Brown County Department of Human Services v. S. K.

CourtCourt of Appeals of Wisconsin
DecidedApril 18, 2023
Docket2022AP001432
StatusUnpublished

This text of Brown County Department of Human Services v. S. K. (Brown County Department of Human Services v. S. K.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Wisconsin primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Brown County Department of Human Services v. S. K., (Wis. Ct. App. 2023).

Opinion

2023 WI APP 27

COURT OF APPEALS OF WISCONSIN PUBLISHED OPINION

Case No.: 2022AP1432

Complete Title of Case:

IN RE THE TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS TO R. M., A PERSON UNDER THE AGE OF 18:

BROWN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES,

PETITIONER-RESPONDENT,

V.

S. K.,

RESPONDENT-APPELLANT.

Opinion Filed: April 18, 2023 Submitted on Briefs: December 2, 2022 Oral Argument:

JUDGES: Stark, P.J., Hruz and Gill, JJ. Concurred: Dissented:

Appellant ATTORNEYS: On behalf of the respondent-appellant, the cause was submitted on the briefs of Brian Findley, Watertown.

Respondent ATTORNEYS: On behalf of the petitioner-respondent, the cause was submitted on the brief of Samantha S. Wagner, Brown County lead assistant corporation counsel, Green Bay. On behalf of R.M., the cause was submitted on the brief of David J. Matyas, guardian ad litem, De Pere.

2 2023 WI App 27

COURT OF APPEALS DECISION NOTICE DATED AND FILED This opinion is subject to further editing. If published, the official version will appear in the bound volume of the Official Reports. April 18, 2023 A party may file with the Supreme Court a Sheila T. Reiff petition to review an adverse decision by the Clerk of Court of Appeals Court of Appeals. See WIS. STAT. § 808.10 and RULE 809.62.

Appeal No. 2022AP1432 Cir. Ct. No. 2021TP32

STATE OF WISCONSIN IN COURT OF APPEALS

IN RE THE TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS TO R. M., A PERSON UNDER THE AGE OF 18:

APPEAL from an order of the circuit court for Brown County: JOHN ZAKOWSKI, Judge. Reversed and cause remanded for further proceedings.

Before Stark, P.J., Hruz and Gill, JJ. No. 2022AP1432

¶1 GILL, J.1 Stephanie appeals from an order terminating her parental rights to her son Robert.2 Stephanie argues that the circuit court erred by granting the Brown County Department of Human Services’ motion for partial summary judgment during the grounds phase of the termination of parental rights proceedings. The court concluded that the undisputed facts established that grounds existed to terminate Stephanie’s parental rights under WIS. STAT. § 48.415(9m)— commission of a serious felony against a child. Stephanie argues the undisputed facts do not establish that she committed a serious felony against a child because she was convicted of the crime in question—neglect of a child resulting in death— as a party to the crime. Stephanie contends that under the plain language of § 48.415(9m)(b)3., a conviction for neglect of a child resulting in death as a party to the crime does not qualify as a serious felony.

¶2 We reject Stephanie’s argument that a conviction for neglect of a child resulting in death as a party to the crime can never qualify as a serious felony for purposes of WIS. STAT. § 48.415(9m). Instead, based on the plain language of § 48.415(9m)(b)3., we conclude that a conviction for neglect of a child resulting in death as a party to the crime qualifies as a serious felony for purposes of § 48.415(9m) if the individual in question directly committed that crime.

1 By order dated April 11, 2023, this court granted a motion for a three-judge panel pursuant to WIS. STAT. RULE 809.41 (2021-22). All references to the Wisconsin Statutes are to the 2021-22 version unless otherwise noted.

Cases appealed under WIS. STAT. RULE 809.107 are “given preference and shall be taken in an order that ensures that a decision is issued within 30 days after the filing of the appellant’s reply.” See RULE 809.107(6)(e). Conflicts in this court’s calendar have resulted in a delay. It is therefore necessary for this court to sua sponte extend the deadline for a decision in this case. See WIS. STAT. RULE 809.82(2)(a); Rhonda R.D. v. Franklin R.D., 191 Wis. 2d 680, 694, 530 N.W.2d 34 (Ct. App. 1995). Accordingly, we extend our deadline to the date this decision is issued. 2 For ease of reading, we use pseudonyms in this confidential appeal, rather than initials, when referring to S.K., her son, and the child’s father.

2 No. 2022AP1432

¶3 The circuit court did not apply this standard when ruling on the County’s motion for partial summary judgment. In addition, the parties have not developed arguments regarding this standard, either in the circuit court or on appeal. Based on the evidence that the County presented in support of its partial summary judgment motion, and lacking developed arguments from the parties, we cannot conclude as a matter of law that Stephanie directly committed the crime of neglect of a child resulting in death. We therefore conclude that the court erred by granting the County’s motion for partial summary judgment. Accordingly, we reverse the order terminating Stephanie’s parental rights, and we remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

BACKGROUND

¶4 Robert was born in April 2017 and is the biological child of Stephanie and Jacob. Robert was removed from Stephanie and Jacob’s care in May 2017, after Stephanie and Jacob arrived at a hospital emergency room with a deceased child, who was Stephanie’s daughter and Robert’s half-sister. Contrary to Stephanie and Jacob’s report that the child had been responsive ten minutes before arriving at the hospital, an emergency room physician determined that the child had been dead for several hours. A subsequent autopsy report documented a significant amount of bruising on the child’s face, head, arms, legs, and feet. The autopsy also documented two healing rib fractures, one new rib fracture, a perforated bowel, a torn upper frenulum, and numerous suspicious marks that appeared to be human bite wounds. The pathologist determined that the child had suffered from abuse and had died due to “her perforated bowel with Sepsis,” which would have been caused by blunt force trauma to her abdomen.

3 No. 2022AP1432

¶5 In June 2017, Robert was adjudicated to be a child in need of protection or services. Thereafter, the State charged Stephanie with three counts in connection with the death of Robert’s half-sibling: neglect of a child resulting in death, as a party to the crime; physical abuse of a child (failing to act to prevent bodily harm), as a party to the crime; and resisting or obstructing an officer. Stephanie ultimately entered a no-contest plea to neglect of a child resulting in death, as a party to the crime, and the other two counts were dismissed and read in for sentencing purposes. Jacob pled no contest to one count of first-degree reckless homicide, as a party to the crime, in connection with the child’s death.

¶6 In June 2021, the County filed a petition to terminate Stephanie’s parental rights to Robert.3 The County’s petition alleged a single ground for terminating Stephanie’s parental rights: the commission of a serious felony against a child, pursuant to WIS. STAT. § 48.415(9m).4

¶7 The County subsequently moved for partial summary judgment, arguing the undisputed facts established that grounds existed to terminate Stephanie’s parental rights under WIS. STAT. § 48.415(9m). In support of its motion, the County submitted copies of the complaint and the judgment of conviction from Stephanie’s criminal case, which showed that Stephanie had been

3 The County also petitioned to terminate Jacob’s parental rights to Robert. Jacob consented to the termination of his parental rights, and his rights are not at issue in this appeal. 4 The involuntary termination of an individual’s parental rights involves a two-step statutory procedure. Steven V. v. Kelley H., 2004 WI 47, ¶24, 271 Wis. 2d 1, 678 N.W.2d 856.

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Bluebook (online)
Brown County Department of Human Services v. S. K., Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/brown-county-department-of-human-services-v-s-k-wisctapp-2023.