For summaries from opinions prior to August, 2018, view PDF versions here.
In the Interest of O.C., Minor Child
M.C., Mother-Appellant
D.C., Father-Appellant
Attorney for Appellant Mother
Christine E. Branstad
Attorney for Appellant Father
Cole J. Mayer
Attorney for Appellee State
Ellen Ramsey-Kacena, Assistant Attorney General
Guardian ad Litem
Lynn Vogan
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, Brent Pattison, District Associate Judge. AFFIRMED ON BOTH APPEALS. Considered by Bower, C.J., and Vaitheswaran and Schumacher, JJ. Opinion by Vaitheswaran, J. (10 pages)
A father and mother separately appeal the termination of their parental rights to a child. The father contends (1) the State failed to prove the grounds for termination cited by the district court; (2) the State failed to “provide[] appropriate reasonable efforts due to [his] intellectual disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act”; (3) termination was not in the child’s best interests; and (4) the district court should have granted him a six-month extension. The mother contends (1) the State failed to prove the grounds for termination cited by the district court; (2) the State failed to provide reasonable reunification efforts; (3) she should have been afforded a six-month extension to facilitate reunification; and (4) the termination order violated her equal protection and due process rights. She also suggests termination was not in the child’s best interests and the district court should have invoked an exception to termination based on the parent-child bond. OPINION HOLDS: We affirm the district court’s decision to terminate parental rights.