State Ex Rel. Children, Youth & Families Department v. Johnny S.

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO
Opinion Number: 2009-NMCA-032
Filing Date: February 16, 2009
Docket No. 28,852
STATE OF NEW MEXICO ex rel.
CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES
DEPARTMENT,
Petitioner-Appellee,
v.
JOHNNY S., SR.,
Respondent-Appellant,
and
In the Matter of JEREMIAH S.,
JONATHAN S., and JAYDEN S.,
Children.
APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF QUAY COUNTY
Donald Schutte, District Judge
Children, Youth & Families Department
Simon Romo, Chief Children’s Court Attorney
Rebecca J. Liggett, Children’s Court Attorney
Santa Fe, NM
for Appellee
Alex Chisholm
Albuquerque, NM
for Appellant
Albert J. Mitchell
1
Tucumcari, NM
Guardian Ad Litem
OPINION
BUSTAMANTE, Judge.
{1} Johnny S. (Father) appeals from the judgment of the district court terminating his
parental rights to his three children, Jonathan S., Jeremiah S., and Jayden S. (collectively
“Children”). Father’s rights were terminated based on findings of both abuse/neglect and
presumptive abandonment pursuant to NMSA 1978, Sections 32A-4-28(B)(2) and 32A-4-
28(B)(3) (2005), respectively. Father does not challenge any of the district court’s findings
of abuse and neglect or presumptive abandonment. In fact, Father concedes that the record
supports a finding of presumptive abandonment under Section 32A-4-28(B)(3) by clear and
convincing evidence.
{2} Father argues instead that his parental rights were improperly terminated because the
New Mexico Children, Youth & Families Department (CYFD) failed to adequately
accommodate his mental impairments, as required by 42 U.S.C. § 12132 (1990) of the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The difficulty for Father is that he failed to
preserve the issue in the district court. We affirm on the basis of lack of preservation. See
Woolwine v. Furr’s, Inc., 106 N.M. 492, 496, 745 P.2d 717, 721 (Ct. App. 1987). We sense,
however, some lingering misapprehension as to the proper method of preserving ADA
issues. As a consequence, we opt to clarify preservation requirements in these cases.
{3} Father asserts that he falls within the protection of the ADA which provides that “no
qualified individual with a disability shall, by reason of such disability, be excluded from
participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of a public
entity.” 42 U.S.C. § 12132. Father argues that he is a “qualified individual with a disability”
based on two psychological evaluations performed by Dr. Christopher J. Alexander.
{4} Dr. Alexander’s evaluations reveal serious deficits in Father’s mental health,
including chronic depression, anxiety, and cognitive disorders. In February 2007, Dr.
Alexander opined that “it is doubtful” that Father would be able to care for the children “in
the near-term, even if he were to go back on psychiatric medication and comply with the full
parameters of his Treatment Plan.” Dr. Alexander’s January 2006 evaluation reflected a
quite guarded view of Father’s ability to take care of himself much less the Children.
{5} Despite these reports, the record reveals no request by Father’s counsel1 for an
evaluation of the applicability of the ADA to Father. While Father did request findings of
1
Appellate counsel did not represent Father in the district court.
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fact regarding his psychological problems, he failed to ask for any specific finding or
conclusion of law that Father was a qualified individual with a disability within the meaning
and protection of the ADA.
{6} Acknowledging that he did not adequately develop the potential applicability of the
ADA below, Father asserts that the district court had an independent obligation to ensure
that the issue was properly explored by Father’s counsel and CYFD. Father asserts that this
obligation is a natural extension of our language in State ex rel. Children, Youth & Families
Department v. John D., 1997-NMCA-019, ¶ 21, 123 N.M. 114, 934 P.2d 308, noting that “a
lower court must determine whether the eligibility requirements are necessary and, if so,
must conduct an individualized inquiry into whether reasonable modifications can be made
in the case.” Father also asserted at oral argument that placing the onus on the district court
to at least raise the issue is reasonable given the fundamental nature of the familial interests
at stake.
{7} We decline to place on district judges the obligation to initiate inquiry into the
applicability of the ADA in particular cases. District judges are simply not in a good
position to recognize the potential application of the ADA, in particular in the early stages
of termination proceedings when the inquiry would be best raised. Counsel, who should be
most aware of their clients’ situation, are best equipped to determine whether the ADA might
apply and whether it would be of value to pursue it.
{8} To preserve issues concerning violations of the ADA, the parent bears the initial
burden of asserting that the parent is a qualified individual with a disability under 42 U.S.C.
Section 12131(2). Thereafter, the parent must create a factual and legal record sufficient to
allow meaningful appellate review of the district court decision on the issue. What
constitutes a sufficient record is, of course, different for each case. At a minimum, however,
there must be a request for relief citing the ADA backed by facts developed in the record.
{9} Determining what accommodation may be reasonable once the ADA is found to
apply will call for a more collaborative effort between the parents, CYFD, and the district
court. But the initial burden to raise and argue the issues—as early in the case as
possible—lies with the parents and their counsel.
{10} Given the shortcomings of the record before us, we cannot undertake any analysis
of the factual showing which might be required to demonstrate eligibility for ADA
protection. Neither can we provide any further insight as to whether the ADA applies to
termination of parental rights under Section 32A-4-28(B)(3) (presumptive abandonment).
See John D., 1997-NMCA-019, ¶ 19. We write solely to emphasize that respondents in
termination of parental rights cases have the burden of raising and proving application of the
ADA to them.
{11} We affirm the district court’s termination of Father’s parental rights to Children.
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{12} IT IS SO ORDERED.
MICHAEL D. BUSTAMANTE, Judge
WE CONCUR:
JAMES J. WECHSLER, Judge
ROBERT E. ROBLES, Judge
Topic Index for State of N.M. ex rel CYFD v. Johnny S., Sr., No. 28,852
AE APPEAL AND ERROR
AE-PA Preservation of Issues for Appeal
CD CHILDREN
CD-PS Psychological Evaluation
CD-TR Termination of Parental Rights
CL CRIMINAL LAW
CL-CN Child Abuse and Neglect
CR CIVIL RIGHTS
CR-RP Rights of Persons with Disabilities
FL FEDERAL LAW
FL-AD Americans with Disabilities Act
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