ÿWPC  BU>‘ÜÍù0wúuàle—ø0…í,ó$ù{(©F²r’Üz*Ò;¥Jòdî SÅÅ':åIvd3’Îý¿Zª¾²ÖI7¦:ö) Ë¨·"B°ÈÌRîœô¶R«*ÄŒìôŸ©`?%(Æ”åMäH®é çÔæ¶\OÒÜÑ&UpÆÛcŽÔµ5gâyõS¸¹àtìiG©¤š4oŽ—ã·Ì‘>œ7IÍŽ‹Yà§p{ß’™bë»ÙõÆ‚~†»çK@”´ds-hNÛìë£Ò-¶¶Ly2ìç†g% Æ0`þ õ½ÃeºoŽr÷U… Ó Ô˜yV³çl‰—óâg]”×§TÚ¡ô§[ø›_ÄìQ_Fxཱུ*ö[¹Çî6\ÎÑácRà&¥¼RÃä¨Ï*Y YëÐjgf‹™};%8ÃεV±ì°"w9tBC°îœ½’ÕqlAûääÌZ¼k.‡a5ïAª»Õ…sÝ]j&vMBz­´í·]ú:Jä—ÿ!ª9áïK:ç;Ÿ Õ´•È©Uæ×ÇÝ^bYŒ¢cé§[-ÍR1zœo1н¤1%9¢D÷þ¾ÚÒ~f_/ÜHˆ°ÓžÒ¢çë-¿4æ†ÌÌ¿é}$ßa·i1Lb %\^ b 0ˆnUNöwD4H\ zkÒå· m¹ #ÉÐ ñ™ ÆŠ ÆPÆÆÜ 0D¢NæèèEþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþb 0ë Bóó 0¤ D5´ D-é 0K ASaÆ´ 0¤z 0D A«b»¢1Þ (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman RegularÖƒF1ê:i¢×+003|x ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wptÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ˜\\IB01S08\KNOXCLERK4ÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0 çÝ ƒREo$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôõò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ_ÔA.S.doesÔ_Ô€not€appeal€the€decree€as€to€termination€of€her€parental€rights.€Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó Ñ e Ñ- ù-(|G2Eo$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€G»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôõò»»Ô d(|3}$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€G»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV)ÿÿ!dxdx)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3}$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€G»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€G»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÔ€¼G»»»ÔÑ8€AXXdì»»d8ÑÑ  ÑÑ€ïWÑà  àà@ü ü ìàÔ‡îAôGÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@WW$ìàAT€KNOXVILLEÔ#†¼G»îîAô)#ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  ÓAssigned€on€Briefs€November€24,€2004Ð üL ÐÔ‡XAX»¼GÔÌò òÔ#†¼G»XXA#ÔSTATE€OF€TENNESSEE€DEPARTMENT€OF€CHILDREN'S€SERVICES€v.Ð úJ ÐÔ_ÔD.H.H.Ô_ÔÔ‡XAX»¼GÔó óÐ  ^ ÐÌà@@½½ìàò ò€Appeal€from€the€Juvenile€Court€for€Anderson€CountyÐ  ^ Ðà@@øøìàNo.€J„21691€€€€€€Patricia€Hess,€JudgeÐ ú J ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<½` AßÐ ¾  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€E2004„01691„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„PTÔ#†¼G»XXAÖ#ÔÔ‡XAX»¼GÔ€„€FILED€DECEMBER€16,€Ô_Ô2004Ô_ÔÐ ¹  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<` AßÐ ‘á  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓÔ#†¼G»XXA#ÔÔ‡XAX»¼GÔThe€issue€in€this€case€is€whether€the€trial€court€erred€in€terminating€the€parental€rights€of€theÐ ŒÜ Ðbiological€father€of€a€minor€child.€We€find€that€sufficient€grounds€for€termination€of€parental€rightsÐ xÈ Ðwere€established€under€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(4)€in€that€a€prior€order€of€the€trial€courtÐ d´ Ðincludes€a€finding€that€the€father€engaged€in€severe€abuse€of€the€child.€Upon€these€grounds€and€theÐ P  Ðtrial€court's€further€finding€that€termination€of€the€father's€parental€rights€is€in€the€child's€best€interest,Ð <Œ Ðwe€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court€and€remand.€€€€€Ð (x ÐÓYÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Juvenile€Court€Affirmed;€CauseÐ P ÐRemandedó óÐ ì< ÐÌòòÓ  ÓSharon€G.€Lee,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòHerschel€P.€Franks,€P.J.,óó€andÐ Ä ÐòòCharles€D.€Susano,€Jr.,€J.óó,€joined.Ð ° ÐÌBrian€J.€Hunt,€Clinton,€Tennessee,€for€the€Appellant,€D.H.H.Ð ˆØ ÐÌPaul€G.€Summers,€Attorney€General€and€Reporter,€and€Elizabeth€C.€Driver,€Assistant€AttorneyÐ `!°  ÐGeneral,€Nashville,€Tennessee,€for€the€Appellee,€State€of€Tennessee€Department€of€Children'sÐ L"œ! ÐServices.Ð 8#ˆ" ÐÌÓýÓò òOPINIONó óÐ %` $ ÐÌòòóóÓ  Óà  àS.H.,€the€child€in€this€termination€case€was€born€on€May€22,€2003.€€D.H.€is€her€biologicalÐ è&8"& Ðfather€and€the€Appellant€herein.€€On€July€13,€2003,€A.S.,€the€childððs€biological€mother€took€the€childÐ Ô'$#' Ðto€East€Tennessee€Children's€Hospital€emergency€room€in€Knoxville€for€treatment€of€injuries€theÐ À($( Ðchild€allegedly€sustained€while€in€the€care€of€€D.H.€€D.H.€alleges€that€these€injuries€resulted€whenÐ ¬)ü$) Ðð ðhe€fell€down€the€steps€with€the€childððon€that€date.€Skeletal€x„rays€taken€of€S.H.€were€subsequentlyÐ ˜*è%* Ðanalyzed€by€pediatric€radiologist€Dr.€Sidney€Roberts€who€determined€that€the€child€had€suffered€fourÐ „+Ô&+ Ðfractures€of€the€right€leg,€two€fractures€of€the€left€leg,€four€fractures€of€the€right€ribs€and€five€fracturesÐ p,À', Ðof€the€left€ribs.€€In€Dr.€Roberts'€opinion,€the€leg€fractures€occurred€on€or€about€July€13,€2004,€whileÐ \-¬(-ý Ðthe€rib€fractures€occurred€three€to€four€weeks€prior€to€that€date.€It€was€Dr.€Roberts'€conclusion€thatÐ ° Ðall€of€these€injuries€were€"non„accidental"€and€that€the€leg€fractures€would€not€have€been€caused€byÐ œì Ða€fall€as€alleged€by€D.H.€€Ð ˆØ ÐÌà  àOn€July€28,€2003,€the€Appellee,€State€of€Tennessee,€Department€of€Children's€Services,€filedÐ `° Ða€petition€for€temporary€custody€of€S.H.€upon€the€following€assertion:Ð L œ ÐÌÒ€°ÒÒ€°Òà Ø àIt€is€upon€Petitioner's€information€and€belief€that€[S.H.]€is€a€dependent€andÐ $ t Ðneglected€child€within€the€meaning€of€the€law€in€that€she€was€recently€admittedÐ  ` Ðto€Children's€Hospital€in€Knoxville,€Tennessee€for€possible€broken€bones.€€TheÐ ü L  Ðchild€was€determined€by€medical€personnel€at€Children's€Hospital€to€haveÐ è 8  Ðnumerous€bone€fractures,€both€older€fractures€and€more€recent€ones,€with€saidÐ Ô$  Ðfractures€appearing€to€medical€personnel€to€be€the€result€of€physical€abuse.Ð À  ÐÌÒ°€ÒÒ°€Òà  àThis€petition€was€granted€by€order€entered€July€28,€2003.€€Thereafter,€on€September€15,€2003,Ð ˜è  Ða€thirty„day€adjudicatory€hearing€was€held€and€the€court€granted€DCS€temporary€custody€of€S.H.Ð „Ô  Ðupon€a€finding€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence€that€she€was€a€dependent€and€neglected€child.€OnÐ pÀ ÐOctober€14,€2003,€DCS€filed€a€motion€requesting€that€the€court€enter€a€finding€of€severe€child€abuseÐ \¬ Ðunder€Tenn.€Code€Ann.ðð€37„1„102(21)(A).€€On€April€8,€2004,€DCS€filed€its€petition€to€terminate€theÐ H˜ Ðparental€rights€of€both€parents€citing€Tenn.€Code€Ann.ðð€36„1„113,€òòinter€aliaóó,€as€supporting€statutoryÐ 4„ Ðauthority.Ð  p ÐÌà  àDCSððs€motion€for€finding€of€severe€abuse€came€on€for€hearing€on€May€13,€2004,€and€by€orderÐ øH Ðentered€June€17,€2004,€the€court,€òòinter€aliaóó,€set€forthòò€óóits€finding€that€ð ðpursuant€to€T.C.A.€ðð€37„1„Ð ä4 Ð102(21)(a),€this€child€had€great€bodily€harm€and€that€there€was€ððknowing€exposureðð€or€ððfailure€toÐ Ð  Ðprotectðð€and€makes€a€finding€of€severe€abuse€against€the€father€and€against€the€mother€in€that€theÐ ¼  Ðmother€has€failed€to€protect€and€not€resolved€the€discrepancy€over€time.ðð€Ð ¨ø ÐÌà  àThe€hearing€on€DCSððs€petition€to€terminate€parental€rights€was€held€on€June€17,€2004,€andÐ €Ð Ðon€August€20,€2004,€the€trial€court€entered€its€order€granting€the€petition€noting€therein€that€at€theÐ l¼ Ðhearing€on€May€13,€2004,€€D.H.€and€A.S.€were€found€to€have€committed€severe€child€abuse€againstÐ X ¨ ÐS.H.Ð D!” ÐÌà  àD.H.€now€appeals€the€trial€courtððs€decree€terminating€his€parental€rights׃ ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€and€presents€theÐ #l! Ðfollowing€issues€for€our€review:Ð $X" ÐÌà  à1)€Is€there€sufficient€evidence€in€this€case€to€establish€statutory€grounds€for€termination€ofÐ à%0!$ Ðparental€rights?€Ð Ì&"% ÐÌà  à2)€Is€there€sufficient€evidence€in€this€case€to€support€the€trial€courtððs€finding€that€terminationÐ ¤(ô#' Ðof€parental€rights€is€in€the€best€interest€of€Ô_ÔS.H.Ô_Ô?€Ð )à$( ÐÑïWÑâ âÑe°Ñâ âÑ  ÑÌà  àIn€a€non„jury€case€such€as€this€one€we€review€the€record€òòde€novoóó€with€a€presumption€ofÐ œì Ðcorrectness€as€to€the€trial€courtððs€determination€of€facts€and€we€must€honor€those€findings€unlessÐ ˆØ Ðthere€is€evidence€which€preponderates€to€the€contrary.€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€13(d);€òòUnion€Carbide€v.Ð tÄ ÐHuddlestonóó,€854€S.W.2d€87,€91€(Tenn.€1993).€€The€trial€courtððs€conclusions€of€law€are€accorded€noÐ `° Ðsuch€presumption.€òòCampbell€v.€Florida€Steel€Corp.,€óó919€S.W.2d€26,€35€(Tenn.€1996);€òòPresley€v.Ð L œ ÐBennettóó,€860€S.W.2d€857,€859€(Tenn.€1993).Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌà  àIt€is€well„settled€that€ð ðparents€have€a€fundamental€right€to€the€care,€custody,€and€control€ofÐ  ` Ðtheir€children.ðð€€òòIn€re€Drinnon,€óó776€S.W.2d€96,€97€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1988)€(citing€òòStanley€v.€Illinoisóó,Ð ü L  Ð405€U.S.€645€(1972).€However,€this€right€is€subject€to€termination€provided€there€is€clear€andÐ è 8  Ðconvincing€evidence€justifying€such€termination€under€applicable€statutory€authority.€€òòSantosky€v.Ð Ô$  ÐKrameróó,€455€U.S.€745€(1982).€In€granting€a€petition€to€terminate€parental€rights,€the€court€may€relyÐ À  Ðupon€any€legitimate€ground€alleged€in€the€petition€and€it€is€not€required€that€the€petitioner€prove€allÐ ¬ü  Ðgrounds€alleged.€€òòIn€reóó€òòC.W.W.,€óó37€S.W.3d€467,€473„474€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€2000).€€If€there€is€clear€andÐ ˜è  Ðconvincing€evidence€in€the€record€which€supports€any€one€of€the€grounds€alleged€in€the€petition€toÐ „Ô  Ðterminate€then€we€must€affirm€the€trial€courtððs€decision.€òòId.€óóat€page€473„474.Ð pÀ ÐÌà  àIn€òòIn€re€Ô_ÔM.J.B.Ô_Ôóó,€140€S.W.3d€643,€653€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€2004)€we€reiterated€the€prerequisitesÐ H˜ Ðto€the€termination€of€parental€rights€as€follows:Ð 4„ ÐÌÒ€°ÒÒ€°ÒTermination€proceedings€in€Tennessee€are€governed€by€statute.€€Parties€who€haveÐ  \ Ðstanding€to€seek€the€termination€of€a€biological€parentððs€parental€rights€must€proveÐ øH Ðtwo€things.€€First,€they€must€prove€the€existence€of€at€least€one€of€the€statutoryÐ ä4 Ðgrounds€for€termination.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(c)(1);òò€Inóó€òòre€D.L.B.,€óó118Ð Ð  ÐS.W.3d€360,€367€(Tenn.€2003);€òòJones€v.€Garrettóó,€92€S.W.3d€[835]at€838.€€SecondÐ ¼  Ðthey€must€prove€that€terminating€the€parentððs€parental€rights€is€in€the€childððs€bestÐ ¨ø Ðinterests.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(c)(2);€òòIn€re€A.W.óó,€114€S.W.3dòò€óó541,€545Ð ”ä Ð(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€2003);€òòIn€re€C.W.W.,€óó37€S.W.3dòò€óó467,€475„476€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.Ð €Ð Ð2000);€òòIn€re€M.€W.€A.,€Jr.óó,€980€S.W.2d€620,€622€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1998).Ð l¼ ÐÌÒ°€ÒÒ°€Òà  àWe€first€address€the€issue€of€whether€there€was€clear€and€convincing€evidence€to€support€aÐ D!” Ðground€for€termination€of€parental€rights€in€this€case.€Ð 0"€  ÐÌà  àTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(4)€sets€forth€one€of€the€statutory€grounds€for€termination€ofÐ $X" Ðparental€rights€as€follows:Ð ô$D # ÐÌÒ€°ÒÒ€°Òà Ø àòòThe€parent€or€guardian€has€been€found€to€have€committed€severe€childÐ Ì&"% Ðabuse€as€defined€in€ðð€37„1„102,€under€any€prior€order€of€a€courtóó€or€is€found€byÐ ¸'#& Ðthe€court€hearing€the€petition€to€terminate€parental€rights€or€the€petition€forÐ ¤(ô#' Ðadoption€to€have€committed€severe€child€abuse€against€the€child€who€is€the€subjectÐ )à$( Ðof€the€petition€or€against€any€sibling€or€half„sibling€of€such€child,€or€any€otherÐ |*Ì%) Ðchild€residing€temporarily€or€permanently€in€the€home€of€such€parent€or€guardian;Ð h+¸&* Ѐ€Ð T,¤'+ Ð(Emphasis€added.)Ð ° ÐÌÒ°€ÒÒ°€Òà  àAs€we€have€noted,€on€June€17,€2004,€the€trial€court€entered€an€order€finding€that€D.H.€hadÐ ˆØ Ðcommitted€severe€child€abuse€against€S.H.€€pursuant€to€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(4),€this€orderÐ tÄ Ðand€finding€therein€constitutes€a€ground€for€termination€of€D.H.ððs€parental€rights.€Accordingly,€it€isÐ `° Ðour€determination€that€there€was€clear€and€convincing€evidence€to€support€the€trial€courtððs€decree€ofÐ L œ Ðtermination.Ð 8 ˆ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àÌà  àIn€his€supplemental€brief€D.H.€contends€ð ðthat€there€was€no€clear€and€convincing€evidence€atÐ  ` Ðthe€May€13,€2004€hearing€that€he€had€committed€severe€child€abuse.ðð€€D.H.€argues€that,€although€theÐ ü L  Ðparties€stipulated€to€Dr.€Robertsðð€opinion€that€the€injuries€sustained€by€S.H.€were€typical€of€non„Ð è 8  Ðaccidental€trauma,€there€was€no€proof€that€D.H.€committed€the€abuse.€€It€is€our€determination€thatÐ Ô$  Ðthe€record€presents€clear€and€convincing€circumstantial€evidence€that€S.H.€was€abused€by€one€or€theÐ À  Ðother€of€her€parents,€if€not€both,€and€a€finding€of€severe€abuse€is€appropriate€against€both€parentsÐ ¬ü  Ðwhen€one€parent€perpetrates€the€abuse€and€the€other€fails€to€protect€the€child.€€òòState€ex€rel€D.L.Ð ˜è  Ð(P.)C.óó,€C/A€No.€M2002„00088„COA„R3„CV,€2003€WL€22955942€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€M.S.,€filedÐ „Ô  ÐDecember€15,€2003).€€In€any€event,€the€hearing€on€May€13,€2004,€was€not€the€hearing€on€the€petitionÐ pÀ Ðto€terminate,€but€rather€the€hearing€on€DCSððs€motion€for€a€finding€of€severe€child€abuse€whichÐ \¬ Ðhearing€resulted€in€the€trial€courtððs€order€of€June€17,€2004.€€That€order€was€not€appealed€and€is€noÐ H˜ Ðlonger€subject€to€review€by€this€Court.Ð 4„ ÐÌà  àThe€other€issue€we€address€is€whether€sufficient€evidence€was€presented€to€support€the€trialÐ  \ Ðcourtððs€finding€that€termination€of€parental€rights€is€in€the€childððs€best€interest.€Ð øH ÐÌà  àD.H.€asserts€that€ð ð[t]he€record€is€lacking€of€any€expert€witness€testimony€that€the€continuationÐ Ð  Ðof€the€parent„child€relationship€would€be€psychologically,€physically,€or€emotionally€detrimental€toÐ ¼  Ðthe€child.ðð€Accordingly,€D.H.€maintains,€DCS€has€failed€to€meet€its€burden€of€showing€thatÐ ¨ø Ðtermination€of€parental€rights€is€in€S.H.ððs€best€interest.€€D.H.€cites€no€supporting€authority€for€hisÐ ”ä Ðargument€that€expert€testimony€of€this€sort€is€a€pre„requisite€to€a€finding€that€termination€of€parentalÐ €Ð Ðrights€in€is€a€childððs€best€interest.€€Our€review€of€the€record€reveals€that€the€order€terminating€parentalÐ l¼ Ðrights€merely€states€€ð ð[t]hat€it€is€in€the€best€interest€of€[S.H.]€and€the€public€that€all€of€[the€parents]Ð X ¨ Ðparental€rights€to€this€child€be€terminated...€.ðð€€The€trial€court€does€not€specify€its€reasons€for€findingÐ D!” Ðthat€termination€is€in€S.H.ððs€best€interest€and€there€is€no€statutory€requirement€that€the€court€set€forthÐ 0"€  Ðits€reasons.€€òòIn€the€Matter€of€:€B.G.J.óó,€C/A€No.€E2003„02475„COA„R3„PT,€2004€WL€1906446Ð #l! Ð(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€E.S.€August€26,€2004).€€It€is€our€conclusion€that€the€trial€courtððs€prior€finding€ofÐ $X" Ðsevere€abuse€provided€a€proper€basis€for€its€subsequent€finding€that€termination€of€parental€rightsÐ ô$D # Ðwas€in€the€childððs€best€interest€in€this€case.Ð à%0!$ ÐÌà  àFor€the€foregoing€reasons€we€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court€and€remand€for€furtherÐ ¸'#& Ðaction€consistent€with€this€opinion.€The€costs€on€appeal€are€assessed€to€the€Appellant,€Ô_ÔD.H.H.Ô_Ô€andÐ ¤(ô#' Ðhis€surety,€for€which€execution€may€issue€if€necessary.€Ô_ÔÔ_ÔÐ )à$( ÐÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à_________________________________________Ð h+¸&* Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àSHARON€G.€LEE,€€JUDGEòòóóÔ#†¼G»XXAˆ#Ô