlier report from the AHCH that expressed
similar concerns about Terry's treatment of her other children when they were
younger. That report revealed a similar pattern of deliberate exaggeration and
fabrication of symptoms and indicated Terry was exhibiting FDIA criteria. Dr.
Cahill saw parallels with how Terry treated Steve and how she now was
parenting Hanna. There were many inconsistencies between what Terry was
saying about Hanna and what was in the records. Dr. Cahill reviewed notes by
the doctors and Terry about school absences, but these did not explain all of the
absences; she reviewed the school log that showed minor concerns by the teacher
followed by more extensive issues raised by Terry. She spoke with Hanna, who
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told Dr. Cahill her father was "bad." Dr. Cahill interviewed and observed Terry,
who expressed no concerns about her own parenting abilities.
Dr. Cahill testified that Terry met the criteria for FDIA and was harming
Hanna by causing social isolation, by keeping her home sick, asking for services
at school that were not needed and by telling others that Hanna had behavioral
issues when she did not. Once Hanna was separated from Terry, there was no
report of ADHD symptoms. Dr. Cahill testified:
she's eating fine. She's not having any behavioral
problems. She's not overweight. She's not falling
down. She's not having seizures. She doesn't have
auditory processing . . . symptoms of any kind . . . .
There had been a "dramatic change in her behavior." She "went from all these
things to basically nothing except for minor stuff that . . . any child would have."
A DCPP supervisor testified about Terry's history with DCPP. There were
similarities regarding her older son, Steve, who Terry said had ADHD at an early
age. Terry was suspected then of FDIA. She testified that once Hanna was
separated from Terry in August 2015, she ate without dietary restrictions and
did not act out of control. She could be easily redirected. The resource parents
also reported Hanna was doing well.
The Center for Evaluation and Counseling evaluated the "overall
psychological functioning of all family members, their service needs and
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provided recommendations." A psychologist with the Center, performed a
clinical interview with Hanna. He did not observe any developmental delays or
behavior associated with ADHD. Hanna said that her mother told her to talk
about her father's abusive behaviors. When she was observed with him,
however, they "seemed to be getting along very well," but Hanna said her father
was "pretending." The Center recommended that Hanna would benefit from
separation and psychotherapy. She had been exposed to "parental conflict,
parental influence and the perception of her father was influenced by her
mother."
Hanna's caseworker testified that Hanna was "friendly, outgoing." Hanna
did not have any trouble speaking with her or staying on topic; her behavior was
not hyper or erratic. Hanna was not exhibiting any ADHD behaviors or
adjustment disorders at the resource home; there were no issues regarding
absences from school.
Hanna's kindergarten teacher testified that Hanna was absent eighty days
that year. The absences did not allow Hanna to develop a routine. She was loud
in the classroom and, although she liked being with other children, at times had
difficulty getting along with the others. She had difficulty staying focused but
could be redirected. She had no auditory processing issues.
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The kindergarten teacher maintained a parent teacher communication
notebook with Terry where they exchanged notes daily. Hanna's mother
described Hanna's behavior at home in detail in the notebook. She did not
observe these behaviors in the classroom to the extent reported by Terry. Other
regimes imposed by Terry required Hanna to have certain dietary restrictions, a
longer rest time, required daily walks around the school and restricted her
running during recess. At the end of the year, Hanna was slightly behind in
reading, but was promoted to first grade. She testified she had no reason to
report any abuse or neglect.
By the beginning of first grade, Hanna had been separated from her
parents and was residing with a resource family. Her first grade teacher testified
Hanna did not have trouble focusing, was not hyperactive, was a good listener
and absent only eight days. She had become good with routines, could be
redirected and was "very socialized with everybody." Although she initially was
behind in reading, at the end of first grade, she was on grade level. She did not
need special accommodations in class. She "acted like a normal child."
The school principal testified that during her kindergarten year,
sometimes Hanna was brought to the office because she did not follow the
school rules. In her first grade year, Hanna was pleasant and interacted with the
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principal and others. She testified Hanna "did very well in first grade." She did
not need a classroom aide.
During the hearing, DCPP received an evaluation by Dr. Eileen Kohutis,
defendant's psychology expert. Her report addressed whether Terry manifested
FDIA. DCPP clarified that the question for the hearing was "whether or not the
child was placed at substantial risk of harm due to the inability of the parents as
a couple and individually to . . . provide a safe, stable home environment for
their child." Because Dr. Kohutis did not address whether the removal was
justified or whether Terry showed the skills necessary or appropriate to parent
Hanna, DCPP asserted her testimony was irrelevant.
Dr. Kohutis testified that Terry had a long psychiatric history including
disorders involving "depression, anxiety, Tourette's, ADHD, seizures and
bipolar disorder." She has two older children from a prior marriage. Her
marriage to Michael was "difficult" because of conflicts between them; Michael
was living in a van in the driveway.
Dr. Kohutis testified there was nothing to indicate Terry falsified the signs
and symptoms of ADHD regarding her daughter. She acknowledged Hanna was
doing better in first grade than kindergarten, but there may be other reasons for
this besides the separation from Terry. Dr. Kohutis did not have evidence Hanna
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was subjected to medical treatment or procedures that were not necessary; Terry
was simply advocating for her child. She felt Dr. Cahill placed a great deal of
emphasis on the AHCH report. Dr. Kohutis did not have an opinion about
whether there should be renewed contact between Terry and Hanna.
Dr. Kohutis testified, however, that Terry had "personality traits that
[were] impeding her ability to parent." She had limited insight, could be
overbearing, had unstable interpersonal relationships, could be demanding and
had little ability to reflect on how to change her behavior. Some of these issues
could be addressed through further services and some not, but a further
assessment would be required. Dr. Kohutis acknowledged that in her interview
with Hanna, she did not observe any sensory processing or auditory issues,
trouble controlling her body, following instructions, sitting still, processing
information, being aggressive, symptoms consistent with ADHD—all of which
Terry said in the school log her daughter exhibited.
On November 28, 2016, the judge found Terry had abused or neglected
Hanna under the provisions of N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.21(c)(4), finding that the child's
mental and emotional condition was harmed by Terry "through intentional,
persistent, pervasive alienation of the child to the parent." The court reviewed
the testimony and evidence from the hearing including her history with DCPP,
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the report from the AHCH regarding Steve and how that compared with Terry's
parenting of Hanna, the school communication log, her absences from school
and lack of medical support for many of them, and that professionals did not
observe the behaviors or conditions that Terry said she saw in her daughter. The
court credited Dr. Cahill's testimony that Terry met the criteria for FDIA.
The court found by a preponderance of the evidence that Hanna was
neglected under Title Nine. Terry "exaggerated medical symptoms for [Hanna]
as she had with [Steve]." She reported ADHD but none of the other
professionals reported it. No professional reported the auditory or visual
sensory issues Terry reported. Hanna missed eighty-one days of school but there
were only seven doctor's notes. Terry said the child had a behavioral problem
at home but at school the teachers reported she could be easily redirected. She
was behind in reading at the end of kindergarten. Hanna was subjected to
evaluations and services not supported by the facts. None of the services Terry
insisted on for Hanna were supported. Although the court found Dr. Cahill was
correct that Terry evidenced FDIA, that diagnosis was not necessary to sustain
an abuse and neglect finding under Title Nine.
In addition, she coached the child, causing the child to confide the father
had harmed her, which alone met the statutory standard of "impairing the child's
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mental and emotional condition through an intentional, persistent, pervasive
alienation of the child to the parent."5 Her own expert said that she had
personality traits that impeded her ability to meaningfully parent. Some of the
traits could not be effectively remediated with services.
On appeal, defendant contends the court violated her right to due process
and to parent her child by changing the theory of its case half way through the
hearing to a claim that was not included in the amended complaint. Originally,
the issue for trial was whether defendant suffered from FDIA. The court's order,
however was based on a finding that Hanna was at risk of harm because of
Terry's inability to meet her basic needs. Defendant claims the court erred by
relying on the net opinion of Dr. Cahill which was speculative. She argues the
court applied the wrong legal standard and that the evidence did not support the
verdict. There is no merit in these arguments.
II.
We note our general deference to Family Part judges' fact-finding because
of their "special jurisdiction and expertise in family matters." Cesare v. Cesare,
5
The court did not find that Michael abused or neglected Hanna, but according
to Michael's expert witness, he was not then in a position to parent Hanna. The
court also terminated the case. DCPP indicated it intended to file a guardianship
action to terminate parental rights.
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154 N.J. 394, 413 (1998). See also N.J. Div. of Youth & Family Servs. v. R.G.,
217 N.J. 527, 553 (2014). We will uphold fact-finding that is supported by
sufficient, substantial and credible evidence in the record. See N.J. Div. of
Youth & Family Servs. v. L.L., 201 N.J. 210, 226 (2010); N.J. Div. of Youth &
Family Servs. v. M.M., 189 N.J. 261, 279 (2007). However, we will not hesitate
to set aside a ruling that is "so wide of the mark that a mistake must have been
made." M.M., 189 N.J. at 279 (quoting C.B. Snyder Realty, Inc. v. BMW of N.
Am., Inc., 233 N.J. Super. 65, 69 (App. Div. 1989)). The court's interpretation
of the law or its legal conclusions are reviewed de novo. See State in Interest
of A.B., 219 N.J. 542, 554-55 (2014).
"Title [Nine] controls the adjudication of abuse and neglect cases." N.J.
Div. of Youth & Family Servs. v. M.C. III, 201 N.J. 328, 343 (2010). N.J.S.A.
9:6-8.21, in pertinent part, defines an "[a]bused or neglected child" as:
a child whose physical, mental or emotional condition
has been impaired or is in imminent danger of
becoming impaired as the result of the failure of his
parent . . . to exercise a minimum degree of care (a) in
supplying the child with adequate food, clothing,
shelter, education, medical or surgical care though
financially able to do so or though offered financial or
other reasonable means to do so . . . .
[N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.21(c)(4).]
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Whether a parent has committed abuse or neglect "must be analyzed in
light of the dangers and risks associated with the situation." N.J. Div. of Youth
& Family Servs. v. S.I., 437 N.J. Super. 142, 153 (App. Div. 2014) (quoting N.J.
Dep't of Children & Families v. R.R., 436 N.J. Super. 53, 58 (App. Div. 2014)).
The cases are fact sensitive.
Defendant contends her due process rights were infringed when DCPP
changed course during the hearing, no longer seeking a specific finding about
FDIA, but rather a finding that Terry could not meet Hanna's basic needs or
provide her with a safe home environment. Terry claims she had no notice of
the new claim or ability to change her defense strategy. She further claims her
right to parent her child was infringed because the separation test prevented
defendant from reuniting with her daughter, violating her right of parenting. 6
See Wisconsin v. Yoder, 406 U.S. 205 (1972) (fundamental right to raise
children); In re Guardianship of K.H.O., 161 N.J. 337, 346 (1999).
Due process is "the fundamental notion that litigants are entitled to notice
and a meaningful opportunity to be heard." New Jersey Div. of Youth & Family
Servs. v. R.D., 207 N.J. 88, 119 (2011). "Those plain notions of procedural due
process—fair notice and a meaningful opportunity to be heard—must occupy
6
These issues were not raised before the trial court.
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the central stage of analysis." Id. at 120. It is a flexible concept "and calls for
such procedural protections as the particular situation demands." Id. at 119(quoting Morrissey v. Brewer, 408 U.S. 471, 481 (1972)).
Defendant's argument lacks merit. The amended complaint provided her
with notice that DCPP was concerned with a number of issues. It alleged
Hanna's "physical, mental, or emotional condition ha[s] been impaired or is in
imminent danger of becoming impaired as the result of the failure of [her]
parents to exercise a minimum degree of care (1) in supplying [her] with
adequate food, clothing, shelter, education, medical or surgical care." By
incorporation of DCPP's court report from June 2015, the amended complaint
alleged facts, including concerns "related to [Terry's] past history with the
Division," "her current parenting of [Hanna]," difficulty setting up visits, Dr.
Cahill's report that Terry met the criteria for FDIA, Hanna's school attendance
records, that she was behind in reading at the end of kindergarten based on
excessive absences, and that her parents had verbal and physical conflict.
The fact that the Division did not specifically seek a finding that Terry
had FDIA did not change its overall assertion that Hanna's "physical, mental, or
emotional condition had been impaired or was in imminent danger of becoming
impaired as the result of the failure of [her] parents to exercise the minimum
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degree of care." It is clear Terry was on notice as to the Division's claim of
abuse or neglect. She also had a meaningful opportunity to respond to the claims
at each stage of the proceedings.
Regarding her claim that she was deprived of the constitutional right to
parent Hanna, that right has limitations where the child has been abused or
neglected within the meaning of N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.21. Further, defendant was not
deprived of the ability to reunite with the child, but she did not engage in
therapy, complete her evaluations, or stay in contact with the DCPP.
Defendant argues the court erred in accepting Dr. Cahill's FDIA diagnosis
because it was based on inadmissible hearsay consisting in large measure of the
AHCH report about Terry's son Steve. Defendant argues Dr. Cahill's finding
that Terry has FDIA was based on her personal opinions and contradicted by the
evidence, rendering her opinion a net opinion. These arguments are not
supported by the testimony and evidence.
Diagnoses by non-testifying experts are inadmissible hearsay and cannot
be offered for their truth. See Agha v. Feiner, 198 N.J. 50, 63-64 (2009). The
hearsay statements in the AHCH report could not be used as "substantive
evidence" but "only as evidence tending to support the ultimate expert
conclusion of the [witness]." State v. Vandeweaghe, 351 N.J. Super. 467, 480
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(App. Div. 2002) (quoting State v. Farthing, 331 N.J. Super. 58, 78 (App. Div.
2000)).
Dr. Cahill did not simply rely on the AHCH report for her opinions. She
conducted a parental capacity evaluation of Terry, personally observed Hanna
interact with her parents, reviewed Hanna's school records and the letters sent
by Terry to provide excuses for some of Hanna's excessive absences, and
examined Hanna's medical records and school communication log in
formulating her opinions. Her opinions, therefore, were based on her own
examinations and interviews, evidence that was admitted in trial and data
typically relied on such as past reports, medical records, and school records.
Dr. Cahill's opinion was not a net opinion. N.J.R.E. 703 mandates that
expert opinion be grounded in "facts or data derived from (1) the expert's
personal observations, or (2) evidence admitted at the trial, or (3) data relied
upon by the expert which is not necessarily admissible in evidence but which is
the type of data normally relied upon by experts." Townsend v. Pierre, 221 N.J.
36, 53 (2015) (quoting Polzo v. Cnty. of Essex, 196 N.J. 569, 583 (2008)). The
net opinion "requires an expert to give the why and wherefore of his or her
opinion, rather than a mere conclusion." State v. Townsend, 186 N.J. 473, 494
(2006) (citing Rosenberg v. Tavorath, 352 N.J. Super. 385, 401 (App. Div.
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2002)). Dr. Cahill's opinion was supported by the psychological testing, DCPP
records, and interview with Terry and Hanna. It clearly provided the whys and
wherefores for her opinions.
Defendant contends the abuse and neglect order was not supported by the
evidence. She argues the claim of parental alienation was not supported because
the child was not afraid of her father. She asserts there was no educational
neglect because Hanna was able to graduate to first grade and that the court did
not make a finding Terry's conduct was grossly negligent or reckless, which was
required under Title Nine.
We agree with the trial court that there was substantial evidence to support
the conclusion of abuse and neglect under Title Nine. The evidence was not
refuted that Terry coached the child into believing that her father was "bad" and
abused her. Again, we agree with the court that this met the statutory standard
of "impairing the child's mental and emotional condition through an intentional,
persistent, pervasive alienation of the child to the parent." As for educational
neglect, the evidence showed the child had difficulty adjusting to school and
was behind in reading because of her eighty-one absences.
Affirmed.
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