May 2022 Archive | Court of Appeals Court Opinions

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Linn County, Cynthia S. Finley, District Associate Judge.  AFFIRMED.  Considered by Vaitheswaran, P.J., and Tabor and Badding, JJ.  Opinion by Badding, J.  (7 pages)

            A mother appeals the termination of her parental rights.  OPINION HOLDS: On our de novo review of the record, we find that termination of the mother’s parental rights is in the best interest of the child and that no permissive exception to termination exists.

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Page County, Jennifer Benson Bahr, District Associate Judge.  AFFIRMED.  Considered by Vaitheswaran, P.J., and Tabor and Badding, JJ.  Opinion by Vaitheswaran, P.J.  (5 pages)

            A father appeals the termination of his parental rights to a child.  The father (1) challenges the grounds for termination cited by the district court; (2) argues the department of human services failed to make reasonable reunification efforts; (3) asserts termination was not in the child’s best interests; (4) argues he has a “strong bond” with the child; and (5) seeks additional time to reunify with the child.  OPINION HOLDS: We affirm the district court’s termination of the father’s parental rights to the child.

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Linn County, Cynthia S. Finley, District Associate Judge.  AFFIRMED.  Considered by Bower, C.J., and Schumacher and Ahlers, JJ.  Opinion by Bower, C.J.  (5 pages)

            A mother challenges the termination of her parental rights, asserting the ground for termination has not been established, an extension of time would remedy her issues, and termination is not in the child’s best interests.  OPINION HOLDS: The child cannot be returned to the mother’s care, an extension is unwarranted, and termination is in the child’s best interests.  We affirm.

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Linn County, Cynthia S. Finley, District Associate Judge.  AFFIRMED.  Considered by Vaitheswaran, P.J., and Tabor and Badding, JJ.  Opinion by Vaitheswaran, P.J.  (4 pages)

            A father appeals the termination of his parental rights to a child, contending the State failed to prove the child could not be returned to his custody pursuant to Iowa Code section 232.116(1)(h) (2020).  OPINION HOLDS: We affirm the termination of the father’s parental rights to the child.

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Kossuth County, Ann M. Gales, District Associate Judge.  AFFIRMED.  Considered by May, P.J., and Greer and Chicchelly, JJ.  Opinion by Greer, J.  (5 pages)

            A mother appeals from the termination of her parental rights to three children—V.C., B.C., and I.V.  She argues the State failed to prove the necessary grounds for termination and that the strength of the bond between the mother and children is strong enough that termination is not in their best interests.  OPINION HOLDS: The mother does not argue the children could be returned to her care at the time of the termination hearing, so we consider the statutory ground for termination satisfied.  Termination is in the children’s best interests, and the bond is not strong enough to outweigh the need for termination.  So, we affirm the termination. 

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Pottawattamie County, Charles D. Fagan, District Associate Judge.  AFFIRMED.  Considered by Bower, C.J., and Schumacher and Ahlers, JJ.  Opinion by Schumacher, J.  (9 pages)

            A mother appeals the termination of her parental rights to her minor child.  OPINION HOLDS: We find there is sufficient evidence in the record to support termination of the mother’s parental rights, termination is in the child’s best interests, and an extension of time would not be appropriate.  We affirm the decision of the district court.

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Worth County, Adam D. Sauer, District Associate Judge.  AFFIRMED.  Considered by Bower, C.J., and Schumacher and Ahlers, JJ.  Opinion by Ahlers, J.  (8 pages)

            A father appeals the order terminating his parental rights.  OPINION HOLDS:  The juvenile court was correct in finding that the State proved a ground for termination; in declining to apply a permissive exception to termination; and in denying an additional six months to work toward reunification.

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Louisa County, Emily S. Dean, District Associate Judge.  AFFIRMED.  Considered by Vaitheswaran, P.J., and Tabor and Badding, JJ.  Opinion by Tabor, J.  (10 pages)

            A mother appeals the termination of her parental rights under Iowa Code section 232.116(1), paragraphs (b), (d), (f), (g), (i), and (l) (2021).  OPINION HOLDS: We find no basis for reversal and affirm. 

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Boone County, James B. Malloy, District Associate Judge.  AFFIRMED ON BOTH APPEALS.  Considered by May, P.J., and Greer and Chicchelly, JJ.  Opinion by Chicchelly, J.  (10 pages)

            A mother and father separately appeal the termination of their parental rights to two children.  OPINION HOLDS: Having found the statutory grounds satisfied for each parent, the best interests of the children considered, and a lack of applicable exceptions, we affirm termination of the mother’s and father’s parental rights.

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Linn County, Carrie K. Bryner, District Associate Judge.  AFFIRMED ON BOTH APPEALS.  Considered by Bower, C.J., Schumacher, J., and Doyle, S.J.  Opinion by Doyle, S.J.  (6 pages)

            A mother and a father separately appeal the termination of their parental rights to their child.  OPINION HOLDS: Clear and convincing evidence shows the child cannot be returned to the mother’s care due to her unresolved issues with substance use, satisfying the grounds for termination under Iowa Code section 232.116(1)(h) (2021).  And termination of both the mother’s and the father’s parental rights is in the child’s best interests.

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Pottawattamie County, Scott Strait, District Associate Judge.  AFFIRMED ON BOTH APPEALS.  Considered by Greer, P.J., Chicchelly, J., and Mullins, S.J.  Opinion by Mullins, S.J.  (9 pages)

            Parents separately appeal the termination of their parental rights.  OPINION HOLDS: We affirm the termination of both parents’ parental rights.