In Re KL

2008 ND 131, 751 N.W.2d 677
CourtNorth Dakota Supreme Court
DecidedJune 26, 2008
Docket20070309
StatusPublished

This text of 2008 ND 131 (In Re KL) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering North Dakota Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In Re KL, 2008 ND 131, 751 N.W.2d 677 (N.D. 2008).

Opinion

751 N.W.2d 677 (2008)
2008 ND 131

Interest of K.L., a Child
Interest of M.S., a Child
State of North Dakota, Petitioner and Appellee
v.
T.L., Mother, Respondent and Appellant
K.L., a child; M.S., a child; B.A. and John Doe, fathers; and S.S., father, Respondents.

Nos. 20070309, 20070310.

Supreme Court of North Dakota.

June 26, 2008.

*679 Pam H. Ormand (argued), Assistant State's Attorney, Fargo, ND, for petitioner and appellee.

Jessica Ahrendt (argued), Valley City, ND, for respondent and appellant T.L.

KAPSNER, Justice.

[¶ 1] T.L. appeals a juvenile court order terminating her parental rights to her two minor children, K.L. and M.S. We affirm.

I

[¶ 2] T.L. is the biological mother of K.L., born in 2001, and M.S., born in 2004. On June 7, 2006, T.L., K.L., and M.S. were residing in a home that was subjected to a probation search. During the search, the searching officers contacted Cass County Social Services ("Social Services") because they believed the conditions of the home were unsafe for T.L.'s children; the searching officers found drug paraphernalia, needles, pills, and alcohol, which were, according to the officers, within reach of the children. K.L. and M.S. were removed from the residence and placed in protective custody after the officers finished a search of the home.

[¶ 3] On June 8, 2006, K.L. and M.S. were tested for drugs. K.L. tested positive for amphetamines and methamphetamines; the test indicated low to medium exposure to both of these drugs. M.S. was tested for drugs, and the test revealed the presence of amphetamines, methamphetamines, and cocaine in M.S.M.S.'s drug test indicated a low exposure to cocaine and a moderate exposure to methamphetamine.

[¶ 4] On June 9, 2006, T.L. was tested for drug use, and her tests revealed the presence of amphetamines and marijuana. S.S., M.S.'s father, who lived with T.L. and the children, also tested positive for drugs. Social Services petitioned the juvenile court, alleging the children were deprived and requesting the juvenile court issue an order finding the children to be deprived. In October 2006, the juvenile court issued an order finding K.L. and M.S. were deprived children.

[¶ 5] T.L. and her children were assigned a case worker, Ruby Knoll, on June 8, 2006. The children remained in foster care following the juvenile court's finding that the children were deprived, and T.L. was given supervised visitation with the children. T.L. was active in all of the visitations offered. Social Services made recommendations that T.L. obtain employment, obtain suitable housing, obtain a mental health evaluation and follow through with treatment for mental health issues, obtain a chemical dependency evaluation, and undergo treatment following the chemical dependency evaluation. In accordance with the recommendations of Social Services, T.L. found an apartment and began working. She did, however, change employment frequently and had trouble keeping her jobs. She secured an apartment until January 2007. Following an incident of domestic violence with S.S., with whom T.L. was sharing the apartment, T.L. felt she needed to find different housing. According to T.L.'s testimony, she lived in a trailer she intended to purchase from a friend, after moving out of the apartment in January 2007 and until the time of the June 2007, termination proceeding. T.L. testified she was unable to pay for heat, electricity, and water services, but continued to stay in the trailer without such services.

[¶ 6] Almost immediately after her children had been removed, T.L. successfully completed a chemical dependency evaluation, in which she was diagnosed with methamphetamine addiction, but she failed to follow-up with several treatment program options offered to her through Social Services; T.L. failed to complete a *680 group therapy treatment program, and subsequently failed to complete an individual outpatient therapy program. From July 2006 to March 2007, T.L.'s attendance in her outpatient treatment programs was at best sporadic. T.L. also tested positive for methamphetamine use in December 2006, admitted to use in January 2007, refused a drug test in February 2007, and again tested positive for methamphetamine use in March 2007.

[¶ 7] Because of T.L.'s failure to comply with and complete any drug treatment programs, Social Services brought a petition for the termination of parental rights on March 22, 2007. A hearing on the petition was held on June 21 and 22, 2007, and July 10, 2007, before Judicial Referee Susan Thomas. In the midst of these hearings, on June 20, 2007, T.L. applied and was accepted into an inpatient methamphetamine treatment program, Teen Challenge. She offered and admitted her acceptance letter into Teen Challenge during the June 21, 2007, termination hearing. Prior to the July 10, 2007, hearing, T.L. applied and was admitted into another inpatient treatment program through the Robinson Recovery Center. T.L.'s trial counsel did not submit evidence of T.L.'s entrance into the Robinson Recovery Center treatment program at the July 10, 2007, termination hearing. At the hearings, the State presented the testimony of several social workers and addiction counselors. T.L. also testified at the termination proceeding.

[¶ 8] On August 17, 2007, the judicial referee issued findings of fact, conclusions of law, and order for judgment terminating T.L.'s parental rights to both K.L. and M.S.

[¶ 9] T.L. requested a review of the judicial referee's findings of fact, conclusions of law, and order for judgment, and the juvenile court adopted the findings and conclusions of the judicial referee and ordered the termination.

[¶ 10] T.L. appeals the order of the juvenile court, arguing the juvenile court erred in finding there was clear and convincing evidence that the conditions and causes of deprivation are likely to continue and that the children will probably suffer serious physical, mental, moral, or emotional harm. T.L. also argues she was deprived of effective assistance of counsel.

II

[¶ 11] "To terminate parental rights, the petitioner must prove the child is deprived; the conditions and causes of the deprivation are likely to continue or will not be remedied; and the child is suffering or will probably suffer serious physical, mental, moral, or emotional harm." Interest of I.B.A. and C.B.A., 2008 ND 89, ¶ 15, 748 N.W.2d 688 (citing N.D.C.C. § 27-20-44(1)(c)(1)). The party seeking parental termination bears the burden of proof and must prove all elements by clear and convincing evidence. Id. (citing Interest of T.A., 2006 ND 210, ¶ 10, 722 N.W.2d 548). Clear and convincing evidence means evidence that leads to a firm belief or conviction the allegations are true. Id. (citing Interest of T.A., at ¶ 10).

[¶ 12] "`A lower court's decision to terminate parental rights is a question of fact that will not be overturned unless the decision is clearly erroneous.'" Interest of D.M., 2007 ND 62, ¶ 6, 730 N.W.2d 604 (quoting Interest of M.B., 2006 ND 19, ¶ 13, 709 N.W.2d 11). "`A finding of fact is clearly erroneous if it is induced by an erroneous view of the law, if no evidence exists to support the finding, or if, on the entire record, we are left with a definite and firm conviction a mistake has been made.'" Id. (quoting Interest of M.B., at ¶ 13).

*681 A

[¶ 13] The first element of the three-part test requires a finding that the child is a deprived child. N.D.C.C. § 27-20-44(1)(b). A "deprived child" is a child who:

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Strickland v. Washington
466 U.S. 668 (Supreme Court, 1984)
Matter of Adoption of JMH
1997 ND 99 (North Dakota Supreme Court, 1997)
Breding v. State
1998 ND 170 (North Dakota Supreme Court, 1998)
State v. Roberson
1998 ND App 15 (North Dakota Court of Appeals, 1998)
DeCoteau v. State
2000 ND 44 (North Dakota Supreme Court, 2000)
Kamara v. State
2003 ND 179 (North Dakota Supreme Court, 2003)
Garcia v. State
2004 ND 81 (North Dakota Supreme Court, 2004)
Johnson v. State
2004 ND 130 (North Dakota Supreme Court, 2004)
Interest of I.B.A. and C.B.A.
2008 ND 89 (North Dakota Supreme Court, 2008)
Department of Social & Health Services v. Moseley
660 P.2d 315 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 1983)
In Re the Appeal in Gila County Juvenile Action No. J-3824
637 P.2d 740 (Arizona Supreme Court, 1981)
State v. Bengson
541 N.W.2d 702 (North Dakota Supreme Court, 1996)
Matter of Bishop
375 S.E.2d 676 (Court of Appeals of North Carolina, 1989)
State Ex Rel. Juvenile Department v. Geist
796 P.2d 1193 (Oregon Supreme Court, 1990)
State v. Torres
529 N.W.2d 853 (North Dakota Supreme Court, 1995)
In Re the Appeal in Pima County Juvenile Action No. S-919
646 P.2d 262 (Arizona Supreme Court, 1982)
In the Interest of Rushing
684 P.2d 445 (Court of Appeals of Kansas, 1984)
United States v. Wren
682 F. Supp. 1237 (S.D. Georgia, 1988)
In Interest of DW
385 N.W.2d 570 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1986)
State v. McDonell
550 N.W.2d 62 (North Dakota Supreme Court, 1996)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
2008 ND 131, 751 N.W.2d 677, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-kl-nd-2008.