Rodriguez v. Texas Department of Human Services

737 S.W.2d 25
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedJuly 15, 1987
Docket08-87-00004-CV
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 737 S.W.2d 25 (Rodriguez v. Texas Department of Human Services) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Rodriguez v. Texas Department of Human Services, 737 S.W.2d 25 (Tex. Ct. App. 1987).

Opinion

OPINION

FULLER, Justice.

The Texas Department of Human Services sought and successfully obtained termination of Virginia Rodriguez’ parental rights to her three children. The parental rights of the natural fathers were also terminated. Only the natural mother, Virginia Rodriguez, appeals. The judgment of the trial court granting termination is reversed, and judgment is hereby rendered.

On May 11, 1986, Virginia Rodriguez gave birth to a child who tested positive for opiates, resulting in the child suffering several days of withdrawal. This prompted the Texas Department of Human Services to intervene and obtain temporary custody not only of the newborn child, Bianca Rodriguez, but also Natalie Rodriguez, age fifteen months, and Jeremy Rubalcado, age 9. The natural mother entered into a written agreement whereby it was proposed that, if she complied with its terms, the children would be returned to her. At that time, she was held in custody by the authorities of Ector County, charged with a felony offense. It was anticipated by the Texas Department of Human Services that she would get probation, but instead she received fifteen years in the penitentiary, thereby triggering the filing by Appellee of a suit to terminate the mother’s parental rights. It was admitted by Appellee at trial that Virginia Rodriguez in no way violated the terms of the agreement that instigated the filing of the termination suit. Appellant was brought back from prison for trial which occurred October 28, 1986, and ended with the trial court terminating Appellant’s parental rights to all three children.

Point of Error No. One asserts that there was no clear and convincing evidence or, in the alternative, insufficient clear and convincing evidence justifying the trial court’s termination of Appellant’s parental rights to her three children.

Point of Error No. Two asserts that there was no clear and convincing evidence or, in the alternative, insufficient clear and convincing evidence justifying a finding by the trial court that it was in the best interest of the children that the parental rights of Appellant be terminated.

When considering a “no evidence” point, we can only consider the evidence and inferences which tend to support the findings of the trial court, and disregard all evidence and inferences to the contrary. In re King’s Estate, 150 Tex. 662, 244 S.W.2d 660 (1951). Also in considering the “no evidence” points, we must apply the “clear and convincing” evidence standard *27 which refers to “that measure or degree of proof which 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.” G.M. v. Texas Department of Human Resources, 717 S.W.2d 185 (Tex.App.—Austin 1986, no writ).

The Texas Department of Human Services alleged two grounds for termination of parental rights under Tex.Fam.Code Ann. secs. 15.02(1)(D) and 15.02(1)(E) (Vernon 1986):

Section 15.02(1)(D) [which provides for termination when the parent] knowingly placed or knowingly allowed the child to remain in conditions or surroundings which endangered the physical or emotional well-being of the child; or
Section 15.02(1)(E) [which provides for termination when the parent] 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,_

The trial court granted termination under Section 15.02(1)(D), but we must discuss both sections since the proof that was offered before the trial court related more closely to Section 15.02(1)(E) than Section 15.02(1)(D).

Termination of parental rights under Section 15.02(1)(E) requires a showing that the children have been placed in a physical environment dangerous to their physical and emotional well-being caused by the parent’s conduct alone, as evidenced not only by their parent’s acts but their own inactions. In Interest of S.H.A., 728 S.W.2d 73 (Tex.App.—Dallas 1987, no writ).

Section 15.02(1)(D) refers only to the acceptability of the children’s living conditions, and does not concern the conduct of the parents toward the children. In the Interest of T.L.H., 630 S.W.2d 441 (Tex.App.—Corpus Christi 1982, writ dism’d). Parental conduct alone is not evidence to support termination under Section 15.02(1)(D). When such section refers to “conditions or surroundings,” it requires a showing that the child has been placed in an environment dangerous to the child’s physical or emotional well-being. Stuart v. Tarrant County Child Welfare Unit, 677 S.W.2d 273 (Tex.App.—Fort Worth 1984, writ ref’d n.r.e.). There was no evidence offered before the trial court that the children were allowed to remain or be placed in an environment that was unhealthy or unsanitary, such as In the Interest of S.H.A., supra; B—J—M— v. Moore, 582 S.W.2d 619 (Tex.App.—Dallas 1979, no writ); Sanchez v. Texas Department of Human Resources, 581 S.W.2d 260 (Tex.App.—Coitus Christi 1979, no writ.). The caseworker testified that Virginia Rodriguez’ home was a two-bedroom house adequately furnished, well organized, clean and neat, and that she as a caseworker had no problem with the physical conditions in which the children were living in that home. She further admitted that the termination decision came about because the Appellant received a penitentiary sentence rather than probation. The Appellant was never called as a witness in the case.

The evidence before the trial court was that the newborn child, Bianca Rodriguez, was taken from the hospital after birth. Natalie Rodriguez was eighteen months old when a speech pathologist testified that Natalie suffered from developmental delay. The speech pathologist further testified that the test was given in English and that unfamiliarity with the English language could have affected the outcome of the test. Jeremy Rubalcado, age nine, had extensive absenteeism from school, but it was admitted that not all were unexcused absences. There was an instance where a one-time babysitter took her clothing top off in front of Jeremy. The caseworker agreed that this was an isolated and unpredictable occurrence. This was the extent of the evidence, except for the claim that the natural mother was an addict and had dealt in prostitution. There was no evidence as to the extent of addiction, the length of time she had taken drugs or the instances in regard to prostitution. A probation officer testified that the natural mother’s reputation was bad, but he also testified that she had had no felony convictions.

*28

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Bluebook (online)
737 S.W.2d 25, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/rodriguez-v-texas-department-of-human-services-texapp-1987.