Handout 1 - School of Government - University of North Carolina at ...
Handout 1 - School of Government - University of North Carolina at ...
Handout 1 - School of Government - University of North Carolina at ...
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Held: Reversed and remanded.<br />
As it did in In re A.M., ___ N.C. App. ___, 665 S.E.2d 534 (2008), the court <strong>of</strong> appeals held th<strong>at</strong> the trial<br />
court must hear some testimony <strong>at</strong> a hearing on termin<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> parental rights. The court st<strong>at</strong>ed th<strong>at</strong><br />
respondent’s testimony did not support petitioner’s case and th<strong>at</strong>, by relying solely on written evidence<br />
and the arguments <strong>of</strong> counsel, the trial court failed to make an independent determin<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> whether the<br />
neglect ground for termin<strong>at</strong>ion existed.<br />
• The court may not adjudic<strong>at</strong>e a ground for termin<strong>at</strong>ion th<strong>at</strong> is not alleged in the petition or motion.<br />
• Willful abandonment occurs only when the parent evidences an intent to forego all parental rights<br />
and duties.<br />
In re S.R.G., ___ N.C. App. ___, 671 S.E.2d 47 (1/20/09).<br />
http://www.aoc.st<strong>at</strong>e.nc.us/www/public/coa/opinions/2009/080954-1.htm<br />
Facts: The trial court adjudic<strong>at</strong>ed respondent’s child to be neglected and dependent and ordered<br />
respondent to take a variety <strong>of</strong> actions, including obtaining evalu<strong>at</strong>ions, receiving tre<strong>at</strong>ment for her drug<br />
addiction, having regular visits, finding independent housing, etc. After periods <strong>of</strong> respondent’s only<br />
partial compliance with the case plan and her continued use <strong>of</strong> drugs, the court changed the plan from<br />
reunific<strong>at</strong>ion to a concurrent plan <strong>of</strong> reunific<strong>at</strong>ion and adoption, and then to adoption. DSS filed a petition<br />
to termin<strong>at</strong>e parental rights and after a hearing the trial court termin<strong>at</strong>ed respondent’s rights on the sole<br />
ground <strong>of</strong> willful abandonment for a period <strong>of</strong> six months before the filing <strong>of</strong> the petition.<br />
Held: Reversed and remanded<br />
1. Much <strong>of</strong> the language in the trial court’s order rel<strong>at</strong>ed to factors th<strong>at</strong> were relevant to the ground <strong>of</strong><br />
willfully leaving the child in care for more than a year without making reasonable progress to correct<br />
conditions th<strong>at</strong> led to the child’s placement. Th<strong>at</strong> ground was not alleged in the petition and the court<br />
could not adjudic<strong>at</strong>e th<strong>at</strong> ground.<br />
2. Findings about respondent’s partial failure to comply with the case plan and her continued drug use<br />
did not support the ground <strong>of</strong> willful abandonment. Evidence showed th<strong>at</strong> during the relevant sixmonth<br />
period respondent <strong>at</strong>tended a court hearing, visited the child eleven times, and brought<br />
appropri<strong>at</strong>e toys and clothes to the visits.<br />
3. The evidence and findings failed to support a conclusion th<strong>at</strong> respondent demonstr<strong>at</strong>ed a “purposeful,<br />
deliber<strong>at</strong>ive and manifest willful determin<strong>at</strong>ion to forego all parental duties and relinquish all parental<br />
claims” to the child for a six-month period – the showing th<strong>at</strong> is required for an adjudic<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong><br />
willful abandonment.<br />
• Reports <strong>of</strong> drug screen results and letter from Alcohol and Drug Services were admissible under<br />
business records exception to the hearsay rule after social worker testimony laid proper found<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
• The trial court may take judicial notice <strong>of</strong> prior proceedings and orders in a case and is presumed to<br />
disregard any incompetent evidence.<br />
In re S.D.J., ___ N.C. App. ___, 665 S.E.2d 818 (9/2/08).<br />
http://www.aoc.st<strong>at</strong>e.nc.us/www/public/coa/opinions/2008/080360-1.htm<br />
Facts: In addition to the jurisdiction issue described above, respondent argued th<strong>at</strong> the trial court erred in<br />
1. admitting into evidence reports <strong>of</strong> drug screen results and a letter from Alcohol and Drug Services<br />
over the objection <strong>of</strong> respondent’s <strong>at</strong>torney and<br />
2. taking judicial notice <strong>of</strong> and basing findings <strong>of</strong> fact on prior orders in the case, including those th<strong>at</strong><br />
involved a lesser standard <strong>of</strong> pro<strong>of</strong> than clear, cogent, and convincing evidence.<br />
Held: Affirmed.<br />
1. The reports and letter were properly admitted as evidence under the business records exception to the<br />
hearsay rule, where a social worker testified th<strong>at</strong> she had collected all but one <strong>of</strong> the samples and<br />
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