Zip Code

  to fill out a simple form to connect to Personal Injury Lawyers in your area.

In re C.E.L.

7/19/2005

.L.H. We disagree. In the 14 October 2002 review order that addresses both C.E.L. and E.L.H., the trial court ordered that respondent submit to random drug screens. The trial court, in a subsequent permanency planning order, also orderedrespondent to "aggressively comply with the conditions of the Family Services Case Plan." Therefore, the trial court ordered respondent to take action with regard to C.E.L., and not E.L.H. only.


We also find that competent evidence supports the trial court's finding of fact. Social worker Anitra McKinney (McKinney) testified that respondent submitted to only two of the fourteen random drug screens that McKinney asked respondent to take. This testimony is competent evidence that respondent failed to comply with the trial court's orders. Furthermore, Louisa Davenport (Davenport), C.E.L.'s guardian ad litem, testified that during Davenport's visits to respondent's home, C.E.L.'s bedroom was "piled high with boxes" and the home was in general disarray. Davenport stated that there was little food in the cabinets and there was no light in respondent's home. Davenport also testified that "seventy-five to eighty-five percent" of the time that she visited respondent's home, respondent was ill or sick in bed. Thus, competent evidence supports the trial court's finding that respondent had failed to make reasonable and timely progress to correct the conditions that led to C.E.L.'s removal from respondent's home.


B.


Respondent next assigns error to the trial court's finding of fact that it was not possible for C.E.L. to be returned to respondent's home within six months following the proceeding. The trial court made the following finding:


The [trial] court finds that it is not possible for [C.E.L.] to be returned home immediately or within the next six months to the full legal custody of her former custodians and that it is not in the best interest of [C.E.L.] to return home because of [respondent's and R.E.H.'s] inability to provide for the care and supervision of [C.E.L.] and [respondent's and R.E.H.'s] failure to make reasonable progress in correcting those conditions that led to the removal of [C.E.L.] from [their] custody.


Respondent argues that there was not sufficient evidence to show that respondent was physically incapable of caring for C.E.L. Again, we disagree.


Respondent testified that she was thirty-eight years old, had a degenerative disk disease and high blood pressure. She stated that she was under the care of a physician and that she was on methadone and hydrocodone. Respondent testified that she applied for disability and had been appealing the decision for "almost a year[.]" She testified that she had a ruptured disk at L1-S5 that needed surgery, but she was unable to obtain the surgery because she did not have insurance. Respondent gave the following testimony on cross-examination:


Q: Okay. Now, you're seeking disability because of a disk problem or (inaudible) problem or both?


A: The disk problems because my doctor says that I wouldn't be able to work the job like I used to work because I was an injection mold operator. And she said that I would no longer be able to do that type o a job.


Q: So did she say you're not (inaudible)?


A: She said that it would be hard for me to do any type of job that had a lot ofstanding, walking, or anything like that due to my back.


Q: The difficulties because of your back is standing and walking (inaudible)?


A: I lay down sometimes. But if [C.E.L.] is there, I'm with her the whole time she's there.


Q: So you can stand and walk when you're with [C.E.L.], but you can'

Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 

North Carolina Personal Injury Attorneys    Personal Injury Lawyers


  to fill out a simple form to connect to Personal Injury Lawyers in your area.

Personal Injury Lawyers Brain Injuries Spinal Cord Injuries
Quadriplegia and Paraplegia Back Injuries Ruptured & Herniated Disks
Bulging Disk Neck Injuries Dog Bites
Toxic Mold Product Liability Fire Accidents
Trucking Accidents Boating Accidents Car Accidents
Plane Crashes Medical Malpractice Motorcycle Accidents
Wrongful Death Personal Injury Lawsuits Testimonial
FDP  |   RSS Feeds  |  Articles  |  Jobs  |  Inquiries  |  Partner Websites
DUI Defense  |  SiteMap  | Trading Partners | Attorney Registration  | PI Case Laws  | FAQ | Personal Injury Forum  | Personal Injury Lawyers Directory  | Success Stories
Copyright © 2005. “National Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (NAPIL)”. All rights reserved.
By using the system, you agree to TERMS OF SERVICE