{ "id": 9004641, "name": "IN THE MATTER OF: B.N.H., A Minor Child", "name_abbreviation": "In re B.N.H.", "decision_date": "2005-05-03", "docket_number": "No. COA04-846", "first_page": "157", "last_page": "162", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "170 N.C. App. 157" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.C. Ct. App.", "id": 14983, "name": "North Carolina Court of Appeals" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 5, "name_long": "North Carolina", "name": "N.C." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "158 N.C. App. 473", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 9188114 ], "year": 2003, "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/158/0473-01" ] }, { "cite": "379 S.E.2d 30", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1989, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "37", "parenthetical": "\"[A] panel of the Court of Appeals is bound by a prior decision of another panel of the same court addressing the same question, but in a different case, unless overturned by an intervening decision from a higher court.\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "324 N.C. 373", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2483734 ], "year": 1989, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "384", "parenthetical": "\"[A] panel of the Court of Appeals is bound by a prior decision of another panel of the same court addressing the same question, but in a different case, unless overturned by an intervening decision from a higher court.\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/324/0373-01" ] }, { "cite": "577 S.E.2d 377", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 2003, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "appeal from temporary disposition order after adjudication dismissed" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "156 N.C. App. 639", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 9191923 ], "year": 2003, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "appeal from temporary disposition order after adjudication dismissed" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/156/0639-01" ] }, { "cite": "581 S.E.2d 134", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 2003, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "136-37" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "158 N.C. App. 473", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 9188114 ], "year": 2003, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/158/0473-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 487, "char_count": 11015, "ocr_confidence": 0.734, "pagerank": { "raw": 4.6264782297903654e-07, "percentile": 0.926658079293426 }, "sha256": "88b14ba100a50dc20fb5ccb4bf002536602736f315c90acaaa677a23ecc6bc79", "simhash": "1:2b562b67f0ec0528", "word_count": 1738 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T16:44:47.676310+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "Judges McCULLOUGH and ELMORE concur." ], "parties": [ "IN THE MATTER OF: B.N.H., A Minor Child" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "LEVINSON, Judge.\nRespondent-mother appeals from an initial permanency planning order directing that the permanent plan for her son, B.N.H., be adoption. For the reasons that follow, we dismiss this appeal.\nB.N.H. was born 17 June 2003. Petitioner Catawba County Department of Social Services (DSS) filed a petition on 20 June 2003, alleging that the child was neglected and dependent. A nonse-cure custody order was issued, placing legal custody with DSS and physical placement with the child\u2019s maternal grandmother. Shortly thereafter, respondent was appointed a guardian ad litem. Following a hearing on 29 July 2003, the trial court on 5 September 2003 entered an order adjudicating B.N.H. neglected and dependent. Custody was continued with DSS, and placement was continued with B.N.H.\u2019s grandmother.\nIn October 2003, a review order was entered that continued placement with the child\u2019s grandmother, and directed DSS to continue making efforts to reunify B.N.H. with respondent. The next review hearing was held 13 January 2004. Following this review hearing, the court entered an order directing \u201cDSS . . . [to] cease . . . mak[ing] efforts to return the minor child to his mother\u2019s home.\u201d Respondent did not attempt to appeal from this order.\nOn 10 February 2004 an initial permanency planning, hearing was conducted. The trial court continued placement of the child with his grandmother and ordered that the permanent plan for B.N.H. be adoption. From this order, respondent appeals.\nPetitioner\u2019s motion to dismiss respondent\u2019s appeal as interlocutory is dispositive of this matter. N.C.G.S. \u00a7 7B-1001 (2003), provides that appeal may be taken from \u201cany final order of the court in a juvenile matter[.]\u201d The statute defines a \u201cfinal order\u201d to include:\n(1) Any order finding absence of jurisdiction;\n(2) Any order which in effect determines the action and prevents a judgment from which appeal might be taken;\n(3) Any order of disposition after an adjudication that a juvenile is abused, neglected, or dependent; or\n(4) Any order modifying custodial rights.\nN.C.G.S. \u00a7\u00a7 7B-1001(l)-(4) (2003).\nIn its motion to dismiss, DSS asserts that not all permanency planning review orders and review orders are \u201cfinal orders\u201d subject to appellate review. Specifically, DSS asserts that a permanency planning order that does not modify \u201ccustodial rights\u201d as contemplated by G.S. \u00a7 7B-1001(4) is not appealable and, further, that an initial permanency planning order is not an \u201corder of disposition after an adjudication that a juvenile is abused, neglected, or dependent\u201d within the meaning of G.S. \u00a7 7B-1001(3).\nIn In re Weiler, 158 N.C. App. 473, 581 S.E.2d 134 (2003), respondent appealed from a permanency planning review order changing the permanent plan from reunification to termination of parental rights. Speaking of subsection (3) of G.S. \u00a7 7B-1001, this Court held:\nThe present order again changed the disposition from reunification with the mother to termination of parental rights. An order that changes the permanency plan in this manner is a disposi-tional order that fits squarely within the statutory language of section 7B-1001. . . . Thus, the appeal is properly before us and petitioner\u2019s motion to dismiss is denied.\nId. at 477, 581 S.E.2d at 136-37. Thus, this Court essentially held that a \u201cpermanency planning order\u201d was a species of \u201cdispositional order\u201d subject to immediate appeal. This is a very broad interpretation of the term \u201corder of disposition\u201d in G.S. \u00a7 7B-1001(3). Such an expansive interpretation of G.S. \u00a7 7B-1001(3) could arguably permit appeal from every review order, permanency planning order, or other genre of court order that follows an adjudication and disposition. For the following reasons, we respectfully disagree with the Weiler court\u2019s interpretation of the term \u201cdispositional order\u201d in G.S. \u00a7 7B-1001(3).\nOur Juvenile Code contemplates distinct types of court orders, including, e.g., \u201cadjudication\u201d orders, N.C.G.S. \u00a7 7B-807 (2003); \u201cdispositional\u201d orders, N.C.G.S. \u00a7 7B-905 (2003); \u201creview\u201d orders, N.C.G.S. \u00a7 7B-906 (2003); \u201cpermanency planning\u201d orders, N.C.G.S. \u00a7 7B-907 (2003); orders on \u201ctermination of parental rights\u201d, N.C.G.S. \u00a7 7B-1109, et seq. (2003); and post-termination of parental rights review orders, N.C.G.S. \u00a7 7B-908 (2003). Each category of orders addresses a different objective in the larger context of a juvenile proceeding. Further, the varying names that the legislature gave these orders lead us to the inescapable conclusion that the General Assembly did not intend that every juvenile court order be a \u201cfinal order\u201d subject to immediate appeal. In our view, the statutory language of G.S. \u00a7 7B-1001(3), referring to an \u201corder of disposition after an adjudication that a juvenile is abused, neglected, or dependent\u201d, means the dispositional order that is entered after an adjudication under G.S. \u00a7 7B-905, and does not mean every permanency planning, review, or other type of order entered at some unspecified point following such a disposition.\nThis interpretation results in a logical application of G.S. \u00a7 7B-1001(3) for numerous reasons. First, the express goal of G.S. \u00a7 7B-907(a) is \u201cto develop a plan to achieve a safe, permanent home for the juvenile within a reasonable period of time.\u201d Thus, the General Assembly did not intend to allow a party to frustrate and delay a trial court\u2019s ability to achieve permanency for children by means of endless appeals. Second, an examination of our Juvenile Code and its practical application reveals awareness by the General Assembly that some juvenile court actions might evade appellate review as a matter of right, or might be appealable only at some later juncture. See In re Laney, 156 N.C. App. 639, 577 S.E.2d 377 (2003) (appeal from temporary disposition order after adjudication dismissed). Thirdly, we disagree with any suggestion that a permanency planning order that changes the goal from reunification to adoption \u201cshould\u201d be tantamount to a \u201cfinal order\u201d and therefore appealable under G.S. \u00a7 7B-1001(3). Although such an order may trigger changes in the actions of DSS, it nonetheless makes no change to that which is of central import to parents, DSS and other persons interested in a juvenile proceedings \u2014 custodial rights. Additionally, the language of G.S. \u00a7 7B-1001 does not indicate that such an order is immediately appeal-able. Fourth, repeated interim appeals unnecessarily delay resolution of juveniles\u2019 cases, thus fostering an extended period of uncertainty and instability \u2014 again in sharp conflict with \u201cdeveloping] a plan to achieve a safe, permanent home for the juvenile within a reasonable period of time.\u201d See G.S. \u00a7 7B-907(a). Fifth, the fact our Juvenile Code prescribes time targets for hearings suggests the legislature believed that persons\u2019 appellate rights would be fairly protected by allowing appeals only at the discrete junctures set forth in G.S. \u00a7\u00a7 7B-1001 and 7B-1113 because the juvenile court would be required to act within such deadlines. See, e.g., N.C.G.S. \u00a7 7B-506 (2003) (non-secure custody); N.C.G.S. \u00a7 7B-801(c) (2003) (adjudication); N.C.G.S. \u00a7 7B-906 (review hearings); G.S. \u00a7 7B-907 (permanency planning hearings); N.C.G.S. \u00a7 7B-907(e) (2003) (when petition for termination of parental rights must be filed); and N.C.G.S. \u00a7 7B-908(b) (2003) (post-termination of parental rights hearings). Finally, intermittent juvenile appeals will inevitably prolong the involvement of the courts in most cases, something abhorrent to many parents who appeal the orders of the juvenile court. This is because the majority of our appellate decisions do not preclude further assertions of jurisdiction over the juvenile by the district court.\nIn sum, the suggestion that parents have an immediate appeal of right from every review order, or every initial and subsequent permanency planning order, because of the language in G.S. \u00a7 7B-1001(3): (1) contradicts the language and plain meaning of the statute; (2) frustrates the stated legislative purpose of achieving permanency for children in a timely manner; (3) does not serve the interests of children within the jurisdiction of our juvenile court; (4) is not essential to protect the rights and interests of parents; and (5) frustrates our courts\u2019 ability to meet the needs of children. We respectfully disagree with the holding in Weiler, and express our concern that an expansive interpretation and application of G.S. \u00a7 7B-1001(3) may paralyze our juvenile courts\u2019 ability to function.\nWe next consider whether Weiler controls the outcome of DSS\u2019 motion to dismiss the present appeal. See In re Appeal from Civil Penalty Assessed for Violations of Sedimentation Pollution Control Act, 324 N.C. 373, 384, 379 S.E.2d 30, 37 (1989) (\u201c[A] panel of the Court of Appeals is bound by a prior decision of another panel of the same court addressing the same question, but in a different case, unless overturned by an intervening decision from a higher court.\u201d). In Weiler, the permanency planning order on appeal changed the plan from reunification to adoption. The order on appeal here is not such an order, not only because it was an initial permanency planning order but also because it repeats the previous directives of the court that reunification be ceased. We therefore limit the holding of Weiler to the specific facts of that case, and decline to extend its reasoning further.\nThe present appeal is dismissed because the order on appeal is not a final order under G.S. \u00a7 7B-1001.\nDismissed.\nJudges McCULLOUGH and ELMORE concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "LEVINSON, Judge." } ], "attorneys": [ "J. David Abernathy for petitioner-appellee Catawba County Department of Social Services.", "Carlton, Rhodes and Carlton, by Gary C. Rhodes for respondent mother." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "IN THE MATTER OF: B.N.H., A Minor Child\nNo. COA04-846\n(Filed 3 May 2005)\n1. Appeal and Error\u2014 appealability \u2014 initial permanency planning order\nRespondent mother\u2019s appeal from an initial permanency planning order directing that the permanent plan for her son who had been adjudicated neglected and dependent be adoption is dismissed as an appeal from an interlocutory order, because the planning order was not an \u201corder of disposition\u201d subject to immediate appeal within the meaning of N.C.G.S. \u00a7 7B-1001(3).\n2. Appeal and Error\u2014 appealability \u2014 prior decision of another panel of same court \u2014 initial permanency planning order\nThe holding of In re Weiler, 158 N.C. App. 473 (2003), does not control the outcome of DSS\u2019 motion to dismiss the present appeal from an initial permanency planning order, and the holding of Weiler is limited to the specific facts of that case because: (1) the order on appeal in this case does not change the plan from reunification to adoption like in Weiler, and (2) the order in this case is an initial permanency planning order that repeats the previous directives of the court that reunification be ceased.\nAppeal by respondent from order entered 4 March 2003 by Judge C. Thomas Edwards in Catawba County District Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 12 January 2005.\nJ. David Abernathy for petitioner-appellee Catawba County Department of Social Services.\nCarlton, Rhodes and Carlton, by Gary C. Rhodes for respondent mother." }, "file_name": "0157-01", "first_page_order": 187, "last_page_order": 192 }