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A. a.(1)(a) i) a)S !"($0 ($0 0 (($0 0 0   A_ekqwDocumentDocument StyleI.1.A.a.(1)(a)i)a)x?t2PleadingHeader for Numbered Pleading Paper % z &(  &XXXXX6G''*d66G''*d6HH1HH2HH3HH4HH5HH6HH7HH8HH910111213141516171819202122232425262728  .+('2$ FT!   p4Heading 2Underlined Heading Flush LeftV4Heading 1Centered Heading@..  b* 8Bullet ListIndented Bullet List0..0` ..` B& $1Document Style0..8` ..` B $2Document Style.. . 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X/&24Technical Document Style.. 23  Ԁ.   CRight ParRight-Aligned Paragraph NumbersI.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)3|x4<6X9`(*Courier 12pt10cpiXXx6X@JQX@( T$   d^!$(G.2ɣ$ FT!   XX     0  MARVINBERKELESLIEMcWILLIAMS($   0   DHSGreenfieldFergusonGreenfields("$    GGGG'dxd !"D#$D%D&D'(D)Ӏ2 0Indent123  2" 0Indent20 23  2, 0Indent30 0 23  26 0Indent40 0 0 23  2@ 0Indent50 0 0 0 23  2J 0Indent60 0 0 0 0 23  2T 0Indent70 0 0 0 0 0 23  2^ 0Indent80 0 0 0 0 0 0 23  VWXYZ[\] ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P 8Mac DefaultMac Default ` X<  9p`(Courier New% Line 7 dgggg7Border 1ddNhC << G<  9p`(Arial  F!  #d#f  jj   YYY FILEDjX November12,1996CecilCrowson,Jr.jAppellateCourtClerk  ( F!#d#f  I$f         JenniferwasalsoabusedbyMr.Lewis'twosonsduringthisperiod,andearlierbyaboyfriendofababysitter.  F!#d#f  I$f         ThisopinionisnotfurtheridentifiedinGreenfield,andwehavebeenunabletoidentifyit.PtPt HHHV,(hh hd'0F Styl{WP}01  HH  2$HH  Geneva  <Px443!#4$*$$*$ KK  Geneva  Geneva .,6 Geneva   BA Op Geneva  BA Op Geneva NC<< CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$   1  ' dxdP Pd F! . f    7ߑXXdd7\RA'\ `    , 5  g u` Likh;+'h|`  `Lߛ@ INTHECOURTOFAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE@ EASTERNSECTION    STATEOFTENNESSEE,DEPARTMENT@ ) CLAIBORNECOUNTYOFHUMANSERVICES@ ) 03A019602JV00043 @ ) PetitionerAppellee@ )@ ) @ ) HON.DAVIDRAY, v.@ ) JUDGE @ )@ )CARLAANNRIGGSLEWISMITCHELL @ )   @ )  DefendantAppellant@ ) VACATEDANDREMANDEDWILLIAMALLENOFOAKRIDGEFORAPPELLANTCHARLESW.BURSON,AttorneyGeneral&Reporter,andLORRAINELESTERTHOMPSON,AssistantAttorneyGeneral,OFNASHVILLEFORAPPELLEE    OPINION         Goddard,P.J.  ThisisaproceedingtoterminatetheparentalrightsofCarlaMitchellandGordonTerryCheekastotheirdaughter,JenniferElaineCheek,bornAugust7,1983.Mr.Cheekwasservedbypublication,didnotanswer,andanorderwasenteredterminatinghisparentalrights.Ms.Mitchellcontestedthecase,andafteraplenaryhearing,herparentalrightswerelikewiseterminated.  Sheappeals,raisingthefollowingissues:     I. Whetherthetrialcourtfollowedthestatutoryrequirementsinterminatingthemother'sparentalrights. II.Whetherthetrialcourterredbyhearingthechild'stestimonyattrial exparte ,anddiscussingthecasewithaDHScaseworker exparte . III.Whetherthetrialcourterredbydenyingpretrialdiscoveryofthechild'smentalhealthrecordsandrecordskeptbytheDepartmentofHumanServices.      Inviewofourdispositionofthisappealitisnotnecessarythatwedetailthefactsdevelopedingreatlength.SufficeittosaythattherecordclearlyshowsthatJenniferwassubjectedonalmostadailybasistounspeakableactsofsexualabuseprimarilyatthehandsofMrs.Mitchell'sthenhusband,JamesLewis,from1987,thedateMrs.Mitchellmarriedhim,untilJenniferwasremovedfromthehomeinFebruary1991. l   ׀JenniferisconvincedthathermotherknewofMr.Lewis'sabusiveacts,notwithstandingthemother'sproteststhatshedidnot.WefindMrs.Mitchell'stestimonyinsupportofherinsistencethatsheneverleftJenniferalonewithMr.Lewisduringtheperiodtheywerelivingtogethertobeincredible.Howeverthatmay,itiscrystalclearthatJenniferbelievedhermotherknewandtooknostepstoprotecther.  Jennifer'sremovalfromcustodyofMrs.Mitchell,whoatthattimewasstillmarriedtoMr.Lewis,occurredbecauseJennifertoldheraunt,Mrs.Mitchell'ssister,oftheabuseshewasenduring.ForthelongestperiodoftimeMrs.MitchelldeniedthatanyabusehadoccurredandrefusedtobelieveJennifer'saccusations.Asamatteroffact,shedidnotleaveMr.LewisuntilJuly1992,andonmorethanoneoccasionhadhimjoinherinvisitationwithJenniferaftershewasremovedfromthehomeandplacedinthecustodyoftheDHS.Finally,Mrs.Mitchelldidstatethatshe"hadtobelieveher,"althoughthisstatementwasmostlikelypromptedbyherdesiretoreestablisharelationshipwithJenniferwhichhadbeenseverely,ifnotirretrievably,severedandtherebyregaincustody.  ResolutionofthefirstissueturnsupontheprovisionsofT.C.A.371147(d)(1),andT.C.A.372403(a)(2),bothofwhichhavebeenamendedsincedispositionofthecasebelow.Theprovisionsineffectatthattimeareshowninanappendixtothisopinion.AstotheformerCodeSection,Mrs.MitchellarguesthattheTrialCourtdidnotmakefindingsoffactrequiredbytheStatutetoauthorizeterminationofparentalrights.Weareinclinedtoagreewiththisinsistence.However,uponourdenovoreview,wefindtheTrialCourtactedproperlyinterminatingparentalrightsunderthelatterCodeSection.  Aproposofthesecondissue,itappearsthatontwoseparateoccasions,DavidBanner,aSocialCounselorwiththeDHS,whosignedthepetitioninthiscaseseekingterminationofparentalrights,spokewiththeTrialJudgewithregardtothecase.Onthefirstoccasion,November18,1994,Mr.BannerrequestedanorderwhichwaslaterissuedpursuanttotherequestpreventingMrs.MitchellfromcontactingJennifer.ThesecondoccasionwasonJune5,1995,whenMr.BannerdeliveredaletterwrittenbyJennifertotheTrialJudge.  Mr.Bannertestifiedregardingthecontactsasfollows:    Q AsaresultofwhateverinformationYou'renotallowedtotellwhatshetoldyou.Butwhatdidyoudoasaresultofthatinformation?A OnNovemberthe18thof1994,Ibroughtarestrainingorderupforthejudgetosigntostopallcontact.Q Okay.Tellthecourthowyouobtainedthat,howyouwhatprocessyouwentbytogethimthatordersigned.Ibelievethatwasthenextpartoftheorder,themotion?A Yes.Itwas.IhadbeencontactedbyCamelotCareCenterthatJenniferhadreactedadverselytosomecorrespondencefromhermom,cards.Anditwasdetrimentaltohertherapy. AndtherehadbeenoccasionsthatI'dbeentovisitJennifer,myself,afteratelephonecallthatshe'dreceived,like,thedaybefore,oracard. AndJenniferwouldbereallydifferent.Herbehaviorswouldbemoreerratic.Shewouldcomplainofhearingvoices,voicestotellhertellingherthatshehatedhermother,andthatshedidnotwanttoseehermother,shewantedtohurtherself,afterthosephonecallsoranycontactfromhermother. So,basedonthat,incalledthejudgeandexplainedtohimwhatthesituationwas.Andhetoldmethat,ifI'dbringanorderup,hewouldsignitthatday. ....Q Mr.Banner,I'mnotsurethatIunderstoodexactlywhatyourtestimonywasconcerningJunethe5th.DidyousaythatyoucameandmetwiththejudgeandtoldhimwhatJenniferwanted?A OnJunethe5thwehadahearingonTerryCheek,thatthebirthfather,andwasgrantedadefaultjudgmenttoterminaterights. Andafterthathearing,incameupandgavethejudgetheletterthatyouhadthatwasstapledtogetherinthefileyesterdaythatthejudgeopened.AndatthattimeIdidtellhimwhatJenniferhadsaid.Q Okay.A Thatsheifshewasmadetogobackhomethatshewouldrunawayorkillherself.Q Ofcourse,thatdidn'thaveanythingtodowithTerryCheek'sparentalrights,didit?A No,sir.      Additionally,underthisissue,Mrs.MitchellcomplainsoftheTrialCourt'sinterviewingJenniferoverherobjectionwithonlytheTrialCourt,Jennifer,Jennifer'sguardianadlitem,andthecourtreporterpresent.  AstotheinterviewbytheCourt,whichisapartoftherecord,webelieveanunreportedopinionofthisCourt,Greenfieldv.Ferguson,filedinNashvilleonJuly11,1985,andthecasescitedthereinisdispositive.  Greenfield,whichwasaparentalrightsterminationcase,addressedasimilarinterviewbytheTrialCourt:     Afterahearingonthemeritsofthepetition,atwhichtheTrialJudgeinterviewedDaisyinhischambersoutofthepresenceoftheappellantsortheircounsel,hefoundthatthestatutoryrequirementshadbeenmetandenteredanorderterminatingtheappellants'parentalrightsandallowingtheGreenfieldstoadoptDaisy. .... TheappellantsinsistthattheTrialJudgecommittedreversibleerrorininterviewingthechildinchamberswithoutthepartiesortheirlawyersbeingpresent.Althoughthismaybeacommonpracticeinchildcustodycasesinthisstate,thereisverylittleauthorityonthepoint.Whatauthoritythereisgenerallystartswiththeconstitutionalrequirementthatthecourtsshallbeopenandthateverymanshallhavearemedybyduecourseoflaw.Tenn.Const.Art.I,17.Inrelianceonthissection,thiscourtinanearlierunpublishedopinion m   ׀heldthatthetrialjudgecommittedreversibleerrorinrefusingtoallowthepartiesortheirattorneystoviewthecontentsofamaster'sreportconcerningavisitationplanforaminorchild.JudgeLewis,writingforthecourtsaid:     Foracourttoissueanorderbasedinwholeorinpartonareportkeptsecretfromthepartiesisrepugnanttoourdemocraticsystemofgovernment.TheConstitutionofTennesseeguaranteesthatthecourtsshallbeopentoallpersonsandthattheyshallhavearemedy"byduecourseoflaw."Art.I,Section17.Thisisahollowguaranteeifissuesmaybedecidedbythecourton"evidence"knownonlytothecourt.     Wethinkthereasoninginourpriorcaseisaconclusiveanswertothequestionpresentedbytheappellants.Wealsothinkthepracticeofinterviewingwitnessesinchamberswithoutcounselbeingpresentviolatesthelitigant'srighttodueprocessoflaw.      WhileitmaybethecontactsmadewiththeTrialJudge,thoughclearlyimproper,wereunderstandable,giventheexigentcircumstancesobtainingatleastinsofarasthesecondinterviewisconcerned,andwhilethecontactsstandingalonemaynothavebeensufficientlyegregioustorequirereversal,they,coupledwiththeCourt'sinterviewwiththechild,assuredlyare.  Intheeventofretrial,wedeemitappropriatetobrieflyaddressissuethree.WefirstnotethattheRulesofJuvenileProcedureprovidethefollowing:     Rule25.Discovery. Bylocalruleandaccordingtowhateverprocess,informalorotherwise,isappropriateforthatcourt,eachjuvenilecourtshallinsurethatthepartiesindelinquentandunrulyproceedingsinjuvenilecourthaveaccesstoinformationwhichwouldbeavailableincriminalcourtandthatpartiesinothercaseshaveaccesstoinformationwhichwouldbeavailableinthecircuitcourt.      TheapplicableRuleofCivilProcedureisRule26.02(1),which,aspertinent,providesthefollowing:      26.02.DiscoveryScopeandLimits. Unlessotherwiselimitedbyorderofthecourtinaccordancewiththeserules,thescopeofdiscoveryisasfollows: (1)INGENERAL.Partiesmayobtaindiscoveryregardinganymatter,notprivileged,whichisrelevanttothesubjectmatterinvolvedinthependingaction,whetheritrelatestotheclaimordefenseofthepartyseekingdiscoveryortotheclaimordefenseofanyotherparty,includingtheexistence,description,nature,custody,conditionandlocationofanybooks,documents,orothertangiblethingsandtheidentityandlocationofpersonshavingknowledgeofanydiscoverablematter.Itisnotgroundforobjectionthattheinformationsoughtwillbeinadmissibleatthetrialiftheinformationsoughtappearsreasonablycalculatedtoleadtothediscoveryofadmissibleevidence.      Weareoftheopinionthatcounselwasentitledtodiscoverthemedicalrecordssought.  Insupportofourresolutionofthisissue,wenotetheholdingofthisCourtinHearnv.Pleasure,624S.W.2d556(Tenn.App.1981).ThatcasesoughtaninjunctionrequiringtheDHStopermitexaminationofitsrecordspursuanttotherightoftheplaintiffstopretrialdiscoveryinJuvenileCourt.  JudgeCantrell,inanexhaustiveopinionrelativetorighttodiscovery,visavisdueprocess,recognizedthatthedueprocessconceptdidnotoriginallyencompasstherighttodiscovery.Theopinionnoted,however,thattheconceptdevolvedthroughtheyears,andaswereadtheopinionunderpresentdayapplications,wouldapplytothejuvenilecourt,exceptforthefactthatthetimeHearnwasdecidedthepartieswereentitledasamatterofrightuponanappealtoadenovohearingincircuitcourt.  SincethedecisioninHearn,theLegislaturehaschangedtheappellateprocessandnowjuvenilecasescomedirectlytothisCourt.Uponreadingtheopinion,webelievetheprincipalunderpinningforthedecisionwastherighttodenovoreviewinCircuitCourt.Becausethishasbeenremoved,weconcludethatcounselforMrs.Mitchellwasentitledtotherecordssought.  Inconclusionastothispoint,wenotethattheStatedoesnotcontendtheTrialJudgedidnotcommiterror,butratherdidnotcommit"reversibleerror."Whilewetendtoagreethattheerrorinthecontextoftheevidenceintroducedwasharmless,wedeemitappropriate,asalreadynoted,toresolvethisissueintheeventofretrial.̜  Intheeventofretrial,werespectfullysuggestthattheTrialJudgehavingpermittedtheexpartecontactsbyMr.BannerandhavingtakentestimonyfromJenniferintheabsenceofMrs.Mitchell'scounselshouldrecusehimselfandpermitanotherJudgetohearthecase.  FortheforegoingreasonsthejudgmentoftheTrialCourtisvacatedandthecauseremandedforfurtherproceedingsnotinconsistentwiththisopinion.CostsofappealareadjudgedagainsttheDepartmentofHumanServices.      _______________________________      HoustonM.Goddard,P.J.CONCUR:________________________________HerschelP.Franks,J.________________________________CharlesD.Susano,Jr.,J.