In Re Lloyd, Unpublished Decision (10-20-2006)

2006 Ohio 5626
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedOctober 20, 2006
DocketNo. 2006AP070041.
StatusUnpublished

This text of 2006 Ohio 5626 (In Re Lloyd, Unpublished Decision (10-20-2006)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law.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In Re Lloyd, Unpublished Decision (10-20-2006), 2006 Ohio 5626 (Ohio Ct. App. 2006).

Opinion

OPINION
{¶ 1} On July 27, 2004, appellee, the Tuscarawas County Job and Family Services, removed Jazmine Irwin Lloyd, born January 21, 1999, from the custody of her mother, appellant, Rayann Craig, and her husband, Allan Craig. Jazmine's father is Tim Lloyd.

{¶ 2} On July 28, 2004, appellee filed a complaint for the temporary custody of the child, alleging the child to be dependent, neglected and abused. Adjudicatory hearings were held on August 27, and September 22, 2004. By judgment entry filed October 13, 2004, the trial court found the child to be dependent and neglected, and placed her in the temporary custody of appellee.

{¶ 3} On December 12, 2005, appellee filed a motion to modify the prior disposition of the child to one of permanent custody. A dispositional hearing was held on February 3, 2006. By judgment entry filed February 21, 2006, the trial court granted permanent custody of the child to appellee.

{¶ 4} Appellant filed an appeal and this matter is now before this court for consideration. Assignments of error are as follows:

I
{¶ 5} "A COURT ERRS IN RELIEVING THE DEPARTMENT OF JOB AND FAMILY SERVICES FROM THE NECESSITY OF SHOWING REASONABLE EFFORTS AS ORDINARILY REQUIRED BY STATUTE WHEN PRIOR FINDING UPON WHICH THE DISPENSATION WAS BASED IS UNDER APPEAL, PARTICULARLY WHEN ONE OF THE GROUNDS OF APPEAL IN THE PRIOR CASE CONCERNS BEST EFFORTS."

II
{¶ 6} "IT IS ERROR FOR THE COURT TO FIND THAT IT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF CHILDREN TO PLACE THEM IN THE PERMANENT CUSTODY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JOB AND FAMILY SERVICES WHEN THE EVIDENCE IS INSUFFICIENT, AS HERE, TO SHOW THAT SUCH PLACEMENT IS IN THE CHILD'S BEST INTEREST." I {¶ 7} Appellant claims the trial court erred in failing to find appellee had a responsibility to demonstrate reasonable efforts at reunification. We disagree.

{¶ 8} The motion to modify the prior disposition to one of permanent custody was based upon the fact that appellant's three other children had been recently placed in appellee's permanent custody, appellant substantially failed to complete the case plan, Mr. Lloyd consented to the permanent custody and the child's foster home indicated a desire to adopt the child.

{¶ 9} On October 13, 2004, the trial court found the child to be dependent. R.C. 2151.04 governs dependent child. Subsection (D) states the following:

{¶ 10} "As used in this chapter, `dependent child' means any child:

{¶ 11} "(D) To whom both of the following apply:

{¶ 12} "(1) The child is residing in a household in which a parent, guardian, custodian, or other member of the household committed an act that was the basis for an adjudication that a sibling of the child or any other child who resides in the household is an abused, neglected, or dependent child.

{¶ 13} "(2) Because of the circumstances surrounding the abuse, neglect, or dependency of the sibling or other child and the other conditions in the household of the child, the child is in danger of being abused or neglected by that parent, guardian, custodian, or member of the household."

{¶ 14} R.C. 2151.419(A)(2)(e) states the following:

{¶ 15} "(2) If any of the following apply, the court shall make a determination that the agency is not required to make reasonable efforts to prevent the removal of the child from the child's home, eliminate the continued removal of the child from the child's home, and return the child to the child's home:

{¶ 16} "(e) The parent from whom the child was removed has had parental rights involuntarily terminated pursuant to section2151.353, 2151.414, or 2151.415 of the Revised Code with respect to a sibling of the child."

{¶ 17} We note the burden set forth in R.C. 2151.419(A)(2)(e) has been met with State's Exhibit A, the permanent custody decision involving appellant's three other children, affirmed by this court in In re Craig, Tuscarawas App. Nos. 2005AP110076, 2005AP110079, 2005AP110083, 2006-Ohio-2027. However, appellant characterizes appellee's approach as lackadaisical "best efforts." We disagree. As noted by the caseworker, Elizabeth Wanosik, appellant was given three opportunities to complete parenting classes, but never showed up or canceled them. T. at 36, 73. Appellant did not demonstrate any initiative to complete the case plan. T. at 42. There remains an on-going mental health concern and except for some household improvements, there are continued concerns over appellant's parenting skills. T. at 38-39, 57.

{¶ 18} Upon review, we find the trial court did not err in following the dictates of R.C. 2151.419(A)(2)(e).

{¶ 19} Assignment of Error I is denied.

II
{¶ 20} Appellant claims the trial court erred in finding permanent custody to appellee was in the best interest of the child. We disagree.

{¶ 21} A judgment supported by some competent, credible evidence will not be reversed by a reviewing court as against the manifest weight of the evidence. C.E. Morris Co. v. FoleyConstruction Co. (1978), 54 Ohio St.2d 279. A reviewing court must not substitute its judgment for that of the trial court where there exists some competent and credible evidence supporting the judgment rendered by the trial court. Myers v.Garson, 66 Ohio St.3d 610, 1993-Ohio-9.

{¶ 22} R.C. 2151.414 governs procedures upon the filing of a motion for permanent custody. Subsection (D) governs best interests and states the following:

{¶ 23} "(D) In determining the best interest of a child at a hearing held pursuant to division (A) of this section or for the purposes of division (A)(4) or (5) of section 2151.353 or division (C) of section 2151.415 of the Revised Code, the court shall consider all relevant factors, including, but not limited to, the following:

{¶ 24} "(1) The interaction and interrelationship of the child with the child's parents, siblings, relatives, foster caregivers and out-of-home providers, and any other person who may significantly affect the child;

{¶ 25} "(2) The wishes of the child, as expressed directly by the child or through the child's guardian ad litem, with due regard for the maturity of the child;

{¶ 26} "(3) The custodial history of the child, including whether the child has been in the temporary custody of one or more public children services agencies or private child placing agencies for twelve or more months of a consecutive twenty-two month period ending on or after March 18, 1999;

{¶ 27}

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Related

In Re Craig, Unpublished Decision (4-14-2006)
2006 Ohio 2027 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2006)
C. E. Morris Co. v. Foley Construction Co.
376 N.E.2d 578 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1978)
Myers v. Garson
614 N.E.2d 742 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1993)
Myers v. Garson
1993 Ohio 9 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1993)

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Bluebook (online)
2006 Ohio 5626, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-lloyd-unpublished-decision-10-20-2006-ohioctapp-2006.