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Case No. 19-0032

In the Interest of L.D., Minor Child

A.D., Mother-Appellant

J.D., Father-Appellant

Attorney for Appellant Mother

Michael J. Moeller

Attorney for Appellant Father

Theodore J. Hovda

Attorney for Appellee State

Anagha Dixit, Assistant Attorney General

Guardian ad litem

Carrie J. Rodriguez

Court of Appeals

Court of Appeals Opinion

Opinion Number:
19-0032
Date Published:
Mar 20, 2019
Summary

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Hancock County, Karen Kaufman Salic, District Associate Judge.  AFFIRMED ON BOTH APPEALS.  Considered by Potterfield, P.J., Bower, J., and Danilson, S.J.  Opinion by Danilson, S.J.  (10 pages)

            A mother and a father separately appeal the termination of their parental rights.  The mother challenges the grounds for termination and claims termination is not in the child’s best interests and an exception should be applied to avoid termination.  The father does not challenge that grounds exist for termination, but like the mother, claims termination is not in the child’s best interests.  OPINION HOLDS: There is clear and convincing evidence to support termination of parental rights pursuant to Iowa Code section 232.116(1)(e) (2018).  In light of the parents’ unresolved substance-abuse and domestic-violence issues, termination of parental rights is in the child’s best interests.  We decline to apply an exception to termination.  

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