In re Z.N. CA2/4

CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedMarch 23, 2022
DocketB312636
StatusUnpublished

This text of In re Z.N. CA2/4 (In re Z.N. CA2/4) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Z.N. CA2/4, (Cal. Ct. App. 2022).

Opinion

Filed 3/23/22 In re Z.N. CA2/4 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS

California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(a). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115(a).

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION FOUR

In re Z.N. et al., Persons B312636 Coming Under the Juvenile Court Law.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY Los Angeles County DEPARTMENT OF Super. Ct. No. CHILDREN AND FAMILY 20CCJP04684A-C SERVICES,

Plaintiff and Respondent,

v.

J.B.,

Defendant and Appellant.

APPEAL from an order of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, Hernan D. Vera, Judge. Affirmed. Janette Freeman Cochran, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant. Rodrigo A. Castro-Silva, County Counsel, Kim Nemoy, Assistant County Counsel, Jessica S. Mitchell, Deputy County Counsel, for Plaintiff and Respondent.

INTRODUCTION

J.B. (mother) challenges the juvenile court’s order at the six-month review hearing declining to return her children to her custody. Mother argues (1) substantial evidence did not support the juvenile court’s finding that the children would be at substantial risk if returned to mother; (2) the juvenile court failed to specify the factual basis for its conclusion that the return of the children to mother would be detrimental; and (3) the juvenile court lacked sufficient evidence for its finding that reasonable services have been provided or offered to mother. As discussed below, we conclude mother’s contentions are without merit. Accordingly, we affirm.

BACKGROUND

Mother and S.N. (father) are the parents of Z.N., who was born in November 2017. Mother and A.S. are the parents of Z.N.’s two older half-sisters, M.S. and V.S., born in January 2012 and December 2012, respectively. Mother is the sole appellant. To summarize the earlier proceedings in this dependency case, we quote a lengthy excerpt from our earlier unpublished opinion (In re Z.N. (Aug. 24, 2021, B309358) [nonpub. opn.].) “At the time this case was initiated, mother . . . resided with all three of her children and her boyfriend at the time, R.P. . . . Mother reported that per a family law court order, she had primary physical custody of Z.N. subject to monthly visits by father on weekends[.]” (In re Z.N., supra, B309358.)

2 “On September 1, 2020, mother took Z.N. to the emergency room after observing Z.N. walking with a limp. Mother was concerned that Z.N. had been injured during a visit with father the weekend before, as Z.N. was not limping prior to the visit. She stated that while she noticed Z.N. ‛had some bruising to her bottom,’ she ‛did not think anything of the bruises’ because Z.N. reportedly is ‛clumsy,’ ‛falls often,’ and ‛bruises easily’ ‛when she falls or plays.’” (In re Z.N., supra, B309358.) “While examining Z.N., the emergency room doctor observed the following: (1) five bruises along the side of Z.N.’s right thigh ranging in size and at different stages of healing; (2) faint bruises on her right buttocks; (3) two small bruises on Z.N.’s left thigh; and (4) a bruise measuring approximately three centimeters on the right side of Z.N.’s genital area, which ‘extend[ed] from [the] inner thigh to [the] vaginal wall[.]’ The doctor noted the bruises were ‘concerning’ and might be indicative of non-accidental trauma.” (In re Z.N., supra, B309358.) “Due to mother’s reports regarding Z.N.’s history of bruising easily, doctors conducted a bone survey, as well as pediatric hematology and oncology tests, to determine whether there was a physiological cause for her current bruises. The doctors who reviewed Z.N.’s test results determined there did not appear to be a physiological reason for her bruises, and suspected they were caused by non-accidental trauma.” (In re Z.N., supra, B309358.) “Subsequently, child abuse pediatrician Corey J. Rood, M.D., examined Z.N. He observed she had’[n]umerous large coalescing bruises’ on her right thigh ‛extending from near the knee to the hip,’ multiple bruises on her left thigh, and bruises in

3 her genital area. Dr. Rood opined ‛[t]he accidental trauma history mother provide[d] of [Z.N.] being an active toddler who jumps, plays, and falls onto her buttocks and legs does not adequately explain the soft tissue bruising’ observed on Z.N.’s thighs and genital area. He also noted mother reported Z.N. ‛had a subconjunctival hemorrhage’ in one of her eyes the week before due to vomiting. Dr. Rood stated that, in children, those types of hemorrhages ‛are not caused by vomiting and are indicative of accidental [or] inflicted blunt force trauma or asphyxiation.’ He also found ‛[t]here is no accidental trauma history to explain [Z.N.’s] subconjunctival hemorrhage.’” (In re Z.N., supra, B309358.) “Dr. Rood concluded ‛[t]he constellation of [Z.N.’s] current and past injuries, in the[ ] locations [observed], is most consistent with inflicted trauma[.]’1 He opined that if Z.N. were ‘returned to the caregiver who inflicted these injuries, she is at increased risk of further injury and even death.’” (In re Z.N., supra, B309358.) “The results of Z.N.’s hospital visit prompted a referral to the Department of Children and Family Services (Department), which was received on September 2, 2020. Given the nature of Z.N.’s injuries, the Department detained the children from mother and placed them into protective custody on the same day.” (In re Z.N., supra, B309358.) “On the evening of the children’s detention, the Department contacted father by phone and notified him of its investigation into the referral pertaining to Z.N. Father denied hurting Z.N., and reported that last Friday evening, after he had picked her up for his most recent visit, he observed Z.N. ‛had

1 Dr. Rood noted “there are no exam findings or disclosures [giving rise to] concern[s] for sexual abuse.”

4 bruises and scratches to [her] legs.’ He related he had texted mother to report his concerns about Z.N.’s injuries, and to inform her that he had taken pictures of them. Father stated that in response, mother ‛got mad . . . and accused [him] of blaming her.’ He also mentioned that a few weeks before, Z.N. ‛had a scratch to her eye[.]’” (In re Z.N., supra, B309358.) “On September 3, 2020, the children’s foster mother contacted the Department to report ‘she had a very concerning talk with [V.S.]’ The foster mother reported V.S. ‘said she had a secret to tell and she wanted [the foster mother] to promise she would not tell anyone because her mom said if [V.S.] told they would take them away for a long time.’ Subsequently, V.S. told ‘her it was her mom and her mom’s boyfriend who hit [Z.N.]’ The foster mother related V.S. ‘disclosed she saw her mom throw [Z.N.] [onto] the wall and would hold her by both arms and shake her very hard.’ V.S. then reported that mother’s boyfriend, R.P., ‘would hold [Z.N.] by the ankles upside down and shake [her] hard,’ and that he had ‘put[ ] a pillow over [Z.N.’s] face to keep her from screaming.’ The foster mother stated V.S. ‘was scared to report because her mom told her if she said anything everyone was going to get in trouble.’ [¶ . . . ¶] Additionally, V.S. was interviewed by a Department social worker in October 2020. V.S. reported R.P. ‘“would hit the baby [Z.N.] in front of [her] mom.”’” (In re Z.N., supra, B309358.) “Following its investigation, the Department filed a petition alleging Z.N. fell within the purview of Welfare and Institutions

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Bluebook (online)
In re Z.N. CA2/4, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-zn-ca24-calctapp-2022.