in the Interest of K.B., a Child

Court of Appeals of Texas·Decided October 25, 2019·No. 05-19-00700-CV·Published

Opinion

AFFIRM; Opinion Filed October 25, 2019

In The Court of Appeals Fifth District of Texas at Dallas No. 05-19-00700-CV

IN THE INTEREST OF K.B., A CHILD

On Appeal from the 304th Judicial District Court Dallas County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. JC-18-00004-W

MEMORANDUM OPINION Before Justices Myers, Molberg, and Carlyle Opinion by Justice Carlyle

In this suit affecting the parent–child relationship, Mother (1) challenges the sufficiency of

the evidence to support the trial court’s order terminating her parental rights to her son K.B. and

(2) asserts she was denied effective assistance of counsel in the trial court. We affirm in this

memorandum opinion. See TEX. R. APP. P. 47.4.

I. Background

On K.B.’s date of birth, December 22, 2017, the Texas Department of Family and

Protective Services received a referral alleging “neglectful supervision” of K.B. and “mental

instability and erratic behaviors” by Mother. The Department began an investigation. Several days

later, the Department received another neglectful supervision referral and a report that K.B.’s

meconium tested positive for marijuana. The Department removed K.B. from Mother, placed him

in foster care, and filed this lawsuit seeking conservatorship of K.B. and termination of Mother’s parental rights.1 Mother filed a general denial answer and counterclaimed for managing

conservatorship of K.B.

The Department prepared a January 12, 2018 service plan that required Mother to complete

drug testing, counseling, and a psychiatric evaluation in order to be reunited with K.B. In late

November 2018, the parties signed a mediated settlement agreement (MSA) granting Mother a

180-day monitored return of K.B. On April 11, 2019, the Department again removed K.B. from

Mother and placed him in foster care. In an “Affidavit in Support of Removal,” a Department

caseworker repeated the allegations described above and stated that on April 10, 2019, she

“received a call from previous kinship caregiver, Tonya Anthony,” who told her Mother “was

arrested for assault causing a bodily injury.”

The trial court held a May 20, 2019 bench trial. A Department caseworker testified this

case was originally filed “due to the concerns that [Mother] had some mental health issues” and

“also [K.B.’s] meconium tested positive for marijuana.” The caseworker stated (1) at the time K.B.

was first removed, Mother “was excessively scrubbing the baby and assuming that there was

something wrong with him and taking his temperature, like, every 30 minutes”; (2) Mother “ended

up getting to a position where the Department believed that a monitored return would be

sufficient”; and (3) during the monitored return, Mother violated MSA provisions that required

her to continue counseling services and maintain daycare for K.B.; failed to demonstrate she

complied with taking her medication; and, in K.B.’s presence, assaulted a neighbor who was

babysitting for K.B., which resulted in Mother being jailed and K.B. being returned to his previous

foster caregiver, Anthony. The Department offered into evidence an “affidavit” by a staff member

of the facility where Mother was living at the time of K.B.’s birth describing Mother’s “unstable”

1 The Department also successfully sued to terminate the parental rights of K.B.’s father, who is described in the record as “Joe Unknown.” He is not a party to this appeal.

–2– and “concerning” behavior at that time. That exhibit was admitted into evidence without objection.

On cross-examination, Mother’s counsel asked the Department caseworker if she was “requesting

the Court take judicial knowledge of the contents of [K.B.’s] file.” The caseworker answered

“yes.” Additionally, (1) Anthony testified she is K.B.’s current caregiver and would like to adopt

K.B. if Mother’s rights are terminated; (2) the Department caseworker testified adoption by

Anthony is in K.B.’s best interest; (3) K.B.’s guardian ad litem testified termination of Mother’s

parental rights is in K.B.’s best interest; and (4) Mother’s neighbor testified that while babysitting

K.B. on approximately December 19, 2018, she was physically assaulted by Mother in K.B.’s

presence and Mother “was the aggressor in that altercation.” Mother appeared at trial through

counsel but was not present in person.2

The trial court signed a June 7, 2019 termination order in which it stated it found by clear

and convincing evidence that terminating Mother’s parental rights was in K.B.’s best interest and

Mother had (1) “knowingly placed or knowingly allowed the child to remain in conditions or

surroundings which endanger the physical or emotional well-being of the child, pursuant to

§ 161.001(b)(1)(D), Texas Family Code”; (2) “engaged in conduct or knowingly placed the child

with persons who engaged in conduct which endangers the physical or emotional well-being of

the child, pursuant to § 161.001(b)(1)(E), Texas Family Code”; and (3) “failed to comply with the

provisions of court order that specifically established the actions necessary for the mother to obtain

the return of the child who has been in the permanent or temporary managing conservatorship of

[the Department] for not less than nine months as result of the child’s removal from the

parent . . . for the abuse or neglect of the child, pursuant to § 161.00(b)(1)(O), Texas Family

Code.”

II. Evidentiary sufficiency

2 The record shows Mother was released from jail prior to the May 20, 2019 trial date.

–3– A trial court may terminate the parent–child relationship if it finds by clear and convincing

evidence (1) one or more statutory grounds for termination enumerated in the Texas Family Code

and (2) termination is in the child’s best interest. TEX. FAM. CODE § 161.001(b)(1)–(2). “Clear and

convincing evidence” is that “measure or degree of proof that will produce in the mind of the trier

of fact a firm belief or conviction as to the truth of the allegations sought to be established.” In re

N.G., 577 S.W.3d 230, 235 (Tex. 2019) (per curiam) (quoting FAM. § 101.007).

On appeal, we apply a standard of review that reflects the elevated burden at trial. In re

A.B., 437 S.W.3d 498, 502 (Tex. 2014); In re A.T., 406 S.W.3d 365, 370 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2013,

pet. denied). This means both legal and factual sufficiency review of an order terminating parental

rights require a reviewing court to consider all the evidence to determine whether the factfinder

could reasonably form a firm belief or conviction that the grounds for termination are proven. See

In re J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d 256, 265–66 (Tex. 2002); In re L.E.H., No. 05-18-00903-CV, 2018 WL

6839565, at *4 (Tex. App.—Dallas, Dec. 31, 2018, no pet.) (mem. op.). The distinction between

legal and factual sufficiency lies in the extent to which disputed evidence contrary to a finding

may be considered. In re A.C., 560 S.W.3d 624, 630 (Tex. 2018). In conducting a legal-sufficiency

review, the reviewing court cannot ignore undisputed evidence contrary to the finding, but rather

must otherwise assume the factfinder resolved disputed facts in favor of the finding. Id. at 630–

31.

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