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Case No. 19-0233

In the Interest of B.P., Minor Child

K.D., Mother-Appellant

J.M., Father-Appellant

Attorney for Appellant Mother

Michael Lanigan

Attorney for Appellant Father

Joseph G. Martin

Attorney for Appellee State

Kathryn K. Lang, Assistant Attorney General

Guardian ad litem

Mark Milder

Court of Appeals

Court of Appeals Opinion

Opinion Number:
19-0233
Date Published:
May 01, 2019
Summary

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Black Hawk County, Daniel L. Block, Associate Juvenile Judge.  AFFIRMED ON BOTH APPEALS.  Considered by Vaitheswaran, P.J., and Doyle and Tabor, JJ.  Opinion by Tabor, J.  (7 pages)

            A mother and father separately appeal the order terminating their parental rights to one child.  The mother contends there was not clear and convincing evidence to support the statutory grounds for termination.  Both parents assert the court should have established a guardianship in the child’s current placement rather than terminate their rights.  OPINION HOLDS: The mother has waived the statutory-grounds argument by not citing the ground she challenges.  But even if she had not waived her challenge, we find termination appropriate under Iowa Code section 232.116(1)(f) (2018).  Further, a guardianship is not in the child’s best interests.  We affirm termination as to both appeals. 

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