S.C. v. J.T.C.

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REL: 04/02/2010 Notice: T h i s o p i n i o n i s s u b j e c t t o f o r m a l r e v i s i o n b e f o r e p u b l i c a t i o n i n t h e advance s h e e t s o f Southern R e p o r t e r . R e a d e r s a r e r e q u e s t e d t o n o t i f y t h e R e p o r t e r o f D e c i s i o n s , A l a b a m a A p p e l l a t e C o u r t s , 300 D e x t e r A v e n u e , M o n t g o m e r y , A l a b a m a 3 6 1 0 4 - 3 7 4 1 ((334) 2 2 9 - 0 6 4 9 ) , o f a n y t y p o g r a p h i c a l o r o t h e r e r r o r s , i n o r d e r t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s may b e made b e f o r e t h e o p i n i o n i s p r i n t e d i n Southern R e p o r t e r . ALABAMA COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS OCTOBER TERM, 2009-2010 2080756 S.C. v. J.T.C. Appeal from Mobile J u v e n i l e Court (JU-06-2664.92) MOORE, J u d g e . S.C. ("the m o t h e r " ) a p p e a l s f r o m a j u d g m e n t o f t h e M o b i l e J u v e n i l e C o u r t f i n d i n g h e r c h i l d , T.E., d e p e n d e n t a n d a w a r d i n g custody of the c h i l d to J.T.C., the child's maternal 2080756 grandmother ("the m a t e r n a l a p p e a l as b e i n g grandmother"). We dismiss the from a v o i d judgment. Background, F a c t s , and P r o c e d u r a l History The f a c t s p e r t i n e n t t o t h e d i s p o s i t i o n o f t h i s a p p e a l a r e as follows. On November 30, 2007, t h e M o b i l e J u v e n i l e ("the juvenile court") entered a judgment d e c l a r i n g ("the father") t o be t h e f a t h e r of the c h i l d , Court T.E.E. declining to f i n d t h e c h i l d dependent, awarding custody of the c h i l d t o t h e father, and a w a r d i n g t h e mother visitation." the " a l l reasonable rights of F o l l o w i n g t h e e n t r y o f t h a t judgment, t h e c h i l d , f a t h e r , a n d t h e m o t h e r a l l moved t o V i r g i n i a . The m o t h e r t h e r e a f t e r moved i n t o " S e c t i o n 8" f e d e r a l l y s u b s i d i z e d h o u s i n g f o r low-income f a m i l i e s under t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s Housing A c t o f 1937, as amended, boyfriend, S e c . 1437 e t s e q . , w i t h her h e r two o l d e r c h i l d r e n , h e r n i e c e , a n d h e r n i e c e ' s two c h i l d r e n . allowed 42 U.S.C. W h i l e t h e m o t h e r was r e s i d i n g t h e r e , t h e f a t h e r t h e mother t o e x e r c i s e p h y s i c a l c u s t o d y o f t h e c h i l d d u r i n g t h e weekdays w h i l e he e x e r c i s e d p h y s i c a l c u s t o d y o f t h e c h i l d on t h e weekends. In September federally 2008, subsidized t h e mother was h o u s i n g ; she t h e n 2 evicted arranged from t h e t o move i n 2080756 with C.D., the c h i l d ' s maternal aunt. The m o t h e r d i d not i m m e d i a t e l y i n f o r m t h e f a t h e r o f t h e move b e c a u s e , t h e m o t h e r testified, she b e l i e v e d t h e f a t h e r w o u l d be u p s e t . However, she later t o l d h i m a n d t h e y p l a n n e d f o r t h e f a t h e r t o p i c k up the child on O c t o b e r 25, 2008. 2008, the maternal aunt, checked out the c h i l d The day b e f o r e , without from s c h o o l t h e mother's in with knowledge, e a r l y and t r a n s p o r t e d the c h i l d t o M o b i l e t o t h e home o f t h e m a t e r n a l The O c t o b e r 24, grandmother. m a t e r n a l a u n t t e s t i f i e d t h a t , when t h e m o t h e r moved h e r i n S e p t e m b e r 2008, t h e c h i l d ' s c l o t h e s u n c l e a n and i l l - f i t t i n g appeared a n d t h e c h i l d ' s h a i r was m a t t e d . She t e s t i f i e d f u r t h e r t h a t , o v e r t h e n e x t month, s h e o b s e r v e d t h a t t h e m o t h e r a l l o w e d D.S., t h e c h i l d ' s o l d e r s i s t e r , primary care with f o r t h e c h i l d a n d t h a t D.S. w o u l d h i t t h e c h i l d h e r hand and w i t h testified that, during objects. K.C., t h e m o t h e r ' s the time she l i v e d D.S., n o t t h e m o t h e r , h a d p r o v i d e d and with p r i m a r y care t h a t D.S. w o u l d s l a p a n d p u n c h t h e c h i l d , the mother would n o t e f f e c t i v e l y contrary allowed to provide stop. t o t h e mother's t e s t i m o n y , to stay outside t h e mother, of the c h i l d which K.C. a l s o that actions testified, the c h i l d and r i d e h e r b i c y c l e a t n i g h t 3 niece, w o u l d be without 2080756 s u p e r v i s i o n and t h a t t h e m o t h e r d i d n o t make t h e c h i l d go b e d a t any c e r t a i n t i m e . A c c o r d i n g t o the maternal aunt, child D.S. informed field, aunt her that k n o c k i n g o u t two testified grandmother's that had drug of the c h i l d ' s she took the the child teeth. child to to the across a The maternal the maternal house i n o r d e r t o p r o t e c t the c h i l d from further danger. On October the j u v e n i l e child, 28, 2008, t h e m a t e r n a l grandmother c o u r t an i n s t a n t e r p e t i t i o n filed f o r custody of a l l e g i n g the dependency of the c h i l d . in the T h a t same d a t e , the j u v e n i l e c o u r t g r a n t e d the m a t e r n a l grandmother " i n s t a n t e r temporary custody" of the child. On November 7, 2008, the j u v e n i l e c o u r t c o n d u c t e d an o r e t e n u s h e a r i n g and, on November 12, 2008, i t awarded the maternal grandmother "temporary c u s t o d y " o f t h e c h i l d b a s e d on t h e "emergency p e t i t i o n " by t h e m a t e r n a l g r a n d m o t h e r on O c t o b e r 28, 2008. court then h e l d a " f i n a l The h e a r i n g " on F e b r u a r y 1 1 , filed juvenile 2009. A p r i l 24, 2009, t h e j u v e n i l e c o u r t e n t e r e d a j u d g m e n t On finding the c h i l d dependent, awarding the m a t e r n a l grandmother custody of the c h i l d , and a w a r d i n g t h e m o t h e r and t h e f a t h e r v i s i t a t i o n i n M o b i l e C o u n t y upon 48 h o u r s ' n o t i c e . 4 daytime The m o t h e r 2080756 timely filed a motion court denied. The for a new trial, which the mother t i m e l y a p p e a l e d t o t h i s juvenile court. Discussion On court appeal, lacked the argues jurisdiction that the to enter juvenile the April B a s e d on t h e f o l l o w i n g p r i n c i p l e s o f law, agree. The November paternity child of the gave jurisdiction § first subject-matter 24, 2009, j u d g m e n t . we mother See juvenile determination initial and Code child judgment determining juvenile over custody e n d e d when t h e the 2007, child the 30-3B-202, A l a . Alabama. 30, court the and That the custody continuing matters r e l a t i n g 1975. adjudicating no "only determination could i f modify i t ha[d] under its longer exclusive See resided in Thereafter, original jurisdiction Section the jurisdiction § 3 0 - 3 B - 2 0 2 ( a ) ( 2 ) , A l a . Code 1975. court of to the c h i l d . continuing parents the to 30-3B-201." custody make § an 30-3B- 202(b). Section 30-3B-201(a), Ala. Uniform C h i l d Custody J u r i s d i c t i o n Code 1975, part and E n f o r c e m e n t A c t U C C J E A " ) , § 30-3B-101 e t s e q . , A l a . Code 1975, 5 a of the ("the s e t s f o r t h when 2080756 an A l a b a m a c o u r t has j u r i s d i c t i o n t o make an i n i t i a l custody determination: "(a) E x c e p t as o t h e r w i s e p r o v i d e d i n S e c t i o n 3 0 - 3 B - 2 0 4 [ , A l a . Code 1 9 7 5 , ] , a c o u r t o f t h i s s t a t e has j u r i s d i c t i o n t o make an i n i t i a l c h i l d c u s t o d y determination only i f : " ( 1 ) T h i s s t a t e i s t h e home s t a t e o f t h e c h i l d on t h e d a t e o f t h e commencement o f t h e p r o c e e d i n g , o r was t h e home s t a t e o f t h e c h i l d w i t h i n s i x months b e f o r e t h e commencement o f t h e p r o c e e d i n g a n d t h e c h i l d i s absent from t h i s state but a parent or person acting as a p a r e n t continues t o l i v e i n this s t a t e ; " ( 2 ) A c o u r t o f a n o t h e r s t a t e does n o t have j u r i s d i c t i o n u n d e r s u b d i v i s i o n ( 1 ) , o r a c o u r t o f t h e home s t a t e o f t h e c h i l d h a s d e c l i n e d t o e x e r c i s e j u r i s d i c t i o n on t h e ground that this state i s t h e more appropriate f o r u m u n d e r S e c t i o n 30-3B-207 o r 30-3B-208, [ A l a . Code 1975,] a n d : "a. The child and t h e c h i l d ' s p a r e n t s , o r t h e c h i l d and a t l e a s t one p a r e n t o r a p e r s o n acting as a p a r e n t , have a s i g n i f i c a n t connection with this s t a t e o t h e r t h a n mere p h y s i c a l p r e s e n c e ; and "b. S u b s t a n t i a l e v i d e n c e i s available in this state concerning the c h i l d ' s care, protection, training, and personal r e l a t i o n s h i p s ; "(3) A l l c o u r t s h a v i n g jurisdiction u n d e r s u b d i v i s i o n (1) o r (2) have d e c l i n e d 6 2080756 to e x e r c i s e j u r i s d i c t i o n on the g r o u n d t h a t a court of this state i s t h e more a p p r o p r i a t e forum t o determine t h e custody o f t h e c h i l d u n d e r S e c t i o n 30-3B-207 o r 30-3B-208; o r "(4) No c o u r t o f a n y o t h e r s t a t e w o u l d have jurisdiction under the criteria s p e c i f i e d i n s u b d i v i s i o n (1), (2), or (3)." The j u v e n i l e c o u r t d i d n o t have j u r i s d i c t i o n pursuant t o § 3 0 - 3 B - 2 0 1 ( a ) ( 1 ) b e c a u s e A l a b a m a was n o t " t h e home s t a t e o f the c h i l d on t h e d a t e o f t h e commencement o f t h e p r o c e e d i n g " and because Alabama "was w i t h i n s i x months b e f o r e on October 28, 2 0 0 8 . 1 [not] t h e home s t a t e o f t h e c h i l d t h e commencement o f t h e p r o c e e d i n g " The j u v e n i l e court j u r i s d i c t i o n pursuant t o § 30-3B-201(a)(2), d i d n o t have ( a ) ( 3 ) , o r (a)(4) b e c a u s e V i r g i n i a was t h e home s t a t e o f t h e c h i l d a n d V i r g i n i a had not "declined t o exercise j u r i s d i c t i o n on t h e g r o u n d t h a t t h i s s t a t e i s t h e more a p p r o p r i a t e f o r u m . " § 30-3B-201(a)(2). Thus, t h e j u v e n i l e c o u r t c o u l d e x e r c i s e j u r i s d i c t i o n o n l y "as The UCCJEA d e f i n e s t h e "home s t a t e " o f t h e c h i l d , i n p e r t i n e n t p a r t , as " [ t ] h e s t a t e i n w h i c h a c h i l d l i v e d w i t h a p a r e n t o r a p e r s o n a c t i n g as a p a r e n t f o r at least s i x c o n s e c u t i v e months i m m e d i a t e l y b e f o r e t h e commencement o f a c h i l d custody proceeding." § 3 0 - 3 B - 1 0 2 ( 7 ) , A l a . Code 1975. 1 7 2080756 otherwise provided i n [ A l a . Code 1975, §] 30-3B-204." § 30- 3B-201(a). S e c t i o n 30-3B-204 p r o v i d e s : "(a) A court of t h i s s t a t e has temporary emergency j u r i s d i c t i o n i f the c h i l d i s p r e s e n t i n t h i s s t a t e and t h e c h i l d has b e e n a b a n d o n e d o r i t i s necessary i n an e m e r g e n c y t o p r o t e c t t h e child because the c h i l d , or a s i b l i n g or parent of the child, is subjected to or threatened with mistreatment or abuse." B a s e d on t h e t e s t i m o n y niece, that, the of the maternal j u v e n i l e court when t h e child was b e i n g " s u b j e c t e d t o " o r was abuse." § 30-3B-204(a). reasonably a u n t and could removed t o A l a b a m a , the have the mother's concluded child "threatened w i t h " "mistreatment order, I t appears from the 2 t e r m s o f i t s November 12, that court the or Hence, the j u v e n i l e c o u r t p r o p e r l y c o u l d have e x e r c i s e d t e m p o r a r y e m e r g e n c y j u r i s d i c t i o n o v e r child. was juvenile acted pursuant to the 2008, that A t t h e t i m e o f t h e November 7, 2008, h e a r i n g , § 12-15¬ 153, A l a . Code 1975, a u t h o r i z e d j u v e n i l e c o u r t s t o e x e r c i s e e m e r g e n c y j u r i s d i c t i o n f o r t h e p r o t e c t i o n o f an e n d a n g e r e d c h i l d and, when shown v e r i f i e d e v i d e n c e o f abuse o r n e g l e c t i n j u r i o u s t o the h e a l t h or s a f e t y of the c h i l d l i k e l y t o c o n t i n u e w i t h o u t a p r e v e n t i v e o r d e r , t o e n t e r an ex p a r t e custody order to a l l e v i a t e the danger. S e c t i o n 12-15-153 d i r e c t e d t h a t , " [ i ] f an e m e r g e n c y o r d e r i s i s s u e d , a h e a r i n g , a f t e r n o t i c e , must be h e l d w i t h i n 72 h o u r s o r t h e next j u d i c i a l b u s i n e s s day t h e r e a f t e r , t o e i t h e r d i s s o l v e , c o n t i n u e o r m o d i f y t h e o r d e r . " The j u v e n i l e c o u r t d i d n o t c o m p l y w i t h 2 8 2080756 jurisdiction when "temporary custody" However, authorize the i t granted the maternal grandmother i n r e s p o n s e t o h e r "emergency temporary juvenile dependency p r o c e e d i n g . emergency court to Pursuant petition." jurisdiction conduct did the 3 not subsequent to § 30-3B-204(c), "[i]f there is a previous child custody d e t e r m i n a t i o n t h a t i s e n t i t l e d t o be e n f o r c e d u n d e r t h i s c h a p t e r , ... any o r d e r i s s u e d b y a c o u r t o f t h i s s t a t e u n d e r t h i s s e c t i o n must s p e c i f y i n t h e order a p e r i o d t h a t the c o u r t c o n s i d e r s adequate t o a l l o w t h e p e r s o n s e e k i n g an o r d e r t o o b t a i n an o r d e r f r o m the s t a t e having j u r i s d i c t i o n under S e c t i o n s 30-3B-201 t h r o u g h 3 0 - 3 B - 2 0 3 [ , A l a . Code 1 9 7 5 ] . The order i s s u e d i n t h i s s t a t e remains i n e f f e c t u n t i l an o r d e r i s o b t a i n e d f r o m t h e o t h e r s t a t e w i t h i n t h e p e r i o d s p e c i f i e d or the p e r i o d e x p i r e s . " Hence, in temporary the order custody to circumstances, rather awarding protect than the the setting maternal child the from matter grandmother the emergency for further t h a t d e a d l i n e , b u t t h e m o t h e r does n o t r a i s e t h a t i s s u e on appeal. We n o t e t h a t § 12-15-153 has b e e n amended and r e n u m b e r e d as § 12-15-141, A l a . Code 1975. See A c t No. 2008¬ 277, § 9, A l a . A c t s 2008. I t a l s o appears t h a t the j u v e n i l e c o u r t a c t e d w i t h i n i t s t e m p o r a r y e m e r g e n c y j u r i s d i c t i o n when i t a d d r e s s e d t h e c u s t o d y i s s u e a f t e r l e a r n i n g t h a t t h e c h i l d had b e e n b r o u g h t t o t h i s s t a t e without the p e r m i s s i o n of the p a r e n t s . S e c t i o n 30-3B208, A l a . Code 1975, a l l o w s an A l a b a m a c o u r t t o assume temporary emergency j u r i s d i c t i o n i n such i n s t a n c e s , even though, g e n e r a l l y , the c o u r t s h o u l d d e c l i n e to e x e r c i s e j u r i s d i c t i o n i n those circumstances. 3 9 2080756 dependency specified proceedings, the juvenile court should have a d e f i n i t e p e r i o d f o r the maternal grandmother t o o b t a i n a custody order from V i r g i n i a , s e e F e r i a v . S o t o , 990 So. 2d 418 ( A l a . C i v . App. 2 0 0 8 ) , o r t o o b t a i n an o r d e r f r o m the applicable jurisdiction Virginia court declining because t h e Alabama j u v e n i l e to court exercise was a more a p p r o p r i a t e forum. The A p r i l 24, 2009, j u d g m e n t d i d n o t s i m p l y r e s o l v e t h e temporary emergency affecting went f u r t h e r b y f i n d i n g custody of the c h i l d modifying juvenile 30, 2007, d i d n o t have judgment, i t i s v o i d . 1051 the c h i l d of the c h i l d ; i t dependent and by a w a r d i n g to the maternal t h e November court the welfare grandmother, judgment. jurisdiction thereby Because t h e t o enter that See M.B.L. v . G.G.L., 1 So. 3d 1048, ( A l a . C i v . App. 2008) ("A j u v e n i l e court of t h i s may n o t r e l y on t e m p o r a r y e m e r g e n c y j u r i s d i c t i o n state to transfer c u s t o d y f o r an i n d e f i n i t e p e r i o d b a s e d on t h e b e s t interests of the c h i l d , r e g a r d l e s s of the e x i s t e n c e o f the f a c t s pleaded b y DHR [ t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f Human R e s o u r c e s ] i n i t s d e p e n d e n c y petitions."). A v o i d j u d g m e n t w i l l n o t s u p p o r t an a p p e a l , a n d any a p p e a l f r o m a v o i d j u d g m e n t must be d i s m i s s e d . 10 See i d . 2080756 Our d i s p o s i t i o n o f t h i s a p p e a l does n o t a l t e r t h e p r o v i s i o n o f t h e November 12, 2008, o r d e r . As custody s t a t e d above, the j u v e n i l e c o u r t had j u r i s d i c t i o n t o e n t e r a t e m p o r a r y o r d e r awarding the maternal grandmother custody of juvenile the child; jurisdiction the by failing i n § 30-3B-204(c). within s e t out remanded t h e case w i t h comply those Therefore, we jurisdiction, d i r e c t i o n s f o r the procedures. remand this See, case revise 2008, obtain an a 12, definite order from its and a out acts fails court j u v e n i l e court e.g., M.B.L., to has to supra. with i n s t r u c t i o n s to the 24, 2009, j u d g m e n t and to i t s April i t s November but i n t h e UCCJEA, t h i s j u v e n i l e court to vacate grandmother exceeded t o comply w i t h the p r o c e d u r e s e t emergency procedures with simply I n cases i n which the j u v e n i l e c o u r t i t s temporary f o l l o w the court f o r the p r o t e c t i o n order to appropriate Virginia grant the period court maternal i n which either to assuming j u r i s d i c t i o n over t h i s custody matter or d e c l i n i n g to e x e r c i s e jurisdiction § 30-3B-201(3). jurisdiction, and i n f a v o r of the j u v e n i l e c o u r t i n accordance w i t h the In the event j u v e n i l e court a Virginia i s d i r e c t e d to cooperate with that court to assure 11 court assumes communicate the p r o t e c t i o n of the 2080756 c h i l d u n t i l a c u s t o d y d e t e r m i n a t i o n c a n be made i n t h a t c o u r t . See § 30-3B-204(d). exercise jurisdiction, merits I f the V i r g i n i a court declines to t h e j u v e n i l e c o u r t may t h e n r e a c h t h e o f t h e dependency petition filed by the maternal grandmother. APPEAL DISMISSED WITH Thompson, INSTRUCTIONS. P . J . , and P i t t m a n , concur. 12 Bryan, a n d Thomas, J J . ,

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