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In the Interest of J.C., Minor Child
M.S., Father-Appellant
Attorney for Appellant Father
Jeremy Feitelson
Attorney for Appellee State
Anagha Dixit, Assistant Attorney General
Guardian ad litem
Kayla Stratton
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, Joseph W. Seidlin, District Associate Judge. REVERSED. Considered by Vogel, P.J., and Vaitheswaran and McDonald, JJ. Opinion by Vaitheswaran, J. Separate Writing by McDonald, J. Dissent by Vogel, P.J. (17 pages)
A father appeals the termination of his parental rights to his child. OPINION HOLDS: The agency’s failure to notify the father of the child-in-need-of-assistance (CINA) proceedings prevented him from being heard in the CINA action and rendered the proceeding void as to him. We further conclude an intent to abandon the child was not established. SEPARATE WRITING ASSERTS: There is insufficient evidence supporting the statutory ground authorizing the termination of the father’s parental rights. The issue of whether the father received notice of the CINA case is not before this court. Even if the issue of notice was properly before this court, the father’s lack of notice of the CINA case is immaterial to the termination of the father’s parental rights under Iowa Code section 232.116(1)(b), which does not require the child first be adjudicated in need of assistance as a prerequisite to termination of parental rights. DISSENT ASSERTS: Iwould affirm the termination of the father’s parental rights in its entirety. I believe both issues of notice and abandonment were not properly raised and should not provide a basis to reverse on appeal.
