I. Case Law Update
Each year, DFPS produces a case law update of select child protection cases. The 2020 Termination Case Law Update was prepared by the DFPS Appellate Unit: Michael D. Becker, Leslie Capace, Caroline Carow, Kellie Starr Price, Jerry L. Reyes, Rebecca L. Safavi, and Eric T. Tai.
The 2020 DFPS Termination Case Law Update is available online.[14]
The 2020 update includes the following cases:
APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL
Burden is on Parent to Prove Indigence
In re S.C., No. 02-18-00422-CV (Tex. App.—Fort Worth June 13, 2019, pet.denied) (mem. op.)
Mandatory Duty to Admonish Parent Regarding Appointment of Attorney at Every Hearing
In re B.C., 592 S.W.3d 133 (Tex. December 20, 2019). See also In re S.R. Jr., No. 10-19-00235-CV (Tex. App.—Waco December 31, 2019, pet. filed) (mem. op.)
Denial of Appointment of Counsel
In re J.F., II, 589 S.W.3d 325 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2019, no pet.)
COMMENCEMENT OF TRIAL
Failure to Timely Commence
In re A.F., W.J., A.J., and J.J., No. 02-19-00117-CV (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Sept. 24, 2019, no pet.)
New Judge Does Not Divest Court of Jurisdiction
S.A. v. Texas Dep't of Family and Protective Servs., No. 03-19-00884-CV (Tex. App.—Austin Apr. 29, 2020, no pet. hist.) (mem. op.)
Court Timely Commenced Trial
In re Z.S., C.S.-T., T.S-T., T.S-T., and T.S-T, No. 14-19-00891-CV, S.W.3d __ (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] Apr. 28, 2020, no pet. h.)
INTERVENTION UNDER TFC § 102.004
In re M.B., No. 09-19-00247-CV (Tex. App.—Beaumont Oct. 3, 2019, orig.proceeding) (mem. op.)
PRE-TRIAL MATTERS
Insufficient Evidence of Reasonable Efforts Under 262.201
In re K.L.M., No. 14-19-00713-CV (Tex. App.—Houston [14th] Nov. 14, 2019,
orig. proceeding) (mem. op.)
Guardian Ad Litem for Parent in Termination Case Not Authorized
In re J.P.-L., 592 S.W.3d 559 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth, Dec. 19, 2019, pet.
denied) (mem. op.)
Bench Warrant and Motion to Continue
In re L.N.C. and K.N.M., 573 S.W.3d 309 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2019, no pet.).
TERMINATION GROUNDS
In re B.C.H., No. 09-18-00437-CV (Tex. App.—Beaumont May 2, 2019, no pet.)
TFC § 161.001(b)(1)(D) and (E)
Scalp Infection
In re I.W., No. 12-19-00027-CV (Tex. App.—Tyler June 28, 2019, pet. denied) (mem. op.)
Exposing Child to Second-Hand Smoke
In re A.J.S., No. 13-19-00126-CV (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi Edinburg Aug. 1, 2019, no pet.) (mem. op.)
Health Effects of Drug Use
In re A.G., No. 14-18-01089-CV (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] June 6, 2019, pet. denied) (mem. op.)
Failure to Take Responsibility
In re A.S. and S.S., No. 02-19-00429-CV (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Apr. 30, 2020, no pet.) (mem. op.)
Economic Disadvantage
In re A.F., A.F., and A.F., Jr., No. 10-19-00335-CV (Tex. App.—Waco Mar. 19, 2020, no pet. h.) (mem. op.)
Children's Improvements
In re A.K.C.K., In re I.G.K., Nos. 14-19-00549-CV, 14-19-00551-CV (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] Jan. 7, 2020, no pet.) (mem. op.)
Medical Neglect of Unborn Child
In re B.G.G., a/k/a A.G. and J.G.G., a/k/a J.G., No. 14-19-00278-CV (Tex. App.—Houston [14th] June 20, 2019 no pet.) (mem. op.)
In re Z.N., No. 19-0590, (Tex. 2020)
No Reasonable Efforts Necessary
In re X.A.S., No. 05-19-01082-CV (Tex. App.—Dallas Mar. 3, 2020, no pet.) (mem. op.)
Safe and Stable Environment
In re F.L.B., A.C.B., J.G.B., and E.B.M., No. 13-19-00319-CV (Tex. App.— Corpus Christi-Edinburg Dec. 5, 2019, no pet.) (mem. op.)
Inability to Provide Care
In re A.H., No. 09-19-00167-CV (Tex. App.—Beaumont Oct. 3, 2019, no pet.) (mem. op.)
Ability to Provide Long-Term Care
In re B.C and P.C., No. 07-19-00098-CV (Tex. App.—Amarillo July 30, 2019, no pet.) (mem. op.)
Significant Contact, Reasonable Efforts, Safe Environment
In re N.A.V., P.A.V., A.J.V., L.V. and J.G., No. 04-19-00646-CV (Tex. App.—San Antonio Mar. 17, 2020, no pet.) (mem. op.)
Specificity of Order
In re A.J.W., J.W.Jr., R.L.A.W., and J.L.W., No. 04-19-00346-CV (Tex. App.—San Antonio Nov. 27, 2019, no pet.) (mem. op.)
In re D.K.J.J., D.K.D.J., D.D.J., Jr., D.Q.D.J., D.K.J.J., and B.B.B., No. 01-18-01081-CV (Tex. App—Houston [1st Dist.] June 13, 2019, pet. denied) (mem. op.); see also In re S.B., No. 07-19-00146-CV (Tex. App.— Amarillo Nov. 5, 2019) (mem. op.)
Affirmative Defense Burden of Proof
In re A.H., F.H., K.H., and C.H., No. 11-19-00028-CV (Tex. App.— Eastland, July 18, 2019, no pet.) (mem. op.)
Evidence Sufficient Where No Service Plan in Record
In re V.A.G., C.M.G., and M.R.G., No. 04-19-00449-CV (Tex. App.—San Antonio Nov. 13, 2019, no pet.) (mem. op.)
In re L.A.J., No. 14-18-01039-CV (Tex. App.—Houston [14th] May 30, 2019, pet. denied) (mem. op.)
In re M.A., No. 04-19-00648-CV (Tex. App. — San Antonio Feb. 26, 2020, no pet.) (mem. op.)
TRIAL
Trial by Consent
In re C.J.G., No. 04-19-00237-CV (Tex. App.—San Antonio Oct. 30, 2019, no pet.)
Questions for Jury Improper
In re J.T., 594 S.W.3d 782 (Tex. App—Waco 2019, no pet.)
No Right to Self-Representation
In re T.W. and X.W., No. 10-18-00379-CV (Tex. App.—Waco May 22, 2019, pet. denied) (mem. op.)
Possessory Conservatorship Appointment Must Be Supported by Evidence
In re A.M., No. 05-19-00412-CV (Tex. App.—Dallas Aug. 29, 2019, no pet.) (mem. op.)
TRE 803(6)
In re E.B. and M.B., No. 11-19-00001-CV (Tex. App.—Eastland Aug. 22, 2019, no pet.) (mem. op.)
Failure of Order to Comport with Pleadings
In re J.O., No. 04-19-00381-CV (Tex. App.—San Antonio Dec. 11, 2019, no pet.) (mem. op.)
BEST INTEREST
Desires of the Child
In re Z.H., No. 14-19-00061-CV (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] June 27, 2019, no pet.)
Emotional and Physical Needs and Emotional and Physical Danger
Testimony from Children Balanced against Mother's Actions
In re K.H., Q.H., Q.H., and S.R., No. 02-19-00247-CV (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Nov. 22, 2019, no pet.) (mem. op.)
Parents Minimizing Medical Needs
In re A.D.K., C.D.K., and J.Z.K., No. 06-19-00019-CV (Tex. App.— Texarkana May 15, 2019, pet. denied) (mem. op.)
Parenting Abilities
In re E.A.R., a Child, 583 S.W.3d 898 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2019, pet. denied)
Other Considerations
Threats to Return to Unsafe Location
In re F.R. aka F.R. aka F.R., A.L.R., I.R.L. aka I.R.L., No. 07-19-00215-CV (Tex. App.—Amarillo Nov. 4, 2019, pet. denied)
Differentiating Parents
In re A.M. and A.M., No. 06-19-00037-CV (Tex. App.—Texarkana July 25, 2019, no pet.) (mem. op.)
Parentification
In re E.O., No. 01-19-00207-CV (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 27, 2019, no pet.) (mem. op.)
POST-TRIAL
In re E.O., No. 01-19-00207-CV (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Aug. 27, 2019, no pet.) (mem. op.)
INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ACT
Failure to Comply with Expert Witness Requirement
In re D.L.N.G., No. 05-19-00206-CV (Tex. App.—Dallas July 17, 2019, no pet.) (mem. op.)
Strict Adherence to Notice Provisions Required
In re A.E., No. 02-19-00173-CV (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Oct. 1, 2019, pet. denied) (mem. op.)
No Error in Refusal to Transfer to Tribal Court
In re Navajo Nation, 587 S.W.3d 884, (Tex. App.—Amarillo Sept. 10, 2019, no pet.)
Notice Provisions
In re S.J.H., 594 S.W.3d 682 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2019, no pet.)
UCCJEA
Substantial Compliance
J.W. v. Texas Dep't of Family & Protective Servs., No. 03-19-00260-CV (Tex. App.--Austin Aug. 20, 2019, pet. denied) (mem. op.)