J-A27013-19
2020 PA Super 62
IN THE INTEREST OF: D.N.G., A : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF MINOR : PENNSYLVANIA : : APPEAL OF: A.G., MOTHER : : : : : No. 480 EDA 2019
Appeal from the Decree Entered January 17, 2019 In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Family Court at No(s): CP-51-AP-0000207-2018
IN THE INTEREST OF: D.G., A : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF MINOR : PENNSYLVANIA : : APPEAL OF: A.G., MOTHER : : : : : No. 481 EDA 2019
Appeal from the Order Entered February 1, 2019 In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Family Court at No(s): CP-51-DP-0002405-2016
BEFORE: BOWES, J., SHOGAN, J., and COLINS, J.*
OPINION BY BOWES, J.: FILED MARCH 13, 2020
In these consolidated appeals, A.G. (“Mother”) appeals from the January
17, 2019 decree granting the petition filed by the Philadelphia Department of
Human Services (“DHS”) to involuntarily terminate parental rights to her son
D.N.G., born in October 2007, and the order changing the permanency goal ____________________________________________
* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court. J-A27013-19
to adoption.1 We affirm the goal change, vacate the order terminating
parental rights, and remand for further proceedings.2
The family court summarized the relevant facts and procedural history
as follows:
DHS originally became involved with this family on November 5, 2014. DHS received a General Protective Services (“GPS”) report alleging that[:] Mother had not been providing food to D.N.G. and [his older brother who is not involved in this appeal]; Mother had not been ensuring that D.N.G. was attending school; D.N.G. had been playing in the streets without appropriate supervision; D.N.G. had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (“ADHD”) and was not receiving treatment; Mother was pregnant; Mother had stated that the family home at the time was not her property; [and] Mother was unemployed. This report was determined to be valid. [DHS did not immediately remove D.N.G. from the family home. Instead, it initiated in-home services.]
....
[D.N.G.] is truant. During the 2014-2015 school year, D.N.G. had 42 unexcused absences and 33 late arrivals to school. During the 2015-2016 school year, D.N.G. had 31.5 unexcused absences and 18 late arrivals to school. During the 2016-2017 school year, D.N.G. had 6 unexcused absences and 3 late arrivals to school. On September 27, 2016, CUA learned that Mother had ____________________________________________
1 While Mother purports to appeal the permanency review order dated January 17, 2019, which is the date that the family court announced in open court its intention to change the permanency goal to adoption, the court did not change the goal on that date. Instead, the court changed the permanent placement goal in a subsequent permanency review order entered on February 1, 2019. We adjusted the caption accordingly.
2 As Mother’s brief abandoned any argument in support of the appeal from the
permanency review order entered on February 1, 2019, at CP-51-DP- 0002405-2016, we affirm it without further discussion. See Commonwealth v. Heggins, 809 A.2d 908, 912 n.2 (Pa.Super. 2002) (“[A]n issue identified on appeal but not developed in the appellant’s brief is abandoned and, therefore, waived.”); see also Mother’s brief at 4, 5.
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informed D.N.G.’s school counselor that D.N.G. had been truant due to transportation issues from the shelter where the family was residing.
On November 10, 2016, an adjudicatory hearing was held for D.N.G. and [his] siblings. D.N.G. was adjudicated dependent based on truancy and present inability to provide appropriate care and supervision. [D.N.G. remained in Mother’s care in the family home.] Mother was ordered to comply with mental health treatment recommendations. Mother was also ordered to ensure D.N.G. attends school on a daily basis with no unexcused absences or [tardiness] as well as to sign all necessary releases. Mother and D.N.G. were referred to the Behavioral Health System (“BHS”) for monitoring. The trial court ordered that DHS supervision be implemented for [the] family.
Trial Court Opinion, 5/21/19, at 1-3. Twenty days after the adjudication of
dependency, DHS removed D.N.G. from the family home and placed him in
foster care, where he currently resides.
Over the ensuing fifteen and one-half months, Mother complied with the
permanency plan intermittently and made marginal progress toward
reunification. On March 16, 2018, DHS filed petitions in the family court to
terminate Mother’s parental rights and to change the permanency goal from
reunification to adoption.
On January 17, 2019, the family court presided over a combined goal
change/termination of parental rights trial. The court appointed Michael
Graves, Esquire, as legal counsel for D.N.G. under 23 Pa.C.S. § 2313(a). The
guardian ad litem from the dependency proceedings, Tracy Chambers-
Coleman, Esquire, continued to represent the child’s best interests. While
Attorney Graves did not present evidence or examine witnesses in support of
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his client’s opposition to termination of parental rights, he informed the family
court that D.N.G. opposed adoption and desired to return to Mother’s care.
N.T., 1/17/19, at 209-12. Correspondingly, in addition to stating that she did
not believe that DHS proved the statutory grounds for the termination of
parental rights, the guardian ad litem recommended that the family court
order a comprehensive bonding evaluation. Id. at 216. The family court
rejected the guardian ad litem’s entreaty even though it expressly
acknowledged D.N.G.’s bond with Mother and endorsed future contact. Id. at
222-33. Likewise, the family court rejected Mother’s request for permanent
legal custody (“PLC”) in lieu of the adoption, which would alleviate the need
to terminate her parental rights. Id. 217.
Notwithstanding D.N.G.’s stated preference, the guardian ad litem’s
recommendation, and the court’s own validation of the mother-son
relationship, the family court granted DHS’s petitions in open court, changed
the permanency goal to adoption, and involuntarily terminated Mother’s
parental rights to D.N.G. pursuant to Pa.C.S. § 2511(a)(1), (2), and (b). Id.
at 234. This timely appeal followed the entry of the written order and decree.
Mother complied with Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a)(2)(i) by filing identical concise
statements of errors complained of on appeal simultaneously with her
respective notices of appeal. She presents the following questions for our
review:
1. Whether DHS presented clear and convincing evidence that Mother failed to remediate the conditions that led to the children’s
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removal, pursuant to 2511(a)(1)(2)(5) and (8) of the Adoption Act?
2. Whether the court erred and abused its discretion by granting the DHS Termination Petition severing Child from Mother in that DHS did not clearly and convincingly prove that it was in the [C]hild’s best interest to be adopted, Child had ineffective assistan[ce] of counsel, and Child told the CUA social worker and the Child Advocate [that] Child wished to return home to Mother and did not want to be adopted?
Mother’s brief at 4. DHS counters that the certified record supports the family
court’s determinations as to § 2511(a) and (b) and that the remaining
arguments are waived because they were not included in the Rule 1925(b)
statement.
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J-A27013-19
2020 PA Super 62
IN THE INTEREST OF: D.N.G., A : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF MINOR : PENNSYLVANIA : : APPEAL OF: A.G., MOTHER : : : : : No. 480 EDA 2019
Appeal from the Decree Entered January 17, 2019 In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Family Court at No(s): CP-51-AP-0000207-2018
IN THE INTEREST OF: D.G., A : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF MINOR : PENNSYLVANIA : : APPEAL OF: A.G., MOTHER : : : : : No. 481 EDA 2019
Appeal from the Order Entered February 1, 2019 In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Family Court at No(s): CP-51-DP-0002405-2016
BEFORE: BOWES, J., SHOGAN, J., and COLINS, J.*
OPINION BY BOWES, J.: FILED MARCH 13, 2020
In these consolidated appeals, A.G. (“Mother”) appeals from the January
17, 2019 decree granting the petition filed by the Philadelphia Department of
Human Services (“DHS”) to involuntarily terminate parental rights to her son
D.N.G., born in October 2007, and the order changing the permanency goal ____________________________________________
* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court. J-A27013-19
to adoption.1 We affirm the goal change, vacate the order terminating
parental rights, and remand for further proceedings.2
The family court summarized the relevant facts and procedural history
as follows:
DHS originally became involved with this family on November 5, 2014. DHS received a General Protective Services (“GPS”) report alleging that[:] Mother had not been providing food to D.N.G. and [his older brother who is not involved in this appeal]; Mother had not been ensuring that D.N.G. was attending school; D.N.G. had been playing in the streets without appropriate supervision; D.N.G. had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (“ADHD”) and was not receiving treatment; Mother was pregnant; Mother had stated that the family home at the time was not her property; [and] Mother was unemployed. This report was determined to be valid. [DHS did not immediately remove D.N.G. from the family home. Instead, it initiated in-home services.]
....
[D.N.G.] is truant. During the 2014-2015 school year, D.N.G. had 42 unexcused absences and 33 late arrivals to school. During the 2015-2016 school year, D.N.G. had 31.5 unexcused absences and 18 late arrivals to school. During the 2016-2017 school year, D.N.G. had 6 unexcused absences and 3 late arrivals to school. On September 27, 2016, CUA learned that Mother had ____________________________________________
1 While Mother purports to appeal the permanency review order dated January 17, 2019, which is the date that the family court announced in open court its intention to change the permanency goal to adoption, the court did not change the goal on that date. Instead, the court changed the permanent placement goal in a subsequent permanency review order entered on February 1, 2019. We adjusted the caption accordingly.
2 As Mother’s brief abandoned any argument in support of the appeal from the
permanency review order entered on February 1, 2019, at CP-51-DP- 0002405-2016, we affirm it without further discussion. See Commonwealth v. Heggins, 809 A.2d 908, 912 n.2 (Pa.Super. 2002) (“[A]n issue identified on appeal but not developed in the appellant’s brief is abandoned and, therefore, waived.”); see also Mother’s brief at 4, 5.
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informed D.N.G.’s school counselor that D.N.G. had been truant due to transportation issues from the shelter where the family was residing.
On November 10, 2016, an adjudicatory hearing was held for D.N.G. and [his] siblings. D.N.G. was adjudicated dependent based on truancy and present inability to provide appropriate care and supervision. [D.N.G. remained in Mother’s care in the family home.] Mother was ordered to comply with mental health treatment recommendations. Mother was also ordered to ensure D.N.G. attends school on a daily basis with no unexcused absences or [tardiness] as well as to sign all necessary releases. Mother and D.N.G. were referred to the Behavioral Health System (“BHS”) for monitoring. The trial court ordered that DHS supervision be implemented for [the] family.
Trial Court Opinion, 5/21/19, at 1-3. Twenty days after the adjudication of
dependency, DHS removed D.N.G. from the family home and placed him in
foster care, where he currently resides.
Over the ensuing fifteen and one-half months, Mother complied with the
permanency plan intermittently and made marginal progress toward
reunification. On March 16, 2018, DHS filed petitions in the family court to
terminate Mother’s parental rights and to change the permanency goal from
reunification to adoption.
On January 17, 2019, the family court presided over a combined goal
change/termination of parental rights trial. The court appointed Michael
Graves, Esquire, as legal counsel for D.N.G. under 23 Pa.C.S. § 2313(a). The
guardian ad litem from the dependency proceedings, Tracy Chambers-
Coleman, Esquire, continued to represent the child’s best interests. While
Attorney Graves did not present evidence or examine witnesses in support of
-3- J-A27013-19
his client’s opposition to termination of parental rights, he informed the family
court that D.N.G. opposed adoption and desired to return to Mother’s care.
N.T., 1/17/19, at 209-12. Correspondingly, in addition to stating that she did
not believe that DHS proved the statutory grounds for the termination of
parental rights, the guardian ad litem recommended that the family court
order a comprehensive bonding evaluation. Id. at 216. The family court
rejected the guardian ad litem’s entreaty even though it expressly
acknowledged D.N.G.’s bond with Mother and endorsed future contact. Id. at
222-33. Likewise, the family court rejected Mother’s request for permanent
legal custody (“PLC”) in lieu of the adoption, which would alleviate the need
to terminate her parental rights. Id. 217.
Notwithstanding D.N.G.’s stated preference, the guardian ad litem’s
recommendation, and the court’s own validation of the mother-son
relationship, the family court granted DHS’s petitions in open court, changed
the permanency goal to adoption, and involuntarily terminated Mother’s
parental rights to D.N.G. pursuant to Pa.C.S. § 2511(a)(1), (2), and (b). Id.
at 234. This timely appeal followed the entry of the written order and decree.
Mother complied with Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a)(2)(i) by filing identical concise
statements of errors complained of on appeal simultaneously with her
respective notices of appeal. She presents the following questions for our
review:
1. Whether DHS presented clear and convincing evidence that Mother failed to remediate the conditions that led to the children’s
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removal, pursuant to 2511(a)(1)(2)(5) and (8) of the Adoption Act?
2. Whether the court erred and abused its discretion by granting the DHS Termination Petition severing Child from Mother in that DHS did not clearly and convincingly prove that it was in the [C]hild’s best interest to be adopted, Child had ineffective assistan[ce] of counsel, and Child told the CUA social worker and the Child Advocate [that] Child wished to return home to Mother and did not want to be adopted?
Mother’s brief at 4. DHS counters that the certified record supports the family
court’s determinations as to § 2511(a) and (b) and that the remaining
arguments are waived because they were not included in the Rule 1925(b)
statement. Regrettably, although listed among the counsel of record, neither
Attorney Graves nor the guardian ad litem filed a brief or correspondence in
this Court. Thus, we are without the benefit of D.N.G.’s positions in this appeal
relative to his legal interest and best interests.
The common theme that underlies Mother’s second argument is that,
despite advising the family court that D.N.G. did not want to be adopted,
Attorney Graves neglected to represent that legal position zealously as
required by § 2313(a). Mother’s brief at 13. Since the vindication of D.N.G.’s
right to counsel under § 2313(a) is dispositive, we address it at the outset.
As noted, supra, DHS asserts that this argument is waived because it
was not included in Mother’s Rule 1925(b) statement. We disagree. While
Mother framed her issues differently in the Rule 1925(b) statement, as we
discuss infra, this claim was stated sufficiently for the family court to address
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it. See Trial Court Opinion, 5/21/19, at 21. Hence, the argument was
preserved in the Rule 1925(b) statement.
In contested involuntary termination proceedings, the representation of
the child’s legal interest is indispensable. 23 Pa.C.S. § 2313(a). Two Supreme
Court cases inform our examination of Attorney Grave’s representation of
D.N.G.’s legal interest. In In re Adoption of L.B.M., 161 A.3d 172, 174 (Pa.
2017) (plurality), and subsequently in In re T.S., 192 A.3d 1080, 1092 (Pa.
2018), the High Court declared that § 2313(a) compels the family court to
appoint counsel to represent a child’s legal interest in every contested
involuntary termination proceeding. The Supreme Court explained,
“appointment of client-directed counsel optimizes the protection of the child’s
needs and welfare, which form the ultimate issue that the trial court must
resolve before granting the [termination of parental rights].” In re Adoption
of L.B.M., supra at 180.
We previously articulated this principle as follows:
The purpose of the statutory requirement . . . [i]s not to create a right in [parents]. It was not intended to benefit a contesting parent or parents or to enhance by force of numbers the position of a contesting adult. Its purpose, rather, was to guarantee that the needs and welfare of the children would be advanced actively by an advocate whose loyalty was owed exclusively to them.
In re Adoption of N.A.G., 471 A.2d 871, 874-75 (Pa.Super. 1984) (footnote
omitted).
As the case at bar does not implicate a potential conflict in the
concurrent representation of D.N.G.’s best interests and legal interest,
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substantively it is dissimilar to the majority of cases that discuss § 2313(a).
However, our recent discussion in In re Adoption of K.M.G., 219 A.3d 662,
669 (Pa.Super 2019) (en banc), appeal granted, 221 A.3d 649 (Pa. 2019) is
instructive in determining the procedural issues concerning whether Mother
can challenge Attorney Graves’s representation in the instant appeal. As we
stated in K.G.M., “any party has standing to raise the issue of [§ 2313(a)
representation] in the orphans’ court or Superior Court.” Id. at 669.
Moreover, in dicta, we conceded that this Court possesses authority to review
issues regarding § 2313(a) representation where, as here, the issue is
asserted for the first time on appeal. We explained,
when a party fails to raise the [representation] issue before the orphans’ court and raises it for the first time on appeal[,] . . . the Superior Court should review the record to determine if the record is clear and undisputed about whether the child is able to express “a subjective, articulable preference [to be advanced by counsel during the termination proceedings]” and if so, whether the child’s preferred outcome differed from the child’s best interest.
Id. at 670 (quoting T.S., supra at 1089); see also In Re D.L.B., 166 A.3d
322 (Pa.Super. 2017) (addressing challenge to guardian ad litem’s
representation of legal interest even though issue was raised for first time in
appellant’s reply brief). Thus, we address the merits of Mother’s argument
even though she neglected to object to Attorney Graves’s representation
during the family court proceedings.
The crux of Mother’s argument is that Attorney Graves failed to advocate
D.N.G.’s legal interests beyond informing the family court that D.N.G. did not
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want to be adopted. Mother’s brief at 13. She highlights that counsel
neglected to present any evidence, call witnesses, or cross-examine DHS
witnesses about D.N.G.’s desire to reunite with Mother. DHS counters that
L.B.M. requires nothing more than the appointment of legal counsel, which
occurred herein. DHS’s brief at 25. It continues that counsel performed his
duty fully by discerning D.N.G.’s preference and reporting it to the court. Id.
at 26 (“Mr. Graves was not required to take any other steps”). For the
following reasons, we reject the agency’s shallow perspective of a child’s right
to counsel pursuant to § 2313(a).
In reference to Attorney Graves’s representation, the family court
provided the following summary,
Child was appointed Legal Counsel. Legal Counsel met with Child and had the chance to observe him in the foster home. Child is eleven . . . years . . . old. Child informed Legal Counsel that he has no issues with the foster home or Foster Parent. Child did indicate that he does want to live with his Mother and that he did not want to be adopted.
Trial Court Opinion, 5/21/19, at 23 (citing N.T., 1/17/19, at 209-10)).
Tellingly, during the evidentiary hearing, the family court framed
Attorney Graves’s § 2313(a) representation as talking to D.N.G. and reporting
to the Court. N.T., 1/17/19, at 211. The court’s narrow characterization of
legal counsel’s duties misstates Attorney Graves’s obligation to his client
pursuant to § 2313(a). While legal representation in this context necessarily
involves talking to the child client and reporting the child’s preferences to the
court, it is in no way limited to those two actions. To the contrary, pursuant
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to the majority of justices in In re Adoption of L.B.M., supra at 180,
Attorney Graves was required to advocate on behalf of D.N.G. and provide
zealous client-directed representation of D.N.G.’s legal interests.
We agree with Mother’s assertion that Attorney Graves’s advocacy was
inadequate. It was Attorney Graves’s principal obligation as legal counsel to
ascertain D.N.G.’s legal interest and promote it. As is apparent from the
family court’s account and the certified record, Attorney Graves did not
represent D.N.G.’s legal interest beyond advising the court of his client’s
preference. Counsel neglected to present any evidence to support his client’s
legal position, and while he did cross-examine Ashley Wolfe, the CUA case
manager, about the agency’s communications with D.N.G.’s birth father, N.T.,
1/17/19, at 45-46, counsel did not ask any questions relative to his client’s
desire to preserve Mother’s parental rights. Id. at 123. Moreover, counsel
declined to question Mother after DHS presented her testimony as if on cross-
examination. Id. at 195.
Furthermore, counsel declined to present any legal argument in his
client’s favor. His total representation of D.N.G.’s desire to avoid adoption
and return to Mother’s custody was the following exchange with the family
court: The Court: All right. So, what can you report to the Court?
Mr. Graves: I went and visited the child yesterday . . . at the foster mother’s home at around . . . seven p.m. . . . And he stated to me that he does not have any issues in the foster home. . . . [T]he home is fine.
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[H]e doesn’t have any issues with the foster mother; with his living situation there whatsoever. However, he says that he does not want to be adopted and that he does want to live with his mother. That was what he told me. . . .
The Court: Did you discuss if -- if it happens that he cannot be reunified with mom, did you discuss then what?
Mr. Graves: Well, again, he said that, you know, there were no concerns or issues with the foster home or the foster parent and that, you know, he’d been there for, you know, over two years. And -- however, he, you know, would -- would not like to be adopted. And he would like to go home.
Id. at 209-10.
Thereafter, Attorney Graves summarized his discussion with foster
mother, and he informed the court of foster mother’s preference for
adoption over PLC. Tellingly, counsel failed to present PLC to the court as an
alternative to adoption, even though that option aligned with his client’s legal
interest. Id. at 210. In fact, Attorney Graves neglected to join or support
Mother’s entreaty for PLC in lieu of the termination of her parental rights. Id.
at 217. Similarly, he passed up an opportunity to argue his client’s legal
interest once the guardian ad litem challenged the termination of Mother’s
parental rights and recommended a bonding evaluation. Id. at 216.
Most importantly, Attorney Graves failed to cast the most meaningful
legal argument in his arsenal, i.e., the probability that his soon-to-be-twelve-
year-old client would refuse to consent to any contemplated adoption.3
____________________________________________
3 Pursuant to § 2711(a)(1), “consent to an adoption shall be required of . . .
[t]he adoptee, if over 12 years of age.”
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Indeed, by terminating parental rights notwithstanding D.N.G.’s express
desire not to be adopted, the family court risked transforming D.N.G. into an
orphan without any true purpose. That is an outcome the family court no
doubt would be loath to achieve. See In re Adoption of L.J.B., 18 A.3d
1098, 1108 (Pa.Super. 2011) (“[T]he purpose of involuntary termination of
parental rights is to dispense with the need for parental consent to an adoption
when, by choice or neglect, a parent has failed to meet the continuing needs
of the child.”).
In sum, based upon our review of the record, we conclude that Attorney
Graves’s representation did not satisfy the mandate of § 2313(a), because he
neglected to advocate for his client’s legal interest. Under the circumstances
of this case, where the guardian ad litem argued against termination and
recommended a thorough bond analysis, and where an eleven-year-old stated
unequivocally that he desired to return to his mother, it is not possible for
legal counsel to zealously represent his client’s legal interest merely by
engaging in one discussion with the child on the eve of trial and then
summarizing that conversation for the family court. Rather than simply
reporting a preference to the family court, it was Attorney Graves’s obligation
to engage in client-directed advocacy on behalf of D.N.G. with regard to the
child’s preferred outcome. See L.B.M., supra at 180. Therefore, we hold
that D.N.G. was deprived of his statutory right to counsel to advance his legal
interest, a deprivation that continues in this appeal.
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Accordingly, we vacate the decree terminating Mother’s parental rights
and remand for a new termination hearing as to Mother. It is left to the family
court to decide whether to appoint substitute legal counsel for the hearing or
to direct Attorney Graves to zealously advocate his client’s legal interests.
Order affirmed. Decree terminating parental rights vacated, and matter
remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. Jurisdiction
relinquished.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary
Date: 3/13/20
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