J-S15029-16
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
IN THE INTEREST OF: Z.J.J., A MINOR IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
PENNSYLVANIA
APPEAL OF: T.S., FATHER No. 2263 EDA 2015
Appeal from the Decree entered June 18, 2015,
in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, Family
Court, at No(s): CP-51-AP-0000181-2012; CP-51-DP-0000501-2010; FID#
51-FN-322315-2009
BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., OLSON, and PLATT*, JJ.
MEMORANDUM BY OLSON, J.: FILED FEBRUARY 29, 2016
T.S. (“Father”) appeals from the decree entered on June 18, 2015,
granting the petition1 filed by the Child Advocacy Unit of the Defender
Association of Philadelphia (“CAU” or the “Agency”), seeking to involuntarily
terminate Father’s parental rights to his dependent child, Z.J.J., a/k/a/ Z.J.,
a male born in March of 2009 (“Child”), as well as the order entered on June
18, 2015, granting a petition to change Child’s permanency goal to
adoption.2 We vacate and remand.
The trial court set forth the relevant history of this case in its
opinion. See Trial Court Opinion, 9/3/2015, at 1-2 (unpaginated). We
adopt the trial court’s recitation for purposes of this appeal. See id. We
* Retired Senior Judge specially assigned to the Superior Court.
1
Pursuant to the Adoption Act, 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(a)(1), (2), (5), (8), and
(b).
2
Pursuant to Section 6351 of the Juvenile Act, 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 6351.
J-S15029-16
reproduce the following facts and procedural history, however, relevant to
the instant appeal, as follows:
On October 6, 2014, the CAU filed a petition for involuntary
termination of parental rights [of C.A.J., a/k/a C.J., Child’s
Mother (“Mother”) and Father].
On October 24, 2014, [] Father signed a consent and
petition to voluntarily relinquish his parental rights to
[Child].
On October 24, 2014, a termination of parental rights
hearing for [Child] was held in the matter. The trial court
found by clear and convincing evidence that [] Mother’s
parental rights of [Child] should be terminated pursuant to
the Pennsylvania Juvenile Act [sic]. [] Father’s petition was
held in abeyance. Subsequently, [] Father revoked his
voluntary relinquishment petition.
On June 18, 2015, a termination of parental rights hearing
for [Child] regarding [] Father was held in this matter. The
trial court found by clear and convincing evidence that []
Father’s parental rights of [Child] should be terminated
pursuant to the Pennsylvania Juvenile Act [sic].
Furthermore, the court held that it was in the best interest
of [] [C]hild that the goal be changed to adoption.
Trial Court Opinion, 9/3/2015, at 1-2 (unpaginated) (superfluous
capitalization omitted).
In separate decrees dated and entered on June 18, 2015, the trial
court involuntarily terminated the parental rights of Mother and the unknown
father of Child.3 On July 16, 2015, the trial court appointed Attorney Neil
Krum as appellate counsel for Father. On July 20, 2015, Father timely filed
3
Neither Mother nor the unknown father filed an appeal from the decrees
terminating their respective parental rights, nor is either of these individuals
a party to the present appeal.
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a notice of appeal along with a concise statement of errors complained of on
appeal pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a)(2)(i) and (b).
In his brief on appeal, Father raises four questions for this Court’s
review, as follows:
1. Did the court below err in finding that grounds for
termination of parental rights had been proven by “clear
and convincing evidence”?
2. Did the court below err in finding that the [CAU] had met its
burden in proving grounds under 23 Pa.C.S.A. §
2511(a)(1), (2), (5) and (8)?
3. Did the court below err in finding that the [CAU] had met its
burden to prove that termination would be in [] [C]hild’s
best interests, under § 2511(b)?
4. Did the court below err in denying [d]ue [p]rocess and
[e]qual [p]rotection of [l]aw to Appellant T.S., Father, as
guaranteed by the Constitutions of the United States and of
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania?
Father’s Brief, at 4.
In reviewing an appeal from an order terminating parental rights, we
adhere to the following standard:
[A]ppellate courts must apply an abuse of discretion
standard when considering a trial court’s determination of a
petition for termination of parental rights. As in
dependency cases, our standard of review requires an
appellate court to accept the findings of fact and credibility
determinations of the trial court if they are supported by the
record. In re: R.J.T., 9 A.3d 1179, 1190 (Pa. 2010). If the
factual findings are supported, appellate courts review to
determine if the trial court made an error of law or abused
its discretion. Id.; R.I.S., 36 A.3d [567, 572 (Pa. 2011)
(plurality opinion)]. As has been often stated, an abuse of
discretion does not result merely because the reviewing
court might have reached a different conclusion. Id.; see
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also Samuel Bassett v. Kia Motors America, Inc., 34
A.3d 1, 51 (Pa. 2011); Christianson v. Ely, 838 A.2d 630,
634 (Pa. 2003). Instead, a decision may be reversed for an
abuse of discretion only upon demonstration of manifest
unreasonableness, partiality, prejudice, bias, or ill-will. Id.
As we discussed in R.J.T., there are clear reasons for
applying an abuse of discretion standard of review in these
cases. We observed that, unlike trial courts, appellate
courts are not equipped to make the fact-specific
determinations on a cold record, where the trial judges are
observing the parties during the relevant hearing and often
presiding over numerous other hearings regarding the child
and parents. R.J.T., 9 A.3d at 1190. Therefore, even
where the facts could support an opposite result, as is often
the case in dependency and termination cases, an appellate
court must resist the urge to second guess the trial court
and impose its own credibility determinations and
judgment; instead we must defer to the trial judges so long
as the factual findings are supported by the record and the
court’s legal conclusions are not the result of an error of law
or an abuse of discretion. In re Adoption of Atencio, 650
A.2d 1064, 1066 (Pa. 1994).
In re Adoption of S.P., 47 A.3d 817, 826-827 (Pa. 2012).
The burden is upon the petitioner to prove by clear and convincing
evidence that the asserted grounds for seeking the termination of parental
rights are valid. In re R.N.J., 985 A.2d 273, 276 (Pa. Super. 2009). The
standard of clear and convincing evidence is defined as testimony that is so
“clear, direct, weighty and convincing as to enable the trier of fact to come
to a clear conviction, without hesitance, of the truth of the precise facts in
issue.” Id. quoting In re J.L.C., 837 A.2d 1247, 1251 (Pa. Super. 2003).
This Court may affirm the trial court’s decision regarding the
termination of parental rights with regard to any one subsection of Section
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2511(a). See In re B.L.W., 843 A.2d 380, 384 (Pa. Super. 2004) (en
banc). The trial court terminated Father’s parental rights under Section
2511(a)(1), (2), (5), (8), and (b). See Trial Court Opinion, at 9/22/2015, at
1. Section 2511(a)(1), (2), (5), (8), and (b) provide as follows:
§ 2511. Grounds for involuntary termination
(a) General rule.--The rights of a parent in regard to a
child may be terminated after a petition filed on any
of the following grounds:
(1) The parent by conduct continuing for a period of at least
six months immediately preceding the filing of the petition
either has evidenced a settled purpose of relinquishing
parental claim to a child or has refused or failed to perform
parental duties.
(2) The repeated and continued incapacity, abuse, neglect
or refusal of the parent has caused the child to be without
essential parental care, control or subsistence necessary for
his physical or mental well-being and the conditions and
causes of the incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal cannot or
will not be remedied by the parent.
***
(5) The child has been removed from the care of the parent
by the court or under a voluntary agreement with an agency
for a period of at least six months, the conditions which led
to the removal or placement of the child continue to exist,
the parent cannot or will not remedy those conditions within
a reasonable period of time, the services or assistance
reasonably available to the parent are not likely to remedy
the conditions which led to the removal or placement of the
child within a reasonable period of time and termination of
the parental rights would best serve the needs and welfare
of the child.
***
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(8) The child has been removed from the care of the parent
by the court or under a voluntary agreement with an
agency, 12 months or more have elapsed from the date of
removal or placement, the conditions which led to the
removal or placement of the child continue to exist and
termination of parental rights would best serve the needs
and welfare of the child.
***
(b) Other considerations.--The court in terminating the
rights of a parent shall give primary consideration to the
developmental, physical and emotional needs and welfare of
the child. The rights of a parent shall not be terminated
solely on the basis of environmental factors such as
inadequate housing, furnishings, income, clothing and
medical care if found to be beyond the control of the parent.
With respect to any petition filed pursuant to subsection
(a)(1), (6) or (8), the court shall not consider any efforts by
the parent to remedy the conditions described therein which
are first initiated subsequent to the giving of notice of the
filing of the petition.
23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511.
This Court has explained that the focus in terminating parental rights
under Section 2511(a) is on the parent, but, under Section 2511(b), the
focus is on the child. In re Adoption of C.L.G., 956 A.2d 999, 1008 (Pa.
Super. 2008) (en banc). We will focus our review on Section 2511(a)(1) and
(2). We note that the trial court relied on its discussion of the facts in
relation to Section 2511(a)(1) to support its analysis under Section
2511(a)(2). See Trial Court Opinion, 9/3/2015, at 1-4 (unpaginated).
We have explained this Court’s review of a challenge to the sufficiency
of the evidence supporting the involuntary termination of a parent’s rights
pursuant to Section 2511(a)(1) as follows:
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To satisfy the requirements of Section 2511(a)(1), the
moving party must produce clear and convincing evidence
of conduct, sustained for at least the six months prior to the
filing of the termination petition, which reveals a settled
intent to relinquish parental claim to a child or a refusal or
failure to perform parental duties.
***
Once the evidence establishes a failure to perform parental
duties or a settled purpose of relinquishing parental rights,
the court must engage in three lines of inquiry: (1) the
parent’s explanation for his or her conduct; (2) the post-
abandonment contact between parent and child; and (3)
consideration of the effect of termination of parental rights
on the child pursuant to Section 2511(b).
In re Z.S.W., 946 A.2d 726, 730 (Pa. Super. 2008) (citations omitted).
[T]o be legally significant, the [post-abandonment] contact
must be steady and consistent over a period of time,
contribute to the psychological health of the child, and must
demonstrate a serious intent on the part of the parent to
recultivate a parent-child relationship and must also
demonstrate a willingness and capacity to undertake the
parental role. The parent wishing to reestablish his parental
responsibilities bears the burden of proof on this question.
In re Z.P., 994 A.2d 1108, 1119 (Pa. Super. 2010) (citation omitted); see
also In re Adoption of C.L.G., 956 A.2d 999, 1006 (Pa. Super 2008) (en
banc).
Further, regarding the definition of “parental duties,” this Court has
stated as follows:
There is no simple or easy definition of parental duties.
Parental duty is best understood in relation to the needs of
a child. A child needs love, protection, guidance, and
support. These needs, physical and emotional, cannot be
met by a merely passive interest in the development of the
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child. Thus, this court has held that the parental obligation
is a positive duty which requires affirmative performance.
This affirmative duty encompasses more than a financial
obligation; it requires continuing interest in the child and a
genuine effort to maintain communication and association
with the child.
Because a child needs more than a benefactor, parental
duty requires that a parent exert himself to take and
maintain a place of importance in the child’s life.
Parental duty requires that the parent act affirmatively with
good faith interest and effort, and not yield to every
problem, in order to maintain the parent-child relationship
to the best of his or her ability, even in difficult
circumstances. A parent must utilize all available resources
to preserve the parental relationship, and must exercise
reasonable firmness in resisting obstacles placed in the path
of maintaining the parent-child relationship. Parental rights
are not preserved by waiting for a more suitable or
convenient time to perform one’s parental responsibilities
while others provide the child with . . . her physical and
emotional needs.
In re B., N.M., 856 A.2d 847, 855 (Pa. Super. 2004).
To satisfy the requirements of Section 2511(a)(2), the moving party
must produce clear and convincing evidence regarding the following
elements: (1) repeated and continued incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal;
(2) such incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal caused the child to be without
essential parental care, control or subsistence necessary for his physical or
mental well-being; and (3) the causes of the incapacity, abuse, neglect or
refusal cannot or will not be remedied. See In re Adoption of M.E.P., 825
A.2d 1266, 1272 (Pa. Super. 2003). The grounds for termination of parental
rights under Section 2511(a)(2), due to parental incapacity that cannot be
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remedied, are not limited to affirmative misconduct; to the contrary, those
grounds may include acts of refusal as well as incapacity to perform parental
duties. In re A.L.D. 797 A.2d 326, 337 (Pa. Super. 2002).
Here, in relation to Section 2511(a)(1) and (2), the trial court stated
as follows:
In the instant case, at the October 24, 2014 hearing, all
parties stipulated to the facts in the petition for involuntary
termination of parental rights. (N.T., 10-14-14, p. 4 and 5).
Additionally, at the June 18, 2015 hearing, the stipulation
as to the facts in the petition was reiterated. (N.T., 6-18-
15, p. 3 and 4). [] Father and his counsel were present at
both proceedings. (N.T., 10-14-14, p. 3; 6-18-15, p. 3).
It is clear from the record that for a period of six (6) months
leading up to the filing of the [p]etition for [i]nvoluntary
[t]ermination, [F]ather failed to perform parental duties for
[] [C]hild. The facts in the petition state that “Father has
not been consistent with his visits since 2013. Furthermore,
[] [F]ather was offered 15 visits and missed 5 during the
period from August 2013 through the end of December
2013. Moreover, during the 2014 year, [] [F]ather was
offered 35 visits. [F]ather missed 30 of the last 35
scheduled visits offered to him. (CAU Petition, Statement of
Facts, p. 7, unpaginated). Lastly, [a Philadelphia
Department of Health Services (DHS)] social worker found
that [] Father does not [have] appropriate housing. He
does not have enough space in his already overcrowded
house for [Child] Id. at 7.
***
In the instant matter, [] [C]hild has been in placement care
for over forty-two months. The evidence established []
[C]hild is currently in a safe environment with [C]hild’s
needs being met (N.T., 6-18-15, p. 3).
***
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In the present case, [] Father has not remained in contact
with DHS or New Foundations [foster care] and he has not
contacted DHS or New Foundations to check on [] [C]hild’s
welfare. (CAU Petition, Statement of Facts, p. 7,
unpaginated).
Trial Court Opinion, 9/3/2015, at 4.
Again, this Court has stated that the focus in terminating parental
rights under Section 2511(a) is on the parent, but it is on the child pursuant
to Section 2511(b). See In re Adoption of C.L.G., 956 A.2d 999, 1008
(Pa. Super. 2008) (en banc). In reviewing the evidence in support of
termination under Section 2511(b), our Supreme Court recently stated as
follows:
[I]f the grounds for termination under subsection (a) are
met, a court “shall give primary consideration to the
developmental, physical and emotional needs and welfare of
the child.” 23 Pa.C.S. § 2511(b). The emotional needs and
welfare of the child have been properly interpreted to
include “[i]ntangibles such as love, comfort, security, and
stability.” In re K.M., 53 A.3d 781, 791 (Pa. Super. 2012).
In In re E.M., [620 A.2d 481, 485 (Pa. 1993)], [our
Supreme] Court held that the determination of the child’s
“needs and welfare” requires consideration of the emotional
bonds between the parent and child. The “utmost
attention” should be paid to discerning the effect on the
child of permanently severing the parental bond. In re
K.M., 53 A.3d at 791.
In re: T.S.M., 71 A.3d 251, 267 (Pa. 2013).
With regard to Section 2511(b), the trial court stated the following:
In the instant matter, the social worker from New
Foundations testified that [] Father and [Child] have no
parental bond. (N.T. 10/24/14, p. 6). [] [F]ather was
inconsistent with his visitation with [] [C]hild. He missed 30
of 35 visits offered to him during the year of 2014.
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Furthermore, the DHS social worker stated that “there is no
parental bond between [Child] and his father. [Child] has
been taken by DHS to visit with [] [F]ather in Sunbury, PA
once a month for 2 years. . . [Child] does not know the
names of the children who live in the house ([Father’s]
girlfriend’s children), does not know the name of his half-
brother, and does not even know the name of the dog.”
Moreover, [] Father has not remained in contact with DHS
or New Foundations and he has not contacted DHS or New
Foundations to check on [] [C]hild’s welfare. (CAU Petition,
Statement of Facts, p. 7, unpaginated).
The testimony indicated that [Child] would not be adversely
affected if [] Father’s rights were terminated. (N.T., 10-14-
14, p. 6) Furthermore, [Child] shares a primary parental
bond with his current caretaker. [Child] looks to his current
caretaker for love, safety, security and to have his basic
needs met. Lastly, [] Father has not remained in contact
with DHS or New Foundations to check on [] [C]hild’s
welfare. (CAU Petition, Statement of Facts, p. 7,
unpaginated).
As explained in the initial [c]ourt [o]rder, the [t]rial [c]ourt
found by clear and convincing evidence that [CAU] met their
statutory burden pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(a) and
(b) and that it was in the best interest of [] [C]hild to
change the goal to adoption (N.T. 6/18/15, pg. 5).
***
For the preceding reasons, the court finds that [CAU] met
its statutory burden by clear and convincing evidence
regarding the termination of parental rights pursuant to 23
Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(a)(1) and (2) and § 2511(b).
Furthermore, the court finds that its ruling will not cause
[Child] to suffer irreparable harm and it is in the best
interest of [] [C]hild as [the] result of testimony regarding
[] [C]hild’s safety, protection, mental, physical and moral
welfare to terminate [] Father’s parental rights.
Trial Court Opinion, 9/3/2015, (unpaginated).
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In his argument in support of his first issue on appeal, Father asserts
the evidence presented was not clear and convincing and was insufficient to
terminate his parental rights. Specifically, Father asserts that the trial court
erred in relying on: 1) the petition filed by CAU to involuntarily terminate his
parental rights; 2) the stipulation of his trial counsel, which he describes as
rather perfunctory, to the facts in the petition; and 3) “14 lines [of
testimony] in a transcript, comprised of four questions and answers.”
Father’s Brief, at 9, 11. Moreover, Father contends that it is unclear whether
the stipulation relates to the facts stated in the original petition to
involuntarily relinquish his parental rights or a subsequent petition to
voluntarily relinquish his parental rights. Id. at 12-13. More specifically,
Father claims upon review of the October 24, 2014 hearing transcript, “it
appears … that petitions to involuntarily terminate parental rights were
under discussion with respect to Mother, as well as to Father, but that a
petition to voluntarily relinquish rights was also under consideration for
Father.” Id. at 12.
At the hearing on October 24, 2014, regarding the petitions to
involuntarily terminate the parental rights of Mother and Father, the
following individuals were present: Attorney Barbara Berry, counsel for CAU;
Attorney Thomas Bryan, counsel for DHS; Attorney Edelina Schumann,
counsel for Mother; and Attorney James King, counsel for Father. The
following witnesses were present and testified: Brenda Howard, a former
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DHS social worker; Shanna Jones, a New Foundations caseworker; and
Valerie Walker, a DHS social worker.
The following exchange and testimony occurred:
MS. BERRY: . . . Your Honor, Child Advocate – I brought the
petitions today. We’d first like to do a -- I have service on
both parties. Counsel stipulated to that. [Father] is present
in the courtroom.
I served [M]other—do I need to do that? I served [M]other
at . . . . I’d like to put – both – counsel has stipulated to
the facts in the petition and we’re proceeding today so that,
should anything happen with the voluntaries, we don’t have
to come back again in six months.
I’m asking that you take the evidence and hold it in
abeyance until the – until the voluntaries vest, okay? Ms.
Schumann, do you agree to stipulate to the facts in the
petition as to [M]other?
MS. SCHUMAN: So stipulated.
MS. BERRY: Okay. Your Honor, I’d like to very briefly call
Brenda Howard for bond issues.
THE COURT: Okay. Ms. Howard?
***
MS. BERRY: Okay. Mr. King, do you stipulate to the facts?
MR. KING: Yes.
MS. BERRY: -- as to father?
MR. KING: Yes.
MS. BERRY: And I’m going to ask the same questions, but
I’m going to ask them of Ms. Jones, who supervises the
visits. Ms. Jones?
MS. JONES: Yes?
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MS. BERRY: Is there a bond between [Child] and his father?
MS. JONES: No.
MS. BERRY: Do you feel that if [Father] were not – if visits
were revoked, that [Child] would [be] adversely affected?
MS. JONES: No.
MS. BERRY: Do you believe there’s no parental bond
between [Father] and [Child]?
MS. JONES: Yes.
MS. BERRY: Thank you. That’s all I have.
MR. BRYAN: No questions.
THE COURT: All right. Does anybody have anything else?
MS. SCHUMANN: No.
THE COURT: Okay.
MS. BERRY: Okay. Do I need to go? I ask that you hold
the – that you find that I have met my burden – the child
advocate has met its burden under 2511A-1, 2, 5 and 8,
and that you terminate the rights of both . . . [M]other, and
. . . [F]ather.
I’d ask that you do so for [M]other today, and that we hold
in abeyance any decision of [F]ather until such time as the
voluntaries, which [Father has signed today], vest and are
accepted.
THE COURT: Do you have anything regarding [M]other?
MS. SCHUMAN: Only to be vacated within 31 days.
THE COURT: All right. With respect to mom, based upon
the stipulation by and between counsel that if the social
worker were called to testify, she would testify in
accordance with the facts in the petition, as well as the
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testimony presented in court today, I do find that the
Department of Human Services has met their burden by
clear and convincing evidence to involuntarily terminate
mom’s parental rights, pursuant to 2511A-1, 2, 5, and 8, as
well as 2511B.
I’m going to reserve the best interest portion for the next
hearing, after we handle [F]ather’s portion. We’re going to
hold [F]ather’s petitions in abeyance.
MR. BRYAN: And I’m sorry, Your Honor, just one request.
It’s that child advocate has met their burden.
THE COURT: Oh, you know what, you are correct.
MR BRYAN: Thank you, Your Honor.
THE COURT: I stand corrected – that the child advocate has
met their burden by clear and convincing evidence. Okay.
***
MR. BRYAN: Oh, who has safety?
MS. HOWARD: We do.
MS. BRYAN: Miss, when did you last see [] [C]hild in the
current foster home?
MS. WALKER: October 16th.
Mr. BRYAN: At that time, was the child […]
MS. WALKER: Yes.
MR. BRYAN: Basic needs being met?
MS. WALKER: Yes.
MR. BRYAN: Thank you.
N.T., 10/24/2014, at 1-9.
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At the hearing on June 18, 2015, the following individuals were
present: Attorney Berry on behalf of CAU; Attorney Bryan on behalf of DHS;
Attorney King on behalf of Father; and Maureen Eld, the DHS court
representative were present, as well as Father, and R.W., Child’s foster
parent. Further, Stefanie Edwards, caseworker for New Foundations, Inc.,
the provider agency for DHS, was present and testified. The following
exchange occurred:
THE COURT: Okay, Miss Berry. It’s your petition.
MS. BERRY: Your Honor, I’m asking that the [c]ourt move
on the voluntaries [sic] relinquishment of rights petitions
that [Father] signed back on October 24, 2014.
At that time we put on a stipulated trial. We have reviewed
[sic] the [c]ourt record is clear, that the parties stipulated
to the facts in the petition. [Father] was here, he had
agreed to stipulate to the facts in the petition, based on
that, Your Honor, I’ve met my burden, and that the
voluntary petitions be dismissed.
THE COURT: Anybody else have anything?
MR. BRYAN: No, your Honor, I’ll just get safety testimony.
BY MR. BRYAN:
Q. Miss [Edwards], where’s the child currently placed?
A. At New Foundations foster home.
Q. When did you last see the child in that home?
A. On June the 10th, 2015.
Q. At that time was the child safe?
A. The child was safe.
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Q. Child’s basic needs being met?
A. His basic needs are being met.
MR. BRYAN: Thank you.
M[R]. KING: Your Honor, can I just say that on behalf of
[F]ather, he does object and he cites the fact that after he
signed the vol’s, he felt that he did not fully understand
what was explained to him at the time.
MS. BERRY: Your Honor, there was testimony taken from
Brenda Howard and Mr. King made a statement on the
record that they sat with [Father] at the time, they read
them to him, they were there when he signed them, and
that at no time did he say he wasn’t understanding what
was going on. On the other side [sic] though, we’re asking
that those petitions be set aside, and that we move on the
involuntary petitions.
THE COURT: I think at this point we’re at the stipulated
trial. However, let me see counsel in the back one more
time, I apologize. I hate to keep making you walk back and
forth.
(Sidebar, off the record.)
THE COURT: All right. So, just so the record is clear, what
was the date of the stipulated trial?
MS. BERRY: October 24, 2014.
THE COURT: All right. Based upon the previous stipulation,
by and between counsel, and that stipulation on 10/24,
2014, was that it was a stipulation by and between counsel
that if the social worker were called to testify, that she
would testify in accordance with the facts in the petition, it
was held in abeyance, I’m going to make a ruling now, I do
find that the Department of Human Services has met their
burden by clear and convincing evidence –
MS. BERRY: actually it would be me, I filed.
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THE COURT: I’m sorry, that the child advocate it was her
petition, I stand corrected, has met their burden by clear
and convincing evidence to involuntarily terminate
[F]ather’s parental rights pursuant to 2511A-1 and 2, as
well as 2511B, I do find it’s in the best interest of the child
to change the goal to adoption, Mr. King’s appointment is
vacated within 31 days. Mr. King, if [F]ather chooses to
appeal, either file his notice of appeal for him, or contact
court administration and make sure that they have
somebody file his notice of appeal to keep his appellate
rights intact.
M[R]. KING: Yes, sir.
THE COURT: Does that sound reasonable?
M[R]. KING: Yes.
THE COURT: Okay. All right.
MR. BRYAN: Thank you, your Honor. I believe we already
got to safety.
THE COURT: All right, we just need a date. So, Mr. King
and [F]ather, you two are excused.
N.T., 6/18/2015, at 2-5.
Initially, we disagree with the argument raised by both CAU and DHS
that Father has waived his first issue. At the hearing on June 18, 2015,
Father preserved his objection to the trial court’s incorporation of the
stipulation that was entered on the record on October 24, 2014. Father’s
counsel raised an objection, and asserted that Father did not understand the
stipulation at the earlier hearing. See N.T., 6/18/2015, at 3. Thus, we find
that the issue was properly preserved in the trial court for purposes of
appellate review. See Pa.R.A.P. 302(a) (providing that issues not raised in
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the lower court are waived and cannot be raised for the first time on
appeal). We also find that Father raised the issue in his brief with sufficient
specificity to preserve our review. In In the Interest of: T.L.B., 127 A.3d
813, 817 (Pa. Super. 2015), a panel of this Court declined to find waiver in a
juvenile case for failure of the appellant, the Commonwealth, to adequately
develop the challenge in its concise statement. The panel held that the
concise statement could have been more specific, but the issue was readily
apprehended by the trial court. Id. at 817 citing Commonwealth v.
Laboy, 936 A.2d 1058, 1060 (Pa. 2007) (holding the appellant had not
waived his sufficiency of the evidence claim in a drug case for failure to
adequately develop it in his concise statement, where the matter was
relatively straightforward, and readily apprehended by the trial court).
Here, the record created at the hearing on July 18, 2015, consisted of
only the incorporation of the stipulation at the October 24, 2014 hearing,
and a few questions by DHS counsel regarding the safety of Child. As
explained in its opinion, in rendering its termination decision, the trial court
relied on the facts in the involuntary termination petition to which the DHS
social worker would testify if called as a witness, and to which Father had
stipulated at the October 24, 2014 hearing. Under the circumstances of this
case, however, we find that the trial court erred in relying on the stipulated
facts from the October 24, 2014 hearing. The October 24, 2014 hearing was
held on a petition for Father’s involuntary relinquishment of his parental
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rights. At that time, however, Father indicated that he wished to voluntarily
relinquish his parental rights.4 Accordingly, Father stipulated to the facts in
the involuntary petition filed against him. The trial court later determined
that Father revoked his voluntary relinquishment petition.5 As a result,
Father made the stipulation when he considered voluntarily relinquishing his
rights, but then later revoked his consent to voluntarily terminate, and the
trial court still held Father to the prior stipulation. The trial court should
have convened a new termination hearing and heard new evidence from
CAU to support its involuntary petition instead of relying on the stipulation of
facts from the prior hearing.
Additionally, in his fourth issue, Father raises a claim that the trial
court deprived him of his guaranteed due process rights, both substantive
and procedural, under the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States
Constitution. Father asserts that the trial court denied him adequate and
meaningful notice and hearing. Father’s Brief, at 23. “Due process requires
nothing more than adequate notice, an opportunity to be heard, and the
chance to defend oneself in an impartial tribunal having jurisdiction over the
matter.” In re J.N.F., 887 A.2d 775, 781 (Pa. Super. 2005). “Due process
is flexible and calls for such procedural protections as the situation
4
Upon our review of the certified record and trial court docket, there is a
copy of a voluntary relinquishment of parental rights petition with regard to
Father, but no indication it was filed.
5
There is no indication that Father filed a revocation of his consent to a
voluntary termination of parental rights petition.
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demands.” In re Adoption of Dale A., II, 683 A.2d 297, 300 (Pa. Super.
1996) citing Mathews v. Eldridge, 424 U.S. 319, 334, (1976).
We agree that the trial court’s incorporation of the prior stipulation into
the record at the October 18, 2015 hearing, and its reliance thereon in
rendering its decision to terminate Father’s parental rights, over his trial
counsel’s objection, deprived Father of due process. Father lacked truly
meaningful notice and an opportunity to be heard with regard to the
involuntary termination of his parental rights.
As we are vacating the trial court’s order on the basis of Father’s first
and fourth issues, we do not reach Father’s remaining issues. Accordingly,
we are constrained to vacate the trial court’s decree and order, and remand
the matter to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with this
memorandum.
Decree and order vacated; appeal remanded with instructions.
Jurisdiction relinquished.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 2/29/2016
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