In the Interest of K.P., Minor Child
T.P., Father-Appellant
L.P., Mother-Appellant
Attorney for Father Appellant
Michael S. Fisher
Attorney for Mother Appellant
Lynnette M. Lindgren
Attorney for Appellee State
Diane Murphy Smith, Assistant Attorney General
Guardian ad Litem
Denise McKelvie Gonyea
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Mahaska County, Rose Anne Mefford, District Associate Judge. FATHER’S APPEAL DISMISSED; AFFIRMED ON MOTHER’S APPEAL. Considered by Vaitheswaran, P.J., Ahlers, J. and Vogel, S.J. Opinion by Vogel, S.J. (10 pages)
The father and the mother separately appeal the termination of their parental rights. OPINION HOLDS: With no facts beyond the mere speculation of the father’s attorney to explain the father’s late-filed notice of appeal, the father’s appeal is dismissed as untimely. Due to the mother’s ongoing substance abuse, termination is in the child’s best interests, the parent-child bond does not overcome termination, and additional time for reunification is not appropriate. The mother did not preserve her other issues for appeal.
