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Case No. 21-0583

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:
21-0583
Date Published:
Nov 03, 2021
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.

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