IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF NORTH CAROLINA
No. COA24-890
Filed 21 May 2025
Carteret County, Nos. 19JT000062 20JT000008
IN RE: N.M.W. and A.N.D.
Appeal by respondents from orders entered 3 November 2023 and 30 May 2024
by Judge Andrew K. Wigmore in Carteret County District Court. Heard in the Court
of Appeals 22 April 2025.
Vitrano Law Offices, PLLC, by Sean P. Vitrano, for the respondent-appellant- Father.
Jason Senges, for the respondent-appellant-Mother.
Stephanie Sonzogni, for the petitioner-appellee Carteret County Department of Social Services.
Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP, by Maya M. Engle, and Stephen V. Carey, for the Guardian ad Litem.
TYSON, Judge.
Respondent-mother appeals from the district court’s order ceasing
reunification efforts with her daughters, A.N.D. (“Ann”) born 2014, and N.M.W.
(“Nora”). born 2020. Respondent-mother also appeals the termination of her parental
rights to Ann. Respondent-mother and Respondent-father both appeal from the
termination of parental rights to Nora. We affirm the order terminating Respondent-
father’s parental rights to Nora. We vacate the order ceasing Respondent-mother’s IN RE A.N.D. & N.M.W.
Opinion of the Court
reunification efforts with daughters Ann and Nora, vacate the termination of
Respondent-mother’s parental rights to Ann and Nora, and remand for further
statutorily-required findings and conclusions.
I. Background
Respondent-mother is the biological mother to R.J.D. (“Robert”), Ann and
Nora. Robert lives with his paternal grandmother and is not involved in this process.
Ann’s biological father died in 2014. Respondent-mother and Respondent-father are
parents of Nora.
Respondent-mother has interacted with child protective services since 2013 in
three states: Maryland, Ohio, and North Carolina. The Carteret County Department
of Health and Human Services (“DHHS”) received three complaints about Ann’s
living conditions, allegations of domestic violence between Respondent-mother and
Respondent-father, improper supervision, and sexualized and aggressive behavior by
Ann.
The United States Coast Guard was patrolling the Morehead City Channel on
9 August 2019. The Guardsmen observed a sailing vessel, identified as the “Quest”
with Maryland Vessel Registration 8909AH, impeding traffic operating in the
channel. The Quest had dragged its anchor from its original position nearer the
marsh and south of the Morehead City Marina. The Guardsmen observed
Respondent-mother sitting in the open cockpit near the stern.
Respondent-mother was dressed in a grey shirt, blue jeans, and rubber boots.
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She reported being fourteen weeks pregnant and Ann, her daughter, being aboard.
Guardsmen observed approximately one foot of standing water inside the vessel’s
well, a large amount of live wires exiting storage compartments on the port and
starboard sides entering the standing water inside the cabin, a heavy odor of diesel
fuel emanating from the cabin, a large amount of garbage inside and outside of the
cabin, and an extreme amount of filth located on the deck and inside the cabin. The
Guardsmen encountered Ann on the bed inside the forward cabin. The Coast Guard
removed the boarding party from the vessel, did not seek the source of the leaks, nor
conduct a safety inspection.
Respondent-mother reported to the Guardsmen she resided on the vessel with
Respondent-father and Ann. She also told the Guardsmen she and Ann were
struggling to make ends meet, had nowhere else to go, and asserted she “was over
living on the boat.” The Guardsmen removed Respondent-mother and Ann from the
vessel with her consent, transported them to the marina, and contacted the Morehead
City Police Department for assistance to get them placed into a shelter.
DHHS filed a juvenile petition over a month later on 18 September 2019
alleging Ann to be neglected and dependent. Respondent-mother stipulated to the
adjudication, which was entered by the district court on 13 December 2019.
The district court kept custody of Ann with DHHS and set concurrent plans of
reunification as a primary plan and secondary plans of adoption and custody.
Respondent-mother was ordered, inter alia, to maintain stability, find employment,
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seek counseling, complete a parenting evaluation, follow the recommendations for
mental health treatment, and seek domestic violence counseling.
Nora was born on 9 February 2020 and after Ann’s disposition hearing. DHHS
filed a juvenile petition for two-day-old Nora alleging she was a neglected and
dependent juvenile and took the newborn into non secure custody. The juvenile
petition made similar allegations contained in Ann’s prior petition. Nora was
adjudicated as a neglected and dependent juvenile on 10 September 2020. The
district court established a primary plan for Nora of reunification with a secondary
concurrent plan of adoption and custody.
Respondent-father of Nora was ordered, inter alia, to obtain mental health
treatment for any diagnosis, remain sober and drug free, submit to drug tests,
participate in a twelve-week substance abuse intensive outpatient program for three
hours a day and attend three Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous meetings
per week, attend and complete parenting classes and show skills learned, complete a
batterer’s intervention program, and to refrain from domestic violence.
Respondent-mother received therapeutic services, completed a comprehensive
clinical assessment. She also cleaned the boat and docked it at an appropriate
location.
Both Respondent-mother and Respondent-father made progress on their
respective plans. Respondent-mother and Respondent-father moved into a home in
Onslow County. The district court adopted a plan of reunification with a secondary
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concurrent plan of custody or guardianship and ordered a gradual reunification
working toward a trial home placement in February 2021. Ann was returned to
Respondent-mother and Respondent-father’s home on 24 April 2021 and Nora was
returned a month later on 28 May 2021.
Respondent-mother voluntarily placed both Ann and Nora with Nora’s former
foster parent on 4 July 2021. Respondent-mother alleged domestic violence by
Respondent-father, but later recanted the allegations. Ann alleged sexual abuse by
Respondent-father, which was investigated by Onslow County child protective
services and was found to be unsubstantiated. The district court suspended the trial
home placement and suspended Respondent-mother and Respondent-father’s
visitation with both their children on 23 July 2021.
Ann purportedly assaulted another child in the foster home, was involuntarily
committed to Carteret Health Care, and was later placed in a therapeutic foster
home. The district court amended the permanent plan of reunification with a
concurrent plan of guardianship. The district court also ordered the home placement
to remain suspended until Respondent-mother and Respondent-father had re-
engaged in anger management, domestic violence, and couples counseling.
Respondent-father was ordered to complete the domestic violence offender
assessment with the STOP program and engaged in domestic violence offender and
anger management group therapy.
Respondent-father was involuntarily discharged from a domestic violence
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offender program, but he engaged with an online program. Respondent-mother and
Respondent-father’s home condition declined, with hazards present. Respondent-
mother and Respondent-father were evicted from their home in July 2022 after live
marijuana plants were found inside a shed located on the property.
The district court changed the plan to adoption with a concurrent secondary
plan of reunification and suspended visitation on 16 September 2022. DHHS filed a
petitions to terminate the mother’s and father’s parental rights to both juvenile on 1
December 2022. The district court ceased reunification efforts for both children on
21 April 2023 by an order entered six months later on 3 November 2023. Respondent-
mother preserved her right of appeal.
Following hearings on 3 November 2023, 16 November 2023, and 12 January
2023, the trial court entered an order terminating Respondent-mother’s parental
rights to Ann and Respondent-mother and Respondent-father’s rights to Nora.
Respondent-mother and Respondent-father appeal.
II. Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction lies in this Court pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-27(b)(2) (2023).
III. Issues
Respondent-father argues the district court violated his right to counsel.
Respondent-mother argues the district court failed to make the statutory findings
required to cease reunification efforts and improperly set a sole plan of adoption.
IV. Respondent-father’s appeal
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Respondent-father argues he did not knowingly and voluntarily waive his right
to counsel. Respondent-father asserts he had received no prior notice of his counsel’s
intent to withdraw.
A. Standard of Review
Our Supreme Court has held:
A trial court’s determination concerning whether a parent has waived his or her right to counsel is a conclusion of law that must be made in light of the statutorily[-]prescribed criteria, so we review the question of whether the trial court erroneously determined that a parent [had] waived or forfeited his or her statutory right to counsel in a termination of parental rights proceeding using a de novo standard of review.
In re K.M.W., 376 N.C. 195, 209-10, 851 S.E.2d 849, 860 (2020).
B. Analysis
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-1101.1(a) mandates parents to be represented by counsel
during termination of parental rights actions, unless findings and supported
conclusions show the parent has forfeited or waived such right. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-
1101.1(a) (2023).
After entering an appearance before the court, an attorney may not abandon a
client and case without “(1) justifiable cause, (2) reasonable notice [to the client], and
(3) the permission of the court.” Smith v. Bryant, 264 N.C. 208, 211, 141 S.E.2d 303,
305 (1965) (citation omitted). “Where an attorney has given his client no prior notice
of an intent to withdraw, the trial judge has no discretion. The Court must grant the
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party affected a reasonable continuance or deny the attorney’s motion for
withdrawal.” Williams & Michael, P.A. v. Kennamer, 71 N.C. App. 215, 217, 321
S.E.2d 514, 516 (1984).
A parent may waive representation by counsel if findings and conclusions
support his actions constitute “egregious dilatory or abusive conduct.” In re K.M.W.,
376 N.C. at 209, 851 S.E.2d at 860 (citation omitted).
Our Supreme Court explained in K.M.W.:
In order to adequately protect a parent’s due process rights in a termination of parental rights proceeding, the General Assembly has created a statutory right to counsel for parents involved in termination proceedings. More specifically, N.C.G.S. § 1101.1(a) provides that “[t]he parent [in a termination of parental proceeding] has the right to counsel, and to appointed counsel in cases of indigency, unless the parent waives the right.” Although parents eligible for the appointment of counsel in termination of parental rights proceedings may waive their right to counsel, they are entitled to do so only “after the court examines the parent and makes findings of fact sufficient to show that the waiver is knowing and voluntary.”
Id. at 208-09, 851 S.E.2d at 859.
Respondent-father was removed from a Batter’s Intervention Program
purportedly due to “threatening behaviors toward the GAL, the Social Worker and
[Respondent-mother’s] previous attorney.” Respondent-father’s first appointed
attorney, Joshua Winks, moved for and was allowed to withdraw. Respondent-
father’s next appointed attorney, Elizabeth Ponder. also moved for and was allowed
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to withdraw due to Respondent-father’s purported harassment.
Respondent-father then waived the assistance of appointed counsel and
proceeded pro se. Following DHHS’s petition to terminate his parental rights to Nora,
the trial court suggested appointing him counsel for the TPR proceeding.
Respondent-father agreed and the court appointed attorney John Curtis, who also
moved and was allowed to withdraw due to alleged irreconcilable differences.
Respondent-father requested yet another attorney, and Michael Barnhill was
appointed by the court to represent him. The proceeding was delayed for almost three
months to allow Barnhill to review the file, meet with Respondent-father, and
prepare for the TPR proceeding.
Respondent-father never met with Barnhill. At the TPR proceeding on 3
November 2023 Barnhill moved to withdraw as counsel. Barnhill told the district
court Respondent-father had purportedly verbally abused his staff to the point his
assistant felt the need to call law enforcement officers, Respondent-father had left
disparaging and aggressive voicemails for him and at the church’ phone where
Barnhill served as the pastor. Barnhill surmised Respondent-father either had or
would perjure himself. Barnhill was allowed to withdraw.
The district court noted Respondent-father’s actions and conduct appeared to
be a stalling tactic:
And that’s a consent by the Respondent Parent that Barnhill will be allowed to withdraw, and he is ready to proceed without an attorney today. That all efforts to have
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an attorney for [Respondent-father] have been made by the Court. There’s been numerous attorneys through the years of the DSS case that have had to withdraw—have been allowed to withdraw; and although he represented himself through the DSS matter, we thought it necessary to make sure that he had court appointed attorney for the termination of parental rights matter; and he has basically forced two attorneys to withdraw in that matter and has asked to proceed on his own. The court is going to allow it.
The district court conducted a colloquy to determine if Respondent-father could
proceed pro se. The district court also inquired of Respondent-father whether he
wanted to proceed pro se, was prepared to proceed without counsel, and after
affirmative responses had Respondent-father to execute a written waiver of counsel.
Any issue in the attorney-client relationships resulted from Respondent-father’s
conduct. Respondent-father expressly consented to the withdrawal of Barnhill,
executed a written waiver, and elected to proceed pro se for the second time.
The district court’s findings show Respondent-father both voluntarily and
knowingly waived his right to counsel. Presuming, without deciding Respondent-
father did not knowingly and voluntarily waive his right to counsel, his multiple
actions and conduct with multiple appointed counsels constituted a forfeiture of
counsel. See State v. Moore, 290 N.C. 610, 893 S.E.2d 231, appeal dismissed, 385 N.C.
624, 895 S.E.2d 402 (2023). The district court noted Respondent-father’s conduct had
caused three of his prior appointed counsels to withdraw. The order terminating
Respondent-father’s parental rights to Nora is affirmed.
V. Respondent-mother’s Appeal
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Respondent-mother argues the district court failed to comply with the
statutory mandate of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-906.2 (2023), by failing to make the
required findings to support a conclusion to allow it to discontinue and cease
reunification efforts. Id.
This Court “reviews an order that ceases reunification efforts to determine
whether the trial court made appropriate findings, whether the findings are based
upon credible evidence, whether the findings of fact support the trial court’s
conclusions, and whether the trial court abused its discretion with respect to
disposition.” In re D.A., 258 N.C. App. 247, 249, 811 S.E.2d 729, 731 (2018).
The General Assembly has mandated: “Reunification shall remain a primary
or secondary plan unless the court made findings under G.S. 7B-901(c) or makes
written findings that reunification efforts clearly would be unsuccessful or would be
inconsistent with the juvenile’s health or safety.” N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-906.2(b) (2023)
(emphasis supplied).
Specific and supported evidentiary findings must show:
(1) Whether the parent is making adequate progress within a reasonable period of time under the plan
(2) Whether the parent is actively participating in or cooperating with the plan, the department, and the guardian ad litem for the juvenile.
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(3) Whether the parent remains available to the court, the department, and the guardian ad litem for the juvenile.
(4) Whether the parent is acting in a manner inconsistent with the health or safety of the juvenile.
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-906.2(d) (2023)
“ Subsection . . . 906.2(d) requires written findings which shall demonstrate
the degree of success or failure toward reunification. We therefore hold that only
those factors which demonstrate the degree of success or failure toward reunification
require written findings.” In re L.L., 386 N.C. 706, 716, 909 S.E.2d 151, 159 (2024).
The trial court failed to find and make the statutory findings and supported
conclusions of whether Respondent-mother had remained available to DHHS and the
guardian ad litem for her children, whether she is acting in a manner inconsistent
with her parental rights, and inconsistent with the health or safety of the juvenile,
“which demonstrate the degree of success or failure toward reunification.” Id. The
orders of the district court ceasing reunification and terminating Respondent-
mother’s parental rights to Ann and Nora are vacated.
VI. Conclusion
Respondent-father’s right to counsel was not violated after he had expressly
consented to his attorney’s withdrawal due to his repeated egregious and dilatory
behaviors and express waiver of counsel. The order terminating Respondent-father’s
parental rights to Nora is affirmed.
Statutorily-mandated findings “which demonstrate the degree of success or
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failure toward reunification” do not support the district court’s conclusion to cease
reunification efforts with Respondent-mother. Id. The district court’s order ceasing
reunification efforts and order terminating Respondent-mother’s parental rights to
Ann and Nora are vacated.
Respondent-mother’s case is remanded for a prompt permanency planning
hearing consistent with the parent’s constitutionally-protected rights to the care,
custody, and control of her children and for DHHS to provide the statutorily-
mandated efforts and services to assist her to reunify with her children. It is so
ordered.
AFFIRMED IN PART, VACATED IN PART, AND REMANDED.
Judge HAMPSON concurs.
Judge STROUD concurs in part and dissents in part.
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STROUD, Judge, concurring in part and dissenting in part.
I concur with the majority opinion affirming the Order terminating Father’s
parental rights. I dissent from the majority opinion as to Mother’s appeal challenging
the Permanency Planning Order and the Termination Order. I would affirm the trial
court’s order based on the many detailed findings of fact in both the Permanency
Planning Order and the Termination Order, all of which are binding on appeal. See
In re T.N.H., 372 N.C. 403, 407, 831 S.E.2d 54, 58 (2019). It is apparent from these
detailed orders that the trial court properly considered all the factors required under
North Carolina General Statute Section 7B-906.2, even if the trial court did not “track
the statutory language verbatim[.]” See In re L.L., 386 N.C. 706, 716, 909 S.E.2d 151,
159 (2024) (“[T]he trial court’s written findings need not track the statutory language
verbatim, but they must make clear that the trial court considered the evidence in
light of whether reunification would be clearly unsuccessful or would be inconsistent
with the juvenile’s health, safety, and need for a safe, permanent home within a
reasonable period of time.” (citation and quotation marks omitted)). The findings
show that the trial court addressed “‘the degree of success or failure toward
reunification[,]’” id. (quoting N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-906.2(d)), and found that despite
years of efforts by the Department of Social Services (“DSS”) in North Carolina as
well as two other states, there were “concern[s]” Mother was “just checking boxes on
her case plan” to the extent she complied, but otherwise did not make any “real
change.” IN RE: N.M.W. & A.N.D.
STROUD, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part
Mother has raised no argument on appeal regarding the Termination Order
but addresses only the Permanency Planning Order. Mother first argues that the
trial court “failed to adhere to the statutory mandates by setting a sole plan of
adoption and by failing to make the necessary findings to cease reunification efforts.”
She contends that under North Carolina General Statute Section 7B-906.2(b),
concurrent plans are required “until a permanent plan is or has been achieved.” N.C.
Gen. Stat. § 7B-906.2(b) (2023). But she also acknowledges that if the Permanency
Planning Order fails to include any required findings, we may consider both the
Termination Order and the Permanency Planning Order together and any lack of
findings in the Permanency Planning Order can be cured by the findings in the
Termination Order. See In re L.R.L.B., 377 N.C. 311, 320, 857 S.E.2d 105, 114 (2021)
(“[W]hen reviewing an order that eliminates reunification from the permanent plan
in conjunction with an order terminating parental rights pursuant to [North Carolina
General Statute Section] 7B-1001(a1)(2), we consider both orders together as
provided in [North Carolina General Statute Section] 7B-1001(a2). Based on this
statutory directive, we concluded in In re L.M.T. that incomplete findings of fact in
the cease reunification order may be cured by findings of fact in the termination order.
Although [the] respondent-mother contends that a 2017 amendment to [North
Carolina General Statute Section] 7B-1001 ‘abrogated’ our ruling in In re L.M.T. on
this issue, we find her argument unpersuasive.” (quotation marks omitted) (citing In
re L.M.T., 367 N.C. 165, 170, 752 S.E.2d 453, 457 (2013))).
2 IN RE: N.M.W. & A.N.D.
Mother argues that in the Permanency Planning Order, the trial court “failed
to make necessary findings to cease reunification efforts[ ]” as required by North
Carolina General Statute Section 7B-906.2(d), but her argument overlooks most of
the trial court’s other extensive and detailed findings in both the Permanency
Planning Order and the Termination Order addressing each factor. Under the
standard established by our Supreme Court in In re L.L., the trial court’s order is
sufficient:
At the outset, we reiterate this Court’s previously articulated standard for written findings under the Juvenile Code. Specifically, the trial court’s written findings need not track the statutory language verbatim, but they must make clear that the trial court considered the evidence in light of whether reunification would be clearly unsuccessful or would be inconsistent with the juvenile’s health, safety, and need for a safe, permanent home within a reasonable period of time.
Similarly, in keeping with this Court’s approach under [North Carolina General Statute Sections] 7B-906.1(e) and 7B-1110(a), we recognize the Juvenile Code’s flexibility for written findings that are responsive to each permanency- planning dispute. Subsection . . . 906.2(d) requires written findings which shall demonstrate the degree of success or failure toward reunification. We therefore hold that only those factors which demonstrate the degree of success or failure toward reunification require written findings.
386 N.C. at 716, 909 S.E.2d at 159 (citations and quotation marks omitted).
Mother challenges only one finding in the Permanency Planning Order as
unsupported by the evidence, Finding of Fact No. 61, entitled “[e]fforts toward
reunification.” She challenges none of the other nearly nine pages of findings
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regarding the grounds for termination of parental rights as unsupported by the
evidence. Therefore, all of these unchallenged findings are binding on this Court. See
In re T.N.H., 372 N.C. 403, 407, 831 S.E.2d 54, 58 (2019) (“Findings of fact not
challenged by [the] respondent are deemed supported by competent evidence and are
binding on appeal.” (citation omitted)). Mother argues Finding of Fact No. 61 does
“not make clear the time frame of the efforts of the department and if they have been
properly addressed since the last hearing.” Finding of Fact No. 61 is supported by
the evidence, and this finding summarizes a long series of actions DSS had taken to
assist Mother in being able to reunify with her children over the years since they were
taken into custody. In the context of the entire order, the time frame is clear; it covers
the entire life of the case since Ann was first taken into custody and since Nora’s
birth. The trial court did not need to make a finding about the date of each action
when the evidence clearly supports Finding of Fact No. 61 and the other findings in
the Permanency Planning Order make it clear that the trial court addressed the
factors under North Carolina General Statute Section 7B-906.2(d).
Mother acknowledges in her brief that the Termination Order “cures any defect
with regards to [North Carolina General Statute Section 7B-]906.2(d)(1) and (2).”
Thus, her argument remains only as to North Carolina General Statute Section 7B-
906.2(d)(3), “[w]hether the parent remains available to the court, the department,
and the guardian ad litem for the juvenile[,] and 7B-906.2(d)(4), “[w]hether the parent
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is acting in a manner inconsistent with the health or safety of the juvenile.” N.C.
Gen. Stat. § 7B-906.2(d)(3)-(4).
The trial court’s nearly nine pages of findings in the Permanency Planning
Order do not use these exact words but the findings address both factors. Mother did
not attend the permanency planning hearing and attended only the first two days of
the three-day termination hearing. However, the findings overall show Mother had
been available most of the time to DSS, the GAL, and the court, and she had engaged
in some programs and classes over the years, but she failed to demonstrate that she
learned anything from these programs. Mother’s problem was not her availability; it
was her persistent failure to benefit from the “near-continuous” services provided to
her over a period of years. Her behaviors remained unchanged. The trial court found
that “[g]iven the lack of progress in spite of the services provided, and that the parents
have engaged in some services but no change is evident, reunification efforts at this
point would be futile.” The Termination Order includes even more findings
addressing Mother’s long history of assistance from DSS, her limited engagement,
and her failure to benefit from these services. The Termination Order also includes
extensive and detailed findings regarding the efforts of DSS in North Carolina as well
as Maryland and Ohio before this case to address the same recurring issues arising
from domestic violence and Mother’s mental health concerns. Specifically, the trial
court found “[t]he same behaviors” resulting in DSS involvement and removal of the
children “remained through the case, and continued through this hearing.” Mother
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“made excuses, blamed others, and failed to take advantage of services in a
meaningful way which would show change[ ]” in her behaviors. She was provided
“opportunity after opportunity, as well as additional time to make change, and did
not take advantage of it.” The trial court found this lack of meaningful progress would
not “allow[ ] reunification to occur.” The trial court noted North Carolina is not the
only state where there has been intervention by Child Protective Services (“CPS”) but
there have been “numerous interventions by CPS (in multiple states) as to [Ann].”
“In spite of a myriad of near continuous services and treatment provided, the parents
have been unable to remediate the issues that have led to DSS involvement.” There
is an “extensive [CPS] history in Maryland and Ohio dating back to 2013 with
[Mother.]” The same issues with Mother arose in both Maryland and Ohio and
remained at the time of the termination hearing.
Also, even if the trial court’s findings in the Permanency Planning Order were
insufficient, as the majority has determined, the Orders should not be vacated and
remanded for a new hearing. At most, the Permanency Planning Order should be
remanded for the trial court to make additional findings of fact. Mother has failed to
demonstrate that “the trial court’s error was material and prejudicial so as to warrant
vacating and reversing the permanency planning order at issue and vacating the
termination of parental rights order.” In re L.R.L.B., 377 N.C. at 326, 857 S.E.2d at
118. Even if the majority’s analysis of the Permanency Planning Order is correct, the
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Order should be remanded to the trial court to make additional findings, as explained
in detail by our Supreme Court in In re L.R.L.B.:
We do not discern that the Legislature enacted [North Carolina General Statute Section] 7B-1001(a2) with the intention of disengaging an entire termination of parental rights process in the event that a trial court omits a single finding under [North Carolina General Statute Section] 7B-906.2(d)(1)–(4) from its trial court order which eliminates reunification from a child’s permanent plan. Unlike the specific finding that reunification efforts clearly would be unsuccessful or would be inconsistent with the juvenile’s health or safety which is required by [North Carolina General Statute Section] 7B-906.2(b) before eliminating reunification from the permanent plan, no particular finding under [North Carolina General Statute Section] 7B-906.2(d)(3) is required to support the trial court’s decision. [North Carolina General Statute Section] 7B-906.2(d) merely requires the trial court to make written findings as to each of the issues enumerated in [North Carolina General Statute Section] 7B-906.2(d)(1)–(4), and to consider whether the issues demonstrate the parent’s degree of success or failure toward reunification. A finding that the parent has remained available to the trial court and other parties under [North Carolina General Statute Section] 7B-906.2(d)(3) does not preclude the trial court from eliminating reunification from the permanent plan based on the other factors in [North Carolina General Statute Section] 7B-906.2(d). Cf. In re R.D., 376 N.C. 244, 259, 852 S.E.2d 117 (2020) (concluding that the balancing of the six dispositional factors in [North Carolina General Statute Section] 7B-1110(a) “is uniquely reserved to the trial court and will not be disturbed by this Court on appeal”).
To obtain relief on appeal, an appellant must not only show error, but that the error was material and prejudicial, amounting to denial of a substantial right that will likely affect the outcome of an action. It is the trial court’s authority as the finder of fact to assign weight to various
7 IN RE: N.M.W. & A.N.D.
pieces of evidence . . . in exercising its discretion to determine[ ] that ceasing reunification is in the best interests of the child[.] Upon considering the trial court’s order that eliminated reunification from the permanent plan together with its order terminating parental rights, and determining that the trial court’s order eliminating reunification may be cured upon remand to the trial court . . . due to insufficient findings of fact contained in the order because it does not address the issue embodied in [North Carolina General Statute Section] 7B-906.2(d)(3) as to “whether the parent remains available to the court, the department, and the guardian ad litem for the juvenile,” we conclude that [the] respondent-mother has not shown that the trial court’s error was material and prejudicial so as to warrant vacating and reversing the permanency planning order at issue and vacating the termination of parental rights order.
We therefore believe that the appropriate remedy for the trial court’s error here is to remand this matter to the trial court for the entry of additional findings in contemplation of [North Carolina General Statute Section] 7B-906.2(d)(3). This Court’s precedent . . . regarding the relationship between incomplete findings in an order which ceases reunification efforts and the findings of fact in a subsequent termination of parental rights order[ ] authorizes such a remedy. In the event that the trial court concludes, after making additional findings, that its decision to eliminate reunification from the juvenile[ ]’s permanent plan in its . . . permanency planning order was in error, then the trial court shall vacate said order as well as vacate the order terminating [the] respondent-mother’s parental rights, enter a new permanent plan for the juvenile that includes reunification, and resume the permanency planning review process. If the trial court’s additional findings under [North Carolina General Statute Section] 7B-906.2(d)(3) do not alter its finding under [North Carolina General Statute Section] 7B-906.2(b) that further reunification efforts are clearly futile or inconsistent with the juvenile’s need for a safe, permanent home within a reasonable period of time, then the trial court may simply amend its permanency
8 IN RE: N.M.W. & A.N.D.
planning order to include the additional findings, and the . . . order terminating [the] respondent-mother’s parental rights may remain undisturbed.
Id. at 325-27, 857 S.E.2d at 117-18 (emphasis added) (citations, quotation marks,
ellipsis, and brackets omitted).
Therefore, I concur in part with the majority opinion as to termination of
Father’s parental rights but otherwise dissent from the portion vacating the
Permanency Planning Order and the Termination Order as to Mother. Both the trial
court’s Permanency Planning Order and Termination Order made extensive and
detailed findings regarding Mother’s lack of progress to remedy the behaviors leading
to the removal of her children. In reading the findings of both orders together, as
prescribed by our Supreme Court in In re L.R.L.B., see id. at 320, 857 S.E.2d at 114,
they are more than sufficient to support a conclusion to cease reunification efforts
under North Carolina General Statute Section 7B-906.2. And even if the Permanency
Planning Order is insufficient, this court should not vacate both orders but should
remand to the trial court for additional findings as dictated by In re L.R.L.B. See id.
at 325-27, 857 S.E.2d at 117-18.