May 2021 Archive | Court of Appeals Court Opinions

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Muscatine County, Thomas G. Reidel, Judge.  AFFIRMED.  Considered by Bower, C.J., and Tabor and Ahlers, JJ.  Opinion by Bower, C.J.  (7 pages)

            Nacrina San Nicolas Tigrett appeals the physical care and visitation provisions of a district court modification order, asserting the court should have awarded her physical care of her children with Nicholas Law.  In the alternative, she seeks a change to the visitation schedule to provide her a mid-week overnight.  OPINION HOLDS: We affirm the district court order.

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, Rachael E. Seymour, District Associate Judge.  AFFIRMED.  Considered by May, P.J., Greer, J., and Carr, S.J.  Opinion by Carr, S.J.  (5 pages)

            A mother appeals the termination of her parental rights to her child.  OPINION HOLDS: Termination is in the child’s best interests, and there is no basis for finding the parent-child relationship is so strong as to preclude termination of her parental rights. 

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Scott County, Korie Talkington, District Associate Judge.  AFFIRMED.  Considered by Bower, C.J., Doyle, J., and Gamble, S.J.  Opinion by Gamble, S.J.  (7 pages)

            A mother appeals the termination of her parental rights.  She claims termination is not in the child’s best interest, we should forgo termination due to the strength of the parent-child bond, and she should be given additional time to work toward reunification.  OPINION HOLDS: Termination is in the child’s best interest.  The parent-child bond is not so strong to preclude termination.  And we do not give the mother additional time to work toward reunification.

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Story County, Stephen A. Owen, District Associate Judge.  AFFIRMED.  Considered by Tabor, P.J., Schumacher, J., and Carr, S.J.  Opinion by Carr, S.J.  (4 pages)

            A father appeals the termination of his parental rights to his child.  OPINION HOLDS: Terminating the father’s parental rights will not be detrimental to the child.  Because terminating his parental rights is in the child’s best interests, we affirm.

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Buena Vista County, Mary L. Timko, Associate Juvenile Judge.  AFFIRMED ON BOTH APPEALS.  Considered by Bower, C.J., and Doyle and Mullins, JJ.  Opinion by Mullins, J.  (12 pages)

            A father and mother separately appeal the termination of their parental rights to three of the parties’ children.  OPINION HOLDS: The State proved termination pursuant to Iowa Code section 232.116(1)(f) (2020), and termination is in the children’s best interests.  The father does not have standing to raise an ineffective-assistance claim on behalf of the children.

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Black Hawk County, Linda M. Fangman, Judge.  AFFIRMED ON BOTH APPEALS.  Considered by Doyle, P.J., Mullins, J., and Scott, S.J.  Opinion by Scott, S.J.  (6 pages)

            Parents separately appeal the termination of their parental rights.  The mother requests the application of the permissive exception to termination contained in Iowa Code section 232.116(3)(c) (2020).  Both parents argue the court erred in not granting additional time to work toward reunification.  OPINION HOLDS: We affirm the termination of both parents’ parental rights.

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Crawford County, Mary L. Timko, Associate Juvenile Judge.  AFFIRMED.  Considered by Mullins, P.J., May, J., and Carr, S.J.  Opinion by Carr, S.J.  (4 pages)

            A mother appeals the termination of her parental rights to her children.  OPINION HOLDS: Terminating the mother’s parental rights will afford the children the safety and permanency they need.  Because termination is the children’s best interests, we affirm.

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Scott County, Christine Dalton, District Associate Judge.  AFFIRMED.  Considered by Mullins, P.J., Schumacher, J., and Danilson, S.J.  Opinion by Danilson, S.J.  (7 pages)

            A father appeals the juvenile court order terminating his parental rights.  OPINION HOLDS: The juvenile court did not abuse its discretion by denying the father’s motion for a continuance.  There is clear and convincing evidence in the record to support termination of the father’s parental rights and termination is in the best interests of the child.  We affirm the decision of the juvenile court.

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Clinton County, Phillip J. Tabor, District Associate Judge.  AFFIRMED.  Considered by Doyle, P.J., May, J., and Blane, S.J.  Tabor, J., takes no part.  Opinion by May, J.  (6 pages)

            A mother appeals the termination of her parental rights.  OPINION HOLDS: The State established the statutory grounds authorizing termination.  Termination is in the children’s best interests.  We decline to apply Iowa Code section 232.116(3)(c) (2020) to preclude termination.  And we do not grant the mother additional time to work toward reunification.