For summaries from opinions prior to August, 2018, view PDF versions here.
In the Interest of L.M., Minor Child
B.M., Father-Appellant
Attorney for Appellant Father
Yvonne C. Naanep
Attorney for Appellee State
Ellen Ramsey-Kacena, Assistant Attorney General
Guardian ad Litem
Gina Burress
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Warren County, Brendan Greiner, District Associate Judge. AFFIRMED. Considered by Tabor, P.J., Mullins, J., and Carr, S.J. Opinion by Carr, S.J. (5 pages)
A father appeals the termination of his parental rights to his child. OPINION HOLDS: Clear and convincing evidence supports terminating the father’s parental rights under Iowa Code section 232.116(1)(h) (2019). The father failed to challenge the State’s reasonable efforts to return the child to his care and has thus waived this claim on appeal. Termination is in the child’s best interests, and we decline to apply Iowa Code section 232.116(3)(a) to avoid terminating the father’s parental rights.
