S.C. Dep't of Soc. Servs. v. Shannon

• Decision Date: 13 May 2022
• Docket Number: Appellate Case 2021-001037,2022-UP-196
• Parties: South Carolina Department of Social Services, Respondent, v. Woodrow Shannon, Appellant. In the interest of a minor under the age of eighteen.
• Court: South Carolina Court of Appeals

South Carolina Department of Social Services, Respondent, v. Woodrow Shannon, Appellant.

In the interest of a minor under the age of eighteen.

No. 2022-UP-196

Appellate Case No. 2021-001037

Court of Appeals of South Carolina

May 13, 2022

THIS OPINION HAS NO PRECEDENTIAL VALUE. IT SHOULD NOT BE CITED OR RELIED ON AS PRECEDENT IN ANY PROCEEDING EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY RULE 268(d)(2), SCACR.

Submitted May 12, 2022

Appeal From Orangeburg County Anne Gue Jones, Family Court Judge

Nancy Carol Fennell, of Irmo, for Appellant.

Patrick A. McWilliams, of the South Carolina Department of Social Services, of Orangeburg; and Scarlet Bell Moore, of Greenville, both for Respondent.

Jerrod Austin Anderson, of Anderson Law Office, P.A., of Orangeburg for the Guardian ad Litem.

PER CURIAM

Woodrow Shannon (Father) appeals an order of the family court arguing the family court erred by (1) finding he had abused or neglected his minor child (Child) and (2) allowing the South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) to forgo reasonable efforts to reunite Child with Father. We reverse.

1. We find a preponderance of the evidence does not support the family court's finding that Father abused or neglected Child. See Lewis v. Lewis, 392 S.C. 381, 384, 709 S.E.2d 650, 651 (2011) ("In appeals from the family court, the appellate court has jurisdiction to find facts in accordance with its view of the preponderance of the evidence." (quoting Eason v. Eason, 384 S.C 473, 479, 682 S.E.2d 804, 807 (2009))); S.C. Code. Ann. § 63-7-20(6)(a)(i)-(vii) (Supp. 2021) (defining the seven acts or omissions that constitute "[c]hild abuse or neglect"). Thus, we reverse the family court's finding that Child was abused or neglected by Father.

2. We find the family court erred by approving a permanency plan of "another planned permanent living arrangement (APPLA)" for Child because Child was only fifteen years old at the time of the hearing. See S.C. Code Ann § 63-7-1700(C)(2) (Supp. 2021) ("The court shall not approve or order APPLA . . . for children under the age of sixteen."). Therefore, we find a preponderance of the evidence does not support the family court's grant of DSS's request to forgo reasonable efforts to reunify Father and Child. See Lewis, 392 S.C. at 384, 709 S.E.2d at 651 ("In appeals from the family court, the appellate court has jurisdiction to find facts in accordance with its view of the preponderance of the evidence." (quoting Eason, 384 S.C. at 479, 682 S.E.2d at 807)); S.C. Code Ann. § 63-7-1640(C)(8) (Supp. 2021) ("The family court may authorize [DSS] to . . . [forgo] reasonable efforts . . . when . . . implementation of reasonable efforts . . . is inconsistent with the permanent plan for the child."); § 63-7-1700(C)(2) ("If the court approves a plan of [APPLA], the court must find compelling reasons for approval of the plan, including compelling reasons why reunification with the parents, custody, or guardianship with a fit and willing relative, or termination of parental rights and adoption is not in the [child's] best interest . . . ."); id. ("At each hearing in which the court approves or renews APPLA for a child over the age of sixteen, ...