No. 81-523
IPJ THE SUJ?REME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
1982
IN THE MATTER OF M.G.M.,
YOUTH IN NEED O P CARE.
Appeal from: District Court of the Thirteenth ~udicialDistrict,
In and for the County of Yellowstone
Honorable Charles Luedke, Judqe presiding.
Counsel of Record:
For Appellant:
Patten and Renz, Billings, Montana
Jeffrey Renz argued, Billings, Montana
For Respondent:
Olsen, Christensen and Gannett, Billinqs, Montana
Damon Gannett arqued, Billings, Montana
Harold F. Hanser, County Attorney, Billinqs, Montana
Stephen Rowinski arqued, Deputy County Attorney,
Billings, Montana
Submitted: September 17, 1982
Decided: December 9, 1982
Clerk-
I . ~ u s t i c eF r a n k B. M o r r i s o n . J r . , d e l i v e r e d t h e O p i n i o n of t h e
Court.
Frank F i t z g e r a l d , the natural f a t h e r of the child, M.G.M.,
appeals from a judgment issued by the District Court of the
T h i r t e e n t h J u d i c i a l D i s t r i c t , Yellowstone County, t e r m i n a t i n g h i s
parental rights.
The c h i l d , M.G.M., was b o r n o u t of w e d l o c k on J u n e 1 0 , 1 9 7 2 .
S h e l i v e d s o l e l y w i t h h e r m o t h e r u n t i l 1 9 7 9 , when t h e D e p a r t m e n t
of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS) placed her in a
f o s t e r home. I n A p r i l 1980, the mother's p a r e n t a l r i g h t s were
terminated.
When a p p e l l a n t d i s c o v e r e d the proceedings to terminate the
mother's parental rights, he f i l e d a n acknowledgement of pa ter-
n i t y of t h e c h i l d and s o u g h t u n s u c c e s s f u l l y t o i n t e r v e n e i n t h e
proceedings.
On May 2 8 , 1 9 8 0 , SRS f i l e d a p e t i t i o n f o r t e m p o r a r y i n v e s t i -
gative a u t h o r i t y and p r o t e c t i v e services, claiming t h a t M.G.M.
was i n d a n g e r of being a b u s e d and neglected by t h e a p p e l l a n t .
The District Court granted the petition. Appellant was not
a l l o w e d c o n t a c t w i t h t h e c h i l d e x c e p t by r e c o m m e n d a t i o n of m e n t a l
h e a l t h w o r k e r and p s y c h i a t r i c n u r s e , Mary Honaker . The D i s t r i c t
Court also ordered a p p e l l a n t t o undergo a p s y c h o l o g i c a l evalua-
tion.
I n J u l y 1 9 8 0 , a p p e l l a n t was a l l o w e d t o meet w i t h h i s c h i l d
f o r the first time. Two o n e - h o u r s e s s i o n s were h e l d under t h e
s u p e r v i s i o n o f Mary Honaker . The m e e t i n g s were t h e n d i s c o n t i n u e d
because t h e c h i l d appeared u p s e t and f r i g h t e n e d by h e r f a t h e r .
On S e p t e m b e r 11, 1 9 8 0 , t h e g u a r d i a n ad l i t e m f o r t h e c h i l d
f i l e d a p e t i t i o n t o d e t e r m i n e p a t e r n i t y and to d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r
a p p e l l a n t ' s p a r e n t a l r i g h t s s h o u l d be t e r m i n a t e d u n d e r t h e p r o v i -
s i o n s o f t h e U n i f o r m P a r e n t a g e A c t s p e c i f i c a l l y s e c t i o n 40-6-130,
MCA. On S e p t e m b e r 2 3 , 1 9 8 0 , SRS f i l e d a p e t i t i o n u n d e r s e c t i o n
41-3-401, MCA, asking that M.G.M. be declared dependent and
neglected, and requesting permanent custody and authority to
a s s e n t to a d o p t i o n . Over o b j e c t i o n s by a p p e l l a n t , the District
Court consolidated the proceedings b r o u g h t by t h e g u a r d i a n and
t h e SRS.
On November 1 4 , 1 9 8 0 , p u r s u a n t to s e c t i o n 40-6-111, MCA, the
District Court declared t h a t a p p e l l a n t w a s t h e n a t u r a l f a t h e r of
M.G.M.
A series of h e a r i n g s were t h e n h e l d . N e a r l y a l l of t h e e v i -
dence a t these hearings pertained to t h e mental h e a l t h of the
c h i l d and h e r f a t h e r .
Based o n t h e t e s t i m o n y a t t h e h e a r i n g s , the D i s t r i c t Court
made the following significant findings of fact:
"5. T h a t t h e n a t u r a l m o t h e r o f M.G.M. was
d i a g n o s e d as a n u n d i f f e r e n t i a t e d s c h i z o p h r e -
n i c , and t h a t M.G.M. spent the f i r s t five
y e a r s of h e r l i f e l i v i n g i n h e r custody.
D u r i n g t h a t t i m e , M.G.M. f a i l e d to develop
n o r m a l l y as a c h i l d , and e x h i b i t e d some of t h e
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s found i n s c h i z o p h r e n i a . She
a l s o s u f f e r e d from a f a i l u r e to d e v e l o p
self-identity, having adapted t o a role-
r e v e r s a l with h e r mother. During such f i v e
y e a r s , F r a n k [ a p p e l l a n t ] was r e j e c t e d by t h e
m o t h e r i n a l l c o n t a c t s ; and M.G.M. knew him
o n l y t h r o u g h t h e m o t h e r ' s r e v u l s i o n to him and
h e r i d e n t i f i c a t i o n of him as t h e ' k o o k . '
" 6 . T h a t t h e r e is a s t a t i s t i c a l l y - e s t a b l i s h e d
r e l a t i o n s h i p between s c h i z o p h r e n i a i n p a r e n t s
and c o n s e q u e n t d e v e l o p m e n t of s c h i z o p h r e n i a i n
c h i l d r e n , b a s e d upon g e n e t i c and e n v i r o n m e n t a l
factors.
"7. That because of M.G.M. I s genetic
b a c k g r o u n d , as w e l l as t h e e n v i r o n m e n t i n
w h i c h s h e l i v e d f o r t h e f i r s t f i v e y e a r s of
h e r l i f e , s h e i s ' a t r i s k ' t o d e v e l o p t h e men-
t a l i l l n e s s of s c h i z o p h r e n i a .
"8. M.G.M., i n a d d i t i o n , is a v e r y i n t e l l i -
g e n t and p a r t i c u l a r l y s e n s i t i v e , f r a g i l e and
c h a m e l e o n - l i k e young l a d y , f o r whom it is
extremely important t o provide a strong ,
s t a b l e a d u l t f e m a l e r o l e model i n o r d e r t h a t
s h e may d e v e l o p n o r m a l l y from a g i r l i n t o a
young woman.
"9. F r a n k is s k i l l e d i n t h e f i e l d o f e l e c t r o -
n i c s and is r e g u l a r l y employed w i t h a good
work r e c o r d . He g e t s along with h i s f e l l o w
e m p l o y e e s and i s f i n a n c i a l l y s o u n d . H e is a
law-abiding citizen. He h a s never been
m a r r i e d , and t h e l o n g e s t p e r i o d of close asso-
c i a t i o n w i t h a woman h a s b e e n s e v e n m o n t h s .
" 1 0 . T h a t F r a n k h a s a m e d i c a l h i s t o r y which
includes a diagnosis by the Veterans
A d m i n i s t r a t i o n i n 1963, as:
"' . . . schizophrenic reaction, undifferen-
t i a t e d t y p e , i n a good p a r t i a l r e m i s s i o n ,
manifested b y some b l u n t i n g o f emotions,
restricted interests, mentally competent
... 1
" f o r which he r e c e i v e s a 70% d i s a b i l i t y pen-
sion.
"11. That Frank has a l s o been diagnosed a s a
s c h i z o p h r e n i c b y D r . Ned T r a n e l a clinical
p s y c h o l o g i s t , a s of J u l y 3 O t h , 1 9 8 0 . That
c o n c l u s i o n is e c h o e d by t h e p s y c h i a t r i c n u r s e ,
Mary H o n a k e r , who h a s had p a s t c o n t a c t w i t h
F r a n k i n t h e c o u r s e of w o r k i n g w i t h M.G.M. and
M.G.M. I s m o t h e r o v e r t h e y e a r s s i n c e p r i o r to
M.G.M. ' s b i r t h .
"12. Frank has a l s o been diagnosed a s having
a s c h i z o t y p a l p e r s o n a l i t y d i s o r d e r by D r .
S t e p h e n Wagner, a n o t h e r c l i n i c a l p s y c h o l o g i s t .
T h i s is a c o n d i t i o n which is s a i d t o make him
l e s s t h a n i d e a l a s a p a r e n t , b u t n o t to r e n d e r
h i m c o m p l e t e l y i n a d e q u a t e making p o s s i b l e a
t r i a l p e r i o d of c l o s e l y monitored v i s i t a t i o n
b e t w e e n F r a n k and M.G.M. a s an evidence-
gathering device for a l a t e r determination a s
t o custody.
" 1 5 . E f f o r t s a t a c c o m p l i s h i n g v i s i t a t i o n be-
t w e e n F r a n k and M.G.M. were r e c e n t l y made, and
t w o meetings did occur. The r e s u l t s were
described a s a Ismothering' by Frank of
M.G.M., w i t h a n a d v e r s e e f f e c t upon M.G.M. in
t h e form o f e x t r e m e f r i g h t , a five-pound
w e i g h t l o s s , s t r e s s , and a r e g r e s s i o n i n
reality testing . A s a consequence, v i s i t a t i o n
e f f o r t s were t e r m i n a t e d .
"16. T h a t on t h e b a s i s of t h e t o t a l i t y of t h e
psychiatric and psychological examinations
conducted of Frank, t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e o t h e r
e v i d e n c e a d d u c e d , it is c l e a r t h a t p l a c i n g
c u s t o d y o f M.G.M. w i t h F r a n k would i n c r e a s e
t h e r i s k o f h e r becoming m e n t a l l y ill b y a
p r o b a b i l i t y g r e a t e r t h a n 5 0 % a t a minimum, i n
t h e v i e w of o n e w i t n e s s , and t o a n a l m o s t cer-
t a i n t y i n t h e v i e w of o t h e r s . B e c a u s e of t h e
demonstrated adaptive characteristics of
M.G.M., it i s c l e a r t h a t a p l a c e m e n t of h e r
w i t h F r a n k w i l l c l e a r l y r e s u l t i n a l o s s of
h e r own i d e n t i t y and d e v e l o p m e n t , and t i p t h e
a l r e a d y heavily-weighted s c a l e o f M.G.M. I s
f u t u r e a g a i n s t h e r normal development.
" 1 7 . Under t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s e x i s t i n g , i t
would be d e t r i m e n t a l to t h e best i n t e r e s t s of
M.G.M. to d e f e r a f i n a l d e c i s i o n with r e s p e c t
t o h e r c u s t o d y p e n d i n g t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of
f u r t h e r v i s i t s w i t h Frank a s a n evidence-
g a t h e r i n g measure, s i n c e t h e a d a p t i v e charac-
t e r i s t i c s o f M.G.M. would r e n d e r t h e r e s u l t s
u n t r u s t w o r t h y a n d , a l s o b e c a u s e of F r a n k ' s
determination to reject any results not
f a v o r a b l e t o h i s d i s p o s i t i o n s i n a n y and a l l
events. The s t a t u s of t h e e v i d e n c e c l e a r l y
a d v i s e s t h a t t h e p r o c e s s of a t t e m p t i n g E u r t h e r
t r i a l v i s i t a t i o n would i n i t s e l f be a d e s t r u c -
t i v e o n e f r o m M.G.M. I s s t a n d p o i n t .
" 1 8 . Under t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s e x i s t i n g , it
would a l s o be d e t r i m e n t a l to t h e b e s t i n t e r e s t
o f M.G.M. t o be p l a c e d i n t h e permanent
c u s t o d y of Frank."
The D i s t r i c t C o u r t t h e n c o n c l u d e d as a matter of law t h a t it
would be i n M.G.M. ' s b e s t i n t e r e s t to p l a c e h e r i n t h e c u s t o d y o f
SRS, and that appellant's parental rights be terminated.
A p p e l l a n t has r a i s e d t h e following i s s u e s f o r review:
(1) W h e t h e r t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t e r r e d by a p p l y i n g t h e " b e s t
i n t e r e s t s of t h e c h i l d " t e s t i n s e c t i o n 40-6-130(1), MCA, instead
of t h e " a b u s e and n e g l e c t " s t a n d a r d s i n s e c t i o n s 41-3-401, MCA,
e t seq.?
(2) W h e t h e r t h e r e is c l e a r and c o n v i n c i n g e v i d e n c e to sup-
p o r t e i t h e r t h e " b e s t i n t e r e s t s o f t h e c h i l d " t e s t or t h e " a b u s e
and n e g l e c t " t e s t ?
(3) Whether p s y c h i a t r i c n u r s e , Mary H o n a k e r , was q u a l i f i e d
t o g i v e a n e x p e r t o p i n i o n and d i a g n o s i s of appellant's mental
health?
Appellant claims t h a t s e c t i o n s 40-6-128 and 40-6-130, MCA,
s h o u l d n o t h a v e b e e n a p p l i e d t o him, and t h a t t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t
therefore erred by terminating h i s parental rights absent any
f i n d i n g s of a b u s e or n e g l e c t . W e a g r e e and remand f o r f u r t h e r
findings.
Here, the District Court apparently applied the "best
i n t e r e s t s of t h e c h i l d " s t a n d a r d from s e c t i o n 4 0 - 6 - 1 3 0 ( 1 ) , MCA.
S e c t i o n 40-6-130 ( 1), MCA, p r o v i d e s i n p a r t :
" I f t h e c o u r t f i n d s i t would n o t be i n t h e
b e s t i n t e r e s t s of t h e c h i l d to g r a n t c u s t o d y to
t h e putative f a t h e r , the court s h a l l terminate
h i s r i g h t s t o the child."
S e c t i o n 40-6-128(1), MCA, d e s c r i b e s when t h e " b e s t i n t e r e s t s
of the child" test should be applied to a putative father:
" I f a c h i l d is b o r n o u t o f w e d l o c k and t h e
m o t h e r e x e c u t e s o r p r o p o s e s to e x e c u t e a
r e l e a s e t e r m i n a t i n a h e r r i a h t s to t h e c h i l d o r
- -
becomes - s u b j e -- t c
--i f --- e ---- h i l d o t h e r w i s e .-
th c --
the c - f
a n ----- o p t i o n p r o c e e d i n g , t h e a g e n c y p e r s o n t o
-- ad
whom the child h a s - b e e n or i s t o be
r e l i n q u i s h e d o r t h e m o t h e r or p e r s o n h a v i n g
c u s t o d y of t h e c h i l d s h a l l f i l e a p e t i t i o n i n
t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t to t e r m i n a t e t h e p a r e n t a l
r i g h t s of t h e f a t h e r , u n l e s s t h e f a t h e r ' s
r e l a t i o n s h i p to t h e c h i l d h a s b e e n p r e v i o u s l y
t e r m i n a t e d o r d e t e r m i n e d n o t t o e x i s t by t h e
c o u r t . The c o u r t s h a l l h o l d a h e a r i n g as s o o n
a s p r a c t i c a l t o d e t e r m i n e t h e i d e n t i t y of t h e
f a t h e r and t o d e t e r m i n e or t e r m i n a t e t h e
r i g h t s of t h e f a t h e r as provided i n t h i s
s e c t i o n and 40-6-129
( Emphasis added. )
and 40-6-130 . . ."
The k e y l a n g u a g e h e r e is " o r i f t h e c h i l d o t h e r w i s e becomes
t h e s u b j e c t of an a d o p t i o n proceeding." R e s p o n d e n t s claim t h a t
when t h e m o t h e r ' s r i g h t s were t e r m i n a t e d , t h e c h i l d became s u b -
ject t o a "potential adoptive proceeding." Admittedly, however,
SRS i s s e e k i n g t e m p o r a r y c u s t o d y o n t h e g r o u n d s t h a t M.G.M. is a
y o u t h i n need o f care and n e g l e c t e d o r a b u s e d w i t h i n t h e meaning
of section 41-3-401, et seq. , MCA. As such, the provisions
governing a "youth in need of care" proceeding must be
controlling.
M o r e o v e r , s e c t i o n 40-6-128, MCA, d i d n o t g i v e t h e g u a r d i a n of
the child the right to petition for termination of the
appellant's parental rights. Only " t h e agency, person t o whom
t h e c h i l d h a s b e e n or is r e l i n q u i s h e d o r t h e m o t h e r or t h e p e r s o n
h a v i n g c u s t o d y " may f i l e a p e t i t i o n f o r d e t e r m i n a t i o n of a p u t a -
tive father's rights. The D i s t r i c t C o u r t e r r e d b y c o n s o l i d a t i n g
t h e g u a r d i a n ' s p e t i t i o n w i t h t h a t o f SRS.
It is well-established that absent findings of abuse or
n e g l e c t b a s e d upon c l e a r and c o n v i n c i n g e v i d e n c e , p a r e n t a l r i g h t s
may n o t be t e r m i n a t e d . Matter of G u a r d i a n s h i p of Doney ( 1 9 7 7 ) ,
1 7 4 Mont. 2 8 2 , 5 7 0 P.2d 575; I n re t h e Matter of J . L . B . (1979),
1 8 2 Mont. 1 0 0 , 594 P.2d 1 1 2 7 ; and S t a n l e y v . I l l i n o i s (1972), 405
U.S. 645, 92 S.Ct. 1 2 0 8 , 3 1 L.Ed.2d 551. These c o n s t i t u t i o n a l l y
p r o t e c t e d p a r e n t a l i n t e r e s t s i n t h e c h i l d a r e n o t weakened by t h e
f a c t t h a t a c h i l d is b o r n o u t of w e d l o c k . Matter of J . L . B . , 594
P.2d a t 1 1 3 6 , r e f e r r i n g to S t a n l e y v. I l l i n o i s , 4 0 5 U.S. 651-652,
92 S.Ct. a t 1 2 1 3 , 3 1 L.Ed.2d a t 559.
Further, this Court has held that a finding of abuse,
neglect, or d e p e n d e n c y " is t h e j u r i s d i c t i o n a l prerequisite for
a n y c o u r t o r d e r e d t r a n s f e r of custody." . I n re Gore ( 1 9 7 7 ) , 1 7 4
Mont. 3 2 1 , 570 P.2d 1110, 1113.
O n l y a f t e r a s h o w i n g o f d e p e n d e n c y , a b u s e , o r n e g l e c t , is t h e
"best interests of the child" test the appropriate basis for
determining custody. S e e Doney, s u p r a ; --
- A
-
Gore, s u p r a ; H e n d e r s o n v .
H e n d e r s o n ( 1 9 7 7 ) , 1 7 3 Mont. 4 2 9 , 5 6 8 P.2d 1 7 7 ; and I n t h e Matter
of t h e G u a r d i a n s h i p of Aschenbrenner ( 1 9 7 9 ) , 1 8 2 Mont. 5 4 0 , 5 9 7
T h e r e f o r e , t h e District Court h e r e w a s o b l i g a t e d to f i n d t h a t
t h e c h i l d w a s a " y o u t h i n need of c a r e " and a b u s e d or n e g l e c t e d
in order to deprive appellant of custody and terminate his
rights. Section 41-3-102, MCA, provides the applicable
definitions:
" ( 2 ) An ' a b u s e d o r n e g l e c t e d c h i l d ' means a
c h i l d whose n o r m a l p h y s i c a l o r m e n t a l h e a l t h
o r w e l f a r e i s harmed or t h r e a t e n e d w i t h harm
by t h e acts o r omissions of h i s p a r e n t o r
o t h e r person responsible f o r h i s welfare.
" ( 3 ) ' H a r m t o a c h i l d ' s h e a l t h or w e l f a r e '
means t h e harm t h a t o c c u r s w h e n e v e r t h e p a r e n t
or o t h e r person r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e c h i l d ' s
welfare:
" ( a ) i n f l i c t s or allows t o be i n f l i c t e d upon
t h e c h i l d p h y s i c a l or m e n t a l i n j u r y , i n c l u d i n g
i n j u r i e s s u s t a i n e d as a r e s u l t of e x c e s s i v e
c o r p o r a l punishment;
"(5) ' T h r e a t e n e d h a r m ' means i m m i n e n t r i s k of
harm.
" ( 8 ) ' M e n t a l i n j u r y ' means a n i d e n t i f i a b l e
and s u b s t a n t i a l impairment of t h e c h i l d I s
i n t e l l e c t u a l or p s y c h o l o g i c a l f u n c t i o n i n g . "
During appellate argument, the guardian for the child
a d m i t t e d t h a t t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t had n o t made a n y f i n d i n g s t h a t
the c h i l d w a s a b u s e d or n e g l e c t e d by a p p e l l a n t . The f i n d i n g s
o n l y determined the child's best interests. More i m p o r t a n t l y ,
these f i n d i n g s do n o t provide a s u f f i c i e n t basis o n which to
c o n c l u d e t h a t t h e c h i l d would be i n d a n g e r o f " i m m i n e n t r i s k of
harm" i f s h e l i v e d w i t h o r v i s i t e d w i t h a p p e l l a n t . We therefore
remand t h i s case f o r f u r t h e r f i n d i n g s .
On remand, the opinion of the psychiatric nurse that
appellant is s u f f e r i n g f r o m s c h i z o p h r e n i a s h o u l d n o t be a d m i t t e d
without f u r t h e r foundation. W e a g r e e t h a t t h e d e t e r m i n a t i o n of a
p e r s o n as a n e x p e r t is w i t h i n t h e d i s c r e t i o n of the trial court,
a n d c a n be s e t a s i d e o n l y upon a b u s e of d i s c r e t i o n . Goodnough v .
S t a t e (1982), -- - -- Mont . - - .- -- - , 6 4 7 P.2d 364, 39 S t . R e p . 1170.
Rule 702, M.R.Evid. Nevertheless, nothing in this record
s u g g e s t s t h a t t h e n u r s e h a s had t h e t r a i n i n g , e x p e r i e n c e , o r edu-
c a t i o n t o diagnose schizophrenia. See J e n k i n s v. U.S. (1962),
307 F.2d 6 3 7 .
The District Court judgment is reversed and remanded for
further findings.