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SECOND DIVISION
November 21, 2000
(NUNC PRO TUNC September 26, 2000)

JUSTICE McBRIDE delivered the opinion of the court:

Following a hearing, the trial court found that respondent Bernadine C. was an unfit parent, and that it was in the bestinterest of her seven minor children, Barna C., Deangelo C., Detrice C., Eric C., Demetrius K., Desmetric K., andDominitric K., to terminate her parental rights. On appeal, respondent contends that the trial court deprived her of dueprocess when it sanctioned her for failing to appear at her termination of parental rights hearing by finding her in defaultand prohibiting her attorney from presenting evidence on her behalf. Respondent also contends that because she had beenvisiting her children for over a year at the time of the hearing, it was not in their best interest to terminate her parentalrights.

Respondent's seven children, who were all born between 1985 and 1995, were taken into protective custody as a result ofher ongoing substance abuse problems, her frequent abandonment of them, and her inability to exhibit appropriateparenting skills or judgment. After separate adjudication hearings, a finding of dependency was entered as to Eric C. in1996, and findings of neglect were entered as to Barna C., DeAngelo C., Detrice C., Desmetric K., Demetrius K., andDominitric K. in 1990 and 1992. Between 1993 and 1997, the State initiated termination of parental rights proceedings foreach child due to respondent's failure to follow the case plans created by the Illinois Department of Children and FamilyServices (DCFS) and by the children's caseworkers.

Respondent failed to appear at the termination hearing, though the State filed a Supreme Court Rule 237(b) noticecompelling her appearance. 166 Ill. 2d R. 237(b). Her attorney told the court that he had attempted to locate her, but wasnot able to do so. As a result, the trial court granted the State's motion to enter sanctions against respondent pursuant toSupreme Court Rule 219. 166 Ill. 2d R. 219. The trial court entered an order striking respondent's answer, finding her indefault, and finding that while respondent's attorney would be able to cross-examine witnesses and give a closing argument,her attorney would not be allowed to offer witnesses on her behalf.

Rhonda Crawford testified that she worked for DCFS and was assigned to Eric and DeAngelo's cases in June 1996, and toDesmetric and Dominitric's cases in November 1997. Crawford reviewed the case files as they were assigned to her andfound that DCFS became involved with the children in 1989, when respondent abandoned the three oldest children. DCFSalso became involved when Barna was born testing positive for narcotics. Crawford testified that respondent was offeredparenting classes, drug rehabilitation treatment, psychological evaluation, visitation with her children, and was asked tocomply with random drug tests. However, respondent failed to satisfactorily complete the services offered to her, and didnot complete a drug treatment program until 1997. In 1997, respondent successfully completed an inpatient drugrehabilitation program and in 1998 she completed an outpatient program. Though Crawford testified that respondentconsistently visited the children in the year preceding the hearing, she said that respondent did not visit the children on aregular basis until 1998. Respondent had a history of being in and out of jail. Crawford testified that respondent failed tocontact DCFS when she was in jail and did not give caseworkers her address when she was released.

Monica Lowe, a caseworker with Aunt Martha's Youth Services Center, testified that she was assigned to Barna C.'s case. Though respondent visited Barna regularly in the year leading up to the hearing, she had not maintained consistentvisitation prior to that time.

Ardyth Gist, a Catholic Charities employee, testified that she was the caseworker assigned to Demetrius K. She stated thatthough respondent had begun visiting Demetrius just before she was assigned to the case in 1998, respondent's visitationprior to that time was never consistent.

Eric Dickerson, a caseworker with the Chicago Association for Retarded Citizens, testified that he was assigned to DetriceK.'s case from November 1993 through November 1995. During that time period, respondent never visited or attempted tocontact Detrice. Nor did she participate in any of the services being offered to her through Dickerson's program.

After hearing this testimony, the trial court found respondent unfit, stating, "[t]hese are extremely old cases, 10 years. Ithink that's plenty of time for anybody to make some amount of progress." The court then proceeded with the best interesthearing.

Rhonda Crawford testified that Eric was living with a foster family who wished to adopt him. She testified that Eric'splacement with the family was safe and appropriate, that he was very bonded to his foster parents, and that she thought itwould be in Eric's best interest to terminate respondent's parental rights so that Eric's foster parents could adopt him.

Crawford said that DeAngelo was living with a relative who wished to adopt him. She testified that the placement was safeand appropriate and that DeAngelo wanted to be adopted by his foster parent. Crawford believed that it was in DeAngelo'sbest interest to terminate respondent's parental rights and free him for adoption.

Crawford testified that Desmetric and Dominitric were placed in separate residential facilities, due to behavioral problems. However, she said that the same relative that wished to adopt DeAngelo expressed a desire to adopt Desmetric andDominitric and that this relative understood that both boys had behavior issues and special needs.

Donald Cutaiar, an employee of Maryville Academy, testified that Desmetric was placed in Maryville due to behaviorproblems. Though Cutaiar testified that Desmetric's behavior had improved slightly, he said that it fluctuated, and that hewas not currently attempting to locate an adoptive placement for Desmetric. However, he told the court that he felt thatadoption could be a long-term goal for the child.

Marilyn McManus, a social worker for Lawrence Hall, testified that Dominitric was placed in Lawrence Hall due todisruptive and violent behavior. She also testified that his behavior fluctuated. However, she said that they discussedplacing Dominitric with the same relative that wanted to adopt DeAngelo and that Dominitric was excited about thepossibility of being placed in that home.

Monica Lowe testified that Barna C. was living with her maternal aunt. Lowe said that she believed the home to be safeand appropriate for Barna. Though Barna did not wish to be adopted by her aunt, Lowe testified that the two had a closebond. Lowe said that Barna wanted to remain with her aunt through a subsidized guardianship and that Barna's aunt wascommitted to long-term care for her.

Ardyth Gist, the caseworker assigned to Demetrius, testified that he was placed with a non-relative foster parent inFebruary 1996. She said that the placement was safe and appropriate and that his foster mother was willing to adopt him,but that Demetrius had some reservations about being adopted. However, she said that Demetrius had a close bond withhis foster parent and that they had discussed subsidized guardianship.

Though respondent's attorney argued that the court should not terminate respondent's parental rights to Desmetric,Dominitric, and Barna because the children were not in adoptive placements, the trial court terminated respondent'sparental rights to all of the children except Detrice, whose caseworker did not appear at the hearing. The trial court setadoption as the goal for all of the children except Desmetric and Dominitric, and continued the case so that he could heartestimony from Detrice's caseworker.

At the subsequent hearing, Erica Hawkins testified that she was a caseworker with Catholic Charities, and was assigned toDetrice's case in October 1998. She said that Detrice was placed with a non-relative foster parent, and that it was a safe andappropriate home for Detrice. She said that Detrice had a good relationship with his foster parent, that he was integratedwith the family, that his foster parent wanted to adopt him, and that he wanted to be adopted by his foster mother. The trialcourt found that it was in Detrice's best interest for respondent's parental rights to be terminated, and set a goal of adoptionfor him.

At the same hearing, Desmetric and Dominitric's caseworkers testified that they spoke with the children about thepossibility of being adopted by DeAngelo's foster parent and that both boys expressed excitement. The children said thatthey wanted to work toward being placed in the same home with DeAngelo. Both caseworkers believed adoption to be areasonable goal for the children. DeAngelo's foster parent was also present, and he told the court that he understood thespecial needs of both Desmetric and Dominitric, but felt that adoption was a reasonable goal. As a result, the trial court setthe goal of adoption for both boys.

Respondent now contends that the trial court deprived her of due process by imposing sanctions under Supreme Court Rule219 that included finding her in default and prohibiting her attorney from presenting evidence on her behalf. The children'sguardian ad litem agrees with respondent and argues that the trial court was too harsh in its imposition of sanctions.

Supreme Court Rule 237(b) provides that a party may be compelled to appear at trial where the opposing party serves themwith notice and that the trial court may impose sanctions pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 219(c)(166 Ill. 2d R. 219(c))where the party fails to comply with notice. 166 Ill. 2d R. 237(b). The sanctions provided for in Rule 219(c) are:

"(i) that further proceedings be stayed until the order or rule is complied with;

(ii) that the offending party be debarred from filing any other pleading relating to any issue to which the refusal or failurerelates;

(iii) that he be debarred from maintaining any particular claim, counterclaim, third-party complaint, or defense relating tothat issue;

(iv) that a witness be barred from testifying concerning that issue;

(v) that, as to claims or defenses asserted in any pleading to which that issue is material, a judgment by default be enteredagainst the offending party or that his action be dismissed with or without prejudice; or

(vi) that any portion of his pleadings relating to that issue be stricken and, if thereby made appropriate, judgment be enteredas to that issue." 166 Ill. 2d R. 219(c).

A trial court's imposition of sanctions will not be disturbed on review absent a showing of abuse of discretion. In re D.R.,307 Ill. App. 3d 478, 482 (1999). However, a sanction causing a default judgment is proper only where the sanctionedparty's conduct showed "deliberate, contumacious, or unwarranted disregard for the court's authority." In re D.R., 307 Ill.App. 3d at 482, citing Hartnett v. Stack, 241 Ill. App. 3d 157, 173 (1993).

Both respondent and the children's guardian ad litem cite In re D.R. to support their argument that the trial court'simposition of sanctions violated respondent's due process rights. However, D.R. is factually distinguishable from this case.

In D.R., as in this case, the State filed a Rule 237(b) notice compelling the respondent's appearance at the hearing on thepetition to terminate her parental rights. When she failed to appear, the trial court imposed sanctions under Rule 219 thatincluded barring the respondent from presenting any defense, striking witnesses and exhibits, barring testimony, andentering a default judgment against the respondent. On appeal, we found that the trial court's sanctions were too harsh. Westated:

"In this case, respondent was present in court on two previous status conferences wherein she reiterated that she wascontesting the petitions. On the day of the hearing, she informed counsel that she was eight months pregnant, not verymobile, had a mandatory appointment with her probation officer, and would not likely be able to come to court. Whetherher failure to appear was voluntary or not, her counsel was present at the hearing and was prepared to argue on her behalf. There was no reason apparent from the record to deny counsel the right to proceed in respondent's absence, and no'deliberate and contumacious disregard' of the court's authority. Where the interests at stake are so finite, a mother'sparental rights should not be lightly forfeited. [Citation.]" In re D.R., 307 Ill. App. 3d at 483.

Our decision in D.R. was clearly based upon the respondent's prior cooperation in the proceedings along with herexplanation for failing to appear at the hearing. Given the circumstances of that case, we did not find that respondent wasin "deliberate and contumacious" disregard of the court's authority.

Here, the trial court noted that respondent was only present at hearings when she happened to be in prison. A review of therecord shows that finding respondent, or an address where she could be served, was a continual problem throughout theproceedings. Respondent does not offer any explanation for her absence at the hearing, except to suggest that her attorneydid not make enough effort to "keep [respondent] abreast of the proceedings." Though respondent argues that she did nothave actual notice of the proceedings, as the respondent did in D.R., respondent has a duty to follow the progress of hercase and to learn from her attorney the date of the termination hearing. In re C.L.T., 302 Ill. App. 3d 770, 778 (1999). Furthermore, "[i]t is well settled that notice to an attorney is considered notice to the client, notwithstanding whether theattorney has actually communicated such knowledge to the client." In re D.R., 307 Ill. App. 3d at 482.

The children's guardian ad litem argues that the trial court's imposition of sanctions was punitive, and thereforeinappropriate. However, the trial court noted that it was not imposing sanctions to punish respondent, but was simplytrying to "move [the] case along" and noted that respondent had "a history of failing to come in and engage with her lawyerunless she was brought in on a writ." Surely, this type of apathy is precisely the type of deliberate disregard that Rule219(c)(v) was meant to target. See Hartnett v. Stack, 241 Ill. App. 3d at 175-77.

Moreover, despite the trial court's finding that respondent was in default due to her failure to appear, respondent's attorneywas still allowed to cross-examine witnesses and argue on her behalf. Thus, the trial court's sanction did not have the effectof a true default order, in which the court simply enters a judgment favoring the opposing party. In contrast, therespondent's attorney in D.R. was barred from cross-examining witnesses or arguing on behalf of the respondent. In reD.R., 307 Ill. App. 3d at 482. Given the circumstances of the present case, we do not find that the trial court's sanctionsrepresent an abuse of discretion.

Respondent also contends that the State failed to prove that it was in the best interest of the children for her parental rightsto be terminated. She argues that the record shows that she had been visiting the children in the year leading up to thehearing and claims that the State did not present any evidence to support a finding that it was in the best interest of thechildren for respondent's parental rights to be terminated.

"Once a parent has been found unfit by clear and convincing evidence, the decision to terminate an individual's parentalrights rests within the sound discretion of the trial judge." In re Sheltanya S., 309 Ill. App. 3d 941, 955 (1999). A reviewof the record shows that these children came into care due to respondent's drug addiction and repeated abandonment of oneor more of them. Though the older children had been in care since 1989, respondent did not complete a drug rehabilitationprogram until 1997 and did not visit the children consistently until 1998. At the time of the hearing, the only children whowere not in adoptive placements were working toward such placement or were in homes where the foster parent had agreedto subsidized guardianship.

Respondent argues that her attempts to "better herself" should weigh in her favor. However, because these attempts weremade more than a year after the children were adjudicated neglected or dependent, the court could not consider them. In reD.L., 191 Ill. 2d 1, 10 (2000)(evidence that may be considered under section 1(D)(m) of the Adoption Act limited tomatters concerning the parent's conduct in the 12 months following the applicable adjudication of neglect, abuse, ordependency). In addition, though the DCFS case plans required respondent to attend parenting classes, completepsychological evaluations, and maintain a stable home, nothing in the record indicates that she had completed any of thesetasks at the time of the hearing. Given these facts, we cannot say that the trial court abused its discretion in finding that itwas in the children's best interest to terminate respondent's parental rights.

Accordingly, the judgment of the circuit court is affirmed.

Affirmed.

GORDON AND McNULTY, JJ., concur.