In Re CS

863 N.E.2d 413, 2007 WL 942379
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedMarch 30, 2007
Docket49A04-0608-JV-435
StatusPublished

This text of 863 N.E.2d 413 (In Re CS) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In Re CS, 863 N.E.2d 413, 2007 WL 942379 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007).

Opinion

863 N.E.2d 413 (2007)

In the Matter of C.S., L.S., and M.S., Children in Need of Services,
Christopher Montgomery, Appellant-Respondent
v.
Marion County Office of Family and Children, Appellee-Petitioner and
Child Advocates, Inc., Co-Appellee (Guardian ad Litem).

No. 49A04-0608-JV-435.

Court of Appeals of Indiana.

March 30, 2007.

*414 Michael C. Borschel, Indianapolis, IN, Attorney for Appellant.

Barry A. Chambers, Indianapolis, IN, Attorney for Appellee.

OPINION

ROBB, Judge.

Case Summary and Issue

Christopher Montgomery appeals the trial court's determination that his child, C.S., is a child in need of services ("CHINS"), alleging that the trial court's determination was not supported by sufficient evidence. Concluding that the evidence and findings do not support the trial court's judgment, we reverse.

Facts and Procedural History

C.S. was born on November 25, 2005, to Loretta Savage. Savage and Montgomery were not married at the time of C.S.'s birth and Montgomery was not present at the birth, although he did visit Savage and C.S. in the hospital several times. Savage did not name Montgomery as C.S.'s father on the birth certificate and Montgomery did not sign a paternity affidavit at the hospital. Savage tested positive for opiates and benzodiazepines when C.S. was born, and C.S. tested positive for benzodiazepines. These drug test results were forwarded to the Marion County Department of Child Services ("DCS"). Jennifer Sweazy, a DCS investigator, interviewed *415 Savage at the hospital. Savage admitted to using drugs during her pregnancy. Savage told Sweazy that Montgomery was C.S.'s father, but told Sweazy that she did not know where he was and did not tell her that he had been visiting the hospital because "she didn't ask me if he was at the hospital." Transcript at 34. Based on this interview, DCS filed a CHINS petition on November 29, 2005. An initial hearing was held that same day at which Savage admitted the allegations of the petition and C.S. was placed in foster care.[1] Montgomery did not appear at the hearing, and the initial hearing was continued as to him.[2]

On January 12, 2006, Montgomery appeared for the continued initial hearing, at which time he acknowledged his paternity of C.S. and informed the court that he wanted to establish paternity and have his name put on C.S.'s birth certificate. Because Montgomery was a minor and because his mother lives out of state, the court appointed his aunt, with whom he lives, as temporary guardian over him for purposes of this proceeding and also appointed an attorney to represent him. The court granted Montgomery supervised visitation with C.S. and told him how to get a DNA test for the purpose of establishing paternity.

At a fact-finding hearing on April 19, 2006, the court noted that Montgomery had taken a DNA test.[3] Sweazy, the DCS investigator, was called as the sole DCS witness. She testified that a report had been filed on November 26, 2005, alleging that both Savage and C.S. had tested positive for drugs when C.S. was born. When Sweazy met with Savage, Savage admitted she had used a friend's non-prescription Xanax and Valium during her pregnancy and as recently as four days prior to C.S.'s birth. Savage told Sweazy that Montgomery was C.S.'s father, but did not give Sweazy any contact information for Montgomery. Sweazy testified that, to her knowledge, Montgomery had not established paternity of C.S. as of the date of the hearing. When asked if Montgomery had refused to supply food, clothing, shelter, medical care, education, or supervision for C.S., Sweazy repeatedly answered, "I don't know." Tr. at 27-28. When asked what the physical condition of the child was when Sweazy saw her, she answered that she "appeared clean and healthy." Tr. at 28. Sweazy also testified that she had no contact with Montgomery or anyone on his behalf during the investigation. DCS rested on Sweazy's testimony, and Montgomery moved for a directed verdict. The trial court denied Montgomery's motion.

Montgomery then called Savage as a witness. She testified that Montgomery came to the hospital after C.S.'s birth three or four times, that he expressed a desire to sign a paternity affidavit but she had already signed the papers and did not *416 report that he was the father, and that he offered to make arrangements to care for C.S. She further testified that she told Montgomery DCS was involved and gave Sweazy's contact information to him. Montgomery testified on his own behalf that he called and left messages for Sweazy on numerous occasions but she never returned his calls. He testified that he is employed, working toward his GED, lives with his aunt in a home with room for C.S., and wants to take care of her. He has submitted to random drug tests that have been negative, and he has voluntarily received services from Father's Resource Center, which teaches basic parenting skills and provides help finding employment. Montgomery's aunt testified that he lives with her in a home with plenty of space for C.S. and that she is willing to help take care of her. She personally witnessed Montgomery attempting to contact Sweazy, and she also tried to contact her several times without success.

Prior to the fact-finding hearing, Montgomery had requested the entry of findings of fact and conclusions thereon. The court solicited proposed orders from the parties, and on May 22, 2006, the court accepted in their entirety DCS' proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law, incorporating the same into its judgment finding that C.S. is a CHINS requiring court intervention and ordering that C.S. be removed from Montgomery's care, custody, and control. The findings of fact and conclusions of law provide, in pertinent part, as follows:

The Court finds that [DCS] has met its burden by a preponderance of the evidence, and the Court grants the Petition Alleging Children in Need of Services and makes the following findings of fact, conclusions of law, and judgment entry.

FINDINGS OF FACT

The Court finds the following by a preponderance of the evidence:

1. All events in the petition occurred in Marion County, Indiana.
2. Loretta Savage is the mother of [C.S.]
3. Christopher Montgomery is the alleged father of [C.S.]
4. [C.S.] was born on November 25, 2005, and is six (6) months old.
5. On or about November 26, 2005, DCS received a report alleging that the mother, Loretta Savage, tested positive for opiates and benzodiazepines at the birth of her child, [C.S.], and that [C.S.] tested positive for benzodiazepines at birth.
6. Loretta Savage took non-prescription Xanax and Valium while pregnant with [C.S.], and her last use of these drugs was approximately four days prior to giving birth to [C.S.]
7. Jennifer Sweazy was the DCS investigator assigned to investigate the November 2005 report, which led to this CHINS filing.
8. Ms. Sweazy completed a thorough investigation into the allegations, which included interviewing the mother, Loretta Savage, and obtaining medical records on Loretta Savage and [C.S.] from Methodist Hospital.
9. Loretta Savage is the sole legal custodian of [C.S.]
10.

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A.H. v. Bartholomew County Office of Family & Children
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T.H. v. Marion County Department of Child Services
856 N.E.2d 1247 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 2006)
Montgomery v. Marion County Office of Family & Children
863 N.E.2d 413 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 2007)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
863 N.E.2d 413, 2007 WL 942379, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-cs-indctapp-2007.