J-S80019-16 J-S80020-16
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
IN THE INTEREST OF: A.K., A : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF MINOR AND M.K., A MINOR : PENNSYLVANIA : : : : : : APPEAL OF J.K., FATHER : No. 1024 MDA 2016
Appeal from the Order Entered May 26, 2016 in the Court of Common Pleas of Lebanon County Juvenile Division at Nos: CP-38-DP-0000001-2016, CP-38-DP-0000002-2016
IN THE INTEREST OF: A.K., M.K., : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF S.D., MINORS : PENNSYLVANIA : : : : : : APPEAL OF: K.S., MOTHER : No. 1025 MDA 2016
Appeal from the Order Entered May 26, 2016 in the Court of Common Pleas of Lebanon County Juvenile Division at Nos: CP-38-DP-0000001-2016, CP-38-DP-0000002- 2016, CP-38-DP-0000003-2016
BEFORE: LAZARUS, STABILE, and RANSOM, JJ.
MEMORANDUM BY STABILE, J.: FILED JUNE 22, 2017
In these consolidated appeals, J.K. (“Father”) and K.S. (“Mother”)
challenge the order entered May 26, 2016, in the Court of Common Pleas of
Lebanon County, finding aggravated circumstances and directing that no J-S80019-16 J-S80020-16
additional efforts should be made to reunify them with their minor children. 1
Also before us is a motion to dismiss filed by Lebanon County Children and
Youth Services (“CYS”) on December 1, 2016. After careful review, we
affirm the order finding aggravated circumstances, and we deny the motion
to dismiss.
The children at issue in this appeal are S.D., a female born in February
2006, M.K., a female born in July 2009, and A.K.1, a male born in August
2015. M.K. and A.K.1 are the children of both Father and Mother, while S.D.
is the child of Mother only.2 CYS became involved with S.D., M.K., and
A.K.1 following the death of A.K.1’s twin brother, A.K.2., on January 12,
2016. The record reveals that Father was at home with the children that
day, while Mother was at work. N.T., 4/18/16, at 32. At some point in the
early evening, Father put A.K.2 to sleep by laying him on his abdomen in a
swing, with his head tilted to the side, and with a blanket covering most of
his face.3 Id. at 10, 32, 51-52. M.K. later picked up A.K.2 so that she could
hold him, but Father instructed M.K. that she had leave A.K.2 lying down so
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1 We have consolidated these appeals sua sponte. See Pa.R.A.P. 513. 2 Mother reportedly does not know the identity of S.D.’s father. N.T., 4/18/16, at 8-9. 3 According to the pleadings filed in this matter, Father indicated that he put A.K.2 to sleep at approximately 7:45 p.m. See, e.g., Dependency Petition (S.D.), 2/10/16, at 3.
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that he would stay asleep, and placed A.K.2 back in his previous position.
Id. at 33. Father then failed to monitor A.K.2. During that evening, Father
left the children home alone and spent approximately fifteen minutes at a
local bar purchasing beer. Id. at 32, 50. Father then returned home and
watched television. Id. at 32. Mother returned home at approximately 9:15
p.m., ate dinner, and also watched television.4 Id. at 32, 51. Neither
Father nor Mother checked on A.K.2 until approximately 10:30 p.m., at
which time they discovered that he was non-responsive and no longer
breathing. Id. at 10-11, 32, 51. Following’s A.K.2’s death, both he and
A.K.1. received skeletal surveys at Hershey Medical Center. Id. at 16, 20.
A.K.2’s skeletal survey revealed that he had suffered two left rib fractures,
which were six to eight weeks old, as well as a possible acute right rib
fracture, and a compression fracture of his spine. Id. at 16, 73-74. A.K.1’s
skeletal survey revealed that he had a healed right rib fracture. Id. at 20,
87.
As a result of these events, CYS filed applications for emergency
protective custody of S.D., M.K., and A.K.1 on January 29, 2016.5 The trial ____________________________________________
4 Mother cannot drive, and Father routinely left the children home alone in order to transport her to and from work. N.T., 4/18/16, at 44. It is not clear from the record whether Father left the home to transport Mother on January 12, 2016. 5 In its applications, CYS averred that S.D., M.K., and A.K.1 were already in foster care, because Father and Mother signed a voluntary placement agreement on January 27, 2017, and because the trial court issued a verbal (Footnote Continued Next Page)
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court entered orders for emergency protective custody and shelter care
orders on February 1, 2016. CYS filed dependency petitions on February 10,
2016, and motions for finding of aggravated circumstances on March 21,
2016. In its motions for finding of aggravated circumstances, CYS averred
that it investigated a report of suspected child abuse concerning the death of
A.K.2. See, e.g., Motion for Finding of Aggravated Circumstances (S.D.),
3/21/16, at ¶ 5-8. CYS averred that the allegations of child abuse included
“whether the Father and the Mother caused the death of a child through any
act or failure to act and whether that act or failure to act was reckless and
resulted in asphyxiation[,]” and that the report was indicated as to both
Father and Mother. Id. at ¶ 8. The court held a dependency and
aggravated circumstances hearing on April 18, 2016, and entered orders
adjudicating S.D., M.K., and A.K.1 dependent on April 20, 2016. On April
21, 2016, the court entered an order directing the parties to provide the
court “with any written closing statements/briefs or memorandums of law on
the issue of whether or not aggravated circumstances applies in this case.”
Order, 4/21/16.
On May 26, 2016, the court entered an order finding aggravated
circumstances, directing that no additional efforts should be made to reunify
Father and Mother with M.K. and A.K.1, and directing that no additional
_______________________ (Footnote Continued)
order granting emergency custody to CYS on January 28, 2016. See, e.g., Application for Emergency Protective Custody (S.D.), 1/29/16, at 4.
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efforts should be made to reunify Mother with S.D.6 In its opinion
accompanying the order, the court found that Father inflicted serious bodily
injuries to both A.K.1 and A.K.2, as evidenced by the rib fracture suffered by
A.K.1, and by the rib and spine fractures suffered by A.K.2. Trial Court
Opinion, 5/26/16, at 10-11. The court further found that Mother inflicted
serious bodily injuries to A.K.1 and A.K.2 by omission, in that she failed to
protect A.K.1 and A.K.2 from Father. Id. Next, the court found that Father
neglected A.K.2 by putting him to sleep in a dangerous position and then
failing to check on him, and that Mother neglected A.K.2 by failing to check
on him after Father put him to sleep. Id. at 11. The court found that Father
and Mother habitually neglected their children by leaving them at home by
themselves, and by allowing S.D. and M.K. to handle A.K.1 and A.K.2 in a
dangerous manner. Id. Mother timely filed a notice of appeal on June 22,
2016. Father timely filed a notice of appeal on June 23, 2016.7, 8
6 The trial court did not make a finding that Father or Mother committed “child abuse” pursuant to the Child Protective Services Law (“CPSL”), 23 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 6301–6386. 7 Both Father and Mother failed to file concise statements of errors complained of on appeal at the same time as their notices of appeal pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 905(a)(2) and 1925(a)(2)(i). As a result, the trial court ordered Father and Mother to file concise statements on June 23, 2016. Mother complied with the court’s order by filing a concise statement on June 27, 2016, and Father complied with the court’s order by filing a concise statement on June 28, 2016. We have accepted these concise statements pursuant to In re K.T.E.L., 983 A.2d 745, 748 (Pa. Super. 2009) (holding that the appellant’s failure to comply strictly with Pa.R.A.P. (Footnote Continued Next Page)
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Before addressing the merits of these appeals, we first must consider
the motion to dismiss filed by CYS. In its motion, CYS seeks dismissal on
the basis that Father and Mother failed to request the transcript of the
August 18, 2016 dependency and aggravated circumstances hearing.9 By
way of background, Mother filed a transcript request on June 22, 2017, the
same day that she filed her notice of appeal. However, Mother mistakenly
requested the transcript of a permanency review hearing held on June 13,
2016. The children’s guardian ad litem also filed a transcript request on
June 30, 2016, but she too requested the wrong transcript. Father did not
file a transcript request. On November 21, 2016, this Court entered a per
curiam order directing that the correct transcript be requested within five
days. On December 1, 2016, CYS filed a motion to dismiss these appeals.
In its motion, CYS averred that a transcript request had not yet been filed as
of the morning of November 30, 2016. In Father’s answer to the motion,
filed December 7, 2016, he averred that his counsel did not review our
1925(a)(2)(i) did not warrant waiver of her claims, as there was no prejudice to any party). 8 This Court treats aggravated circumstances orders as appealable collateral orders pursuant to In re R.C., 945 A.2d 182 (Pa. Super. 2008). 9 The motion to dismiss included only Mother’s appeal in its caption. However, the motion listed Father’s appeal as a related case, Father filed an answer to the motion, and this Court treated the motion as applying to Father’s appeal as well.
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November 21, 2016 order until November 28, 2016, and promptly filed a
transcript request on November 30, 2016. Similarly, in Mother’s answer to
the motion, filed December 9, 2016, she averred that her counsel was out of
the office from the afternoon of November 23, 2016, until November 29,
2016, and promptly filed a transcript request after his return on December
1, 2016. On January 3, 2017, this Court entered a per curiam order
deferring the disposition of the motion to dismiss until our merits review of
these appeals.10
As this Court has stressed, our Rules of Appellate Procedure require
“an appellant to order and pay for any transcript necessary to permit
resolution of the issues raised on appeal.” Commonwealth v. Preston,
904 A.2d 1, 7 (Pa. Super. 2006), appeal denied, 916 A.2d 632 (Pa. 2007)
(citing Pa.R.A.P. 1911(a)). In the event an appellant fails to order a
necessary transcript, this Court is empowered to deem waived the
appellant’s claims, or to dismiss the appeal. Id. (citing Commonwealth v.
Williams, 715 A.2d 1101, 1105 (Pa. 1998)); Pa.R.A.P. 1911(d).
Here, our review of the record reveals that Father and Mother failed to
request the transcript of the April 18, 2016 dependency and aggravated
circumstances hearing. As a result of this procedural error, we were
rendered unable to review the merits of their appeals for several months.
10 This Court did not receive the correct transcript until March 7, 2017.
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However, Father and Mother requested the relevant transcript within a
reasonable period of time after being ordered to do so by this Court.
Further, this is a Children’s Fast Track appeal. This Court has a critical
interest in ensuring that the trial court’s order serves the best interests of
S.D., M.K., and A.K.1, and in ensuring that the court’s order respects the
rights of Father and Mother as parents. In light of these critical interests,
and because we discern no prejudice, we decline to find that Father and
Mother waived their claims, and we decline to dismiss these appeals. We
therefore deny the motion filed by CYS.
We may now turn to the merits of these appeals. Father raises two
interrelated issues for our review.
1. Did the [trial c]ourt err in finding that aggravated circumstances exist as to A.K.[1], and that no additional efforts should be made to reunify the minor child with Father[?]
2. Did the [trial c]ourt err in finding that aggravated circumstances exist as to M.K[.], [and] that no additional efforts should be made to reunify the minor child with Father[?]
Father’s Brief at 2.
In addition, Mother raises three interrelated issues for our review.
1. Did the [trial c]ourt commit[] prejudicial error in finding that aggravated circumstances existed in the case of [A.K.1] and [o]rder[ing] that [CYS] take no further steps in reunifying [Mother] with her child?
2. Did the [trial c]ourt commit[] prejudicial error in finding that aggravated circumstances existed in the case of [M.K.] and [o]rder[ing] that [CYS] take no further steps in reunifying [Mother] with her child?
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3. Whether the [trial c]ourt committed prejudicial error in finding that aggravated circumstances existed in the case of [S.D.] and [o]rder[ing] that [CYS] take no further steps in reunifying [Mother] with her child?
Mother’s Brief at 15.
We consider these claims mindful of our well-settled standard of
review.
[T]he standard of review in dependency cases requires an appellate court to accept the findings of fact and credibility determinations of the trial court if they are supported by the record, but does not require the appellate court to accept the lower court’s inferences or conclusions of law. Accordingly, we review for an abuse of discretion.
In re A.B., 63 A.3d 345, 349 (Pa. Super. 2013) (quoting In re R.J.T., 9
A.3d 1179, 1190 (Pa. 2010)).
Dependency proceedings are governed by the Juvenile Act, 42
Pa.C.S.A. §§ 6301–6375. The Juvenile Act provides that a child may be
adjudicated dependent if he or she meets the requirements of one of ten
definitions listed at 42 Pa.C.S.A § 6302. If a trial court determines that a
child is dependent, and aggravated circumstances have been alleged by
either the county agency or by the child’s attorney, the court must also
determine whether aggravated circumstances exist. 42 Pa.C.S.A §
6341(c.1). Critically, a court may not find aggravated circumstances absent
a finding of dependency. Id. If the court finds from clear and convincing
evidence that aggravated circumstances exist, the court must then consider
whether reasonable efforts should be made to reunify the child with his or
her parent or parents. Id. Following a finding of aggravated circumstances,
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“[a] court may end reasonable efforts at its discretion.” In re L.V., 127
A.3d 831, 839 (Pa. Super. 2015) (citing In re A.H., 763 A.2d 873, 878 (Pa.
Super. 2000)).
The Juvenile Act defines aggravated circumstances as follows, in
relevant part.
“Aggravated circumstances.” Any of the following circumstances:
***
(2) The child or another child of the parent has been the victim of physical abuse resulting in serious bodily injury, sexual violence or aggravated physical neglect by the parent.
42 Pa.C.S.A. § 6302 (emphasis added). The Juvenile Act defines “serious
bodily injury” as “[b]odily injury which creates a substantial risk of death or
which causes serious, permanent disfigurement or protracted loss or
impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ.” Id.
“Aggravated physical neglect” is defined as “[a]ny omission in the care of a
child which results in a life-threatening condition or seriously impairs the
child’s functioning.” Id.
On appeal, Father and Mother first challenge the trial court’s finding
that aggravated circumstances exist due to serious bodily injuries suffered
by A.K.1 and A.K.2. Father argues that the evidence does not support such
a finding because neither child had visible bruises, and because there was no
evidence that he was aware the children had bone fractures or that he
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intended to cause bone fractures. Father’s Brief at 8, 10. Similarly, Mother
argues that there was no evidence presented during the dependency and
aggravated circumstances hearing to establish that she physically abused
any of her children. Mother’s Brief at 18-23. We agree that the evidence
presented during the hearing does not support a finding of aggravated
circumstances due to serious bodily injury, although our reasoning differs
from the arguments presented by Father and Mother.
Initially, it is clear that the death of A.K.2 does not support a finding of
aggravated circumstances due to serious bodily injury. Pursuant to the plain
language of Section 6302, serious bodily injury will only support a finding of
aggravated circumstances if it results from “physical abuse.” See 42
Pa.C.S.A. § 6302. In this case, CYS presented compelling evidence to prove
that A.K.2 was the victim of physical abuse resulting in fractured ribs and a
fractured spine. However, there was no evidence that this abuse was the
cause of A.K.2’s death.
Moreover, CYS failed to present evidence that the rib and spine
fractures suffered by A.K.1 and A.K.2 were “serious bodily injuries.” As
noted above, a serious bodily injury is one that causes serious, permanent
disfigurement or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily
member or organ. See id. While it is clear that the fractures suffered by
A.K.1 and A.K.2 were abusive and tragic, there was no testimony presented
during the dependency and aggravated circumstances hearing to establish
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that the fractures were life-threatening, or that they would have caused
protracted impairment of the children’s functioning. During the hearing, the
trial court heard the testimony of pediatrician Kathryn Crowell, M.D., who
evaluates suspected abuse or neglect as a member of the child protection
team at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. N.T., 4/18/16, at 68. At
best, Dr. Crowell testified that A.K.1’s rib fracture would have caused “some
pain and discomfort,” and that “[y]ou would think” that A.K.2’s spine
fracture “would have caused pain.” Id. at 91-92. This evidence falls short
of that required for a finding of physical abuse resulting in serious bodily
injury.
Mother and Father next contend that the record does not support a
finding of aggravated circumstances due to aggravated physical neglect.
Neither parent challenges the allegation that A.K.2 asphyxiated as a result of
the dangerous sleeping position that he was placed in by Father. Instead,
Father argues that his actions on January 12, 2016, were merely negligent,
and did not rise to the level of aggravated physical neglect. Father’s Brief at
9. Mother argues that A.K.2’s death was the result of “one unfortunate,
tragic accident,” and that an accidental death cannot support a finding of
aggravated circumstances. Mother’s Brief at 20-23. We disagree.
During the hearing, CYS presented the testimony of child protective
services investigator, Ana Marquez. Ms. Marquez testified that she
investigated a report of suspected child abuse concerning A.K.2’s death, and
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that the report was indicated as to both Father and Mother. N.T., 4/18/16,
at 9-10. In support of this determination, Ms. Marquez testified concerning
two photographs depicting A.K.2’s sleeping position on the evening that he
died, which were entered into evidence as Exhibit 2 and Exhibit 3. Id. at 14.
In the photographs, Father is shown recreating A.K.2’s sleeping position by
placing A.K.1 in an identical position in the same swing. Id. at 11-13.
In Exhibit 2, A.K.1 is shown lying on his abdomen in the swing. A.K.1
has a small blanket either placed over him or wrapped around him, with only
A.K.1’s face, and his legs from the knees down, being visible. A.K.1’s face
appears to be turned slightly to the left, but his nose and face are pressed
directly against the padding of the swing. In addition, the blanket partially
covers A.K.1’s face starting about halfway down his cheek. In Exhibit 3,
A.K.1 is in the same position as before, but this time has a thicker blanket
placed on top of him. This thicker blanket covers A.K.1’s entire body, other
than the top of A.K.1’s head. The blanket covers A.K.1’s face starting just
below his eye.
As to why this sleeping position would be dangerous, the trial court
heard the testimony of the children’s former pediatrician, Gene P. Otto III,
M.D. Upon examining Exhibit 2 and Exhibit 3, Dr. Otto testified that Father
placed A.K.1 “in the wrong sleeping position and on the wrong sleeping
surface.” Id. Dr. Otto expressed particular concern regarding the padding
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of the swing. He explained, “The soft surface allows the baby to sink into
the surface and not raise it’s [sic] head out of it as it needs to.” Id.
Concerning the parents’ knowledge of safe sleeping positions, Dr.
Crowell testified that both A.K.1 and A.K.2 were born at Penn State Hershey
Children’s Hospital. Id. at 72, 77-78. Dr. Crowell explained that the staff at
Children’s Hospital instructs parents that babies should sleep on their back
until they are old enough roll over regularly by themselves, which can be as
early as four months, but varies from baby to baby. Id. at 79, 81. Parents
also are instructed that the baby’s crib should be “fairly empty,” and that
babies should not sleep with “big fluffy blankets or pillows, and no soft toys.”
Id. Upon reviewing the relevant medical records, Dr. Crowell testified that
Father refused to receive certain instruction from the nursing staff at
Children’s Hospital, although she was not sure what type of instruction that
was. Id. at 84. Dr. Crowell explained, “Father had said he didn’t need to
receive that information, that he had other children and was familiar with it.”
Id.
As noted above, the Juvenile Act defines “aggravated physical neglect”
as any omission in the care of a child which results in a life-threatening
condition or seriously impairs the child’s functioning. See 42 Pa.C.S.A.
§ 6302. With respect to Father, the record confirms that he put A.K.2 to
sleep in a position that was dangerous. Father then failed to monitor A.K.2
and to ensure his safety. Father’s actions, and his failures to act, were
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omissions in the care of A.K.2, and resulted in A.K.2’s death by
asphyxiation. Thus, it is clear that these omissions placed A.K.2 in a life-
threatening condition and seriously impaired his functioning.11
With respect to Mother, the record confirms that she too engaged in
omissions in the care of A.K.2. Mother arrived home from work at 9:15 p.m.
on January 12, 2016, but made no effort to check on A.K.2. for over an hour
knowing that Father left the children alone while he picked her up from
work. Instead, Mother ate dinner and watched television. By the time
Mother went to check on A.K.2 at 10:30 p.m., he was already non-
responsive and no longer breathing. Contrary to Mother’s argument, this act
of neglect was not an isolated incident. Among other things, the record
reveals that Mother habitually neglected S.D., M.K., A.K.1, and A.K.2 by
leaving them home alone while Father drove her to work. Thus, Mother
shares responsibility for the death of A.K.2.
Accordingly, because A.K.2 was a victim of aggravated physical
neglect, aggravated circumstances exist with respect to S.D., M.K., and
11 The Juvenile Act is unclear as to what constitutes a “life-threatening condition.” The language of Section 6302 does not specify whether “life- threatening condition” means that the child must sustain a life-threatening injury, or whether placing a child in a situation where he or she might sustain such an injury would suffice. Under either interpretation, A.K.2 was placed in a “life-threatening condition” by Father.
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A.K.1.12 See 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 6302; In the Interest of S.B., 833 A.2d 870
(Pa. Super. 2003) (finding of aggravated circumstance based upon sexual
abuse of one child is sufficient to support a dependency determination of
sibling not subject of abuse). We therefore conclude that the trial court did
not abuse its discretion by entering its May 26, 2016 aggravated
circumstances order, or by directing that Father and Mother should not be
provided with reunification efforts.
Order affirmed. Motion to dismiss denied.
Judge Lazarus joins the memorandum.
Judge Ransom concurs in the result.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary
Date: 6/22/2017
12 Our holding in this matter should not be construed to suggest that aggravated circumstances exist in every case where a child’s sibling passes away due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, commonly referred to as “SIDS,” or due to other unexplained circumstances. As we stressed above, a trial court may only find aggravated circumstances if it first determines that a child is dependent. Often, this means that a court must find that a child is without proper parental care or control. See 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 6302. If a parent exercises proper parental care and control and his or her child passes away due to a tragic accident, that parent’s remaining children would not be dependent, and a finding of aggravated circumstances could not be made.
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