No
No. 99-281
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
1999 MT 277
296 Mont. 510
989 P.2d 840
IN THE MATTER OF J.M.J.,
A Youth in Need of Care.
APPEAL FROM: District Court of the Thirteenth Judicial
District,
In and for the County of Big Horn,
The Honorable Susan P. Watters, Judge presiding.
COUNSEL OF RECORD:
For Appellant:
D. Michael Eakin, Montana Legal Services Association,
Billings, Montana
For Respondent:
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Hon. Joseph P. Mazurek, Attorney General; Mark W. Mattioli,
Assistant Attorney General; Helena, Montana
Christine A. Cooke, Big Horn County Attorney; Hardin, Montana
Submitted on Briefs: September 23, 1999
Decided: November 19, 1999
Filed:
__________________________________________
Clerk
Justice Karla M. Gray delivered the Opinion of the Court.
1. ¶ Sada Gonzales (Sada) appeals from the Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and
Order entered by the Thirteenth Judicial District Court, Big Horn County,
terminating her parental rights to J.M.J. and awarding permanent legal custody with
the right to consent to adoption to the Montana Department of Public Health and
Human Services (DPHHS). We affirm.
2. ¶ We restate the issues on appeal as follows:
3. ¶ 1. Are the District Court’s findings that Sada failed to complete or meet the goals
of her treatment plan and that the conduct and condition rendering her unfit to
parent J.M.J. is unlikely to change within a reasonable time clearly erroneous?
4. ¶ 2. Did the District Court abuse its discretion in terminating Sada’s parental rights
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when a less restrictive alternative existed?
BACKGROUND
5. ¶ Sada and Jade Johnston (Jade) are the natural parents of a son, J.M.J., who was
born on May 25, 1995. DPHHS began receiving reports of child abuse or neglect
regarding J.M.J. in early 1996, including reported abandonment, frequent use of
alcohol and drugs by both Jade and Sada, and domestic violence. DPHHS monitored
the situation with the assistance of J.M.J.’s grandparents.
6. ¶ On January 3, 1997, Sada and J.M.J. were staying with Sada’s mother, Marta
Burgman (Marta), when a domestic dispute arose between Jade and Sada. Jade was
arrested and Sada was hospitalized as a result of this incident. Marta took J.M.J. to
DPHHS, who placed him in the care of a paternal aunt. DPHHS subsequently
petitioned for temporary investigative authority and protective custody, and entered
into court-approved treatment plans with Sada and Jade addressing issues of
domestic violence, chemical dependency, psychological and mental health needs,
and a stable environment for J.M.J. On January 27, 1997, after hearing testimony at
a show cause hearing, the District Court granted temporary investigative authority
until April 27, 1997, but ordered DPHHS to return J.M.J. to the care and custody of
Marta, with whom Sada was living. The court also provided for visitation of J.M.J.
by Jade.
7. ¶ DPHHS returned J.M.J. to Marta. Several weeks later, however, Marta and Sada
signed Voluntary Agreements for Placement, returning J.M.J. to DPHHS because
they were unable to care for him. DPHHS again placed J.M.J. in the care of his
paternal aunt.
8. ¶ DPHHS monitored Sada and Jade’s progress on their treatment plans during the
period of temporary investigative authority. Sada complied with her plan’s
requirement that she undergo a psychological evaluation, but did not meet the
numerous other requirements in her treatment plan. Indeed, she expressed both a
concern that she might not be as able to care for J.M.J. as another family member
and a desire to place J.M.J. for adoption. Jade, on the other hand, expressed a desire
to care for J.M.J., but was awaiting trial on his fourth charge of driving under the
influence of alcohol and did not even begin his treatment plan.
9. ¶ On April 28, 1997, DPHHS petitioned for--and the District Court granted--a 90-
day extension of temporary investigative authority and protective services and,
thereafter, both Sada and Jade made progress on their treatment plans. Sada
completed a substance abuse evaluation which indicated she was chemically
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dependent and scheduled herself for intensive outpatient treatment as recommended
by the evaluator. Jade scheduled himself for inpatient substance abuse treatment
upon his release from incarceration for driving under the influence of alcohol. On
June 6, 1997, DPHHS entered into new court-approved treatment plans with Sada
and Jade which focused on the same issues as the original treatment plans.
10. ¶ Two months later, DPHHS placed J.M.J. in the care of his paternal grandmother,
Karen Johnston (Karen), to facilitate visitation with Sada, and entered into a third
set of court-approved treatment plans with Sada and Jade which focused on the
same issues as the two earlier plans. The District Court granted DPHHS another 90-
day extension of temporary investigative authority and protective services on
August 11, 1997.
11. ¶ Shortly thereafter, Sada completed her intensive outpatient treatment; she did not,
however, follow through with the recommended aftercare as required by her
treatment plan. She was hospitalized for overdosing on "laced" marijuana within
eight days of completing her outpatient treatment, and was hospitalized again about
six weeks later for overdosing on anti-depressant medication after a fight with her
live-in boyfriend.
12. ¶ On November 6, 1997, DPHHS petitioned for six months’ temporary legal
custody of J.M.J. and entered into its fourth set of court-approved treatment plans
with Sada and Jade which again focused on domestic violence, chemical
dependency, psychological and mental health needs, and a stable environment for J.
M.J. Jade had just been released from the Big Horn County detention facility at that
time and was scheduled to begin inpatient treatment for his chemical dependency.
Sada, on the other hand, was hospitalized for suicide ideations following another
violent incident with her live-in boyfriend and, on her release, was admitted to an
inpatient chemical dependency treatment program. The District Court held a hearing
on DPHHS’ petition on November 24, 1997; neither Sada nor her counsel were
present, and, indeed, both Jade and Sada were in inpatient chemical dependency
treatment at the Montana Chemical Dependency Center. The court granted the
petition for temporary custody without objection.
13. ¶ Sada and Jade moved to Wyoming on January 21, 1998, after completing their
inpatient treatment. Although they attended a few Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
meetings in Wyoming, neither Sada nor Jade followed through with aftercare,
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) or counseling as recommended by their discharge
summaries and required by their treatment plans. They returned to Montana on
March 9, 1998, and moved to Billings the following month. A month later, Jade left
Billings.
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14. ¶ In May of 1998, DPHHS petitioned to terminate Sada and Jade’s parental rights
and for permanent legal custody of J.M.J. At the hearing in October of 1998, Sada
testified that she would like to be J.M.J.’s mother and take care of him, but she was
unsure when she would be able to do so. Jade consented to the termination of his
parental rights. The District Court terminated Sada and Jade’s parental rights and
awarded DPHHS permanent legal custody of J.M.J. with the right to consent to
adoption. Sada appeals.
STANDARDS OF REVIEW
15. ¶ In a termination of parental rights case, we review a district court’s findings of fact
to determine whether they are clearly erroneous. In re S.M., 1999 MT 36, ¶ 15, 975
P.2d 334, ¶ 15, 56 St.Rep. 152, ¶ 15 (citations omitted). A finding of fact is clearly
erroneous if it is not supported by substantial evidence, the district court
misapprehended the effect of the evidence, or a review of the record leaves us with
the definite and firm conviction that the court made a mistake. In re S.M., ¶ 15
(citation omitted).
16. ¶ The determination that a termination of parental rights is appropriate is a
discretionary ruling which we review for an abuse of discretion. See Matter of C.M.
(1997), 281 Mont. 183, 186, 932 P.2d 1063, 1065. The test for abuse of discretion is
whether the trial court acted arbitrarily without employment of conscientious
judgment or exceeded the bounds of reason resulting in substantial injustice. Matter
of M.M. (1982), 200 Mont. 244, 250, 650 P.2d 784, 787 (citation omitted).
DISCUSSION
17. ¶ 1. Are the District Court’s findings that Sada failed to complete or meet the
goals of her treatment plan and that the conduct and condition rendering her
unfit to parent J.M.J. is unlikely to change within a reasonable time clearly
erroneous?
18. ¶ Section 41_3_609, MCA (1995), sets forth the criteria for termination of parental
rights and provides, in pertinent part:
(1) The court may order a termination of the parent-child legal relationship upon a
finding that any of the following circumstances exist:
...
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(c) the child is an adjudicated youth in need of care and both of the following exist:
(i) an appropriate treatment plan that has been approved by the court has not been
complied with by the parents or has not been successful; and
(ii) the conduct or condition of the parents rendering them unfit is unlikely to
change within a reasonable time[.]
Here, the District Court made the findings required by §§ 41_3_609(1)(c)(i) and (ii),
MCA (1995).
19. ¶ Sada does not challenge the District Court’s finding that J.M.J. was an adjudicated
youth in need of care. She contends, however, that DPHHS failed to present clear
and convincing evidence that she did not successfully complete any of the court-
approved treatment plans and that the conduct or condition rendering her unfit to
parent J.M.J. was unlikely to change within a reasonable time and, as a result, that
those findings of fact are clearly erroneous. Sada argues in this regard that DPHHS
failed to present any evidence on her progress--or lack thereof--in the seven months
prior to the hearing on termination of her parental rights and that, had the court
considered her evidence regarding her progress during this period, it would have
found that she had met the goals of her treatment plan.
20. ¶ Before addressing the findings at issue, it is appropriate to address Sada’s reliance
on the "clear and convincing evidence" standard. It is true that DPHHS was required
to establish by clear and convincing evidence that the statutory criteria for
termination of parental rights had been met. See Matter of J.L. (1996), 277 Mont.
284, 288, 922 P.2d 459, 461 (citations omitted). Clear and convincing evidence,
however, is merely
"a requirement that a preponderance of the evidence be definite, clear, and
convincing, or that a particular issue must be clearly established by a preponderance
of the evidence or by a clear preponderance of proof. This requirement does not call
for unanswerable or conclusive evidence. The quality of proof, to be clear and
convincing, is somewhere between the rule in ordinary civil cases and the
requirement of criminal procedure--that is, it must be more than a mere
preponderance but not beyond a reasonable doubt."
Matter of J.L., 277 Mont. at 289, 922 P.2d at 462 (quoting In the Interest of S.M.Q.
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(Kan. 1990), 796 P.2d 543, 545). Thus, the fact that evidence conflicts does not
automatically preclude a determination that clear and convincing evidence supports
a given position. Matter of J.L., 277 Mont. at 290, 922 P.2d at 462. We do not
"substitute [our] evaluation of the evidence for that of the trial court, or pass upon
the credibility of witnesses." Matter of J.L., 277 Mont. at 290, 922 P.2d at 462
(citation omitted). Moreover, notwithstanding, the clear and convincing evidence
standard in the district court, we determine only whether that court’s findings are
clearly erroneous and, if not, the findings must be upheld. Matter of J.L., 277 Mont.
at 290, 922 P.2d at 462 (citation omitted). Against this backdrop, we turn to the
challenged findings and Sada’s contentions, beginning with a review of the record to
determine, first, whether the District Court’s finding that Sada substantially failed to
successfully complete or meet the goals of a treatment plan approved by the court is
supported by substantial evidence.
21. ¶ Primary requirements in each of Sada’s four treatment plans were to complete a
valid chemical dependency evaluation, follow through with the recommendations of
the chemical dependency counselor for aftercare and attend AA and NA meetings as
recommended. Sada obtained a chemical dependency evaluation and attended two
separate treatment programs. However, according to her own testimony, she has not
regularly attended AA or NA; nor has she followed through with the aftercare
recommended following both treatment programs. Indeed, shortly after completing
the intensive outpatient treatment, Sada overdosed twice--once on "laced" marijuana
and once on anti-depressants--and was hospitalized. Moreover, while Sada conceded
that she must resolve her chemical dependency if she wants to regain custody of J.M.
J., she testified that she has not attempted to do so except to the extent of
discovering that treatment and aftercare cannot be resumed until she obtains a
current chemical dependency evaluation.
22. ¶ Sada’s treatment plans also required her to obtain a psychological evaluation and
follow through with any recommendations made by the evaluating psychologist.
Sada obtained a psychological evaluation which indicated she was emotionally
incapable of caring for J.M.J., describing her as narcissistic and defiantly
oppositional, and recommended a course of treatment. Sada did not pursue the
recommended treatment as required by her treatment plans.
23. ¶ Sada also agreed in her treatment plans to maintain an adequate home with proper
utilities and acceptable cleanliness, free of drugs and alcohol, and with only
immediate family members residing in it. At the time of the hearing, Sada was
living with another boyfriend and testified that she did not contact DPHHS for the
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seven months prior to the hearing because, for at least the first five or six months,
she was not in "stable housing." On this record, we conclude that the District
Court’s finding that Sada substantially failed to successfully complete or meet the
goals of a treatment plan approved by the court is supported by substantial evidence.
24. ¶ Sada asserts, however, that her testimony regarding the actions she took in the
seven months prior to the hearing--including that she was no longer in an abusive
relationship, led a sober lifestyle, and took anti-depressive medication--supports the
opposite result. Her assertion, however, ignores our standard of review, which is not
whether evidence of record would support a different finding. Our standard is
whether substantial evidence supports the District Court’s findings of fact (see In re
S.M., ¶ 15) and, in making that determination, we do not substitute our judgment
regarding the weight of the evidence for that of the trial court. Matter of J.L., 277
Mont. at 290, 922 P.2d at 462.
25. ¶ With regard to the District Court’s finding that the conduct or condition that
renders Sada unfit to parent J.M.J. is unlikely to change within a reasonable time,
Sada urges that her testimony regarding the seven months prior to the hearing
demonstrates that she is likely to make the necessary changes in her life within a
reasonable time and, in fact, has already done so. Sada highlights her current
situation, in which she is not in an abusive relationship, leads a sober lifestyle, takes
anti-depressant medication, has maintained a job for five months and has improved
her education.
26. ¶ We agree that Sada made positive changes in her life in the months preceding the
hearing. However, J.M.J. had been in DPHHS’ custody for over 20 months by the
time of the hearing and Sada still had not completed any of her four court-approved
treatment plans. Moreover, Sada’s testimony established that she obtained "stable
housing" only one or two months before the hearing. In addition, she maintained no
contact with her social worker during the seven months prior to the hearing. Finally,
Sada testified that she would like to be J.M.J.’s mother and take care of him, but she
was unsure when she would be able to do so and she did not have a specific
timetable or plan for completing her court-approved treatment plans. On this record,
we conclude that the District Court’s finding that the conduct or condition that
renders Sada unfit to parent J.M.J. is unlikely to change within a reasonable time is
supported by substantial evidence.
27. ¶ We hold that substantial evidence supports the District Court’s findings that Sada
failed to complete or meet the goals of her treatment plans and that the conduct and
condition rendering her unfit to parent J.M.J. is unlikely to change within a
reasonable time are supported by substantial evidence and the findings are not
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otherwise clearly erroneous.
28. ¶ 2. Did the District Court abuse its discretion in terminating Sada’s parental
rights when a less restrictive alternative existed?
29. ¶ Sada contends that, even if we conclude--as we have above--that the District
Court’s findings under § 41_3_609(1)(c), MCA (1995), are not clearly erroneous,
the District Court abused its discretion in terminating her parental rights because a
less stringent alternative--long-term custody and guardianship--was available. Her
argument is premised on the principle stated in In re E.W., 1998 MT 135, ¶ 12, 289
Mont. 190, ¶ 12, 959 P.2d 951, ¶ 12, that parental rights are a fundamental liberty
interest and, therefore, her rights can be restricted only to the extent necessary to
protect J.M.J. In response to DPHHS’ contention that the constitutional issue is not
properly before us because Sada did not raise it in the District Court, she asserts that
the issue was raised sufficiently when 1) DPHHS’ opening statement noted Sada’s
desire to at least maintain her parental rights via only permanent custody of J.M.J. in
DPHHS; 2) a DPHHS social worker supervisor testified about the difference
between permanent guardianship or custody and termination of parental rights; and
3) Sada’s inclusion of a conclusion that parental rights are a fundamental right and
should not be terminated unnecessarily in her proposed findings of fact and
conclusions of law submitted three weeks after the hearing. We disagree.
30. ¶ DPHHS’ opening statement merely acknowledged that, while Sada was contesting
termination of her parental rights to J.M.J., she hoped for a "worst case" scenario
limited to permanent custody of J.M.J. by DPHHS, rather than a termination of her
parental rights awarding DPHHS legal custody of J.M.J. with the right to consent to
adoption. Moreover, the supervisor’s testimony regarding the differences between
terminating parental rights and long-term custody with a permanent guardianship
related to DPHHS’ position that it was in J.M.J.’s best interest for Sada’s parental
rights to be terminated. Finally, although Sada’s proposed conclusion of law
asserted her fundamental right to parent J.M.J., it did not challenge the
constitutionality of terminating that right in this case, thereby placing the issue
squarely before the District Court for resolution.
31. ¶ As a general rule, we do not consider an issue presented for the first time on
appeal because "it is fundamentally unfair to fault the trial court for failing to rule
correctly on an issue it was never given the opportunity to consider." Unified
Industries, Inc. v. Easley, 1998 MT 145, ¶ 15, 289 Mont. 255, ¶ 15, 961 P.2d 100, ¶
15 (citation omitted). In this case, the District Court received evidence regarding
what each party believed was in J.M.J.’s best interest, but Sada did not present the
issue of the constitutionality of terminating her parental rights to the District Court
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for resolution. We conclude, therefore, that the issue of the constitutionality of
terminating Sada’s parental rights when a less restrictive alternative was available
was not before the District Court, and we decline to address it further. See In re S.
M., ¶ 32.
32. ¶ Sada also advances an equitable argument for permanent guardianship rather than
termination of her parental rights. She contends that if Karen is permitted to adopt J.
M.J., Jade will have more rights than she will because he will still have a
relationship--albeit as a brother--to J.M.J., and he has made less effort to become a
suitable parent than she has. The District Court specifically questioned the social
worker supervisor in this regard and entered a finding of fact summarizing her
explanation of why termination of parental rights was in J.M.J.’s best interest.
33. ¶ Sada does not challenge the court’s finding. Furthermore, it is well established that
the best interests of the child are paramount in a termination of parental rights action
and take precedence over parental rights. See, e.g., Matter of C.M., 281 Mont. at
187, 932 P.2d at 1066; Matter of J.J.C.H. (1992), 252 Mont. 158, 165, 827 P.2d
812, 816; In re J.W. (1988), 232 Mont. 46, 50, 757 P.2d 769, 771.
34. ¶ We hold the District Court did not abuse its discretion in terminating Sada’s
parental rights.
35. ¶ Affirmed.
/S/ KARLA M. GRAY
We concur:
/S/ J. A. TURNAGE
/S/ W. WILLIAM LEAPHART
/S/ JAMES C. NELSON
/S/ JIM REGNIER
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