Z. L. v. Texas Department of Family and Protective Services

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN
NO. 03-13-00598-CV
Z. L., Appellant
v.
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Appellee
FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY, 98TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
NO. D-1-FM-12-004314, HONORABLE SCOTT H. JENKINS, JUDGE PRESIDING
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Appellant Z.L. (“Zane”) appeals from the trial court’s order terminating his parental
rights to his minor child, A.L.1 On appeal, Zane asserts that the evidence is insufficient to support
the trial court’s finding that (1) a statutory ground for terminating Zane’s parental rights exists and
(2) termination is in A.L.’s best interest. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
BACKGROUND
Appellee Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (the Department)
became involved in this case at A.L.’s birth, when her mother “Teresa” tested positive for marijuana
immediately after delivering A.L. Zane and Teresa were dating at the time, and they had been living
together since they learned that Teresa was pregnant with A.L. Zane did not test positive for drugs
at A.L.’s birth, but he later admitted to smoking marijuana around Teresa while she was pregnant.
1
For the sake of convenience and privacy of the parties, we refer to A.L.’s parents and
family members by fictitious names. See Tex. Fam. Code § 109.002(d).
According to Angela Diaz, the Department’s supervisor who monitored this case,
the Department concluded that it did not have enough evidence to remove A.L. at that time, and
Zane and Teresa were allowed to take A.L. home. However, the Department found that there was
reason to believe that Zane and Teresa were neglectfully supervising A.L. Therefore, the Department
entered into a voluntary agreement with Zane and Teresa whereby both parents agreed that
“Mary”—Teresa’s mother—would supervise A.L.’s care at all times. Initially, Mary moved in with
Zane and Teresa and supervised A.L.’s care in their home. However, according to Zane, he and
Mary had “disputes” and “bumped heads,” after which Mary cared for A.L. in her home.
Zane and Teresa’s agreement with the Department also required them to complete
various services—including couples counseling, protective parenting classes, and drug and alcohol
treatment—to address the Department’s concern for A.L.’s safety. According to Diaz, neither Zane
nor Teresa completed any of these services. Zane would later admit that he did not complete any of
these services because he was not under a court order to do so.
Five months after A.L. was born, the Department learned that Zane had been arrested
for assaulting Teresa. Less than two months later, after being released for the domestic violence
charge, Zane was arrested again for theft and burglary of a vehicle. A few days later, Teresa was
arrested for theft and possession of a controlled substance. At that time, according to Diaz, the
Department sought custody of A.L. based on the fact that both parents were incarcerated, both failed
to make any progress in the Department’s services, and the Department had “the new concern of
domestic violence.” Following an adversary hearing, the trial court entered an order naming the
Department as A.L.’s temporary managing conservator.
2
After A.L.’s removal, the Department created a family service plan through which
Zane could work toward regaining custody of A.L. See Tex. Fam. Code § 263.106. Among other
things, the service plan required Zane to complete drug and alcohol counseling, submit to random
drug testing, and follow all recommendations made after a “parent collaboration meeting.” Zane
later admitted that he failed to complete almost all of the requirements of his service plan. He
explained that he worked long hours, had difficulty obtaining transportation, and spent a substantial
amount of time resolving outstanding criminal charges—including a ninety-day period during
which Zane was under house arrest.
The Department ultimately sought to terminate Zane’s and Teresa’s parental rights.
Given that Mary had informed the Department that she no longer wished to take care of A.L., the
Department sought to have A.L. adopted by Teresa’s aunt and uncle in Nebraska. Teresa signed a
mediated settlement agreement with the Department in which she voluntarily relinquished her
parental rights.2 Zane also entered into a mediated settlement agreement in which he agreed to waive
his right to a jury trial. In exchange, the Department agreed to seek termination on the sole statutory
ground that Zane failed to complete his family service plan. See id. § 161.001(1)(O).
At the final hearing, the Department called four witnesses; including Zane, Diaz,
and two other Department employees who worked on this case. Zane testified that he was able to
maintain steady employment and provide a good home for A.L. while she lived with him. However,
Zane admitted that he continued to drink heavily and smoke marijuana since A.L.’s removal; that
2
Following a brief “prove-up hearing,” the trial court terminated Teresa’s parental rights
consistent with her mediated settlement agreement. Teresa did not appeal from the trial court’s order
terminating her parental rights.
3
he “would blow [drug screenings] off, you know, just because”; and that he failed to attend several
of the court hearings relating to this case. Zane also admitted that he had been arrested and charged
with several crimes since A.L.’s removal, that he was incarcerated for approximately 100 days on
various charges during that time, and that he had been “on the run” from law enforcement for at least
three months during these proceedings while seeking to avoid a new allegation of domestic violence
from a recent ex-girlfriend.
Diaz testified about the Department’s history with this case as outlined above. The
other witnesses for the Department testified about A.L.’s adjustment to living with her maternal
great aunt and uncle as foster parents. Both witnesses explained that the foster parents provide a
safe and loving home for A.L. and that termination of Zane’s parental rights was in A.L.’s best
interest. Following the hearing, the trial court found by clear and convincing evidence that Zane had
failed to comply with the requirements of his family service plan and that termination of Zane’s
parental rights was in A.L.’s best interest. See id. § 161.001(1)(O), (2) (prescribing necessary
findings for termination of parental rights). This appeal followed.
DISCUSSION
In two issues on appeal, Zane asserts that the evidence is insufficient to support
termination of his parental rights. To terminate the parent-child relationship, the fact-finder must
find clear and convincing evidence that (1) the parent has engaged in conduct set out as statutory
grounds for termination and (2) termination is in the child’s best interest. In re C.H., 89 S.W.3d 17,
23 (Tex. 2002). In his first appellate issue, Zane contends that the evidence is legally insufficient
to support the trial court’s finding that a statutory ground for termination exists because there is no
4
evidence that Zane was ordered to complete a family service plan based on allegations that he abused
or neglected A.L. See Tex. Fam. Code § 161.001(1)(O). Second, Zane argues that the evidence is
factually insufficient to support the trial court’s finding that termination of his parental rights was
in A.L.’s best interest. See id. § 161.001(2).
Standard of review
“The distinction between legal and factual sufficiency when the burden of proof is
clear and convincing evidence may be a fine one in some cases, but there is a distinction in how the
evidence is reviewed.” In re J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d 256, 266 (Tex. 2002). In a termination case, we
review the legal sufficiency of the evidence by considering all of the evidence in the light most
favorable to the trial court’s determination and will uphold a finding if a reasonable factfinder could
have formed a firm conviction that its finding was true. Id. To give appropriate deference to the trial
court’s conclusions, we must assume that the court resolved disputed facts in favor of its finding if
it could reasonably do so. Id. An appellate court should disregard evidence a reasonable factfinder
could have disbelieved or found incredible. Id.
When reviewing the factual sufficiency of the evidence in a parental termination case,
we view all of the evidence in a neutral light and determine whether a reasonable factfinder could
form a firm belief or conviction that a given finding was true. In re C.H., 89 S.W.3d at 18–19. We
assume that the trial court resolved disputed facts in favor of its finding if a reasonable person could
do so, and we disregard evidence that a reasonable factfinder could have disbelieved or found
incredible. In re J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d at 266. Evidence is factually insufficient only if a reasonable
factfinder could not have resolved the disputed evidence in favor of its finding and if that disputed
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evidence is so significant that the trial court could not reasonably have formed a firm belief or
conviction that its finding was true. Id.
Statutory ground for termination
In his first appellate issue, Zane asserts that the evidence is legally insufficient to
support the trial court’s finding that a statutory ground for terminating his parental rights exists.
Specifically, Zane argues that the family service plan he was ordered to complete was not in response
to A.L.’s removal for abuse or neglect. Therefore, according to Zane, his failure to complete the
family service plan does not satisfy the elements of section 161.001(1)(O) of the Texas Family Code,
and thus there is no evidence that a statutory ground for termination exists.
The Department’s only statutory ground for terminating Zane’s parental rights was
subsection O, which provides that a parent-child relationship may be terminated if the parent has:
failed to comply with the provisions of a court order that specifically
established the actions necessary for the parent to obtain the return of
the child who has been in the permanent or temporary managing
conservatorship of the [Department] for not less than nine months as
a result of the child’s removal from the parent under Chapter 262 for
the abuse or neglect of the child.
Tex. Fam. Code § 161.001(O) (emphasis added). The supreme court has recognized that it is an
essential element of subsection O that the child was removed under Chapter 262 for abuse or neglect.
See In re E.C.R., 402 S.W.3d 239, 246 (Tex. 2013) (discussing broad meaning of abuse and neglect
under Chapter 262). However, the court found that within the meaning of Chapter 262, abuse or
neglect encompass both actual abuse or neglect and a substantial risk of abuse or neglect. See id.
6
at 246–47; L.Z. v. Texas Dep’t of Family & Protective Servs., No. 03-12-00113-CV, 2012 WL
3629435, at *7 (Tex. App.—Austin Aug. 23, 2012, no pet.) (mem. op.) (noting that whether removal
was result of abuse or neglect is determined on case-by-case basis). Thus, under subsection O, the
Department has the burden to establish that (1) Zane was ordered to comply with a family service
plan as a result of A.L.’s removal for abuse or neglect and (2) Zane failed to comply with the
requirements of the family service plan.
On appeal, Zane concedes that the evidence establishes that he did not comply with
the requirements of the family service plan. However, Zane contends that when the Department
sought temporary managing conservatorship of A.L., she was living with and continued to live
with Mary, whom the Department had previously determined was a suitable care giver. Therefore,
according to Zane, there is no evidence that A.L. was removed due to a substantial risk of abuse
or neglect.
Although A.L. was staying with someone other than Zane at the time the Department
filed its petition for temporary conservatorship, for purposes of section 161.001(1)(O), A.L. was
removed from Zane’s custody by the trial court’s order naming the Department A.L.’s temporary
managing conservator. See D.F. v. Texas Dep’t of Family & Protective Servs., 393 S.W.3d 821, 830
(Tex. App.—El Paso 2012, no pet.) (concluding that child was removed from parent for purposes
of section 161.001(1)(O) of the Family Code even though at time of removal child was living in
Child Crisis Center), abrogated on other grounds by E.C.R., 402 S.W.3d at 246 n.5; In re A.A.A.,
265 S.W.3d 507, 516 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2008, pet. denied) (concluding child was
removed from parent’s care even though child technically removed from shelter), abrogated on
7
other grounds by E.C.R., 402 S.W.3d at 246 n.5. Similarly, the fact that A.L. had somewhere safe
to stay after both her parents were incarcerated does not preclude the possibility that Zane was
neglecting his child. As the statutory examples make clear, neglect can occur when a parent fails to
provide a safe home for the child to return to after the child has “been in residential placement
or . . . run away.” See Tex. Fam. Code § 261.001(4)(C); see also E.C.R., 402 S.W.3d at 246–47
(explaining that Chapter 261’s definitions of abuse and neglect inform what constitutes abuse and
neglect for purposes of Chapter 262). Thus, a parent can neglect his children even when the children
do not live with him.
At the final hearing, the trial court took judicial notice of the order naming the
Department as sole managing conservator and subsequent order compelling Zane to complete the
family service plan. Although these orders are not proof that the allegations contained within them
are in fact true, the orders are evidence of why A.L. was removed. See L.Z., 2012 WL 3629435, at
*8 (noting that family service plan admitted at trial verified that child was removed for allegations
of abuse and neglect). These orders specifically state that they were being issued pursuant to
Chapter 262 of the Texas Family Code based on the Department’s allegations that neither parent
could provide for the safety and well-being of A.L., that neither parent was taking advantage of any
of the services the Department recommended, and that both parents were incarcerated for recent
criminal charges. Furthermore, Diaz testified that the Department sought to remove of A.L. after
learning that Zane smoked marijuana around Teresa while she was pregnant, that Zane and Teresa
were overwhelmed when they tried to take care of A.L., and that Zane had been arrested for allegedly
punching Teresa multiple times in the face.
8
These allegations coincide with statutory examples of neglect, including “failure by
the person responsible for a child’s care, custody, or welfare to permit the child to return to the
child’s home without arranging for the necessary care for the child after the child has been absent
from home for any reason . . . .” Tex. Fam. Code § 261.001(4)(C). Therefore, we conclude that
the preliminary order naming the Department as temporary managing conservator and Diaz’s
corroborating testimony were sufficient evidence from which the trial court could find that Zane was
ordered to comply with a family service plan as a result of A.L.’s removal under Chapter 262
for neglect. See id. § 161.001(1)(O); see also L.Z., 2012 WL 3629435, at *8. Zane concedes that
the evidence is sufficient to demonstrate that he did not comply with the provisions of that family
service plan. Thus, the trial court could have formed a firm belief or conviction that subsection O
is a statutory ground that supports terminating Zane’s parental rights. See Tex. Fam. Code
§ 161.001(1)(O); see also In re A.V., 113 S.W.3d 355, 362 (Tex. 2003) (noting that only one
statutory ground for termination is necessary to support termination of parental rights). We conclude
that there is legally sufficient evidence to support the trial court’s finding on this issue. Zane’s first
appellate issue is overruled.
A.L.’s best interest
In his second issue on appeal, Zane asserts that the evidence is factually insufficient
to support the trial court’s finding that termination of his parental rights was in A.L.’s best interest.
In a parental-rights-termination case, the best interest of the child is assessed using a non-exhaustive
list of factors. See In re R.R., 209 S.W.3d 112, 116 (Tex. 2006). These factors include (1) the
child’s wishes, (2) his emotional and physical needs now and in the future, (3) emotional or physical
9
danger to the child now and in the future, (4) the parenting abilities of the parties seeking custody,
(5) programs available to help those parties, (6) plans for the child by the parties seeking custody,
(7) the stability of the proposed placement, (8) the acts or omissions of the parent that indicate that
the existing parent-child relationship is not proper, and (9) any excuses for the acts or omissions of
the parent. See Holley v. Adams, 544 S.W.2d 367, 371–72 (Tex. 1976).
The Department need not prove all nine Holley factors as a “condition precedent” to
termination, and the absence of some factors does not bar the fact-finder from finding that
termination is in the child’s best interest. In re C.H., 89 S.W.3d at 27. While no one factor is
controlling, the analysis of a single factor may be adequate in a particular situation to support a
finding that termination is in the child’s best interest. In re J.O.C., 47 S.W.3d 108, 115 (Tex.
App.—Waco 2001, no pet.), disapproved on other grounds in In re J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d at 267 n.39;
see also Rios v. Texas Dep’t of Family & Protective Servs., No. 03-11-00565-CV, 2012 WL
2989237, at *8 (Tex. App.—Austin July 11, 2012, no pet.) (mem. op.).
On appeal, Zane does not point to any particular Holley factor that he claims weighs
against the trial court’s best-interest finding. Rather, Zane merely notes that there is a strong
presumption that preserving the parent-child relationship is in the child’s best interest and that a
parent’s right to his child is constitutionally protected. See In re R.R., 209 S.W.3d at 116. As Zane’s
brief acknowledges, these fundamental concerns are the reason that the Department must prove its
case by clear and convincing evidence, and therefore Zane’s brief does not purport to alter the
traditional Holley-factors analysis. See id. (noting that presumption that it is in child’s best interest
to remain with parent is part of Holley analysis).
10
The trial court heard substantial testimony about A.L.’s best interest. In his testimony,
Zane admitted that he continued to abuse drugs and alcohol, that he would “blow off” the
requirements of his family service plan for no reason, that he had been incarcerated for
approximately 100 days for various criminal charges since A.L.’s removal, and that he had been “on
the run” from law enforcement for three months while avoiding an outstanding domestic violence
complaint. Based on this testimony, the trial court could have reasonably found that Zane could not
provide for the present and future needs of A.L., Zane would not take advantage of programs
designed to assist him in raising A.L., Zane could not provide a safe and stable home for A.L., and
Zane had no reasonable excuse for his prior mistakes. See Holley, 544 S.W.2d at 372; Smith v. Texas
Dep’t of Protective & Regulatory Servs., 160 S.W.3d 673, 681 (Tex. App.—Austin 2005, no pet.).
By contrast, the trial court also heard testimony that A.L.’s foster parents were
seeking to adopt her, that they provided a safe and loving home, and that A.L. had adjusted well
to living with her foster parents. Based on this testimony, the trial court could have reasonably
found that A.L.’s foster parents could provide a safe and stable environment for A.L. now and in
the future and that A.L. had some preference for staying with her foster parents. See In re J.L.C.,
194 S.W.3d 667, 675 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2006, no pet.) (noting that toddler’s affection and
attachment to foster parents can be evidence of infant’s desire to remain with foster family).
Based on this record, we conclude that a reasonable factfinder could have resolved
the evidence in favor of the trial court’s best-interest finding and that the disputed evidence is not
so significant as to prevent a reasonable factfinder from forming a firm belief or conviction that
the finding was true. Therefore, the evidence is factually sufficient to support the trial court’s
best-interest finding. See J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d at 266. We overrule Zane’s second appellate issue.
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CONCLUSION
Having overruled Zane’s two issues on appeal, we affirm the trial court’s order
terminating Zane’s parental rights.
__________________________________________
Scott K. Field, Justice
Before Chief Justice Jones, Justices Pemberton and Field
Affirmed
Filed: February 7, 2014
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