SECOND DIVISION May 27, 2008
Nos. 1-07-2991 and 1-07-3053 Consolidated
In re: ) Appeal from the ) Circuit Court of TASHA L.-I., a Minor, ) Cook County, Illinois, Respondent-Appellee ) Juvenile Justice and Child ) Protection Department, (The People of the State of Illinois, ) Child Protection Division Petitioner-Appellee, ) ) v. ) )) Nancy L., )) Respondent-Appellant, )) )) and Honorable Bruce I., Lawrence Flood, Judge Respondent-Appellant). Presiding.
JUSTICE KARNEZIS delivered the opinion of the court:
In this consolidated appeal, respondents Bruce I. and Nancy L. appeal from the
circuit court's order awarding private guardianship of their daughter Tasha L.-I. to foster
parents. On appeal, respondents raise numerous contentions of error. We affirm.
BACKGROUND
Respondents Bruce I. and Nancy L. are Tasha L.-I.'s parents. Bruce and Nancy 1-07-2991 and 1-07-3053 consolidated
were married in 1992 and Tasha was born on August 20, 1994. On September 20,
2004, the State filed a petition for adjudication of wardship of Tasha, then age 10,
alleging an environment injurious to her welfare and substantial risk of physical injury,
on the basis that both Bruce and Nancy had a history of alcoholism and domestic
violence. A temporary custody hearing order was entered the same day, and a
Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) guardianship administrator, with
the right to place Tasha, was appointed. The Cook County public guardian was
appointed as both attorney and guardian ad litem for Tasha. Tasha was placed in the
custody of foster parents, her maternal uncle and aunt, Glenn Y. and Linda Y.
According to a stipulation of facts, entered only for the purpose of the temporary
custody hearing, Nancy admitted that on September 4, 2004, she was too intoxicated to
care for Tasha and she drove while intoxicated with Tasha in the car, with Bruce's
knowledge. A permanency order, with a goal of return home within 12 months, was
entered on March 28, 2005. The permanency goal remained return home until August
29, 2006, when it was changed to private guardianship. On April 26, 2007, DCFS filed
a motion to vacate guardianship, terminate wardship and close Tasha's case. On
October 18, 2007, the circuit court found that it was in Tasha's best interests to award
private guardianship to the foster parents. On that date, the court granted DCFS's
motion to vacate guardianship, terminate wardship, and close the case. Bruce and
Nancy filed separate appeals from the court's order. Their appeals were consolidated.
August 29, 2006, Permanency Hearing
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At the hearing, Dr. James Scherrer testified that he was the program director of
the adolescent foster care program at Catholic Charities and stated that Tasha was
receiving treatment for adjustment disorder. Her adjustment disorder resulted from
living with parents with a substance abuse problem, which created problems in Tasha's
adjustment and functioning. Tasha also attended Alateen meetings, which helps teens
cope with the effects of living with someone with an alcohol abuse problem. He noted
that Tasha was also performing well in school.
Dr. Scherrer also stated that Nancy and Bruce were receiving couples
counseling and had recently become more responsive to therapy. Nancy had been
compliant with weekly urine drops. However, in June or July of 2006, a caseworker
who spoke to Nancy on the telephone suspected that she had been using alcohol and
an inpatient alcohol treatment program was recommended for her. A report from the
Stepping Stones program indicated that Nancy's excessive evasiness and
inconsistencies showed that she could be in denial and in need of substance abuse
treatment. In June 2006, Dr. Scherrer learned that Nancy had been arrested for driving
under the influence (DUI) in October 2005, which Nancy had failed to disclose. In July
2006, Nancy had a psychological evaluation, which recommended that she should
attend both individual and marital counseling. The evaluation noted that Nancy was
making good progress in family therapy.
Dr. Scherrer also stated that Bruce attended Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
meetings and couples counseling and submitted to random urine drops. Bruce
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completed an anger management program, but not the recommended program, and he
had been absent from the program for several months. Bruce only completed part of a
psychological evaluation because he refused to complete the entire evaluation. The
evaluation report indicated that Bruce had many attributes of a narcissistic personality
disorder and noted that he blamed Nancy for the removal of Tasha from their home.
On cross-examination, Dr. Scherrer stated that Bruce had been compliant with
attending weekly AA meetings since January 2006. Bruce completed parenting classes
in May 2006. He completed 75 hours of intensive outpatient drug and alcohol treatment
and completed 25 hours of basic outpatient follow-up treatment. Bruce and Nancy's
couples counseling began in March 2006, and even though they initially had some
difficulty communicating, their level of cooperation has increased significantly. Dr.
Scherrer admitted that the recommended anger management program was in the far
north suburbs, which was quite a distance from Bruce's home in Chicago Heights. He
noted that the anger management program that Bruce attended was not sufficient
because it was only 12 to 18 weeks in duration, and Bruce only attended 6 of the
sessions. He further stated that Bruce occasionally tested positive for opiates;
however, it might have been due to the back pain medication Bruce was taking.
On redirect examination, Dr. Scherrer stated that Bruce still had not attended an
inpatient alcohol treatment facility, which was one of the recommended services for
him.
Patricia Green testified that she had been Nancy's Treatment Alternatives for a
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Safer Community (TASC) recovery coach since June 2005. She stated that she had no
concerns regarding Nancy's veracity with regard to her sobriety. She also noted that in
addition to Nancy's DUI in 2005, Nancy had a prior DUI about five years ago.
A copy of the report from the initial counseling assessment for Bruce was
admitted into evidence. The report indicated that a formal mental status evaluation
interview could not be conducted because of Bruce's resistance and reluctance to
share personal information. Bruce's attitude was uncooperative and irritable and he
walked out of several sessions when he became upset. Bruce complained that he
should not have to be involved in services because the current involvement with DCFS
was Nancy's responsibility. He also indicated that domestic violence and parental
substance abuse had only a minimal impact on Tasha.
A report from Tasha's therapist was published in the record. It recommended
that Tasha not be returned to her parents' care at that time. The report noted that both
parents needed to engage in ongoing substance abuse treatment and accept
responsibility for their role in the removal of their child. The report concluded that it
would be extremely detrimental to return Tasha to the care of her parents prior to these
issues being addressed adequately.
A report from the initial counseling assessment for Nancy noted that she should
explore the dissolution of her relationship with Bruce in order to regain custody of
Tasha. The report stated that Nancy and Bruce were negative influences on each
other, which frequently led to domestic violence.
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Tasha's foster parents testified that Tasha was doing well at school and
maintained a B average. They stated that Tasha was conflicted because she loved and
missed her parents.
The guardian noted to the court that it was very clear that Tasha did ultimately
want to live with her parents. However, the guardian argued that the permanency goal
should be changed from return home to private guardianship because two years had
passed since the case had been in the system and the parents had not even
progressed to the point of unsupervised visits.
The court determined that the appropriate goal was private guardianship. The
court stated that a goal of return home was not appropriate because neither of the
parents had made substantial progress.
2007 Permanency Hearing
At the hearing, the DCFS service plan of February 26, 2007, was admitted into
evidence. The plan noted that Bruce and Nancy needed mental health services and
Bruce was described as having an extensive history of alcohol abuse.
Dr. Scherrer testified that he had a conversation with Tasha in May 2007, in
which Tasha told him that she wanted to return home to her parents. She knew there
was a conflict between her parents and her foster parents and hoped that the two
families could work together. She realized that she probably would not be able to return
home at that time, but it was something she wanted to do in the future. Dr. Scherrer
agreed that the most appropriate goal for Tasha was guardianship with her foster
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parents because of the likelihood of a relapse by the parents.
Jennifer Gibson, a pre-doctoral clinical psychology intern at Advocate Family
Care Network, testified that she had been providing individual therapy to Tasha since
August 2006. Gibson noted that the guardian had reported to her that Tasha wanted to
return home to Tasha's parents. Tasha indicated however, that if she could not return
home, she would be comfortable living with her foster parents. Tasha had some
concerns about where she would go to high school and it was important to her to have
a stable living environment.
On cross-examination by Bruce's attorney, Gibson stated that she also provided
individual therapy to Tasha's foster parents, but only with respect to those issues
relating to Tasha.
The guardian introduced a letter written by Tasha into the record. The letter was
dated December 12, 2006, and was addressed to the court and to others. Tasha
stated in the letter that she liked living with her foster parents but she thought she
should live with her parents. She got teased at school and was asked questions about
whether her parents did drugs. She felt she was more popular when she lived with her
parents. She hoped that the recipients of the letter knew how much she wanted to go
home.
Former caseworker Carol Murphy testified that she was the caseworker from
October 2006 until the end of May 2007. She agreed with the determination that
private guardianship was the appropriate decision.
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Following the hearing, the court determined that the permanency goal should
remain as private guardianship because the parents had not made substantial progress
in services. The court acknowledged that Tasha wanted to live with her parents but she
also realized that they needed to do more services. The court noted that he found
Tasha to be an "intelligent young lady."
2008 Hearing on DCFS's Motion to Vacate Guardianship, Terminate Wardship and Close the Case
Caseworker Noelle Ossler testified that her agency was recommending that the
foster parents become Tasha's legal guardians.
Foster mother Linda Y. testified that she would facilitate visitation between Tasha
and her parents if she became Tasha's legal guardian. She admitted that Tasha had
expressed a desire to return home to her parents. Linda Y. also stated that neither she
nor her husband was in any type of therapy unrelated to this case. She denied placing
significant restrictions on Tasha's contact with her parents.
Foster father Glenn Y. denied that he would restrict Tasha's contact with her
parents if he became her legal guardian. He stated that he had done everything
possible to permit Tasha to visit with her parents and family members. He admitted
that Tasha would like to return home if the situation with her parents improved.
After the hearing, the court determined that it would be in Tasha's best interests
that her foster parents be appointed as her legal guardians. The court stated that it had
been a year-and-a-half since the date of adjudication and the parents had not made
reasonable progress. The court noted the history of domestic violence between the
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parents and also that Nancy was an alcoholic and that Bruce needed to accept
responsibility for Tasha's removal from their home. The court stated that it had to look
out for the best interests of Tasha, and the court acknowledged that Tasha wanted to
be returned home to her parents. However, the court found that because there still
continued to be problems with the parents, returning Tasha home would not be a good
environment for her. The court granted DCFS' motion to vacate guardianship,
terminate wardship and close the case.
ANALYSIS
Best Interests
On appeal, Nancy contends that the circuit court's order granting DCFS's motion
to vacate guardianship, terminate wardship, and close the case was against the
manifest weight of the evidence.1 She argues that the best interest factors weigh in
favor of finding that Tasha should live with her parents.
The Juvenile Court Act of 1987 (Act) (705 ILCS 405/1-3(4.05) (West 2006))
provides that the following factors should be considered in determining the best
interests of the child, within the context of the child's age and developmental needs:
"(a) the physical safety and welfare of the child, including food,
shelter, health, and clothing;
(b) the development of the child's identity;
1 Bruce concedes that the circuit court's determination of Tasha's best interests was not against the manifest weight of the evidence.
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(c) the child's background and ties, including familial, cultural, and
religious;
(d) the child's sense of attachments, including:
(i) where the child actually feels love, attachment, and
a sense of being valued (as opposed to where adults believe
the child should feel such love, attachment, and a sense of
being valued);
(ii) the child's sense of security;
(iii) the child's sense of familiarity;
(iv) continuity of affection for the child;
(v) the least disruptive placement alternative for the
child;
(e) the child's wishes and long-term goals;
(f) the child's community ties, including church, school, and friends;
(g) the child's need for permanence which includes the child's need
for stability and continuity of relationships with parent figures and with
siblings and other relatives;
(h) the uniqueness of every family and child;
(i) the risks attendant to entering and being in substitute care; and
(j) the preferences of the persons available to care for the child."
705 ILCS 405/1-3(4.05) (West 2006).
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Additionally, the court may consider the nature and length of the child's
relationship with the present caregiver and the effect on the child's emotional and
psychological well-being of a change in placement. In re Jaron Z., 348 Ill. App. 3d 239,
262 (2004).
A trial court's determination of what is in a child's best interests will not be
reversed on appeal unless that determination is against the manifest weight of the
evidence. In re Marriage of Parr, 345 Ill. App. 3d 371, 376 (2003). A decision is
against the manifest weight of the evidence where the opposite conclusion is clearly
evident or where the findings are unreasonable, arbitrary, and not based upon any of
the evidence. In re Marriage of Main, 361 Ill. App. 3d 983, 989 (2005).
Specifically, Nancy first argues that because Tasha was 13 years old at the time
the case closed, and because the court found her to be an "intelligent young lady,"
Tasha's express desire to return home to her parents should be given considerable
weight. Second, Nancy argues that because both she and Bruce had made significant
progress in the services that were provided to them, their home was a viable option for
Tasha's placement. Third, Nancy maintains that Tasha should return home because
Tasha's foster parents were not willing to adopt Tasha. Fourth, Nancy argues that
Tasha's physical, mental and emotional well-being would be best served if Tasha was
returned home because Tasha missed her parents and the separation has had a great
impact on Tasha. Further, Nancy argues that the court failed to "meaningfully consider"
all the applicable factors.
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In determining that it was in Tasha's best interest to award private guardianship
to her foster parents, the court noted that it had been a year-and-a-half since the date
of adjudication and the parents had not made reasonable progress. The court noted
the history of domestic violence between the parents and also that Nancy was an
alcoholic and that Bruce needed to accept responsibility for Tasha's removal from their
home. The court stated that it had to look out for the best interests of Tasha, and the
court acknowledged that Tasha wanted to return home to her parents. However, the
court found that because there still continued to be problems with the parents, returning
Tasha home was not desirable.
Here, we do not find the trial court's determination to be against the manifest
weight of the evidence. The court was aware of Tasha's wish to return home to her
parents; however, the court determined that the parents' home was not appropriate
because the parents had not made reasonable progress. The court was concerned
that if Tasha returned home, it would have a detrimental effect upon her development
and well-being. We find it important to note that the parents had not progressed to the
point of being allowed to have unsupervised visits, so to return Tasha to her parents
would not be supported by the evidence. The evidence also indicated that Tasha was
doing well in her foster parents' care and was also doing well academically at school.
The foster parents also indicated that they would cooperate to facilitate visits between
Tasha and her parents. We disagree with Nancy's contention that the trial court did not
"meaningfully" consider all the appropriate factors. When considering all the factors,
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we find the trial court's best interest determination to be supported by the manifest
weight of the evidence.
Evidentiary Matters
Next, Nancy contends that the court excluded relevant evidence when the court
sustained objections to questions that would have elicited relevant information.
Specifically, Nancy points to attempts to question caseworker Ossler about the
relationship between the parents and foster parents, Tasha's plans to be confirmed in
the Catholic faith, Tasha's issues over the loss of living with her parents, visitation
issues and whether the case file contained any concerns about the foster parents
becoming guardians. Bruce contends that the court erred in excluding evidence
regarding contact between Tasha and her parents and issues pertaining to the foster
parents' fitness.
Evidentiary rulings are within the sound discretion of the trial court and will not be
overturned absent an abuse of discretion. In re L.W., 367 Ill. App. 3d 844, 857 (2006).
Here, we find no abuse of discretion. Each of the matters Nancy's and Bruce's
counsel sought to question caseworker Noelle Ossler about was either beyond the
scope of Ossler's direct examination, was not relevant to the court's best interest
determination or called for speculation. The testimony at the hearing indicated that
Tasha was doing well in the foster parents' home and that the placement was safe and
appropriate. The foster parents had no mental illnesses and were not receiving any
type of therapy other than counseling related to Tasha's placement in their home.
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Regarding the issue of the parents' future visitation with Tasha, any testimony by the
caseworker would have been speculative. Further, the court repeatedly advised the
parties that if the parents were denied reasonable visitation with Tasha, they could
petition the court for visitation so they were not without a remedy. The court heard
testimony from numerous witnesses regarding the best interest factors and considered
those factors in its determination to award private guardianship to the foster parents.
We find no abuse of discretion in the court's exclusion of certain matters.
Bruce further contends that the court erred in refusing to allow his counsel to
make offers of proof during the testimony of Noelle Ossler, the foster parents and
Nancy.
The purpose of an offer of proof is to disclose the nature of the evidence offered
to the trial judge and opposing counsel and to the reviewing court so that it may
determine whether the exclusion of evidence was erroneous. Kankakee County Board
of Review v. Property Tax Appeal Board, 316 Ill. App. 3d 148, 155 (2000). "'[A]n offer
of proof is not required if it is apparent that the trial judge understood the nature of the
objection and the character of the evidence sought to be introduced or if the questions
themselves and the circumstances surrounding them show[ed] the purpose and
materiality of the evidence.'" Schmitz v. Binette, 368 Ill. App. 3d 447, 454 (2006),
quoting Carter v. Azaran, 332 Ill. App. 3d 948, 956 (2002).
Here, the court repeatedly informed counsel that an offer of proof was
unnecessary because the information counsel sought to elicit from the witnesses was
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either beyond the scope of direct examination or was not relevant to the court's best
interest determination. Under these circumstances, the offer of proof was unnecessary.
We find no abuse of discretion in the court's denial of counsel's requests to make offers
of proof.
Bruce further argues that the court's denial of his discovery requests regarding
the mental health of the foster parents was an abuse of discretion.
Here, there was testimony at the hearing that the foster parents were not in
therapy other than counseling related to Tasha's care and both foster parents testified
that they never had any mental health issues. The court characterized counsel's
motion as a fishing expedition and noted that there was no evidence in the record that
would indicate any mental health issues with the foster parents. We find no abuse of
discretion.
Motion to Appoint Counsel
Next, Bruce argues that the circuit court erred in denying his motion to appoint
counsel for Tasha. On May 2, 2007, counsel for Bruce filed a motion to appoint
counsel for Tasha pursuant to section 1-5(1) of the Act (705 ILCS 405/1-5(1) (West
2006)). The motion alleged that there was a conflict of interest between Tasha and the
guardian because Tasha wanted to return home to her parents but the guardian was
advocating for private guardianship with the foster parents. The motion further alleged
that because of this conflict, Tasha was, in effect, without her constitutional and
statutory right to counsel.
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Before ruling on the motion, the court took a brief recess to meet with Tasha.
The court stated that during the meeting, Tasha indicated that she wanted to go home
to live with her parents, but she also wished her parents would participate in the
recommended services so that she could return home. The court did not ask Tasha
about the guardian's representation of her interests and Tasha did not bring the issue to
the court's attention. After the meeting, the court denied the motion to appoint counsel
for Tasha.
Section 1-5(1) of the Act provides that a minor who is the subject of a proceeding
pursuant to the Act has the right to be represented by counsel and that no hearing on
any petition or motion filed under the Act may be commenced unless the minor is
represented by counsel. 705 ILCS 405/1-5(1) (West 2006).
We agree with the court's denial of Bruce's motion to appoint counsel for Tasha
and find the cases of In re K.M.B., 123 Ill. App. 3d 645 (1984), and In re A.W., 248 Ill.
App. 3d 971 (1993), to be instructive. In K.M.B., the minor was involved in delinquency
proceedings and was represented by an assistant public defender. The minor wanted
to return home to live with her mother; however her attorney recommended that the
minor should be placed in a juvenile home. The minor asked the court to allow the
attorney to withdraw as counsel because their interests were in conflict, therefore
depriving her of her constitutional right to counsel. The trial court denied the minor's
request, and on appeal, this court affirmed. This court noted that a court-appointed
attorney must not only protect the minor's legal rights but must also recognize and
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recommend a disposition in the minor's best interest, even when the minor himself does
not recognize those interests. K.M.B. 123 Ill. App. 3d at 647. The court further found
that the attorney's actions were proper because she informed the court of the minor's
desire to remain in the mother's home, but stated that it was her opinion that the minor
should be placed in a juvenile home. K.M.B. 123 Ill. App. 3d at 648. Therefore, the
court found that the attorney's recommendation did not deprive the minor of her
constitutional right to counsel. K.M.B. 123 Ill. App. 3d at 648.
In A.W., the minor was removed from her home after she reported allegations of
sexual abuse, for which the minor's stepfather was eventually convicted. Subsequently,
the minor's counselor recommended unsupervised visits to the home after the
stepfather returned to live at the home, to which minor's public guardian objected. The
minor wrote a letter to the court informing the court that she was upset with the
guardian's actions and that the guardian was not advocating for what the minor wanted.
The trial court held a hearing to determine whether the minor wanted to obtain new
counsel or whether the minor was coerced or manipulated into requesting new counsel.
After the hearing, the trial court granted the minor's motion for substitution of counsel
and this court affirmed on appeal. This court noted that while a minor's right to select
substitute counsel was not absolute, the minor's desire to request new counsel was a
result of her own volition and the trial court's order granting new counsel was
appropriate. A.W., 248 Ill. App. 3d at 977.
We find instructive that in each case, the minors brought to the court's attention
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that there was a conflict between the minor's desires and the court-appointed counsel's
recommendations and that the minors wanted new counsel to represent their interests.
Here, we do not find those same facts present. Tasha's public guardian
consistently informed the court that Tasha wanted to return home to her parents.
Tasha also told the court that she wanted to return home but wished that her parents
would participate in the recommended services so that she could return home. Tasha
never expressed to the court that she was unhappy with the guardian's representation
or that she desired new counsel. We further note that the petition for new counsel was
brought by Bruce, not Tasha. We find that the circuit court did not err when it denied
Bruce's petition for new counsel.
Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the circuit court.
Affirmed.
SOUTH and HALL, J.J., concur.
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REPORTER OF DECISIONS - ILLINOIS APPELLATE COURT
In re: ) Appeal from the ) Circuit Court of TASHA L.-I., a Minor, ) Cook County, Illinois, Respondent-Appellee ) Juvenile Justice and Child ) Protection Department, (The People of the State of Illinois, ) Child Protection Division Petitioner-Appellee, ) v. ) ) Nancy L., )) Respondent-Appellant, )) and )) Bruce I., Honorable Respondent-Appellant). Lawrence Flood, Judge Presiding.
Appellate Court of Illinois First District, Second Division
May 27, 2008
JUSTICE KARNEZIS delivered the opinion of the court.
Appeal from the Circuit Court of Cook County.
The Honorable John A. Ward, Judge Presiding.
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For RESPONDENT-APPELLANT NANCY L., Edwin Burnette, Cook County Public Defender (Suzanne A. Isaacson, Assistant Public Defender, of counsel)
For RESPONDENT-APPELLANT BRUCE I., Stephen Jaffe, Chicago, Illinois
For MINOR-APPELLEE, Office of the Cook County Public Guardian, (Robert F. Harris, Kass A. Plain, Jean M. Agathen, of counsel)
For PETITIONER-APPELLEE, Richard A. Devine, Cook County State's Attorney, (James E. Fitzgerald, Jennifer Streeter, Assistant State's Attorneys, of counsel).