In Re DJ

100 S.W.3d 658, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 2713, 2003 WL 1585571
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedMarch 28, 2003
Docket05-02-01018-CV
StatusPublished

This text of 100 S.W.3d 658 (In Re DJ) 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 DJ, 100 S.W.3d 658, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 2713, 2003 WL 1585571 (Tex. Ct. App. 2003).

Opinion

100 S.W.3d 658 (2003)

In the Matter of D.J.

No. 05-02-01018-CV.

Court of Appeals of Texas, Dallas.

March 28, 2003.

*661 Robert James Herrera, Herrera & Herrera, Dallas, for Appellant.

Katherine Robinson, Lori L. Ordiway and Cheryl D. Holder, Assistant District Attorneys, Dallas, for Appellee.

Before Justices JAMES, FARRIS,[1] and ROSENBERG.[2]

OPINION

Opinion by Justice FARRIS (Retired).

In eight points of error, Ginger J. (Mother) and Kelvin J. (Father) contend the judgment terminating their parental rights to D.J. must be reversed because (1) the evidence is factually insufficient to support the jury's findings that (a) Mother's and Father's parental rights should be terminated and (b) termination of the parent-child relationship was in D.J.'s best interest; and (2) the trial court erred by denying Mother's and Father's motion for new trial. We affirm the trial court's judgment terminating Father's parental rights. Because there is factually insufficient evidence that Mother engaged in any conduct that supports termination under the family code, we reverse the trial court's judgment terminating Mother's parental rights and remand the issue of the termination of Mother's parental rights to the trial court for new trial.

Factual Sufficiency Standard of Review

The parent-child relationship may be terminated if the parent has engaged in any of the conduct set out as grounds for termination in the family code and termination is in the child's best interest. Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 161.001 (Vernon 2002). Both of these elements must be established by clear and convincing proof. Id. We must uphold the termination findings "if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could form a firm belief or conviction that grounds exist for termination under Texas Family Code sections 161.001 and 161.206(a)." In re C.H., 89 S.W.3d 17, 18-19 (Tex.2002). We give due consideration to evidence that the factfinder could reasonably have found to be *662 clear and convincing and consider whether the disputed evidence is such that a reasonable factfinder could not have resolved that disputed evidence in favor of its finding. In re J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d 256 (Tex.2003).

ALLEGED GROUNDS FOR TERMINATION

The Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services (the Department) alleges Mother and Father violated sections 161.001(1)(D) and (E) of the Texas Family Code. Subsection (D) allows termination where the parent knowingly places or knowingly allows the child to remain in conditions or surroundings which endanger the physical and emotional well-being of the child. Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 161.001(1)(D). Under subsection (D), the environment of the child must be examined to determine if it is a source of endangerment to the child. In re D.T., 34 S.W.3d 625, 632 (Tex.App.-Fort Worth 2000, pet. denied). Subsection (E) allows termination where the parent engages in conduct or knowingly places the child with persons who engage in conduct which endangers the physical or emotional well-being of the child. Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 161.001(1)(E). It requires us to look at the parent's conduct alone, including actions or omissions. In re D.T., 34 S.W.3d at 634.

PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

D.J. was born on February 12, 2001. On April 4, 2001, the Department removed D.J. from his parents' custody based on a diagnosis of Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS). On April 8, 2002, the trial court entered judgment on the jury's verdict terminating Mother's and Father's parental rights to D.J. Mother and Father timely filed a motion for new trial, contending the evidence was factually insufficient to support the jury's findings. The trial court denied the motion for new trial on June 6, 2002, and Mother and Father appealed.

EVIDENCE

During birth on February 12, 2001, D.J. suffered a cephalohematoma, or a bleeding of the arteries in the scalp outside the skull. A cephalohematoma usually resolves after birth without medical intervention. D.J. was released from the hospital to his parents' care on February 14, 2001.

On April 1, 2001, D.J. was fussy most of the day due to colic. In the late afternoon, Mother dressed D.J. for a visit to family friends and left D.J. in his car seat with Father while Mother finished dressing. Father carried the car seat and D.J. into the bedroom to change D.J.'s diaper. Father unfastened D.J.'s clothes and removed D.J. from the car seat by lifting D.J. under his arms. Father held D.J. under the arms and told D.J. that "he was not going to eat anything else until we go over to Brandon & Janeen house." D.J.'s diaper was loose on one side and, as Father held D.J. in the air, D.J. had a bowel movement on himself, Father, and the bed. Father put D.J. onto the bed, but cannot recall what degree of force he used. D.J. immediately appeared lethargic and had difficulty breathing. The paramedics transported D.J. to Children's Medical Center (CMC).

Dr. Steven Leung, a pediatrician, is a part of the Referral and Evaluation of Abused Children program at CMC. At the request of the intensive care physicians, Leung examined D.J. on April 2, 2001 and diagnosed SBS. Leung testified SBS can be caused by the child being shaken or forcefully placed on a surface causing accelerating/decelerating forces to the head. A bobbing of a child's head would not by itself result in SBS. SBS requires forces greater than the child's *663 own weight and gravity be applied in a direction. The characteristics of SBS are (1) subdural hematomas, or bleeding in the brain; (2) a clinical picture of an acute event where the child goes from a healthy state to unresponsiveness or suffers a seizure; (3) retinal hemorrhages; (4) bone fractures in characteristic places such as the bones in the ends of the arms and legs; (5) brain swelling; and (6) poor brain function or an inability to breathe. The hallmarks of SBS are a change in status and subdural hematomas. SBS can cause developmental delays and seizures.

A CAT scan performed on D.J. showed one chronic, or more than two weeks old, subdural hematoma and three acute, or recent, subdural hematomas. The CAT scan plus D.J.'s medical history of nonresponsiveness suggested the acute subdural hematomas occurred within one day of the scan. Although D.J. could have suffered a subdural hematoma at birth, it would not appear on the CAT scan as an acute subdural hematoma seven weeks later. Tests performed on D.J., combined with the fact D.J. did not have a bleeding problem following his circumcision, indicated D.J. did not have an infection or a bleeding disorder that would explain the acute subdural hematomas.

Leung testified D.J. also had both central and peripheral retinal hemorrhages. Retinal hemorrhages and subdural hematomas are seen in SBS. Peripheral retinal hemorrhages are not seen with sepsis infection and would not occur at birth. D.J.

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In re B.R.
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In the Interest of D.T.
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In the interest of C.H.
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In the Interest of J.F.C.
96 S.W.3d 256 (Texas Supreme Court, 2002)
In re of D.J.
100 S.W.3d 658 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2003)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
100 S.W.3d 658, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 2713, 2003 WL 1585571, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-dj-texapp-2003.