In Re the Termination of the Parent-Child Relationship of: H.B. (Minor Child) and T.S. (Alleged Father) v. Ind. Dept. of Child Services (mem. dec.) ( 2015 )


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  • MEMORANDUM DECISION
    Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),
    this Memorandum Decision shall not be                               Sep 30 2015, 9:01 am
    regarded as precedent or cited before any
    court except for the purpose of establishing
    the defense of res judicata, collateral
    estoppel, or the law of the case.
    ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT                                   ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
    Mark Small                                               Gregory F. Zoeller
    Marion County Public Defender Agency                     Attorney General of Indiana
    Indianapolis, Indiana                                    Robert J. Henke
    David E. Corey
    Deputy Attorneys General
    Indianapolis, Indiana
    IN THE
    COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
    In Re the Termination of the                             September 30, 2015
    Parent-Child Relationship of:                            Court of Appeals Case No.
    49A02-1501-JT-44
    H.B. (Minor Child)
    Appeal from the Marion Superior
    and                                                      Court, Juvenile Division
    T.S. (Alleged Father),                                   The Honorable Marilyn A.
    Appellant-Respondent,                                    Moores, Judge, and the Honorable
    Larry E. Bradley, Magistrate
    v.                                               Trial Court Cause No.
    49D09-1407-JT-315
    Indiana Department of Child
    Services,
    Appellee-Petitioner.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1501-JT-44 | September 30, 2015    Page 1 of 11
    Mathias, Judge.
    [1]     T.S., the alleged father of H.B., appeals the order of the Marion Superior Court
    terminating his parental rights. On appeal, T.S. claims that the trial court
    denied him due process by denying his request for a DNA test to establish
    T.S.’s paternity of H.B.
    [2]     We affirm.
    Facts and Procedural History
    [3]     H.B. was born in the spring of 2009 to T.B. (“Mother”), who at the time was
    married to R.P. (“Presumptive Father”).1 Shortly after the child’s birth, Mother
    was incarcerated in a half-way home. T.S. did not see the child until
    approximately three months after she was born. When H.B. was approximately
    nine months old, the child began to live in her maternal grandfather’s house
    with Mother. T.S. then began to live there “off and on” until June 4, 2013,
    when H.B. was four years old. Tr. pp. 55-56.
    [4]     In May 2013, the Department of Child Services (“DCS”) received a report
    concerning H.B. During the subsequent investigation, DCS learned that Mother
    had a history of substance abuse. Mother also informed the DCS caseworker
    that she believed that T.S. was H.B.’s father. DCS was not informed and did
    1
    See 
    Ind. Code § 31-14-7-1
    (1) (2001) noting that a man is presumed to be a child’s biological father if the
    man “and the child’s biological mother are or have been married to each other” and the “child is born during
    the marriage.”
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1501-JT-44 | September 30, 2015         Page 2 of 11
    not yet know that Mother may have been married to Presumptive Father at the
    time of H.B.’s birth.2 DCS did not immediately remove H.B. from Mother’s
    home. However, after further investigation, DCS filed a petition alleging that
    H.B. was a Child in Need of Services (“CHINS”) on June 4, 2013. The petition
    alleged that H.B. was a CHINS due to Mother’s substance abuse, the
    educational neglect of H.B.’s sibling, and because T.S. had not demonstrated an
    ability or willingness to parent. The trial court held an initial hearing on June 4,
    2013, but T.S. did not appear, despite knowing about the hearing date.
    [5]     On June 11, 2013, as a result of Mother’s continuing use of illicit drugs, DCS
    removed H.B. from Mother’s care and placed her with Mother’s relatives.
    Another hearing was held on June 14, 2013, at which T.S. appeared and
    requested and received the appointment of counsel on his behalf.
    [6]     At a hearing held on June 20, 2013, the trial court found H.B. to be a CHINS
    based on Mother’s admissions. Both T.S. and his counsel failed to appear. The
    trial court held another hearing on July 18, 2013. T.S. again failed to appear in
    person, but his counsel appeared on his behalf. At the August 15, 2013,
    dispositional hearing, T.S. again failed to appear in person, but he was
    represented by counsel. At the August 15 hearing, the trial court ordered T.S. to
    submit to DNA testing to establish paternity.
    2
    Apparently, at some point, Mother and Presumptive Father divorced; during the CHINS investigation,
    DCS asked Mother if she was married, and she replied that she was not. Tr. pp. 64-65.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1501-JT-44 | September 30, 2015     Page 3 of 11
    [7]      At the October 31, 2013 review hearing, T.S. failed to appear in person but was
    represented by counsel. The trial court ordered H.B. to remain in relative foster
    care. Yet again, at the February 13, 2014 review hearing, T.S. failed to appear
    in person, but his counsel was present.
    [8]      On May 15, 2014, the trial court held another review hearing. This time, T.S.
    appeared both in person and by counsel and requested services and paternity
    testing. The trial court, however, denied this request. It also rescinded its earlier
    order requiring T.S. to undergo paternity testing because Mother indicated that
    she may have been married to Presumed Father at the time of H.B.’s birth. Up
    to this point, DCS was unaware of Mother’s marriage to Presumed Father.
    [9]      A permanency hearing was held on June 19, 2014. Yet again, T.S. failed to
    appear in person, appearing only by counsel. The trial court changed the
    permanency plan to adoption. T.S.’s counsel requested that T.S. be provided
    with services. DCS requested that Presumed Father be added to the CHINS
    petition because he had been married to Mother at the time of H.B.’s birth. The
    trial court denied T.S.’s request but granted DCS’s request.
    [10]     DCS filed a petition to terminate parental rights on July 17, 2014. At the July
    25, 2014 initial hearing, T.S., failed to appear in person choosing to appear only
    by counsel. The trial court appointed a guardian ad litem for H.B. At the review
    hearing held on September 25, 2014, T.S. yet again failed to appear in person,
    but his counsel was present and informed the court that T.S. had not been in
    contact with him.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1501-JT-44 | September 30, 2015   Page 4 of 11
    [11]     At a pre-trial hearing held on September 26, 2014, T.S. appeared in person and
    by counsel and requested mediation, which the trial court granted. Another pre-
    trial hearing was held on November 7, 2014. T.S. again did not appear, but his
    counsel did and noted that T.S. had left the mediation. A week later, at another
    pre-trial hearing, T.S. did not appear in person, but his counsel was present and
    again noted that T.S. had “showed for, and then left from the mediation
    hearing in this matter.” Appellant’s App. p. 44.
    [12]     The trial court held an evidentiary hearing on the petition to terminate parental
    rights on December 30, 2014. T.S. appeared for this hearing in person and by
    counsel. At the hearing, T.S. testified that he did not appear at most of the
    hearings because he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest due to a
    probation violation. He also claimed that he was unaware of the trial court’s
    order to undergo paternity testing. T.S. stated that, once his probation issue was
    resolved,3 he requested paternity testing but thought he had to wait until
    Presumed Father had been “dismissed” as the legal father before it could be
    determined whether T.S. was, in fact, H.B.’s father. Tr. p. 16. T.S. also
    admitted to having an opiate addiction. He claimed to have stopped using after
    H.B. was removed but admitted to having relapsed at least once since then. At
    the time of the termination hearing, T.S. had been living with his mother for
    3
    T.S. was incarcerated for forty-five days as a result of violating his probation. This probation apparently
    stemmed from T.S.’s May 2013 conviction for theft. In addition to this conviction, T.S.’s criminal record
    includes convictions for criminal mischief, trespass, operating while intoxicated, attempted theft, receiving
    stolen property, burglary, and possession of marijuana.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1501-JT-44 | September 30, 2015            Page 5 of 11
    approximately one year. He was unemployed and had not been employed for a
    year and a half. He relied on food stamps and his mother’s care to survive, and
    also did “side jobs.” Tr. p. 26.
    [13]     The trial court also heard evidence that H.B. was in relative foster care with her
    sibling. H.B. was bonded with her sibling and was doing well. H.B. desired to
    stay with the relative foster parents, and the permanency plan was adoption.
    T.S. had not seen H.B. for seventeen months. He had not asked DCS for
    visitation for over a year. When asked whether he wanted H.B. to be placed in
    his care, T.S. was equivocal, stating:
    Depends if she’s mine or not. If she is mine then I’ll take steps,
    working with the Court and the people that own them or have
    them, I guess, that are taking care of them and whatever further
    bests them [sic] is in my best interest and if it’s not me, then so be it
    the[n].”
    Tr. p. 21 (emphasis added). T.S. also admitted that it was in H.B.’s best
    interests to stay with her sibling, who was also placed with the current foster
    parents.
    [14]     The DCS case manager testified that termination of parental rights was in
    H.B.’s interest. The case manager also noted that T.S. had not provided DCS
    with any documentation to support his claims that he had addressed his
    substance abuse problems or that he had appropriate housing, employment, or
    income to care for the child. The court-appointed special advocate testified that
    adoption by the current foster parents was in H.B.’s best interests. The trial
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1501-JT-44 | September 30, 2015   Page 6 of 11
    court issued an order on January 5, 2015, terminating T.S.’s parental rights to
    H.B. T.S. now appeals.
    Discussion and Decision
    [15]     Our supreme court recently reiterated that:
    Due process protections bar state action that deprives a person of
    life, liberty, or property without a fair proceeding. It is
    unequivocal that the termination of a parent-child relationship by
    the State constitutes the deprivation of an important interest
    warranting deference and protection, and therefore [w]hen the
    State seeks to terminate the parent-child relationship, it must do
    so in a manner that meets the requirements of due process.
    In re G.P., 
    4 N.E.3d 1158
    , 1165 (Ind. 2014) (citation and internal quotations
    omitted).
    [16]     However, the mere biological link between a putative father and a child does
    not by itself warrant significant constitutional protection. In re Paternity of
    M.G.S., 
    756 N.E.2d 990
    , 1005 (Ind. Ct. App. 2001), trans. denied. Still, an
    unwed father has a constitutionally protected inchoate or “opportunity” interest
    for a relationship with his child. 
    Id.
     (citing Lehr v. Robertson, 
    463 U.S. 248
    , 261-
    64 (1983)). If a putative father has “grasped this opportunity by demonstrating
    a full commitment to the responsibilities of parenthood by coming forward to
    participate in the rearing of his child, his parental rights with respect to that
    child ripen into an interest which is entitled to substantial protection under the
    Due Process Clause.” 
    Id.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1501-JT-44 | September 30, 2015   Page 7 of 11
    [17]     Pursuant to Indiana Code section 31-14-7-1(1), a man is presumed to be a
    child’s biological father if the man and the child’s biological mother are or have
    been married to each other and the child is born during the marriage. See In re
    I.J., ___ N.E.3d ___, 
    2015 WL 4111706
     at *3 (Ind. Ct. App. July 8, 2015). This
    presumption of fatherhood may be rebutted by direct, clear, and convincing
    evidence that someone else is the father. 
    Id.
     (citing Minton v. Weaver, 
    697 N.E.2d 1259
    , 1260 (Ind. Ct. App. 1998)); see also In re Paternity of Infant T., 
    991 N.E.2d 596
    , 600 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013) (noting that paternity may be only
    indirectly “disestablished” once it has been established in another man),4 trans.
    denied. One method for rebutting the presumption that a mother’s husband is
    the father of the child is with genetic test results demonstrating greater than a
    99% probability that another man is the father. In re I.J., ___ N.E.3d at ___,
    
    2015 WL 4111706
     at *3 (citing I.C. § 31-14-7-1(3)).
    [18]     Here, T.S. claims that because he had been part of H.B.’s life, the trial court
    deprived him of due process when it denied his request for DNA testing and
    parenting services. We disagree.
    [19]     First, T.S.’s claims regarding his involvement with H.B.’s life are supported
    only by T.S.’s own testimony, which the trial court was not required to believe,
    even if it was, as he claims, uncontradicted. See Wood v. State, 
    999 N.E.2d 1054
    ,
    1064 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013) (noting that the trier of fact is not required to believe
    4
    This to avoid having a child declared a filius nullius, or “son of nobody,” which would carry with it
    countless detrimental financial and emotional effects. 
    Id.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1501-JT-44 | September 30, 2015            Page 8 of 11
    a witness’s testimony even if it is uncontradicted). Moreover, evidence exists
    that T.S. lived with Mother and H.B. “off and on” until June 4, 2013, after
    DCS became involved. T.S then left H.B. with Mother even though he knew
    about Mother’s substance abuse problems.
    [20]     Nor can we turn a blind eye to the fact that, during the year prior to the
    termination hearing, T.S. did not ask about visiting H.B. When asked about if
    he wanted H.B. to be in his care, T.S. gave what can be considered, at most, an
    unenthusiastic response: “Depends if she’s mine or not. . . . [A]nd if it’s not
    me, then so be it[.]” Tr. pp. 21, 31. This is not the response of a father
    emotionally bonded with his child.
    [21]     With regard to the issue of paternity testing, T.S. frames the issue as one of the
    trial court denying his request for genetic testing. This, however, overlooks that
    the trial court initially ordered T.S. to establish paternity of H.B. Instead of doing
    so, T.S. ignored the trial court’s order and absented himself from the
    proceedings for approximately nine months. T.S. attempts to excuse his
    behavior by pointing to the fact that he did not want to come to court because
    of the warrant for his arrest as a result of his probation violation. However, this
    does not excuse his total lack of compliance with the trial court’s order for nine
    months or his repeated failure to appear. T.S. could well have established
    paternity outside of the courtrooms he wished to avoid, allowing his appointed
    counsel to present the result in a subsequent hearing.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1501-JT-44 | September 30, 2015   Page 9 of 11
    [22]     Moreover, as noted by the trial court, H.B. was born in 2009, and the CHINS
    case was not filed until 2013. During this four year period, T.S. did absolutely
    nothing to establish his paternity of H.B. T.S. even admitted that he knew he
    needed to establish paternity as early as February 2012. Although he claimed to
    have completed a DNA swab kit, he failed to turn it in for testing. As explained
    above, he also ignored the trial court’s initial order to establish paternity.
    [23]     We are therefore faced with a situation where T.S. apparently believed himself
    to be the father of H.B. from a very early point in the child’s life. Instead of
    establishing paternity on his own, he did nothing. When DCS became involved,
    T.S. left H.B. with Mother despite her obvious and serious drug problem. When
    the trial court ordered him to establish paternity, he ignored the order. T.S. also
    failed to appear at most of the CHINS hearings for fear of being arrested on an
    outstanding warrant. Under these facts and circumstances, we cannot say that
    the trial court “denied” T.S. the opportunity to establish his paternity of H.B.
    To the contrary, T.S. had plenty of opportunities to establish paternity but
    failed to take advantage of any of them. Therefore, we cannot say that the trial
    court deprived T.S. of due process by denying his request for genetic testing
    after it was discovered that H.B. had a presumptive legal father.
    [24]     T.S. also claims that termination of his parental rights violates the due process
    rights of someone not yet determined to be the father of a child. However, we
    have long held that a parent-child relationship may be terminated even though
    paternity has yet to be established. In re C.C., 
    788 N.E.2d 847
    , 851 n.1 (Ind. Ct.
    App. 2003), trans. denied (citing In re A.C.B., 
    598 N.E.2d 570
    , 572 (Ind. Ct. App.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1501-JT-44 | September 30, 2015   Page 10 of 11
    1992)). Moreover, if T.S. had complied with the trial court’s initial order to
    establish paternity, DCS would have been able to provide services to him.
    Instead, T.S. absented himself from the proceedings for nine months, and this,
    after he failed or refused to establish paternity for the first four years of H.B.’s
    life. Again, under these facts and circumstances, we cannot say that T.S. was
    deprived of due process.
    Conclusion
    [25]     Having concluded that the trial court did not deprive T.S. of due process by
    denying his request for genetic paternity testing, we affirm the order of the trial
    court terminating whatever parental rights T.S. may have to H.B.
    [26]     Affirmed.
    Baker, J., and Bailey, J., concur.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1501-JT-44 | September 30, 2015   Page 11 of 11