In re Interest of J.F.

IN THE INTEREST OF J.F. II, A CHILD

No. 07-20-00194-CV

Court of Appeals Seventh District of Texas at Amarillo

January 21, 2021

On Appeal from the 137th District Court Lubbock County, Texas

Trial Court No. 2017-527,563; Honorable Ed Self, Presiding by Assignment

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Before PIRTLE, PARKER, and DOSS, JJ.

Following this court's reversal of the trial court's Order of Termination and remand of the cause for a new trial,¹ the trial court again terminated B.T.'s parental rights to her son, J.F. II.² By a sole issue, she contends the trial court abused its discretion in denying her motion for new trial because allegations of her medical issues were uncontrovertedby Appellee, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. Notwithstanding those medical issues, we affirm.

BACKGROUND

J.F. II was born in October 2017, and he tested positive for amphetamines. The Department was notified of the test results and two days later, filed its petition for J.F. II's protection, as well as for conservatorship and for termination of B.T.'s parental rights.

B.T. has a history of methamphetamine use. She suffers from multiple medical ailments and takes numerous medications. She has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, anxiety, asthma, migraines, seizures, and polycystic ovarian syndrome (insulin resistance) and has a pituitary tumor. She suffers from seizures and takes numerous medications to treat her medical issues.

During the first trial, the Department presented evidence that resulted in termination of B.T.'s parental rights for (1) knowingly placing or allowing her child to remain in conditions or surroundings that endangered the child's physical or emotional well-being, (2) engaging in conduct or knowingly placing her child with persons who engaged in conduct that endangered his physical or emotional well-being, and (3) failing to comply with the provisions of a court order that specifically established the actions necessary for her to obtain the return of her child. See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 161.001(b)(1)(D), (E), and (O) (West Supp. 2020). The trial court also found that termination of B.T.'s parental rights to her child was in his best interest. § 161.001(b)(2).

She appealed to this court alleging a violation of her due process rights in the trial court's failure to provide her with court-appointed counsel. Agreeing with B.T., this courtreversed the trial court's Order of Termination by opinion and judgment dated November 6, 2019.

The new trial on remand was scheduled for July 13, 2020, at 9:00 a.m.³ Without B.T.'s presence, the trial court called the case at 9:37 a.m. B.T.'s counsel moved for a continuance which the trial court denied, and the Department presented testimony from two caseworkers. They testified regarding the Department's concern over B.T.'s history of methamphetamine use and numerous arrests. They also expressed apprehension that B.T.'s child had been in the Department's care since his birth in October 2017, and has had four different placements. According to the Department's witnesses, B.T. had made no effort to visit her child in the past year and a half and his current placement was willing to adopt him.

Two hours after the hearing began, B.T. finally appeared; however, after a recess during which the parties attempted to reach a settlement, B.T. left the proceedings without alerting anyone and did not return. After the presentation of evidence concluded and the parties rested, counsel announced that he received a message from B.T. explaining she had not returned due to a medical emergency. Counsel again moved for a continuance, followed by a written motion, which the trial court denied.

Following the bench trial, the trial court issued its order finding clear and convincing evidence sufficient to support termination of B.T.'s parental rights on the same groundsas before under section 161.001(b)(1)(D), (E), and (O).⁴ The trial court also found that termination of B.T.'s parental rights to her child was once again in his best interest. § 161.001(b)(2).

B.T. filed a motion for new trial alleging that a continuance should have been granted to permit her to testify when she was unavailable for most of the trial due to medical issues. The denial, she argued, was an error that was reasonably calculated to cause and probably did cause the rendition of an improper judgment. TEX. R. APP. P. 44.1(a)(1). She also alleged that she had a meritorious defense to the Department's allegations.

The hearing on B.T.'s motion for new trial was held via Zoom. After the Department announced it was ready to proceed, counsel for B.T. noted that she was again not present. He stated he had forwarded the link to the hearing to three of B.T.'s email addresses and had also attempted to contact her through previously known phone numbers and her physical address, all to no avail.

At a hearing on the motion for new trial, counsel reminded the trial court that B.T. had an emergency medical issue that kept her from participating at the final hearing and urged the court to consider granting a new trial. Without B.T. being present, however, counsel announced there was no evidence to present to challenge the grounds for termination or to verify B.T.'s alleged medical emergency during the final hearing. Theattorney ad litem expressed opposition to granting the motion for new trial based on B.T.'s absence and her failure to maintain contact with her counsel. The trial court signed an order denying B.T.'s motion for new trial on a finding that there was no good cause and that a new trial was not in the child's best interest.

APPLICABLE LAW

The Texas Family Code permits a court to terminate the relationship between a parent and a child if the Department establishes one or more acts or omissions enumerated under section 161.001(b)(1) of the Code and that termination of that relationship is in the best interest of the child. See § 161.001(b)(1), (2); Holley v. Adams, 544 S.W.2d 367, 370 (Tex. 1976). The burden of proof is by clear and convincing evidence. § 161.206(a) (West Supp. 2020). "'Clear and convincing evidence' means the 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." § 101.007 (West 2019).

STANDARD OF REVIEW—TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS

The natural right existing between parents and their children is of constitutional magnitude. See Santosky v. Kramer, 455 U.S. 745, 758-59, 102 S. Ct. 1388, 71 L. Ed. 2d 599 (1982). See also Holick v. Smith, 685 S.W.2d 18, 20 (Tex. 1985). Consequently, termination proceedings are strictly construed in favor of the parent. In re E.R., 385 S.W.3d 552, 563 (Tex. 2012). Parental rights, however, are not absolute, and it is essential that the emotional and physical interests of a child not be sacrificed merely to preserve those rights. In re C.H., 89 S.W.3d 17, 26 (Tex. 2002). The Due Process Clause of the United States Constitution and section 161.001 of the Texas Family Code requireapplication of the heightened standard of clear and convincing evidence in cases involving involuntary termination of parental rights. See In re E.N.C., 384 S.W.3d 796, 802 (Tex. 2012); In re J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d 256, 263 (Tex. 2002).

ANALYSIS

B.T. does not challenge any of the grounds supporting termination nor the trial court's best interest finding. Instead, by her sole issue, she maintains the trial court abused its discretion in denying her motion for new trial because allegations of her medical issues were uncontroverted by the Department. We disagree with her position that the trial court abused its discretion.

Both B.T. and the Department present their arguments under the standard for reviewing a default judgment set forth in Craddock v. Sunshine Bus Lines, Inc., 134 Tex. 388, 133 S.W.2d 124 (1939). The Texas Supreme Court has applied the Craddock test to a default judgment in a parental termination case in which the parent had no representation and did not file an answer or make an appearance. See In re R.R., 209 S.W.3d 112, 114-15 (Tex. 2006). See also In re M.A.A., No. 07-08-00125-CV, 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS 8524, at *6 (Tex. App.—Amarillo Nov. 6, 2008, no pet.) (mem. op.).

B.T. and the Department characterize the trial court's Order of Termination as a post-answer default judgment. We disagree with that characterization and with their analyses under Craddock. A post-answer default judgment occurs when a defendant files an answer but neither the defendant nor the defendant's attorney appears for trial. LeBlanc v. LeBlanc, 778 S.W.2d 865, 865 (Tex. 1989). B.T. was represented by counsel at the final hearing and she made a very tardy appearance before completely abandoningthe hearing. The trial court's Order of Termination recites that "Respondent Mother [B.T.] appeared in person for part of the day and through attorney of record . . . who announced ready." The trial court's order cannot be mischaracterized as a default judgment and we decline to apply the Craddock test. But see In re R.H., 75 S.W.3d 126, 130 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2002, no pet.) (citing Nichols v. TMJ Co., 742 S.W.2d 828, 830 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1987, no writ) (holding the Craddock test applies when a defendant who was represented at trial seeks a new trial because his absence prevented his attorney from presenting material evidence in his behalf)). Cf. In re R.H., 75 S.W.3d at 132 (Marion, J. dissenting) (deciding there was no post-answer default judgment because the appellant's counsel appeared and participated at trial).

Instead, we review the trial court's denial of B.T.'s motion for new trial for abuse of discretion. B.D. v. Tex. Dep't of Family & Protective Servs., No. 03-20-00118-CV, 2020 Tex. App. LEXIS 6980, at *44 (Tex. App.—Austin Aug. 28, 2020, pet. denied) (mem. op.) (citing Waffle House, Inc. v. Williams, 313 S.W.3d 796, 813 (Tex. 2010)). "A trial court abuses its discretion if it acts in an arbitrary and...