Junious Pernell Bartlett v. City of Newport News Department of Human Services

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA
Present: Judges Beales, Chafin and Senior Judge Bumgardner
PUBLISHED
Argued at Chesapeake, Virginia
ARETE N. RUDOLPH
v. Record No. 1861-15-1
CITY OF NEWPORT NEWS
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
ARETE N. RUDOLPH
v. Record No. 1913-15-1
CITY OF NEWPORT NEWS
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
ARETE NICOLE RUDOLPH
OPINION BY
v. Record No. 0628-16-1 JUDGE RANDOLPH A. BEALES
DECEMBER 20, 2016
CITY OF NEWPORT NEWS
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
ARETE NICOLE RUDOLPH
v. Record No. 0629-16-1
CITY OF NEWPORT NEWS
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
JUNIOUS PERNELL BARTLETT
v. Record No. 1826-15-1
CITY OF NEWPORT NEWS
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
JUNIOUS P. BARTLETT
v. Record No. 0524-16-1
CITY OF NEWPORT NEWS
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF NEWPORT NEWS
C. Peter Tench, Judge
Clara P. Swanson for appellant Arete N. Rudolph.
Nathaniel J. Webb, III (Polly Chong, on brief), for appellant
Junious Pernell Bartlett in Record No. 1826-15-1.
Nathaniel J. Webb, III, for appellant Junious P. Bartlett in Record
No. 0524-16-1.
Pamela P. Bates, Assistant City Attorney (Michael P. Jones,
Guardian ad litem for the minor children, on briefs), for appellee.
In these appeals, which we now consolidate, Arete N. Rudolph and Junious Pernell
Bartlett (“appellants”) assert that certain pleadings filed in the juvenile and domestic relations
district court (“the JDR court”) were defective and constituted the unauthorized practice of law.
“[D]ue to the defective and illegal nature of the pleadings” in the JDR court, appellants contend
that these matters were ineligible for appeal to the circuit court because both courts lacked active
jurisdiction to adjudicate these matters on the merits. For the following reasons, we affirm the
circuit court.
I. BACKGROUND
These matters were initiated by the filing of two emergency removal petitions for R.B.B.
(born July 1, 2013) and R.J.B. (born November 12, 2010)1 in the JDR court on October 29, 2013.
The petitions alleged that, on October 29, 2013, the minor children were “in an abused and or
neglected condition” in accordance with Code § 16.1-241. Sheila Bonardy, a social worker
employed by the Newport News Department of Human Services (“DHS”), affirmed and signed
the emergency removal petitions before the Newport News Court Services Intake Officer.
1
Arete Rudolph is the mother of both children. Junious Bartlett is the father of R.B.B.
Brandon Brooks is the father of R.J.B. We use initials for the children in an attempt to help
protect these juveniles’ privacy in this appeal.
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Bonardy is not an attorney licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth. The Intake Officer
then processed the petitions and filed them with the JDR court.
The JDR court entered emergency removal orders for the removal of each child on
October 30, 2013, which temporarily placed both children in foster care. After a three-hour
hearing on December 4, 2013, the JDR court entered a dispositional order finding that R.B.B.
and R.J.B. were abused and neglected children and transferred the children into the custody of
DHS. A foster care plan for the children was created with the goal of returning the children to
their parents or of placing them with relatives.
On May 13, 2014, the JDR court entered a foster care review order approving of the
foster care plan. On September 2, 2014, the JDR court entered a permanency planning order that
maintained the goal of returning the children to their home. On January 27, 2015, the JDR court
disapproved of the foster care plan containing the permanent goal of the placement of the
children with a relative. On February 24, 2015, the JDR court entered its final permanency
planning orders approving of the foster care plan of adoption.
Appellants filed a notice of appeal to the circuit court of the final permanency planning
orders on February 24, 2015. On September 21, 2015, appellants filed a motion to dismiss in the
circuit court. Appellants alleged that the circuit court lacked jurisdiction because DHS’s
emergency removal and permanency planning petitions were not signed by an attorney. After a
hearing on the motion to dismiss on October 26, 2015, the circuit court found that it had both
subject matter jurisdiction and active jurisdiction to hear the case. On November 2, 2015, the
circuit court entered its permanency planning order affirming the JDR court’s permanency
planning order for adoption.
On February 10, 2015, Candace Bolden, a nonattorney employee of DHS, signed
petitions for the termination of appellants’ residual parental rights. Bolden, who is not licensed
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to practice law in the Commonwealth, signed the petitions before the Newport News Court
Services Intake Officer. The Intake Officer then processed the petitions and filed them with the
JDR court. After a hearing on December 8, 2015, the JDR court entered orders for the
involuntary termination of appellants’ parental rights.
Appellants filed a notice of appeal to the circuit court of the termination of parental rights
orders on December 9, 2015. On February 23, 2016, appellants filed a motion to dismiss,
alleging that the circuit court lacked jurisdiction because DHS’s emergency removal and
termination of parental rights petitions were not signed by an attorney. After a hearing on the
motion to dismiss on February 26, 2016, the circuit court found that it had both subject matter
jurisdiction and active jurisdiction to hear the case. On March 21, 2016, the circuit court entered
orders affirming the JDR court’s termination of the parties’ parental rights.
II. ANALYSIS
In these consolidated appeals, appellants only raise the one issue of law in their
assignment of error. Appellants argue that the form petitions signed by nonattorney employees
of DHS in the JDR court constituted the unauthorized practice of law and deprived the courts
below of active jurisdiction.2 The circuit court’s conclusions as to questions of law are subject to
de novo review on appeal. Rusty’s Welding Serv., Inc. v. Gibson, 29 Va. App. 119, 127, 510
S.E.2d 255, 259 (1999).
A. Relevant Opinion of the Attorney General of Virginia
The issue of nonlawyer employees of government agencies signing form petitions is not a
matter of first legal impression in Virginia. In an April 29, 1988 opinion, the Attorney General
of Virginia noted, “Prior Opinions of this Office consistently conclude that nonlawyer employees
of state agencies may appear in court, obtain warrants and present facts, figures and factual
2
Appellants do not contest the sufficiency of the evidence in support of any of the
decisions below.
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conclusions, as distinguished from legal conclusions, to the court without violating prohibitions
against the unauthorized practice of law.” 1987-88 Op. Atty. Gen. 637, *3. The opinion goes on
to state, “It does not appear that the completion of form petitions, motions, and notices used in
juvenile and domestic relations district courts would constitute the unauthorized practice of law
as long as the nonlawyer employee only provides information concerning facts, figures or factual
conclusions and does not present legal arguments or legal conclusions.” Id. at *3-4.
While an Opinion of the Attorney General is not binding on this Court, it is “entitled to
due consideration.” Beck v. Shelton, 267 Va. 482, 492, 593 S.E.2d 195, 200 (2004).
This is particularly so when the General Assembly has known of
the Attorney General’s Opinion . . . and has done nothing to
change it. “The legislature is presumed to have had knowledge of
the Attorney General’s interpretation of the statutes, and its failure
to make corrective amendments evinces legislative acquiescence in
the Attorney General’s view.” Browning-Ferris, Inc. v.
Commonwealth, 225 Va. 157, 161-62, 300 S.E.2d 603, 605-06
(1983).
Id. In this particular instance, the General Assembly has evidently acquiesced in the Attorney
General’s legal conclusion (over the course of twenty years) that the completion of form
petitions, motions, and notices used in juvenile and domestic relations district courts by
nonlawyer employees of state agencies does not constitute the unauthorized practice of law or
otherwise invalidate such pleadings. In fact, the General Assembly has taken multiple
subsequent steps to endorse the Attorney General’s conclusions of law on this issue.
B. 2008 Amendments to Code §§ 8.01-271.1 and 16.1-260
In 2008, the General Assembly amended Code § 8.01-271.1 to create a statutory
exception to the general rule that every pleading of a party represented by an attorney shall be
signed by at least one attorney of record. Code § 8.01-271.1 was amended to state, “Except as
otherwise provided in §§ 16.1-260 and 63.2-1901, every pleading, written motion, and other
paper of a party represented by an attorney shall be signed by at least one attorney of record in
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his individual name, and the attorney’s address shall be stated on the first pleading filed by that
attorney in the action.”
That same year, the General Assembly amended Code § 16.1-260(A) to state,
“[D]esignated nonattorney employees of the Department of Social Services may complete, sign,
and file petitions and motions relating to the establishment, modification, or enforcement of
support on forms approved by the Supreme Court of Virginia.” These amendments to Code
§§ 8.01-271.1 and 16.1-260 clearly demonstrate that the General Assembly has expressed its
agreement that certain nonattorney employees of departments of social services may complete,
file, and sign such petitions and motions. In fact, when it enacted the 2008 amendments to Code
§ 16.1-260(A), the General Assembly stated that the amendments were “declarative of existing
law.” 2008 Va. Acts 136, § 2; 2008 Va. Acts 845, § 2. Thus, the General Assembly has
manifested its intention that Code § 16.1-260 permits nonattorney employees of local
departments of social services to sign form petitions in juvenile court proceedings.3
C. 2016 Amendments to Code §§ 16.1-260, 54.1-3900, and 63.2-332
In 2016, the General Assembly again amended Code § 16.1-260(A) by adding the
following language:
designated nonattorney employees of a local department of social
services may complete, sign, and file with the clerk, on forms
approved by the Supreme Court of Virginia, petitions for foster
care review, petitions for permanency planning hearings, petitions
to establish paternity, motions to establish or modify support,
motions to amend or review an order, and motions for a rule to
show cause.
3
Admittedly, the 2008 amendments to Code § 16.1-260(A) only refer to proceedings
related to the establishment, modification, or enforcement of child support. However, the Court
notes that the General Assembly considered the 2008 amendments to be merely declarative of
existing law. Thus, this Court will not construe those amendments to exclude nonattorney
employees of local departments of social services from signing the petitions for emergency
removal, petitions for a permanency planning hearing, or petitions for the termination of parental
rights filed in these matters.
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The General Assembly also amended Code § 54.1-3900 in 2016, which is the statute that
describes the proper practice of law in the Commonwealth. Relevant to the issue in these
matters, the General Assembly amended the statute by adding the following language:
Nothing herein shall prohibit designated nonattorney employees of
a local department of social services from appearing before an
intake officer to initiate a case in accordance with subsection A of
§ 16.1-260 on behalf of the local department of social services.
Nothing herein shall prohibit designated nonattorney employees of
a local department of social services from completing, signing, and
filing with the clerk of the juvenile and domestic relations district
court, on forms approved by the Supreme Court of Virginia,
petitions for foster care review, petitions for permanency planning
hearings, petitions to establish paternity, motions to establish or
modify support, motions to amend or review an order, or motions
for a rule to show cause.
Code § 54.1-3900. In 2016, the General Assembly also added the following language to Code
§ 63.2-332, describing the powers and duties of directors of local departments of social services:
The local director shall designate nonattorney employees who are
authorized to (i) initiate a case on behalf of the local department by
appearing before an intake officer or (ii) complete, sign, and file
with the clerk of the juvenile and domestic relations district court,
on forms approved by the Supreme Court of Virginia, petitions for
foster care review, petitions for permanency planning hearings,
petitions to establish paternity, motions to establish or modify
support, motions to amend or review an order, or motions for a rule
to show cause.
In 2016, the General Assembly amended these statutes in concert (Code § 16.1-260(A),
Code § 54.1-3900, and Code § 63.2-332). When describing these amendments in the Acts of
Assembly, the General Assembly expressly declared, “That nothing in this bill shall be construed
to invalidate prior filings or petitions by local departments of social services or by their
employees on behalf of the local department prior to July 1, 2016.”4 2016 Va. Acts 704, § 2
(emphasis added). By stating clearly and unambiguously that the 2016 amendments to these
4
All of the pleadings contested by appellants were filed prior to July 1, 2016.
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statutes shall not be construed to invalidate prior filings or petitions, the legislature has declared
that these amendments were merely declarative of existing law – just as the 2008 amendments
had been eight years prior. Thus, it is clear to this Court that the General Assembly has
manifested its express intent that form petitions signed by the employees of local departments of
social services prior to the enactment of the 2016 amendments would remain valid pleadings.
D. Appellants’ Requested Relief is Contrary to Intent of the Legislature
Appellants argue that the 2016 amendments do not specifically validate the form petitions
in this case. Appellants note that Virginia courts have generally held that “pleadings signed by a
person acting in a representative capacity for the party with the cause of action are a nullity
unless such person is licensed to practice law in this Commonwealth.” Aguilera v. Christian,
280 Va. 486, 489, 699 S.E.2d 517, 519 (2010). However, the Supreme Court has recognized that
Code § 16.1-260 serves as a statutorily created exception to the “nullity rule.” Id. at 489 n.3,
699 S.E.2d at 519 n.3. As a recognized exception to the nullity rule, Code § 16.1-260(I)
provides that a failure to follow the “procedures set forth in this section shall not divest the
juvenile court of the jurisdiction granted it in § 16.1-241.” Because the juvenile courts are tasked
with serving the best interests of the children in such matters, the General Assembly has
expressed its desire for juvenile courts to retain jurisdiction in such cases. Accordingly, we find
that the application of the nullity rule to divest the juvenile court of active jurisdiction to
adjudicate these matters would be inconsistent with the provisions of Code § 16.1-260(I).
It is well established that courts are not permitted to interpret any statute in a way that
“would render the statute strained, ambiguous, illogical, and in contravention of the legislature’s
clear intent.” Patterson v. Commonwealth, 62 Va. App. 488, 498, 749 S.E.2d 538, 543 (2013)
(quoting Saunders v. Commonwealth, 56 Va. App. 139, 145, 692 S.E.2d 252, 255 (2010)).
When the General Assembly’s changes and amendments to the relevant statutes and the relevant
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April 29, 1988 opinion of the Attorney General are viewed together in the proper context, it is
clear that the intent of the General Assembly has been to allow employees of local departments
of social services to sign form petitions on behalf of their employer department of social
services, provided that those petitions are form petitions approved for use by the Supreme Court
(as was the case here). See 2016 Va. Acts 704, § 2 (“That nothing in this bill shall be construed
to invalidate prior filings or petitions by local departments of social services or by their
employees on behalf of the local department prior to July 1, 2016.”). Accordingly, this Court
must reject appellants’ arguments as the adoption of appellants’ requested legal conclusions
would necessarily create results that would be in direct contravention of the legislature’s clear
intent.
III. CONCLUSION
In summary, this Court concludes that each of the form petitions in these appeals that
were signed by nonlawyer employees of DHS were valid pleadings that did not constitute the
unauthorized practice of law by those employees. In light of this finding, we reject appellants’
contention that the lower courts did not acquire active jurisdiction to adjudicate these matters.
For these reasons, we affirm the judgments of the circuit court.
Affirmed.
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