DCPP VS. J.C. AND I.C.IN THE MATTER OF JE.C., IS.C. AND A.F.C.(FN-09-0387-11, HUDSON COUNTY AND STATEWIDE)(RECORD IMPOUNDED)(CONSOLIDATED)

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NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE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-0437-16T1
A-0438-16T1
NEW JERSEY DIVISION OF CHILD
PROTECTION AND PERMANENCY,
Plaintiff-Respondent,
v.
J.C. and I.C.,
Defendants-Appellants.
__________________________________
IN THE MATTER OF JE.C., IS.C.
and A.F.C.,
Minors.
____________________________________
Argued October 12, 2017 – Decided October 24, 2017
Before Judges Haas, Rothstadt and Gooden
Brown.
On appeal from Superior Court of New Jersey,
Chancery Division, Family Part, Hudson County,
Docket No. FN-09-0387-11.
Christine Olexa Saginor, Designated Counsel,
argued the cause for appellant J.C. (Joseph
E. Krakora, Public Defender, attorney; Ms.
Saginor, on the briefs).
Joseph E. Krakora, Public Defender, attorney
for appellant I.C. (Ryan T. Clark, Designated
Counsel, on the briefs).
Julie B. Colonna, Deputy Attorney General,
argued the cause for respondent (Christopher
S. Porrino, Attorney General, attorney; Jason
W. Rockwell, Assistant Attorney General, of
counsel; Ms. Colonna, on the brief).
Margo E. K. Hirsch, Designated Counsel, argued
the cause for minors (Joseph E. Krakora,
Public Defender, Law Guardian, attorney; Ms.
Hirsch, on the brief).
PER CURIAM
Defendant J.C.1 appeals from the Family Part's July 25, 2012
order, following a fact-finding hearing, determining that she
abused or neglected her four-month-old daughter, Isabella, by
failing to protect the infant by allowing her husband, defendant
I.C., to be a caretaker for the child despite his known mental
health and anger issues. J.C. and I.C.2 both appeal the court's
June 29, 2015 order, following a separate fact-finding hearing,
determining that they abused or neglected another infant child,
1
We use initials and fictitious names to protect the privacy of
the family.
2
Shortly before oral argument on these consolidated appeals,
I.C.'s attorney advised us that his client had passed away and,
therefore, the attorney would not be attending the argument.
Despite the apparent mootness of the issues I.C. raised in his
appeal, and in the absence of a formal withdrawal of I.C.'s appeal
by his attorney, we have determined to address I.C.'s claims.
2 A-0437-16T1
Alexa, by hiding the child from the Division of Child Protection
and Permanency following her birth and then having unsupervised
contact with the baby prior to the completion of court-ordered
services while they were both restricted to supervised visitation
with their other children.3
Defendants challenge the trial court's finding that their
conduct constituted abuse or neglect under N.J.S.A. 9:6-
8.21(c)(4)(b). The Law Guardian supports the court's finding that
the Division met its burden of proving abuse or neglect of the two
children by a preponderance of the evidence. Based upon our review
of the record and applicable law, we affirm.
When the Division first became involved with this family,
defendants had two children, Julie, born in December 2009, and
Isabella, born in November 2010. In March 2011, when Isabella was
four months old, the Division learned that defendants had brought
the infant to a hospital for evaluation because her head was
enlarged. Testing revealed that the baby had bilateral subdural
hematomas, bilateral retinal hemorrhages, and bilateral mid-
clavicle fractures, as well as several rib fractures. Isabella
also had burns on her abdomen and thigh.
3
The July 25, 2012 and June 29, 2015 orders became appealable as
of right after the trial court entered a final order on August 18,
2016, dismissing the litigation.
3 A-0437-16T1
The Division's experts evaluated Isabella and her medical
records and opined that the baby's injuries were consistent with
physical abuse and abusive head trauma and likely occurred as
separate incidents over a period of time within five days and
three weeks of defendants taking the child to the hospital. With
the approval of the court, the Division removed Isabella and Julie
from defendants' care and custody and placed the children in
resource homes.
When questioned by investigators, I.C. and J.C. denied
harming the baby. Both parents stated that I.C. cared for the
child while J.C. was at work. Both speculated that Isabella may
have been injured when Julie slipped and fell on the child in
January 2011. When confronted by hospital staff, I.C. suggested
that the child may have been injured in a car accident. I.C. also
stated that Isabella's ribs may have been broken because he held
the baby in "a certain way."
With regard to the burns on the infant's body, I.C. stated
that he put a steak knife that he had just washed with very hot
water near Isabella while he left to go to the bathroom, and the
child accidentally rolled over on it. However, the Division's
expert determined that the burns were not in the shape of a knife
and were not consistent with I.C.'s account.
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I.C. stated that he had post-traumatic stress disorder, but
he had stopped taking his medication. J.C. was aware of her
husband's mental health issues. J.C. admitted that I.C. was
paranoid, easily became upset over minor matters, and would throw
things when angry. At one point, he had attempted suicide.
Nevertheless, J.C. continued to leave Isabella in I.C.'s care,
even after he told her how the child had allegedly been burned.
Defendants' experts testified that Isabella had underlying
medical conditions, such as vitamin deficiencies and blood
disorders, which caused her injuries. After the Division placed
Isabella in a resource home, however, she suffered no further
fractures and her subdural hematomas improved without any
additional vitamin supplements.
In a thorough oral opinion, Judge Elaine Davis found that the
Division's experts were more credible and that J.C. and I.C. abused
or neglected the baby because she suffered serious non-accidental
injuries while in their care. Although the precise culpability
of each parent in inflicting these injuries could not be
determined, the judge found it likely that I.C. caused them. The
judge further found that J.C. placed the children in harm's way
by leaving them home alone with I.C. even though she was aware of
her husband's mental health problems.
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After the hearing, Isabella and Julie remained in the
Division's care and custody. The trial court barred J.C. and I.C.
from having any unsupervised contact with the children and ordered
them to complete a number of services, including psychological
evaluations and psychotherapy, as a condition to regaining
custody. The court also ordered I.C. to participate in anger
management and parenting skills classes.
In April 2012, J.C. gave birth to the couple's third child,
Alexa. Defendants did not disclose J.C.'s pregnancy or Alexa's
birth to the Division or the court.
In April 2013, the Division received a referral that a one-
year-old child was living with J.C. When questioned by the
Division, J.C. denied that she was caring for a baby.
Because J.C. had complied with the services ordered by the
court, the Division reunited her with Isabella and Julie on July
22, 2013. That same day, however, the Division received another
referral that a third child was living with J.C. When questioned
by a Division caseworker whether she was hiding a baby in her
home, J.C. replied, "I don't know." However, she soon confessed
that she had given birth to Alexa in April 2012 and had concealed
this fact from the Division. J.C. further admitted that she did
not disclose this child to the Division or the court because she
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knew the Division would have taken custody of the child until she
completed services.
J.C. stated that after Alexa was born, the infant lived with
J.C.'s grandmother. After the Division asked J.C. in April 2013
whether a baby was living with her, J.C. stated that she and I.C.
placed Isabella with family friends. The friends confirmed that
Alexa had been in their care since April 2013. They stated that
several times a month, J.C. and I.C would have unsupervised access
to the child and that J.C. frequently took the baby home with her
on weekends and that I.C. would accompany J.C. when she returned
Alexa to them.
J.C. later told investigators that I.C. had lived with her
until February 2013 and then moved in with his mother for a couple
of months before his conviction. She admitted that I.C. was in
the home when she brought Alexa there. As a result of these
disclosures, the Division substantiated J.C. and I.C. for abuse
or neglect of Alexa.4
Following a fact-finding hearing, Judge Mark Nelson rendered
a comprehensive oral decision, finding that J.C. and I.C. abused
or neglected Alexa by having the child in their unsupervised
4
On September 26, 2013, I.C. was convicted of a number of charges
stemming from the injuries to Isabella, including endangering the
welfare of a child and aggravated assault.
7 A-0437-16T1
custody at a time when they had not yet completed the services
necessary for them to safely care for children, thus placing the
baby at a substantial risk of harm.
On appeal, J.C. challenges the July 25, 2012 order that found
she abused or neglected Isabella by continuing to allow I.C. to
care for the child even after he burned her and the baby's head
began to swell. J.C. argues that the judge's finding is "not
supported by substantial credible evidence" and that the Division
"failed to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that [she] was
aware that her children were exposed to a substantial risk of harm
due to I.C.'s mental health issues."5 We disagree.
Our review of the trial judge's factual finding of abuse or
neglect is limited; we defer to the court's determinations "'when
supported by adequate, substantial, credible evidence.'" N.J.
Div. of Youth & Family Servs. v. I.Y.A., 400 N.J. Super. 77, 89
(App. Div. 2008) (quoting Cesare v. Cesare, 154 N.J. 394, 411-12
(1998)). The trial court is best suited to assess credibility,
weigh testimony and develop a feel for the case, and we extend
special deference to the Family Part's expertise. N.J. Div. of
5
J.C. also argues that "the trial court improperly shifted the
burden of proof to J.C." pursuant to In re D.T., 229 N.J. Super.
509 (App. Div. 1988). We have considered this contention in light
of the record and applicable legal principles and conclude it is
without sufficient merit to warrant discussion in a written
opinion. R. 2:11-3(e)(1)(E).
8 A-0437-16T1
Youth & Family Servs. v. M.C. III, 201 N.J. 328, 342-43 (2010);
Cesare, supra, 154 N.J. at 413.
Unless the trial judge's factual findings are "so wide of the
mark that a mistake must have been made" they should not be
disturbed, even if we would not have made the same decision if we
had heard the case in the first instance. N.J. Div. of Youth &
Family Servs. v. M.M., 189 N.J. 261, 279 (2007) (internal quotation
marks and citation omitted). "It is not our place to second-guess
or substitute our judgment for that of the family court, provided
that the record contains substantial and credible evidence to
support" the judge's decision. N.J. Div. of Youth & Family Servs.
v. F.M., 211 N.J. 420, 448-49 (2012).
In pertinent part, N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.21(c)(4)(b) defines an
"abused 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 or guardian . . .
to exercise a minimum degree of care . . . in
providing the child with proper supervision
or guardianship, by unreasonably inflicting or
allowing to be inflicted harm, or substantial
risk thereof, including the infliction of
excessive corporal punishment; or by any other
acts of a similarly serious nature requiring
the aid of the court[.]
A court does not have to wait until a child is actually harmed
or neglected before it can act in the welfare of that minor. N.J.
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Div. of Youth & Family Servs. v. V.M., 408 N.J. Super. 222, 235-
36 (App. Div.) (citing In re Guardianship of D.M.H., 161 N.J.
365, 383 (1999)), certif. denied, 200 N.J. 505 (2009), cert.
denied, 561 U.S. 1028, 130 S. Ct. 3502, 177 L. Ed. 2d 1095 (2010).
Thus, "[i]n the absence of actual harm, a finding of abuse and
neglect can be based on proof of imminent danger and substantial
risk of harm." N.J. Dep't of Children & Families v. A.L., 213
N.J. 1, 23 (2013) (citing N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.21(c)(4)(b)). Nor does
harm to the child need to be intentional in order to substantiate
a finding of abuse or neglect. M.C. III, supra, 201 N.J. at 344.
In determining a case of abuse or neglect, the court should
base its determination on the totality of the circumstances. N.J.
Div. of Youth & Family Servs. v. V.T., 423 N.J. Super. 320, 329
(App. Div. 2011). A finding of abuse or neglect must be based on
a preponderance of the evidence. N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.46(b).
Applying these standards to this matter, we are satisfied
there was competent, credible evidence in the record to support
Judge Davis's finding that defendant abused or neglected Isabella
by continuing to permit I.C. to care for the child. J.C. knew
that her husband suffered from mental health issues. She also
knew that he had stopped taking his medication and was easily
upset. When she came home to find that Isabella had been burned,
she did not question I.C.'s implausible story that the two-month-
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old baby had accidently rolled over on a hot steak knife. Instead,
she kept leaving the infant with I.C. As a result, the baby
suffered multiple injuries over a three-week period, including
burns, multiple fractures, subdural hematomas, and bilateral
retinal hemorrhages.
Under the totality of these circumstances, we discern no
basis for disturbing Judge Davis's determination that J.C.'s
disregard for Isabella's safety placed the baby at risk of serious
harm and constituted abuse and neglect within the meaning of
N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.21(c)(4). Therefore, we affirm the July 25, 2012
order.
Both defendants contest Judge Nelson's June 29, 2015
determination that they abused or neglected Alexa by hiding the
child from the Division following her birth and then having
unsupervised contact with the baby prior to the completion of
court-ordered services. J.C. argues that the judge's finding "is
not supported by substantial credible evidence." I.C. asserts
that "the competent evidence did not establish that [he] was
grossly negligent or reckless in not notifying the Division that
J.C. gave birth to [Alexa], when he was not subject to a case plan
or court order directing him to do so." These contentions lack
merit.
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As discussed above, Isabella suffered extensive injuries
while in defendants' care. As a result, the trial court granted
custody of Isabella and Julie to the Division and barred defendants
from having any unsupervised contact with the children. The court
also ordered defendants to participate in a number of different
services designed to address the issues that caused them to place
their first two children in harm's way. The import of this
directive was clear: neither defendant could safely care for an
infant unless and until they completed the required services.
In spite of the court's order, J.C. and I.C. deliberately hid
J.C.'s pregnancy and Alexa's birth from the Division because they
were aware that the Division would have emergently removed her and
placed her in foster care with her siblings in order to protect
her from the danger posed by her parents, who had still not
completed services. Defendants then had unsupervised and
unfettered contact with the new baby for several months before
their subterfuge was finally discovered.
Under these circumstances, Judge Nelson appropriately
concluded that both defendants placed Alexa in substantial risk
of harm within the intendment of N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.21(c)(4).
Therefore, we also affirm the June 29, 2015 order.
Affirmed.
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