Saj v. Saj

• Decision Date: 23 December 2015
• Docket Number: 2015-UP-571
• Court: South Carolina Court of Appeals
• Parties: James Allan Saj and Margaret-Jean Sprigg Saj, Respondents, v. Jennifer Grey Wilson Saj, Appellant. In the interest of a minor under the age of eighteen. Appellate Case No. 2015-001329

James Allan Saj and Margaret-Jean Sprigg Saj, Respondents, v. Jennifer Grey Wilson Saj, Appellant.

In the interest of a minor under the age of eighteen. Appellate Case No. 2015-001329

No. 2015-UP-571

Court of Appeals of South Carolina

December 23, 2015

Unpublished Opinion

Submitted December 8, 2015

Appeal From York County David G. Guyton, Family Court Judge

N Beth Ramsey Faulkner, of Brice Law Firm, LLC, of York, for Appellant.

Larry Dale Dove, of Barton Family Law, LLC, of Rock Hill, for Respondents.

Elizabeth Hope Rainey, of Rock Hill, for the Guardian ad Litem.

PER CURIAM.

Jennifer Gray Wilson Saj (Mother) appeals the family court's termination of her parental rights to her minor daughter (Child), arguing clear and convincing evidence does not support termination of parental rights (TPR). Mother also contends the family court erred in considering the Guardian ad Litem (GAL) report and attached medical records, refusing to exclude a medical report, and refusing to exclude the GAL's testimony regarding Mother's diagnoses. We affirm.

"In appeals from the family court, this [c]ourt reviews factual and legal issues de novo." Simmons v. Simmons 392 S.C. 412, 414, 709 S.E.2d 666, 667 (2011). Although this court reviews the family court's findings de novo, we are not required to ignore the fact that the family court, who saw and heard the witnesses, was in a better position to evaluate their credibility. Lewis v. Lewis, 392 S.C 381, 385, 709 S.E.2d 650, 652 (2011).

First, we find the family court did not err in considering the GAL report and in admitting a medical report or the GAL's testimony regarding Mother's diagnoses. Mother's argument the court erred in considering the GAL report is not preserved because it was not presented to the family court. See Srivastava v. Srivastava, 411 S.C. 481, 487, 769 S.E.2d 442, 446 (Ct. App. 2015) ("To preserve an issue for appellate review, the issue cannot be raised for the first time on appeal, but must have been raised to and ruled upon by the [family] court." (quoting Doe v. Doe, 370 S.C. 206, 212, 634 S.E.2d 51, 54 (Ct. App. 2006))); id. ("Therefore, when an appellant neither raises an issue at [the hearing] nor [files] a Rule 59(e), SCRCP, motion, the issue is not preserved for appellate review." (quoting Doe, 370 S.C. at 212, 634 S.E.2d at 54-55)). Mother also did not argue to the family court the medical records the GAL discussed were hearsay; thus, her argument the records constitute inadmissible hearsay is not preserved. See id. ("To preserve an issue for appellate review, the issue cannot be raised for the first time on appeal, but must have been raised to and ruled upon by the [family] court." (quoting Doe, 370 S.C. at 212, 634 S.E.2d at 54)); id. ("Therefore, when an appellant neither raises an issue at [the hearing] nor [files] a Rule 59(e), SCRCP, motion, the issue is not preserved for appellate review." (quoting Doe, 370 S.C. at 212, 634 S.E.2d at 54-55)). Additionally, we find the family court did not err in admitting Mother's October 2013 medical report because the report was self-authenticated by Mother. See Deep Keel, LLC v. Atl. Private Equity Grp., LLC, 413 S.C. 58, 64, 773 S.E.2d 607, 610 (Ct. App. 2015) ("'[T]he burden to authenticate . . . is not high' and requires only that the proponent 'offer[ ] a satisfactory foundation from which the [fact finder] could reasonably find that the evidence is authentic.'" (quoting United States v. Hassan, 742 F.3d 104, 133 (4th Cir. 2014))). During the hearing, Mother was asked if the medical report was from a doctor visit about which she had already testified. Mother stated it was, and the family court ruled Mother had self-authenticated the document. We agree.^[1] Mother's admission that the medical report was from the previously admitted doctor's visit is a "satisfactory foundation" showing the "evidence is authentic." See id. Further, we find the family court did not err in refusing to exclude the GAL's testimony about Mother's diagnoses. The GAL testified she reviewed Mother's medical records with Mother and Mother's attorney; thus, she had personal knowledge of the records. See Rule 602, SCRE ("A witness may not testify to a matter unless evidence is introduced sufficient to support a finding that the witness has personal knowledge of the matter. Evidence to prove personal knowledge may, but need not, consist of the witness' own testimony.").

Second we find clear and convincing evidence supports TPR based on the statutory ground of diagnosable condition that made Mother unlikely to provide minimally acceptable care to Child. See S.C. Code Ann. § 63-7-2570(6) (Supp. 2014) ("The family court may order [TPR] upon a finding . . . [t]he parent has a diagnosable condition unlikely to change within a reasonable time including, but not limited to . . . mental illness, . . . and the condition makes the parent unlikely to provide minimally acceptable care of the child."). "When the diagnosable condition alleged is mental deficiency, there must be clear and convincing evidence that: (1) the parent has a diagnosed mental deficiency, and (2) this deficiency makes it unlikely that the parent will be able to provide minimally acceptable care of the child." S.C. Dep't of Soc. Servs. v. Roe, 371 S.C. 450, 456, 639 S.E.2d 165, 168-69 (Ct. App. 2006). The grounds for TPR must be proven by clear and convincing evidence. S.C. Dep't of Soc. Servs. v. Parker, 336 S.C. 248, 254, 519 S.E.2d 351, 354 (Ct. App. 1999). Evidence presented at the hearing showed Mother had a diagnosable condition. Specifically, the GAL testified she and Mother discussed her medical records and she learned Mother had self-reported mood swings, bipolar disorder, and psychosis with schizophrenia during an admission to the emergency room in 2012. Evidence presented at the hearing also showed Mother's condition made it unlikely she could provide minimally acceptable care to Child. As recently as October 2014, because Mother believed someone had poisoned her, she called the non-emergency administrative 911 line six times within an hour. Additionally, a medical report noted that in October 2012, Mother presented with paranoia, hyperactivity, quick speech, and illogical thinking. The family court noted Mother presented with the same behavior during the TPR hearing, and the GAL testified Mother's grooming, speech, and memory degraded in the months leading up to the TPR hearing. Finally, Mother's text messages to Grandmother and her comment to Child about having drowned her children are additional disturbing pieces of evidence showing Mother's likely inability to properly care for Child. Accordingly, this court finds Mother...