State ex rel. Juvenile Department v. Mack

507 P.2d 1161, 12 Or. App. 570, 1973 Ore. App. LEXIS 1074

Opinions

FOLEY, J.

This is a proceeding to terminate parental rights in three children

① under ORS 419.523 (2), which provides as follows:

“The rights of the parent or parents may be terminated * * * if the court finds that the parent or parents:

“(a) Are unfit by reason of conduct or condition seriously detrimental to the child; or .

“(b) Have wilfully deserted or neglected without just and sufficient cause to provide proper care and maintenance for the child for one year. In determining whether the parent has wilfully deserted or neglected without just and sufficient cause to provide proper care and maintenance for the child, the court may disregard incidental visitations, communications and contributions.”

The petition for termination in this case alleged that the parents, Shirley Lonise Mack and Dale Eugene Mack, Sr., were unfit under ORS 419.523 (2) (a) and that they had wilfully neglected their children under ORS 419.523 (2) (b) “[s]inee December 1969, and for more than one year prior to * * * June 8, 1971 * * No allegation of desertion was made. After a hearing pursuant to ORS 419.525, the juvenile court found that • both of the alleged grounds for termination had been established and it therefore ordered the parents’ rights terminated. The parents appeal.

In a proceeding to terminate parental rights the state has the burden of proving, by a preponderance of competent evidence, facts sufficient for termination. ORS 419.525 (2); State ex rel Juv. Dept. v. Wilson, 9 Or App 468, 497 P2d 871 (1972). On appeal the parents contend that the state did not carry its burden as to either of the statutory grounds. For the reasons which follow, we agree, and we therefore reverse the order of the juvenile court.

The parents first assert that the state did not prove by a preponderance of the evidence that they “wilfully * * * neglected without just and sufficient cause” to provide care and maintenance for their children for one year. In State ex rel Juv. Dept. v. Draper, 7 Or App 497, 505-506, 491 P2d 215 (1971), Sup Ct review denied (1972), we said that before parents’ rights may be terminated pursuant to that statutory ground, proof is required A review of the cases decided by this court and the Supreme Court on the issue of what constitutes wilful neglect without just and sufficient cause shows that each case turns on its own facts. However, certain threads can be seen to run through the cases. In Draper we pointed out that the law does not require an impossible degree of support and that the parent must simply do “the best he can,” consistent with his resources. Thus, in Draper, the fact that the father was shown to have had an average income well in excess of the poverty level, but contributed nothing to the support of his child, was important in our decision that the lower court was correct in ordering termination. But in Eacret v. Dews, 10 Or App 511, 500 P2d 481, Sup Ct review denied (1972), and Cox v. Valdez, 9 Or App 323, 496 P2d 32, Sup Ct review denied (1972), we recognized that failure to support, standing alone, is not sufficient to establish wilful neglect, and that adverse financial circumstances can excuse the failure.

“* * * that the parent failed to perform parental duties * * * and that his neglect was voluntary [citations omitted] and intentional [citations omitted].”

Another factor which the decided cases have deemed to be significant is whether the parents have attempted to maintain contact with the children and have concerned themselves over their welfare. Thus, in Draper, wilful neglect was established in part by a showing that the parent in that case showed no apparent concern over whether his child was being cared for, and made no inquiry into the surroundings in which she was being reared. In Smith v. Green, 4 Or App 533, 480 P2d 437 (1971), on the other hand, despite the fact that the parent had made no visits and contributed no support for five years, wilful neglect was held not to have been established because the parent knew the child’s whereabouts and took some steps to assure its well-being. Similarly, in Drake v. Drake, 8 Or App 57, 491 P2d 1203 (1971), Sup Ct review denied (1972), we contrasted the situation in that case with that in Draper by pointing out that the mother in Drake knew at all times where the child was- and that she was receiving excellent care.

Finally, in determining whether the failure to support constitutes wilful neglect within the meaning of the statute, any prior notice that the parent might have had of the possibility of a termination proceeding is a relevant consideration. See Thies v. Barnes, 11 Or App 158, 501 P2d 1305 (1972).

Applying these criteria to the facts of the case at bar, we conclude that the parents herein have not wilfully neglected their children “* * * without just and sufficient cause * * *” within the meaning of the statute.

The record indicates that the Macks are severely limited in their earning capacities, that Shirley Mack has been hospitalized’ for large intervals of time, and that their income during the time period in question was extremely low. Although a proceeding was commenced by the Welfare Recovery Division in June 1970 to require the father, Dale E. Mack, to contribute to the support of the children, the court found on August 12, 1970, after several court appearances by the father, that “* # * said father’s financial ability to provide support for said children has not improved, and * * * he has no present ability to provide support for said children * * Thus, there has been no showing of a failure to contribute to support where contribution was feasible. We cannot say that this is evidence of wilful neglect.

There is sharp conflict in the testimony regarding the Macks’ attempts to visit the children. Mr. and Mrs. Mack testified that they had tried many times to arrange visits but that the social worker assigned to their case was usually unavailable and always uncooperative. This testimony was corroborated to some extent by the Macks’ parents (the grandparents of the children). On the other hand, both the social worker assigned to the case and her supervisor testified that, to their .knowledge, the Macks had made no attempts to arrange visits with the children. However, it is undisputed that the parents knew where their children were and that they were being properly cared for. It is also undisputed that the social worker assigned to the case put the onus of arranging for visits upon the parents, despite her knowledge that they were poor, ignorant and unresourceful. Finally, it is undisputed that, for the 17-month period preceding the filing of the termination petition the social worker never bothered to contact the Macks regarding their failure to request visits. If she had she could have learned that they had significant problems, including no phone and no automobile. Under these circumstances, taking note of the juvenile court’s finding that no attempts to arrange visitation were made, it still seems clear as a matter of law that this was not wilful conduct such as to justify termination.

Finally, the record shows that the Macks were not aware of the possibility of a termination proceeding until they actually received notice of its initiation. To the extent that this is a relevant consideration, it cuts in favor of the Macks in this case since, once they had notice of the proceeding, they mended their ways and adhered to a visitation schedule fixed by the court. This fact, coupled with the fact that the Macks have had the determination to contest the termination proceeding before the juvenile court and before this court,② supports our conclusion that their conduct, inadequate though it might have been, did not constitute “wilful neglect without just and sufficient cause.”

Second, the parents assert that the juvenile court erred in finding them “unfit by reason of conduct and conditions ③ seriously detrimental to the children.” We are bound by the recent Supreme Court decision of State v. McMaster, 259 Or 291, 303-304, 486 P2d 567, 572-73 (1971), in which the situation of the children and parents is comparable to this case.

It is beyond dispute that in rendering its decision the juvenile court felt that it was acting in the best interests of the children. However that criterion, determinative in questions of custody, is not completely determinative when the issue is that of termination of parental rights. Moody v. Voorhies, 257 Or 105, 475 P2d 579 (1970); Simons et ux v. Smith, 229 Or 277, 366 P2d 875 (1961). As stated in Moody:

■ «* * # [Cjourts are bound by the language of the statutes and cannot rearrange parent-child relationship except when the statutory criteria have been met. * * *” 257 Or at Ill.

Our decision on the issue of termination does not in any way affect the custody of the children in this case. We have decided only that the Macks’ paréntal rights cannot be terminated at this time. The record contains indications that the Macks’ lot is improving and that the time may come when they are capable of caring for their children.

Reversed.

The original proceeding involved four children. One of the children, Carolyn Sue Mack, is now deceased.

See State v. Grady, 231 Or 65, 371 P2d 68 (1962).

It appears that the juvenile court may have construed the statute to allow termination where the parents allow environmental “conditions” to exist which are seriously detrimental to the child. If' so, such construction was erroneous. In State v. Blum, 1 Or App 409, 463 P2d 367 (1970), we pointed out that the statute refers to a “condition” of the parent or parents (in that case, mental illness).