Jessica E. v. Superior Court CA5 ( 2021 )

Filed 6/15/21 Jessica E. v. Superior Court CA5
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication
or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
JESSICA E.,
F082256
Petitioner,
(Super. Ct. No. 18CEJ300315-3)
v.
THE SUPERIOR COURT OF FRESNO OPINION
COUNTY,
Respondent;
FRESNO COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL SERVICES,
Real Party in Interest.
THE COURT*
ORIGINAL PROCEEDINGS; petition for extraordinary writ review. Gary L.
Green, Commissioner.
Jessica E., in pro. per., for Petitioner.
No appearance for Respondent.
Daniel C. Cederborg, County Counsel, and Lisa R. Flores, Deputy County
Counsel, for Real Party in Interest.
-ooOoo-
* Before Poochigian, Acting P.J., Peña, J. and Smith, J.
This is a petition for extraordinary writ challenging the orders of the juvenile court
in setting a hearing pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 366.26.1 (Cal.
Rules of Court, rule 8.452.) Petitioner Jessica E. (mother) and Jonathan E. (father)2 are a
married couple and the parents of now 19-month-old Julius, the subject of this writ
petition. Julius was born in October 2019 when mother had an open dependency case
regarding her teenage twins, Dylan and Chloe, who were removed from her custody
because father physically abused Dylan. Mother was denied services to reunify with
Dylan under section 361.5, subdivision (b)(6) because of the severity of Dylan’s injuries
and her failure to act. She was provided services to reunify with Chloe, but the court
terminated them in September 2019. After exercising its dependency jurisdiction over
Julius at a contested dispositional hearing on January 8, 2021, the juvenile court denied
both parents reunification services; mother under section 361.5, subdivision (b)(7)3 and
father under section 361.5, subdivision (b)(6) and set a section 366.26 hearing for May 5,
2021.
Mother appears in propria persona. She raises various claims related to Julius’s
removal, both the original removal at the hospital and at the dispositional hearing, as well
1 Statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code.
2 Father also filed a writ petition which is pending before this court in case
No. F082242.
3 There is a conflict in the record as to whether the juvenile court also denied
mother reunification services under section 361.5, subdivision (b)(10). The department
recommended denial of services on that basis but in the reporter’s transcript for the
dispositional hearing, the court expressly stated it was not denying her services under
section 361.5, subdivision (b)(10) because the evidence did not support it. However, in
issuing its orders, it also expressly stated it was denying her services under section 361.5,
subdivision (b)(10) and the minute order for the hearing reflects the same. We conclude
the court denied mother services under section 361.5, subdivision (b)(6) only and that the
subsequent statement was an oversight (i.e., a rote reading of a prepared order) and that
the minute order is a clerical error. We urge the juvenile court to correct its record to
reflect the proper ruling.
2
as what she claims was inadequate representation by her attorney. She seeks an order for
Julius’s placement in her custody or reunification services.
Mother appeared for oral argument, after which this court stayed the section
366.26 hearing scheduled for May 5, 2021, and directed real party in interest to file a
letter brief addressing the evidence that supports the juvenile court’s denial of services,
specifically its finding that providing mother services would not benefit Julius based on
the factors listed in section 361.5, subdivision (i).4 The parents were granted leave to
explain why the evidence was insufficient to support the finding based on the same
factors. Real party relied on its opposition and did not address the factors in its letter
brief. Mother’s responsive brief essentially addressed the same issues she raised at oral
argument but did not address the factors.5
The question on appeal is whether substantial evidence supports the juvenile
court’s findings and orders. We conclude that it does, deny the petition and lift the stay.
4 In determining whether reunification services will benefit the child under
section 361.5, subdivision (b)(7), subdivision (i) of that same section requires the juvenile
court to consider any relevant information, including the following: (1) the specific act
or omission comprising the severe physical harm inflicted on the child or the child’s
sibling or half sibling; (2) the circumstances under which the abuse or harm was inflicted
on the child or the child’s sibling or half sibling; (3) the severity of the emotional trauma
suffered by the child or the child’s siblings or half sibling; (4) any history of abuse of
other children by the offending parent; (5) the likelihood that the child may be safely
returned to the care of the offending parent within 12 months with no continuing
supervision; and (6) whether or not the child desires to be reunified with the offending
parent.
5 Mother’s responsive brief virtually mirrors the one filed by father, including issues
that pertain only to him. Specifically, he claims the court and the department violated his
Fourth Amendment right by removing Julius from his custody without just cause, his
Fifth Amendment protection against double jeopardy because he was penalized twice for
physically abusing Dylan and his right to due process because he was not allowed to
“defend” against the allegations of abuse in Dylan’s case. Even assuming mother has
standing to raise these issues on father’s behalf, we addressed them in some detail in our
opinion in father’s case and will simply refer to our analysis in that opinion (case
No. F082242).
3
PROCEDURAL AND FACTUAL SUMMARY
In October 2019, Julius was born prematurely at 36 weeks gestation and admitted
to the neonatal intensive care unit. Mother reported using marijuana throughout her
pregnancy for pain management and nausea, and to increase her appetite. The year
before, her twins, then 17-year-old Chloe and Dylan, were removed from her custody
after father hit Dylan for three to four hours on the legs, buttocks, ribs and genitals with a
leather belt, a metal hose from a vacuum cleaner and a metal bat. Father beat Dylan so
hard the vacuum attachments broke. Father also picked him up by the legs, pushed him
against the wall, punched him in the ribs and picked him up by the hair. Mother
witnessed the beating but did not intervene. She reportedly said that Dylan was a
“ ‘jerk’ ” and deserved the beating. Dylan disclosed being physically abused by father
several times before that incident. Mother was provided parenting, mental health and
domestic violence services to reunify with Chloe. The court denied mother reunification
services for Dylan (§ 361.5, subd. (b)(6)) and ordered him into long-term foster care. In
September 2019, the juvenile court terminated mother’s services for Chloe based on the
results of a psychological evaluation and risk assessment performed by Dr. London that
indicated she would not be willing or able to intervene on Chloe’s behalf to protect her
from father. The court set a section 366.26 hearing in January 2020 as to Chloe.
Mother claimed her doctor knew she was using marijuana during her pregnancy
with Julius and child protective services misunderstood the circumstances involving her
twins. Dylan had many behavioral problems and was using drugs when he had the
altercation with father. It was a “ ‘teenager thing’ ” which no one was willing to
consider.
The Fresno County Department of Social Services (department) took Julius into
protective custody and placed him in foster care. The department filed a dependency
petition, alleging Julius was at a substantial risk of suffering serious physical harm or
4
neglect because of his parents’ marijuana use, father’s physical abuse of Julius’s
half sibling, Dylan, and mother’s failure to protect Dylan. (§ 300, subds. (a), (b) & (j).)
The juvenile court ordered Julius detained and offered the parents parenting
classes, substance abuse, mental health and domestic violence evaluations and random
drug testing. The court ordered weekly supervised visitation and set the
jurisdictional/dispositional hearing (combined hearing) for January 23, 2020.
Prior to the combined hearing, the department filed a third amended petition,
eliminating a section 300, subdivision (a) (serious physical harm) count as to mother and
adding counts under section 361.5, subdivision (b) (failure to protect) as to both parents.
In its report for the dispositional hearing, the department informed the juvenile
court the parents were participating in some of the services offered to them. They
enrolled in a parenting class, which they were scheduled to begin on March 24, 2020.
They completed substance abuse and domestic violence assessments and were referred
for outpatient treatment, the child abuse intervention program and a mental health
assessment. They also enrolled in random drug testing and each tested positive four
times for marijuana. Mother also tested positive for creatinine and opiates.
The department recommended the juvenile court deny mother reunification
services under section 361.5, subdivision (b)(7) because she had been denied
reunification services as to Dylan and under (b)(10) because her services as to Chloe
were terminated and she failed to make subsequent efforts to resolve the problem that
required Chloe’s removal. The department recommended the court deny father services
under section 361.5, subdivision (b)(6) because of the severity of the physical abuse he
inflicted on Dylan. In determining whether services would benefit Julius notwithstanding
the applicability of section 361.5, subdivision (b)(7), the department considered the
severity of Dylan’s injuries, Dylan and Chloe’s disclosure that father previously abused
them, mother’s belief that Dylan deserved the abuse, and the parents’ unwillingness to
5
take responsibility for the abuse. The department opined it would not be in Julius’s best
interest to provide the parents reunification services.
On January 23, 2020, the juvenile court set a contested combined hearing for
March 18, 2020. The hearing was continued until July 16, 2020.
In June 2020, social worker Brittany Smith contacted the parents’ service
providers about their progress. They were participating in a parenting class and expected
to graduate in August 2020. They were testing negative for all substances. Their
substance abuse counselor, however, said father became easily agitated, was difficult to
work with and was “borderline hostile.” Father was participating in the child abuse
intervention program and completed seven classes before classes were cancelled in
March 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mother was dropped from the
program for nonattendance and required to start again when classes resumed. The
parents were referred for mental health assessments in January 2020 but declined the
appointment, stating they were too busy. Father said he was not aware of the referral.
Smith referred them again in June 2020. Mother informed Smith she and father were
seeing a private therapist. The parents provided a letter from their therapist showing they
participated in individual therapy sessions from February 24 to April 29, 2020.
On July 17, 2020, the juvenile court sustained the third amended petition, finding
Julius was a minor described by section 300, subdivisions (a), (b) and (j). The court
continued the matter to July 22 for disposition. On July 22, the court ordered the parents
to undergo a risk assessment and continued the dispositional hearing. The hearing was
ultimately conducted as a contested hearing on January 8, 2021.
Meanwhile, Dr. London met with the parents over several days in September 2020
to assess their cognitive integrity, psychological functioning, and level of risk to Julius.
She reported her findings in November 2020. Mother told Dr. London Dylan was in a
transitional home. He discontinued all visits with her two to three months before, but she
did not know why. She had unlimited video conferences with Chloe, who she believed to
6
be doing “fairly well.” She explained the twins were removed because father physically
abused Dylan and she did not stop it. Dylan was having behavioral issues and problems
at school. She later found out he was getting pills from other students at school. She
regretted not watching over him and checking on him more. She said Julius was
diagnosed with congenital adrenal hyperplasia, which impaired his ability to retain salt.
Mother has the same condition.
Father told Dr. London that Dylan was defiant. When he was with his biological
father, “ ‘he got to run the house.’ ” Father was raised in a military family and imposed
structure in the family. Dylan did not like the structure. He bullied his sister and was
defiant to mother. He ditched school, lied to his teachers and went on websites that were
forbidden to him. Father initially attempted rewards and gifts and positive reinforcement
but found spanking Dylan’s “ ‘butt’ ” with his hand got better results. As to the incident
with Dylan, father said, “ ‘he got his butt whooped. It was a three to four hour long
discussion, arguing, and him making excuses. He would get his butt whooped during
points in the conversation.’ ” Father claimed he spanked Dylan with his hand and with a
belt. He was holding a bat but did not hit Dylan with it.
Dr. London opined mother posed a substantial risk of harm to Julius, explaining:
“While [mother] did not herself physically abuse [Dylan], she was
neglectful in that she not only allowed it to happen, but watched the abuse
occur over a period of hours and did not intervene in order to stop it.
Although [mother] indicated what occurred with Dylan would never
happen again, at no time during this evaluative process did she express any
emotional distress or articulate remorse for that which her son suffered as a
result of her neglect. At no time did she exhibit enhanced insight and/or
self-awareness regarding the fact that she allowed her husband to physically
abuse her son for hours and she did nothing to stop it. At no time did
[mother] identify the possible emotional and psychological ramifications of
her husband’s abuse or of her inaction on Dylan. She did not express any
desire to reconnect with Dylan emotionally or even spend time with him at
any point in the future. To the contrary, [mother] noted Dylan has decided
that he does not want any contact with her for unknown reasons.”
7
Dr. London continued:
“[Mother] remains married to the man who severely abused her son.
At no time during the clinical interview did she express any anger toward
her husband for the abuse her son suffered or for the fact that this abuse
resulted in her two eldest children being removed from her care and
custody. Consistent with that which was reported by [Smith], there is
nothing to suggest that [mother] would be willing and/or have the ability to
protect her child from abuse in the future. Results of this assessment
suggest [mother] is one who seeks approval from others and will modify
her behaviors in order to avoid disapproval. Moreover, she exhibits
dependent personality features.”
Dr. London also concluded father posed a substantial risk of harm to Julius. The
risk assessment indicated that he demonstrated poor judgment and self-awareness. He
blamed Dylan for the abuse he suffered and continued to justify the abuse he perpetrated
against Dylan. Although he acknowledged learning other forms of discipline from his
parenting classes, he did not express remorse for his actions at any time during the
evaluation. Dr. London found no evidence to suggest that father had the ability to
provide an emotionally, physically, psychologically safe and nurturing home
environment for Julius. Given father’s limited frustration tolerance, poor judgment and
poor insight, she believed it reasonable he could react in an abusive manner with Julius if
Julius did not do exactly what father wanted, when he wanted and how he wanted.
On January 8, 2021, the juvenile court convened the contested dispositional
hearing and received into evidence a letter from father’s therapist and certificates
evidencing the parents completed a parenting class. The court also accepted stipulated
testimony from Dylan that he was voluntarily visiting the parents. He did not bear a
grudge against father and did not have any concerns about Julius being placed in their
care. County counsel submitted its case on its report.
Dr. London testified she determined father lacked judgment during the clinical
interview when he attempted at length to justify the abuse perpetrated against Dylan. He
told her all the reasons why it happened in an attempt to justify it but did not
8
acknowledge that it was wrong to abuse another human being. She maintained her
opinion Julius would be at risk in father’s custody.
Mother’s attorney questioned Dr. London about the propriety of conducting a
second risk assessment on mother and her ability to be objective in this case. Dr. London
did not realize until their first meeting that she had previously evaluated mother. Asked
whether it would have been a “best practice” to have another psychologist evaluate
mother, Dr. London answered, “You know, I don’t know,” adding another clinician
would not have the advantage of background information. Additionally, mother did not
object to being evaluated by Dr. London. Dr. London disagreed she was “just
reconfirming” the prior evaluation and considered Julius’s circumstances a new case, a
“whole new evaluation process.” It would not change her opinion to know that Dylan
visited mother and that Dylan forgave her. Asked what she found most troubling about
mother, Dr. London stated her poor insight into the extent of trauma Dylan experienced
and her lack of remorse and accountability.
The juvenile court asked Dr. London whether father was capable of safely having
Julius in his care. Dr. London thought it was “possible,” but she was not confident that
he could be safe with him. In order to believe father was safe, she needed him to “take
responsibility for his actions, not provide a litany of reasons as to essentially why Dylan
deserves to be abused or why the abuse was justified.” She needed him to express
remorse and understanding that Dylan experienced trauma and acknowledge his need to
address his low frustration tolerance, poor anger management and inappropriate
interactions with children.
Dr. London had similar concerns about mother’s lack of remorse and insight.
Mother expressed no dissatisfaction with father regarding the degree of abuse he
inflicted. Dr. London also questioned mother’s ability to protect Julius if father became
upset, dissatisfied or enraged. To consider mother safe, Dr. London needed to see that
9
she was remorseful, truly understood the psychological damage Dylan suffered because
of the abuse and had the ability to protect Julius should father become angry.
Father testified that he was remorseful that the incident with Dylan occurred and
that his actions resulted in mother not having custody of her twins and that they could not
bring Julius home from the hospital. He was remorseful for not being there for Dylan
and understanding that he was grieving the loss of his father. He understood that his
actions were wrong and that he traumatized Dylan. Father wished he had handled the
situation differently. He apologized to Dylan and told him he wished he had known
better.
Mother testified she last used marijuana around March 5, 2020. She completed 12
of the 26 required sessions for the domestic violence program and 31 of the 52 required
sessions to complete the child abuse intervention program. She better understood
through the child abuse intervention program how trauma in her childhood affected her
and that she needed to stop the cycle of abuse from impacting her children. She was
sorry she did not intervene to help Dylan. She should have paid more attention to him
and insisted he get therapy to deal with his father’s death. She did not believe Dylan was
responsible for the abuse he suffered. She visited with Julius twice a week. Most of the
visits were virtual but she attempted to engage him by talking to him about what he was
doing. She believed Julius was bonded to her. If necessary, she would separate from
father to gain custody of Julius. However, she had no plan to separate from him unless
she was court ordered. She believed she could support herself and Julius.
Mother was present during the incident between father and Dylan for an hour or
more and most of what she witnessed was verbal interaction. She did not witness
physical abuse or physical injuries. However, father showed her the baseball bat and how
he struck Dylan with it. When pressed, she admitted seeing father strike Dylan with the
bat in the stomach. She believed father physically and verbally abused Dylan but did not
10
believe father had a problem with anger. The only domestic violence in her home was
between herself and Dylan and father and Dylan.
Smith testified she had been the social worker assigned the case since March 2020.
Neither parent expressed remorse to her about Dylan’s experience nor acknowledged the
severity of the harm inflicted. However, she never directly asked mother if she was
remorseful. Smith did not believe Julius could be safely placed in parental custody
without court supervision. She believed based on the parents’ testimony they were still
minimizing their actions. She had not seen either parent have a significant change in
their respective understanding of the case, although father appeared less aggressive and
more cooperative.
County counsel argued the evidence supported denying the parents reunification
services; the only issue was whether providing them services would serve Julius’s best
interest. County counsel argued it would not, citing the severity of the harm inflicted on
Dylan, the parents’ minimizing their role in the abuse, the length of time Julius had been
out of their care and their failure to benefit from the services offered since the detention
hearing. Minor’s counsel concurred.
The parents’ attorneys argued for reunification services based on Julius’s best
interest. Father’s attorney argued father believed his conduct with Dylan was
disciplinary, which he realized was wrong. Dylan’s stipulated testimony demonstrated
father had taken steps to reconcile the situation and Dylan was healing emotionally from
the incident. She pointed out father did not have a history of abuse and was stable and
sober but was not given credit for these positive aspects of his life. She did not believe
he should be penalized by losing custody of his only child for an incident that happened
two years before and for which he did his best to atone.
Mother’s attorney pointed out mother was not the perpetrator of the abuse but took
full responsibility for not intervening and had developed a relationship with Dylan.
Mother had completed a significant portion of her services and could complete them if
11
given more time. Although mother was hindered by the limitations of virtual visitation,
she developed a strong bond with Julius. Additionally, although counsel was not critical
of Dr. London’s method of assessing mother, he argued best practice would have been to
refer mother to a different therapist for the psychological evaluation.
The juvenile court found Dr. London and Smith fully credible but the parents
evasive. The court found Dylan suffered severe physical abuse based on Dylan’s account
that father physically abused him for three to four hours using a leather belt and metal
tube, threatened him with a baseball bat, picked him up by the leg, pushed him against
the wall and picked him up by the hair. The court stated, the “record made it so clear that
this young man endured what could only be legally characterized as severe physical
abuse.” As to mother, the court found section 361.5, subdivision (b)(10) did not apply
because she made reasonable efforts to treat the problem. However, it could not escape
the applicability of section 361.5, subdivision (b)(7) since she was previously bypassed
for services under subdivision (b)(6).
The juvenile court stated it was relying heavily on Dr. London’s expertise and
specifically addressed the fact that Dr. London performed both of mother’s evaluations.
The court found there was no showing another psychologist would have reached a
different conclusion and mother’s own testimony supported Dr. London’s opinion. The
court noted mother testified, when asked what she learned from her domestic violence
classes, “I have done actions that were not helpful.” That demonstrated to the court she
minimized the events and grounds leading to the removal of Julius. As to her testimony
regarding the specifics of the incident with Dylan, her testimony was a “moving target.”
She was inconsistent as to the duration of her presence at the event and what she
observed. The court stated, “[Mother] now makes the excuse that she was not
sufficiently engaged with Dylan to have prevented or mitigated the abuse that occurred to
Dylan. Although mother notes that she is to blame in connection with the incident, she
continues to attribute blame to Dylan at least in part. Of key concern to this court is
12
mother’s dependence on the father. Although the mother claims she is willing to leave
the father, she appears financially dependent on him and has no viable support aside from
him. In addition, she has volunteered today that the father should be in Julius’s life.”
As to father, the juvenile court stated, “When asked why the [d]epartment is
involved in this case, [father] could not explain the depths of the [d]epartment’s concerns
for Julius’s safety. [Father] was poised to explain that he needs a chance to prove
himself. [Father] engaged in the same pattern he did with Dr. London to make excuses
and to explain things away. As to the remorse for his actions, [father] noted his regret.
[Father] appears to regret the results of his actions. When pressed to address the
accountability, [father] seemed to focus on the use of a belt, vacuum hose, hands and bat
and to indicate the use of those was wrong. [Father] used the excuse of the discipline in
his own family, which is apparently physical confrontation. But in the case of Dylan,
there was no intent to harm. That shows the disconnect.”
The juvenile court continued, “[Father’s] testimony reveals that he continues to
blame Dylan, although [father] testified that he did not blame Dylan. In the next round,
he testified that Dylan, ‘Should have talked to us more.’ … [¶] [Father] noted that
Dylan should have communicated better. He also noted he still places an onus on Dylan.
[Father] has had multiples opportunities to show true, genuine remorse and
accountability…. When asked today to describe his remorse, [father] could only indicate
that he was remorseful that the event with Dylan occurred and that … ‘It led to all of
this,’ … including the removal of Julius.”
The juvenile court removed Julius from his parents’ custody and ordered a
minimum of two supervised visits a month. The court denied mother reunification
services under section 361.5, subdivision (b)(7) and father under subdivision (b)(6) and
set a section 366.26 hearing for May 5, 2021.
13
DISCUSSION
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
Mother contends her attorney was ineffective for not returning calls or otherwise
being available and for providing poor advice. However, she does not explain how her
attorney’s alleged lack of responsiveness negatively impacted her case. Nor does she
specify what advice she was given that was subpar. Notably she was represented by
retained counsel until August 2020, just after the jurisdictional hearing. She was
subsequently represented by appointed counsel. At no time did she inform the juvenile
court her court-appointed counsel was not providing effective assistance and request a
Marsden-like hearing. (People v. Marsden (1970) 2 Cal.3d 118.) Moreover, she fails to
show her appointed counsel was ineffective.
A parent claiming ineffective assistance of counsel must show that his or her
attorney “failed to act in a manner to be expected of reasonably competent attorneys
practicing in the field of juvenile dependency law.” (In re Kristin H. (1996) 46
Cal.App.4th 1635, 1667–1668.) “The parent must also establish that the claimed error
was prejudicial” under the harmless error test enunciated in People v. Watson (1956) 46
Cal.2d 818, 836. (Kristin H., at p. 1668.) “Thus the parent must demonstrate that it is
‘reasonably probable that a result more favorable to the appealing party would have been
reached in the absence of the error.’ [Citation.]” (Kristin H., at p. 1668.)
We find no support for mother’s contention counsel was ineffective because, as
we discuss in the sections that follow, substantial evidence supports the jurisdictional
findings and dispositional orders which led to the ultimate disposition in this case—i.e.,
denial of reunification services and the setting of a section 366.26 hearing. In other
words, based on the evidence before the juvenile court, it is not reasonably probable a
result favorable to mother would have been reached.
14
Detention
Mother contends Julius’s initial removal at the hospital was unwarranted because
the police officer who responded did not see the immediacy of placing a protective hold
on Julius. As a result, the social worker requested and was granted a protective custody
warrant by the juvenile court. Apparently, mother believes the police officer’s decision
not to place a protective hold on Julius means there was never a risk to him. She ignores,
however, the power of the juvenile court to intervene to protect a child.
The juvenile court has the authority to issue a protective custody warrant if it finds
probable cause to believe the child is described in section 300, there is a substantial
danger to the child and there are no reasonable means to protect the child without
removal. (§ 340, subd. (b).) Here, the court issued its protective custody warrant based
on an affidavit filed by the department alleging Julius required protection because of
father’s physical abuse of Dylan and mother’s cessation of child abuse intervention
classes and mental health therapy because of her involuntary discharge from those
services. Such evidence supported the court’s decision to issue the warrant pending the
department’s decision whether to file a dependency petition.
Jurisdiction
Mother contends there is no medical evidence to support allegations Dylan was
physically harmed. To the extent she argues there was insufficient evidence Dylan was
physically abused as alleged in the dependency petition, her argument fails.
The juvenile court’s authority to exercise its dependency jurisdiction over a minor
child derives from section 300 and its subdivisions describing various ways in which a
child has been harmed or is at risk of suffering harm. The court need only find by a
preponderance of the evidence that the child is described by one of the subdivisions in
order to assume jurisdiction over the child. Here, the juvenile court found Julius was a
child described under subdivisions (a), (b) and (j). The subdivision (a) count alleged
father physically abused Dylan, thus placing Julius at a substantial risk of suffering
15
serious physical harm. The court found under subdivision (b) that father physically
abused Dylan and mother failed to protect him, thus placing Julius at a substantial risk of
being harmed and under subdivision (j) that her failure to protect Julius placed him at a
substantial risk of being neglected by her.
Substantial evidence supported the allegations under subdivisions (a), (b) and (j)
based on the circumstances of Dylan’s abuse. Since subdivision (a) directly addresses
serious physical harm, we will focus our analysis there; it applies when “[t]he child has
suffered, or there is a substantial risk that the child will suffer, serious physical harm
inflicted nonaccidentally upon the child by the child’s parent or guardian.” (§ 300,
subd. (a).) The statute specifies, “For the purposes of this subdivision, a court may find
there is a substantial risk of serious future injury based on the manner in which a less
serious injury was inflicted, a history of repeated inflictions of injuries on the child or the
child’s siblings, or a combination of these and other actions by the parent or guardian that
indicate the child is at risk of serious physical harm.” (Ibid.)
It was undisputed father subjected Dylan to verbal and physical abuse which lasted
from approximately three to four hours. During that time, father struck him on his legs,
buttocks, ribs and genitals, using a leather belt, a metal hose and a metal bat. He also
picked Dylan up from his legs, pushed him against the wall, punched him in the ribs and
picked him up by the hair. As a result, Dylan sustained bruises on his thigh and buttocks.
The juvenile court did not need medical evidence to determine that Dylan was
severely physically abused. The circumstances of his abuse and the resultant bruising
was sufficient to make that finding and to further find that Julius would be at a substantial
risk of suffering physical abuse if placed in father’s custody. It was also undisputed that
mother witnessed the abuse and did not intervene to protect Dylan. Consequently, the
court could also properly find that her inaction placed Julius at a substantial risk of being
physically abused.
16
Removal
“After finding that a child is a person described in Section 300, the court shall hear
evidence on the question of the proper disposition to be made of the child.” (§ 358,
subd. (a).) In order to remove a child from parental custody, the juvenile court must find
by clear and convincing evidence there is or would be a substantial danger to the child’s
physical or emotional well-being if the child were returned home and there are no
reasonable means by which the child’s physical health can be protected short of removal.
(§ 361, subd. (c).)
“The juvenile court has broad discretion to determine what would best serve and
protect the child’s interest and to fashion a dispositional order in accordance with this
discretion.” (In re Jose M. (1988) 206 Cal.App.3d 1098, 1103–1104.) “In determining
whether a child may be safely maintained in the parent’s physical custody, the juvenile
court may consider the parent’s past conduct and current circumstances, and the parent’s
response to the conditions that gave rise to juvenile court intervention.” (In re D.B.
(2018) 26 Cal.App.5th 320, 332.) “A removal order is proper if based on proof of
parental inability to provide proper care for the child and proof of a potential detriment to
the child if he or she remains with the parent. [Citation.] ‘The parent need not be
dangerous, and the minor need not have been actually harmed before removal is
appropriate. The focus of the statute is on averting harm to the child.’ ” (In re N.M.
(2011) 197 Cal.App.4th 159, 169–170.)
On a challenge to the juvenile court’s dispositional order, we review the finding to
determine whether substantial evidence supports it. We do so bearing in mind that the
juvenile court’s decision to order a child removed from parental custody must be
supported by the heightened standard of clear and convincing evidence. (In re Kristin H.
(1996) 46 Cal.App.4th 1635, 1654.)
Mother contends there is insufficient evidence to support the removal order
because Dr. London’s opinion, on which the juvenile court so heavily relied to find Julius
17
would be at risk in her care, was tainted by her prior assessment and therefore biased.
We disagree.
Dr. London performed a comprehensive psychological evaluation of mother,
including interviews, record review and psychological testing in this case and provided
the juvenile court a full report of her findings and opinions. Mother’s attorney
specifically asked Dr. London if her opinion was swayed by her knowledge of mother’s
history. Dr. London said it was not; she considered Julius’s a “new” case. No one
challenged the reliability of Dr. London’s methodology or her conclusions based on the
testing and information provided. To the extent mother claims her attorney was
ineffective for not objecting to Dr. London’s appointment to assess her or for not
obtaining a second opinion, she fails to show it was reasonably probable another
psychologist would have rendered a more favorable opinion.
Further, the juvenile court did not detect any bias in Dr. London’s assessment or
opinion. Rather, the court found Dr. London very credible and her opinion useful in
determining whether mother could safely parent Julius. The court also found that
mother’s testimony supported Dr. London’s conclusion.
Mother further contends she presented evidence she had changed; evidence that
she eliminated any risk she may have previously posed to Julius. For example, she
asserts that she is clean and sober, completed parenting classes and received instruction in
emergency dosing and injections to treat a medical condition which she and Julius have.6
While laudable, mother’s accomplishments do not mitigate the risk about which the
juvenile court was most concerned; i.e., that father would physically abuse Julius and
mother would not intervene. Further, it is notable that she did not finish the child abuse
6 Mother contends the department considered her a risk to Julius in part because of
his medical condition. There is, however, no evidence in the record to support her claim.
In any event, the risk about which the department was most concerned was father’s
propensity for abuse and mother’s inclination not to protect.
18
intervention program before her reunification services in Chloe’s case were terminated
and made no further effort to engage in such services.
On the evidence before it, the juvenile court could properly find there was or
would be a substantial danger to Julius’s physical or emotional well-being if he were
placed in mother’s custody and there was no reasonable means to protect him short of
removing him.
Denial of Reunification Services
When the juvenile court removes a child from parental custody, it must provide
services to the parent to reunify with the child unless it finds one of the exceptions listed
in section 361.5, subdivision (b) applies. (§ 361.5, subds. (a) & (b).) The juvenile court
denied mother reunification services under section 361.5, subdivision (b)(7), which
applies when the parent is not receiving reunification services for a sibling or half sibling
pursuant to subdivision (b)(6). In light of the court’s prior order denying mother services
under section 361.5, subdivision (b)(6) to reunify with Dylan, the only question was
whether services would benefit Julius. In making that determination, the juvenile court
must consider any relevant information, including the specific act or omission comprising
the severe physical harm, the circumstances under which the abuse or harm was inflicted,
the severity of the emotional trauma suffered by the child or the child’s half sibling, any
history of abuse of other children by the offending parent, the likelihood the child may be
safely returned to the care of the offending parent within 12 months with no continuing
supervision and whether or not the child desires to be reunified with the offending parent.
(§ 361.5, subd. (i).)
Here, the juvenile court concluded that providing mother reunification services
would not benefit Julius because of the extreme nature of father’s physical assault on her
son Dylan, her failure to intervene and her attribution of blame to Dylan for causing his
own abuse. Mother was offered the opportunity to argue this point by addressing the
factors in subdivision (i) of section 361.5, which she did not do. She has thus failed to
19
carry her burden on appeal of showing that substantial evidence does not support the
court’s order denying her reunification services under section 361.5, subdivision (b)7).
Consequently, we must deny her writ petition.
DISPOSITION
The petition for extraordinary writ is denied. The order staying the section 366.26
hearing is lifted. This opinion is final forthwith as to this court pursuant to California
Rules of Court, rule 8.490(b)(2)(A).
20