In Re CMB

204 S.W.3d 886, 2006 Tex. App. LEXIS 9335, 2006 WL 3042098
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedOctober 27, 2006
Docket05-04-01117-CV
StatusPublished

This text of 204 S.W.3d 886 (In Re CMB) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In Re CMB, 204 S.W.3d 886, 2006 Tex. App. LEXIS 9335, 2006 WL 3042098 (Tex. Ct. App. 2006).

Opinion

204 S.W.3d 886 (2006)

In re C.M.B.

No. 05-04-01117-CV.

Court of Appeals of Texas, Dallas.

October 27, 2006.

*888 Eugene S. Bem, Dallas, pro se.

Gaylynn Gee, Law Office of Gaylynn Gee, Dallas, for Appellant.

Barbara Joanne Van Duyne, Raggio & Raggio PLLC, Georganna L. Simpson, Law Offices of Georganna L. Simpson, Dallas, for Appellee.

Before Justices MOSELEY, BRIDGES, and LANG-MIERS.

OPINION

Opinion by Justice BRIDGES.

Joelle Florence Bem appeals the trial court's judgment terminating her parental rights to her daughter, C.M.B.[1] In two issues appellant argues[2] there was factually insufficient evidence to support the termination of the parent-child relationship between her and her child, and the trial court erred in finding termination was in C.M.B.'s best interest. We affirm the trial court's judgment.

Joelle Florence Bem ("Mother") is the mother of one Child, C.M.B.C.M.B. was born on August 18, 2000 in Florida. Eugene S. Bem ("Father") is the father of C.M.B. Parents were married on September 30, 2000. In April 2002, Father filed for a divorce against Mother, and C.M.B.'s grandparents intervened into the divorce action seeking appointment as non-parent sole managing conservators ("SMCs"). After hearing the accusations of various behaviors of violence and substance abuse by the parents, the trial court appointed Grandparents temporary SMCs of C.M.B. The following day, Grandparents filed an Original Petition in Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship seeking the same *889 relief granted on a temporary basis by the trial court. A bench trial was held on March 15, 2004. On July 26, 2004, the trial court signed an order terminating Mother's and Father's parental rights to C.M.B. and appointing the Grandparents permanent Joint Managing Conservators. This appeal followed.

Mother's Psychiatric History

Prior to the birth of C.M.B, Mother had obtained psychiatric assistance while attending college at Southern Methodist University. In 1992, Mother was diagnosed with a depressive disorder. In October 1999, Mother obtained emergency treatment at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas where she complained of an anxiety and panic attack after admittedly drinking, using cocaine, and taking ecstasy. Mother was diagnosed with depressive disorder, polysubstance abuse, and personality disorders.

Less than ten months later, on August 18, 2000, Mother was admitted to a hospital in Florida for the birth of C.M.B. During her admission, Mother denied any prior drug use. Mother was hospitalized on three other occasions while residing in Florida. Beginning when C.M.B. was approximately two months old, Mother was admitted to the hospital for cocaine abuse and a possible drug overdose. Mother complained of post-partum depression and admitted to self-medicating and prior cocaine use.

For the first eight months of C.M.B.'s life, Sonia Cambra was C.M.B.'s nanny and took care of all of her needs six days a week. Prior to C.M.B.'s arrival home from the hospital, Father took the nanny shopping for necessary basic baby supplies, formula, and diapers. The nanny dressed, bathed, diapered, fed, and slept with C.M.B. during this time. Mother slept most of the day. When Mother would come home after being out, she would ask about the cat but not the baby.

The nanny frequently observed Mother drinking, and was aware of Mother's drug use. On one occasion when C.M.B. was only three weeks old, the nanny found a white powdery substance on a tray with a small knife on the nightstand. Subsequently that same day, the nanny had a discussion with Father and admonished him for giving Mother money for drugs. Further, Mother had previously told the nanny she would flush things in the toilet if the police came. On the nanny's one day off, she would not leave C.M.B. with Mother but would only leave C.M.B. with Father.

On one occasion while Parents resided in Florida, Mother fabricated a story of killing both the nanny and C.M.B. Father called police. The nanny testified that police woke her at 4:00 a.m. on March 29, 2001 to investigate the well-being of her and C.M.B after a report that Mother had shot and killed them both. The nanny showed the police where she had shoved the gun into a mattress the previous day upon Father's request. The police report indicated that both the nanny and C.M.B. were unharmed.

On April 24, 2001, when C.M.B. was approximately eight months old, Mother was again admitted to the hospital. Hospital records showed that Mother had active suicidal ideations and auditory hallucinations; had attempted suicide within the previous five weeks; and was coping with depression by self-medicating with Valium. Mother was diagnosed with adjustment disorder and anxiety. Further, Mother requested an abortion of her seven week *890 pregnancy that was denied due to concerns over her mental capacity. Mother miscarried shortly thereafter.

On September 9, 2001, when C.M.B. was approximately thirteen months old, Mother was involuntarily admitted to a hospital after she threatened to cut her wrists and jump off the seventeenth floor of a building. At Father's request, the police transported Mother to the hospital where she was admitted to the psychiatric unit. Mother was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, depression with auditory hallucinations, and possible problems with cocaine abuse.

Later in September 2001, Parents relocated to Texas. On September 30, 2001, police were called to Grandparents' house due to the fighting between Parents. At Father's request, the police transported Mother to North Central Medical Center in McKinney, Texas. Father was concerned about Mother because of her prior threats to harm C.M.B. as well as her behavior at the time. Further outpatient treatment at Green Oaks was recommended by hospital staff. However, Mother did not seek additional treatment at that time.

In Spring 2002, Father expressed his concern for Mother to both his mother, Louise Bem, and Grandparents. Specifically, Father sent a letter to Grandparents addressing both his previous and present concerns over Mother's threats to harm both herself and the baby. Father referenced specific incidences of violence and suicide attempts.

In May 2002, Mother sought treatment with Dr. Anthony Moore, a psychiatrist. Mother consistently received treatment and medication from Moore. Moore diagnosed Mother as Bipolar II with a borderline personality characterized by her wrist cutting, hostile outbreaks, and paranoia. Although he believed Mother was making progress and that her urine and hair drug screening tests were negative at that time, Moore expressed concerns over Mother's level of stress, additional stress of caring for a three year old, and Mother's truthfulness and cooperation in providing prior psychiatric treatment and employment information.

Mother's Psychiatric Evaluations

Prior to the bench trial in District Court, the court ordered a social study and psychiatric evaluation of Mother. Dr. Alfredo Tamez conducted the social study, and Dr. Don Lammers conducted the psychiatric evaluation. Additionally, Mother retained Dr. Benjamin Albritton to conduct an independent evaluation. All three experts expressed some concern with Mother's behavior. All evaluations and family social studies were completed in 2002. Grandparents obtained copies of the medical records in January 2003 while preparing for trial.

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Bluebook (online)
204 S.W.3d 886, 2006 Tex. App. LEXIS 9335, 2006 WL 3042098, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-cmb-texapp-2006.