WPC( i+*̾Sj70Lծir}B',&D"u,s/4 !3p{f"5}uM3!_xP+~Kn`T ْ:r:h\dU`iճI܀x6*o'd3u{A?dWہ>wC8Q8 w=  ̿՜>֘cìN:n|,1*N#ol̛zJBLDb1*TE0RqXlXJKL0xo}*sU;E)Y2-GR qOho:fy*ɀ>_ y[T8Uo"T7hgΎEψeqEZJԗfy ͵[nbSpv Ӵ+/83?嘫SX;ץ_3Ԫ呱f "Vu}7,0& >a9gi4T00WrBH{b %\^ b 0nU#NwD4H\ zk m  #  s 9  N 0DUNEKRMM\~'###########b#################################### 0#### B$$ 0$ D5o% D-% 0K%% AS&o& 05' 0D' A(-s (`$.8dd8    ("  Z6Times New Roman Regular|&-: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.wptU HowsareHP LaserJet 40500Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 R=$      3    _Theparentalrightsofthechildsfather,whichhavebeenterminated,arenotatissueonthisappeal.(#$  0  (9 Z6Times New Roman Regular H R=$      2    _Tenn.CodeAnn.361113(c)provides,inpertinentpart,asfollows:  ` ` (c)Terminationofparentalorguardianshiprightsmustbebasedupon: 8 (1)Afindingbythecourtbyclearandconvincingevidencethatthegroundsfor  terminationorparentalorguardianshiprightshavebeenestablished;and  (2)Thatterminationoftheparentsorguardiansrightsisinthebestinterestsofthe  \ child.     *** X   (g)Initiationofterminationofparentalorguardianshiprightsmaybebasedupon  0  anyofthefollowinggrounds:   (1)Abandonmentbytheparentorguardian,asdefinedin36-1-102,hasoccurred. ,|    ***   ` `  R R=$      4    __T.C.A._Ԁ361113(_i_)provides,inpertinentpart,asfollows:  ` ` Indeterminingwhetherterminationofparentalorguardianshiprightsisinthebest 8 interestofthechildpursuanttothispart,thecourtshallconsider,butisnotlimited L to,thefollowing:  (1)Whethertheparentorguardianhasmadesuchanadjustmentofcircumstance, H  conduct,orconditionsastomakeitsafeandinthechildsbestinteresttobeinthe  \ homeoftheparentorguardian;   (2)Whethertheparentorguardianhasfailedtoeffectalastingadjustmentafter X   reasonableeffortsbyavailablesocialservicesagenciesforsuchdurationoftime  l  thatlastingadjustmentdoesnotreasonablyappearpossible;  0  (3)Whethertheparentorguardianhasmaintainedregularvisitationorother   contactwiththechild; h  (4)Whetherameaningfulrelationshiphasotherwisebeenestablishedbetweenthe @  parentorguardianandthechild;   (5)Theeffectachangeofcaretakersandphysicalenvironmentislikelytohaveon < thechildsemotional,psychologicalandmedicalcondition; P   ***     t R=$      1    _Tenn.CodeAnn.361102(Supp.2002)provides,aspertinenttothiscase,asfollows:  ` ` (1)(A) Abandonmentmeans,forpurposesofterminatingtheparentalorguardian 8 rightsofparent(s)orguardian(s)ofachildtothatchildinordertomakethatchild L availableforadoption,that:  (_i_)Foraperiodoffour(4)consecutivemonthsimmediatelyprecedingthefilingof H  aproceedingorpleadingtoterminatetheparentalrightsoftheparent(s)or  \ guardian(s)ofthechildwhoisthesubjectofthepetitionforterminationofparental   rightsoradoption,thattheparent(s)orguardian(s)...havewillfullyfailedtovisit...;      ***  l  (C)Forpurposesofthissubdivision(1), tokenvisitationmeansthatthevisitation,   underthecircumstancesoftheindividualcase,constitutesnothingmorethan h  perfunctoryvisitationorvisitationofsuchaninfrequentnatureorofsuchshort ,|  durationastomerelyestablishminimalorinsubstantialcontactwiththechild; @    *** x  (E)Forpurposesofthissubdivision(1), willfullyfailedtovisitmeansthewillful P failure,foraperiodoffour(4)consecutivemonths,tovisitorengageinmorethan  tokenvisitation;  (F)Abandonmentmaynotberepentedofbyresumingvisitationorsupport ` subsequenttothefilingofanypetitionseekingtoterminateparentalorguardianship $ rightsorseekingtheadoptionofachild;    ***  p ` ` (Emphasisadded).   - -(|G2=$ !.8dd8         0   d(|3w$ !.8dd8     VVVV)!dxdx)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3w$ !.8dd8     ($$   1  X[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK !.8dd8     _X  8ZXXdd8  OY #Oa@ INTHECOURTOFAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE  @WW$ATKNOXVILLE#M#Ԉ &   September30,2002Session L XZX #XXZ8#_M.H._Ԁetal.v.A.H.XZX  J @@ AppealfromtheGeneralSessionsCourtforBradleyCounty  J @@No.8146JC.VanDeacon,Judge  6 FILEDDECEMBER11,2002    @@*AV) ` dE<` A   @@TTNo.E200200180_COA_ԄR3JV   AV) ` dE<|` A }     Actingonthepetitionof_M.H._Ԁandherhusband,E.H.( thepetitioners),thetrialcourtterminated x  theparentalrightsofA.H.( Mother)to_J.H._Ԁ(DOB:January18,1998)( thechild).Thecourt d foundclearandconvincingevidencethat abandonmentby[Mother]hadoccurredasdefinedin P  [Tenn.CodeAnn.]361102_" #  1      _ԀandthatterminationofMothersparentalrights wouldbeinthe < #Oa #X #  childsbestinterest.SeeTenn.CodeAnn.361113(c)(2001). #  2      ׀Motherappeals,contendingthat   thetrialcourterredinfindingthatshehadabandonedthechild.Primarilybecauseweholdthatthe  petitionerslackstandingtoseek#XXZ#XZXtheterminationofMothersparentalrightsundertheapplicable  statute,wereversethetrialcourtsjudgment. t  Tenn.R.App.P.3;JudgmentoftheGeneralSessionsCourt L  Reversed;CaseRemanded  8    #XZ #XZX.CharlesD.Susano,Jr.,J.,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichHoustonM._Goddard_,  ` _P.J._,andHerschelP.Franks,J.,joined.  L  D.MichaelBryant,Cleveland,Tennessee,fortheappellant,A.H. $  Jerry_Hoffer_,Cleveland,Tennessee,fortheappellees,_M.H._Ԁand_E.H._.     OPINION #XXZ& #XZX   I. \ #XXZ #XZX#XXZ#  XZX  Motherwas19yearsoldandunmarriedwhenshegavebirthtothechild.Inthemonths 4 followingthechildsbirth,Motherworkedtwojobsandfounditdifficulttocareforthechild.  p Whenthechildwasapproximatelyfourmonthsold,inAprilorMay,1998,Motherbeganleaving  \ thechildinthepetitionerscareattheirresidence.Soonthereafter,hewaswiththepetitionersmost  H         ofthetime.Mothermarriedthechildsfather( Father)onAugust15,1998,aboutsevenmonths  afterthechildsbirth. #  3      ׀Neithertheparentsnorthechildarerelatedtothepetitionersbybloodor  marriage.Motherwasaclosefriendofthepetitionersdaughterandthoughtofthepetitionersas  parentalfigures. t   MothersmarriagetoFatherlastedonlyabout16months.InMay,1999,Mothermovedinto L  thepetitionersresidence.DuringthetimeMotherlivedwiththepetitioners,theycontinuedto 8  assumeprimaryresponsibilityforthechildscare.SometimeduringMothersstaywiththe $ t petitioners,Motherwroteanotetothepetitionersinwhichsheexpressedastronginclinationtogive  ` thepetitionerscustodyofthechild.InJuly,1999,Mothermovedoutofthepetitionershomeand  L  intoanapartmentwiththepetitionersdaughter.Thechildremainedwiththepetitioners.Mother  8  andFatherenteredintoaMaritalDissolutionAgreementonNovember12,1999,andweredivorced $  onDecember21,1999.ThedivorcejudgmentgrantedMothersolecustodyofthechild.However,   thechildcontinuedtolivewiththepetitioners.     ThepetitionersfiledtheinstantpetitiononJanuary14,2000.Thatsameday,thetrialcourt   enteredan EmergencyTemporaryCustodyOrder,grantingthepetitionerscustodyofthechild. p ThepetitionallegedbothabandonmentbyMotherandthatthechildwasdependentorneglected. \ ThepetitionfurtherallegedthatitwasinthechildsbestinterestthatMothersparentalrightsbe H terminated. 4   OnJanuary3,2002,thetrialcourtgrantedthepetitionforterminationbaseduponafinding  \ ofabandonmentbyMother.Thecourtconcludedthatterminationwasinthechildsbestinterest. H ThetrialcourtpremiseditsfindingofabandonmentuponthefactthatMotherhadfailedtomake 4 frequentandmeaningfulvisitstoseethechild.Thetrialcourtbaseditsconclusionastothechilds   bestinterestupontwogrounds:first,becauseMotherhadfailedtodevelopameaningfulrelationship   withthechild,andsecond,thatanychangeinenvironmentthatcouldoccurasaresultofnot   OY    terminatingparentalrightswouldlikelyhaveanadverseeffectonthechildsemotionaland  psychologicalwellbeing.SeeTenn.CodeAnn.361113(_i_)(2001). #  4          Fromthebench,thetrialcourtacknowledgedthatopinionsvariedastowhethertermination t ofMothersparentalrightswasappropriateinthiscase.Thisisevidencedbythefactthatthetrial ` courtdidnotfollowtheadviceofthechildsappointedguardianadlitem.Thecourtbelow L  commentedasfollows: 8  `  Youknow,thisisprobablythesecondtimein12yearsIveever  ` goneagainsttherecommendationoftheguardianadlitem.Butthere  L  hasbeenno,whatIthink,wouldbealastingadjustmenttoestablish  8  thatkindofrelationshipnecessaryforthischildtogrowupinan $  appropriate,healthy,wholesomeenvironment.   Ithinkformetochangethatenvironment!baseduponthe   testimonyandtherecordheretoday,Ithinktodothatwouldbein   [thechilds]worstinterest.AndforthatreasonImgoingto p terminate[Mothers]parentalrights. \  `   H   II.  !  Weholdthattheissueofstandingisthecriticalissueinthiscase.Thesubjectofstanding  tobringapetitionseekingtoterminateanindividualsparentalrightsisaddressedinTenn.Code t Ann.XZXXXZ36-1-113(b)(2001)#XZXXXZ(##: ` XZXXXZ` ` Theprospectiveadoptiveparent(s)ofthechild,anylicensed 8  child-placingagencyhavingcustodyofthechild,thechildsguardian $ t adlitem,acourtappointedspecialadvocate(CASA)agency,orthe  ` department[ofchildrensservices]shallhavestandingtofilea  L  petition...toterminateparentalorguardianshiprightsofaperson  8  allegedtobeaparentorguardian.... $  ` #` #TheabovequotedstatutorylanguageispartofTennesseesadoptionlaw.Theadoptionstatutesare   inderogationofthecommonlawandmustbestrictlyconstrued.See Inre_K.A.Y._ ,80S.W.3d19,   23(Tenn.Ct.App.2002).Whilethepetitionershavecustodyofthechild,theydonotseektoadopt   thechildinthisproceedinganddonototherwisefitintoanyofthecategoriesofstandingunderthe p statute.#XZXXXZ##XZXXXZStrictlyconstruingthisstatutoryscheme,weholdthatTenn.CodeAnn.361113(b)isan \ exclusivelistofthoseindividualsandentitieswithstandingtobringanactionseekingtoterminate H parentalrights.#XZXXXZ2(#XZXXXZSincethepetitionersdonotfallwithinthelanguageofthisstatute,theydonothave 4 standingtofilethepetitionintheinstantcase.See _Sorrells_Ԁv._Sorrells_ ,No.E199901658_COA_ԄR3  p CV,2000Tenn.App.LEXIS675,at*9*10(Tenn.Ct.App._E.S._,filedOct.5,2000)(Susano,J.,  \ concurring)(assertingthatlackofstanding,evenifnotraisedonappeal,isanappropriateground H forreversalinaterminationofparentalrightscase). 4   ThiscaseinvolvesafundamentalrightundertheUnitedStatesandTennesseeconstitutions.   See Stanleyv.Illinois ,405U.S.645,651,92S.Ct.1208,1212-13,31L.Ed.2d551(1972)(stating  thattherighttoparentarisesfromfederaldueprocessandequalprotection);seealso Hawkv.  Hawk ,855S.W.2d573,577(Tenn.1993)(statingthatunderArticleI,Section8oftheTennessee  Constitution,therighttoparentlieswithinthefundamentalrighttoprivacy).#XZXXXZt)#XZXXXZԀThefollowingquote l fromtheCourtofAppealsofNewYorkisinstructive: X  ` ` Absentextraordinarycircumstances,narrowlycategorized,itisnot 0"  withinthepowerofacourt,...tomakesignificantdecisions #l! concerningthecustodyofchildren,merelybecauseitcouldmakea $X" betterdecisionordisposition.TheStateis_parens_Ԁ_patriae_andalways $D # hasbeen,butithasnotdisplacedtheparentinrightorresponsibility. %0!$ Indeed,thecourtsandthelawwould,underexistingconstitutional &"% principles,bepowerlesstosupplantparentsexceptforgrievouscause '#& ornecessity. (#' ` S/` E/ Bennettv._Jeffreys_ ,40N.Y.2d543,545-46,387N.Y.S.2d821,824,356N.E.2d277,281(1976) |*%) citedwithapprovalin Hawk ,855S.W.2dat581.Impliedinthisquoteisthegeneralprinciplethat h+&* absentspecificstatutoryauthority,courtsmaynotterminateparentalrights. Inaddition,such  statutoryproceduresmustcomportwithapplicableconstitutionalprotections.Thepetitionersare  askingthecourtstostripMotherofafundamentalright.Assuch,wemustbecarefultomakesure  thattheirpetitionsatisfiesalloftheelementsprescribedbytheapplicablestatutes.Oneofthese t statutesdefinesandrequiresstandingasanelement.Sincethepetitionerslackstanding,granting ` theirpetitionwouldinfringeuponMothersfundamentalrighttoparentherchild. L  #XZXXXZ.#  Whileneitherpartydirectlyraisesthisparticularissue,Tenn.R.App.P.13(b)permitsusto $ t reviewcertainissuesthathavenotbeenraisedonappeal:  ` ` ` XZXXXZReviewgenerallywillextendonlytothoseissuespresentedfor  8  review.Theappellatecourtshallalsoconsiderwhetherthetrialand $  appellatecourthavejurisdictionoverthesubjectmatter,whetheror   notpresentedforreview,andmayinitsdiscretionconsiderother   issuesinorder,amongotherreasons:(1)topreventneedless   litigation,(2)topreventinjurytotheinterestsofthepublic,and(3)   topreventprejudicetothejudicialprocess.#XZXXXZj7# p ` N7` \7(Emphasisadded).Exercisingourdiscretion,weholdthatallowingthepetitionerstobringthis H petitionwhentheylackstandingwouldprejudicethejudicialprocess.XZXXXZ 4 @vv(III.  \   #XZXXXZ:#Whileourholdingwithrespecttostandingisasufficientbasistoreversethejudgment 4 below,wehaveconsideredMothersissuethatthereisnoclearandconvincingevidencetosupport   thetrialcourtsfindingsinthiscase.Wefindthattheevidencepreponderatesagainstthetrial   courtsdualdeterminationsthatthereisclearandconvincingevidenceofagroundfortermination  andthatterminationisinthebestinterestofthechild.SeeTenn.R.App.P.13(d)(statingthatan  appellatecourtmaynotdisturbatrialcourtsfactualdeterminationsunlesstheevidence  preponderatesagainstsuchfindings). l   IV. D! >  Thejudgmentofthetrialcourtisreversed.Thismatterisremandedtothetrialcourtforsuch #l! furtherproceedings,ifany,asmaybenecessary.Thecostsonappealaretaxedto_M.H._Ԁand_E.H._ $X"    `     h     _______________________________ &"%    `     h     CHARLESD.SUSANO,JR.,JUDGE