In the Interest of K.S.-t., Minor Child, R.T., Father, P.S., Mother

• Court: Court of Appeals of Iowa
• Decided: November 13, 2014
• Docket: 14-0979
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA

No. 14-0979 Filed November 13, 2014

IN THE INTEREST OF K.S.-T., Minor Child,

R.T., Father, Appellant,

P.S., Mother, Appellant. ________________________________________________________________ Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, Rachael E. Seymour,

District Associate Judge.

A mother and father appeal the termination of their parental rights to their

child, born in 2013. AFFIRMED.

Tammi Blackstone of Harrison & Dietz-Kilen, P.L.C., Des Moines, for

appellant father.

Steven L. Cooper of Cooper, Goedicke, Reimer & Reese Law Firm, P.C.,

West Des Moines, for appellant mother.

Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, Kathrine S. Miller-Todd Assistant

Attorney General, John P. Sarcone, County Attorney, and Christina M. Gonzalez,

Assistant County Attorney, for appellee State.

Erin Mayfield of the Youth Law Center, Des Moines, attorney and guardian

ad litem for minor child.

Considered by Vaitheswaran, P.J., and Doyle and McDonald, JJ. 2

VAITHESWARAN, P.J.

A mother and father appeal the termination of their parental rights to their

child, born in 2013. The mother preliminarily challenges an order transferring

custody of the child to the department of human services. She contends (1) the

juvenile court’s decision was not supported by the law or evidence, (2) the

juvenile court’s basis for ordering a transfer of care was “barred by res judicata,”

and (3) the transfer was not in the child’s best interests. The mother also

challenges the termination decision, arguing (1) the record lacks clear and

convincing evidence to support the grounds for termination cited by the juvenile

court, (2) termination was not in the child’s best interests, and (3) the juvenile

court should have invoked certain statutory exceptions to termination. The father

challenges the grounds for termination cited by the juvenile court.

I. Mother

The mother was incarcerated for shoplifting and transitioned to a women’s

residential facility, where she gave birth to the child who is the subject of this

action. She has two older children who were the subject of separate

proceedings. The mother’s parental rights to one of those children were

terminated.

The child in this action was adjudicated in need of assistance (CINA)

based on the mother’s transition from incarceration, her relationship and ongoing

contact with the child’s violent father, and her unwillingness to seek a no contact

order barring interaction with him. The juvenile court initially allowed the child to

remain with the mother and ordered a battery of services to assist her in

maintaining custody of him. According to the department, the mother took “very 3

good care” of the child, had “very warm interactions” with him, and was “strongly

bonded” to him.

The mother was released from the women’s residential facility and moved

to an apartment, which a service provider found to be clean and appropriate.

According to the provider, the baby “appeared to be well cared for and alert.”

The juvenile court entered a dispositional order reaffirming the mother’s custody

of the child, subject to compliance with all prior services and department and

probation expectations. Among the expectations was an instruction to “abstain[]

from activities that are illegal.”

For months, the mother continued her exemplary care of the child. She

also earned wages, attended a class to address domestic violence issues, took

the child to protective day care when she was working, and generally cooperated

with the department and service providers. There was one exception: drug

testing. The mother missed several tests and admitted to using marijuana on

one occasion.

When the child was ten months old, the State requested modification of

the dispositional order to have custody of the child transferred to the department.

The court granted the request, subject to an evidentiary hearing. The child was

placed in foster care.

Meanwhile, an outpatient drug treatment provider issued a report giving

the mother a “guarded” prognosis “due to her lack of commitment and

engagement in recovery supports.” The provider’s assessment was less harsh at

an evidentiary hearing a month later; she testified the mother was discharged

from the program because further services were unnecessary. She noted a 4

change in the mother during the last three weeks of services, including a

willingness to provide urine samples, which tested negative for the presence of

drugs.

Unfortunately, the mother did not sustain a drug-free lifestyle. She

admitted to using marijuana shortly after her discharge from the outpatient

program. The mother flaunted domestic violence concerns by inviting the child’s

father to a birthday party for the child organized by the foster parents, without

seeking permission from the department or the foster parents. The juvenile court

relied on these and other circumstances to conclude the child should remain out

of her care. The court modified the dispositional order to reflect this change of

custody.

The case proceeded to termination. Following another evidentiary

hearing, the court concluded the State proved termination under Iowa Code

sections 232.116(1)(d) (requiring proof the parent was offered or received

services to correct the circumstances leading to the adjudication but the

circumstances continued to exist) and (g) (requiring proof the parent continues to

lack the ability or willingness to respond to services that would correct the

situation and an additional period of rehabilitation would not correct the situation).

Iowa Code § 232.116(1)(d), (g) (2013).

As noted, the mother challenges the juvenile court’s decision to transfer

custody of the child to the department and its ultimate decision to terminate her

parental rights. Our review of both decisions is de novo. In re P.L., 778 N.W.2d

33, 40 (Iowa 2010). 5

A. Modification of Dispositional Order

1. Grounds for Transfer

A court may modify a dispositional order if “[t]he efforts made to effect the

purposes of the order have been unsuccessful and other options to effect the

purposes of the order are not available.” Iowa Code § 232.103(4)(c). Custody of

the child should not be transferred unless there is clear and convincing evidence

the child cannot be protected from “some harm which would justify the

adjudication of the child as a child in need of assistance.” Iowa Code

§ 232.102(5)(a)(2). Additionally, “continuation of the child in the child’s home”

must “be contrary to the welfare of the child” and reasonable efforts must have

been made to keep the child in the home. Iowa Code § 232.102(5)(b).

There is no question “[t]he efforts made to effect the purposes” of the

dispositional order were “unsuccessful and other options to effect the purposes of

the order are not available.” Iowa Code § 232.103(4)(c). As noted, the mother

was to abstain from illegal activities. She did not. She admitted to marijuana

usage on two occasions. Additionally, missed drug tests were treated as

positive. The mother knew her drug use would jeopardize her chances of

maintaining and regaining custody of her child. This knowledge did not give her

pause.

We turn to whether the State proved “some harm which would justify the

adjudication of the child as a child in need of assistance.” Iowa Code

§ 232.102(5)(a)(2). The mother contends she did not care for the child while

under the influence and “[i]n nearly four years of Juvenile Court involvement no

. . . report has ever noted any behavior indicators of drug usage by the Mother.” 6

The mother’s assertion finds some support in a recent Iowa Supreme

Court opinion, In re J.S., 846 N.W.2d 36, 43-44 (Iowa 2014). There, the court

was faced with a mother who admitted to methamphetamine use and repeatedly

tested positive for the presence of the substance in her system. In re J.S., 846

N.W.2d at 39-40. The juvenile court adjudicated the child in need of assistance

pursuant to Iowa Code section 232.2(6)(b), which applies to a child “[w]hose

parent, guardian, other custodian, or other member of the household in which the

child resides has physically abused or neglected the child, or is imminently likely

to abuse or neglect the child.” The Iowa Supreme Court reversed the

adjudication. The court held “the State failed to prove any specific prior incidents

of abuse or neglect. Its case was based on the general characteristics of

methamphetamine addiction, and for section 232.2(6)(b) purposes, we do not

believe that is automatically enough to establish an imminent likelihood of

physical harm to the children.” In re J.S., 846 N.W.2d at 43-44. J.S. is

instructive but ultimately not on all fours with this case.

First, the child in this case was adjudicated in need of assistance pursuant

to Iowa Code section 232.2(6)(c)(2), not section 232.2(6)(b). Section

232.2(6)(c)(2) applies to a child “[w]ho has suffered or is imminently likely to

suffer harmful effects as a result of . . . [t]he failure of the child's parent . . . to

exercise a reasonable degree of care in supervising the child.”

Second, we are not faced with the propriety of the initial adjudication as

was the case in J.S., but of an order modifying a disposition. As noted, we need

only find “some harm” that would justify the adjudication. Iowa Code

§ 232.102(5)(a)(2). At the time of the adjudicatory order, the mother’s transitional 7

status and domestic violence concerns justified the adjudication. While a

department caseworker conceded there was no imminent safety concern at the

time of the hearing on the motion to modify the disposition, she asserted the

mother had yet to resolve “[s]ubstance abuse, domestic violence, and mental

health . . . and criminal behaviors and criminal thinking.” Substance abuse is a

“harm which would justify the adjudication of the child as a child in need of

assistance.” See In re A.B., 815 N.W.2d 764, 776 (Iowa 2012) (stating father’s

substance abuse issue “continued to place himself and others in danger despite

his otherwise laudable participation in services”). Domestic violence also is a

harm that would justify adjudication of the child as a child in need of assistance.

See In re L.M., No. 10-1001, 2010 WL 3325407, at *3 (Iowa Ct. App. Aug. 25,

2010). The mother did not curtail contact with the father despite his history of

domestic violence, as reflected by her invitation to have him attend the child’s

birthday party. As for the mother’s mental health, her attendance at therapy

sessions was sporadic until the month of the hearing on the motion to modify

disposition. Finally, the mother understood but did not internalize the criminality

of marijuana use. We conclude the State established the mother could not

protect the child from “some harm which would justify the adjudication.”

In reaching this conclusion, we have not considered certain additional

assertions of harm propounded by the department. For example, the department

claimed the mother failed to inform the agency about a utility shut-off at her

home. The shut-off did not jeopardize the child’s health or safety; the mother

contacted the utility provider directly and addressed the shut-off without

departmental assistance. The department also cited the mother’s decision to 8

place milk outside to keep it cold during the shut-off. Far from a reflection of poor

judgment, this act revealed creative thinking to resolve an immediate problem.

Finally, we are not persuaded the mother was dishonest with the department

about her drug usage or certain daycare issues. When asked, she disclosed her

marijuana use. Without prompting, she also informed the department of a late

pick-up of her child from a daycare center, which she said was a result of a

delayed bus schedule. Finally, she explained why the child was not always in

protective daycare as instructed, testifying she cared for the child herself during

periods of unemployment. These factors did not support modification of the

disposition.

2. “Res Judicata”

The mother contends the juvenile court’s basis for modifying the

dispositional order was barred by the doctrine of res judicata. We disagree.

Although a dispositional order is a final appealable order, the order is subject to

modification. See In re A.W., 464 N.W.2d 476, 477 (Iowa Ct. App. 1990). The

mother concedes as much by arguing modifications require proof of a material

and substantial change of circumstances. See In re R.F., 471 N.W.2d 821, 824

(Iowa 1991). While a showing of such a change is not statutorily mandated, this

judicial gloss envisions a different set of facts than the facts underlying the

adjudication and dispositional orders. Accordingly, the res judicata doctrine is

inapplicable.

Even if the doctrine were applicable, the facts are not identical. As

discussed, the mother used illegal drugs after the dispositional order was

entered. 9

3. Best Interests

The mother asserts a modification of the dispositional order was not in the

child’s best interests. There is no question the mother had the ability to be a

model parent. But, after years of services, the mother engaged in acts she knew

to be illegal and knew would compromise her custodial rights to the child.

Notwithstanding her loving care at the outset and the deep bond she forged with

the child, we conclude modification of the dispositional order was in the child’s

best interests.

B. Termination Order

The mother contends the record lacks clear and convincing evidence to

support the grounds for termination cited by the juvenile court. We may affirm if

we find clear and convincing evidence to support either of the grounds cited by

the juvenile court. In re S.R., 600 N.W.2d 63, 64 (Iowa Ct. App. 1999). Our

discussion above leads us to conclude the State satisfied the elements of Iowa

Code section 232.116(1)(g), which requires a child-in-need-of-assistance

adjudication, proof of a prior termination, and “clear and convincing evidence that

the parent continues to lack the ability or willingness to respond to services which

would correct the situation.”

As for whether termination was in the child’s best interests, the child’s

safety is the paramount concern. P.L., 778 N.W.2d at 40. Given the mother’s

continued drug use and her unwillingness to internalize the lessons she learned

during outpatient treatment, we conclude the child’s safety was at risk and

termination was in the child’s best interests. 10

We turn to certain exceptions to termination. See id. at 37-38. The

exception based on the bond between parent and child raises the closest

question. Iowa Code § 232.116(3)(c). All concerned characterized the child as

happy, healthy, and well-adjusted. The mother deserves much of the credit

because she raised the child for the first ten months of his life. But after years of

services, the mother sabotaged her own progress and risked the future safety of

her child. Under these circumstances, we conclude termination of her parental

rights was in the child’s best interests notwithstanding the bond.

The mother also asserts termination was unwarranted because relatives

expressed a willingness to care for the child. See Iowa Code § 232.116(3)(a).

For the reasons set forth above, we conclude the possibility of a relative

placement was not grounds for declining to terminate her parental rights.

We affirm the termination of the mother’s parental rights to this child.

II. Father

As noted at the outset, the father raises a challenge to the grounds for

termination cited by the juvenile court. In passing, he also asserts he was not

served with the child in need of assistance petition and “attended no hearings

during that case.”

We begin with the notice issue. Notice is jurisdictional and a judgment

entered without notice is void. In re S.P., 672 N.W.2d 842, 845-46 (Iowa 2003).

“The issue boils down to whether [the father’s] whereabouts were unknown and

whether a ‘reasonably diligent search’ was made to determine his whereabouts.”

Id. at 846. 11

The child-in-need-of-assistance petition was filed in January 2013. The

petition identified the father by name and birthdate but listed no street address.

In time, a State investigator filed an affidavit of diligent search attesting he spoke

to the father and made arrangements to deliver the original notice and notice of

hearing to him. The father did not appear. The investigator followed up with

“multiple messages on the father’s phone.” After receiving no return phone call,

the investigator searched for additional information on national and local law

enforcement databases. Those sources revealed dated addresses.

There is no question the investigator made “numerous inquiries.” Id. at

848. But he did not make “the obvious inquiries a reasonable person would

make under the circumstances,” such as a request for information from the

child’s mother. Id.

The State’s omission was fatal in In re S.P. and it might have been fatal

here,1 but for a juvenile court finding that the father appeared at a contested child

in need of assistance hearing. See In re J.F., 386 N.W.2d 149, 152 (Iowa Ct.

App. 1986) (noting father who did not receive notice of CINA action was initially

entitled to have dispositional order vacated but waived this right by voluntarily

appearing and acquiescing in the court’s jurisdiction). Notably, the adjudicatory

order containing this finding stated the father’s visitation would be at the

discretion of the department and would be professionally supervised. This order

1 We recognize the father agreed to accept delivery of the documents at a prearranged time and location and failed to do so. However, this did not absolve the State of its obligation to ensure proper service. See State v. Kaufman, 201 N.W.2d 722, 724 (Iowa 1972) (holding notice served on attorney who may have been representing defendant was insufficient). 12

would have been unnecessary had the father not appeared.2 In light of the

father’s appearance at the adjudicatory hearing, we conclude the State’s failure

to notify him formally does not require us to vacate the district court judgment

against him. We proceed to the merits.

We may affirm if we find clear and convincing evidence to support any of

the termination provisions cited by the juvenile court. S.R., 600 N.W.2d at 64.

On our de novo review, we find clear and convincing evidence to support

termination under Iowa Code section 232.116(1)(e) (requiring proof of several

elements including proof of the absence of significant and meaningful contact).

The father knew he had a child; he appeared at the hospital following the

child’s birth. Nonetheless, he declined to pursue the court-approved avenue of

supervised contact with the child until paternity was formally established shortly

before the filing of the termination petition. At the termination hearing he

testified, “Since [the child’s] been born, I only seen him a few times. I seen him

at birthday parties. I seen him a couple times at a couple of visits. Probably,

like, probably, like, two or three times.” His statement establishes the absence of

significant and meaningful contact with the child. Accordingly, we affirm the

termination of the father’s parental rights to the child under this provision.

AFFIRMED.

2 The record is less than clear on the extent of the father’s involvement at the adjudicatory hearing. As late as six months after the hearing, a dispositional modification order stated the father had no attorney and did not participate in the proceedings precipitating that order.