October 20 2010
DA 10-0164, DA 10-0165, DA 10-0166
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
2010 MT 220N
IN THE MATTER OF:
E.D., N.D. and S.D.,
Youths in Need of Care.
APPEAL FROM: District Court of the Eighth Judicial District,
In and For the County of Cascade, Cause Nos. CDN 09-041, CDN 09-042,
and CDN 09-043
Honorable Kenneth R. Neill, Presiding Judge
COUNSEL OF RECORD:
For Appellant:
Elizabeth Thomas, Attorney at Law, Missoula, Montana
For Appellee:
Steve Bullock, Montana Attorney General, Mark Mattioli, Assistant
Attorney General, Helena, Montana
Sarah Corbally, Assistant Attorney General, Great Falls, Montana
John Parker, Cascade County Attorney, Great Falls, Montana
Submitted on Briefs: September 29, 2010
Decided: October 20, 2010
Filed:
__________________________________________
Clerk
Justice Patricia O. Cotter delivered the Opinion of the Court.
¶1 Pursuant to Section I, Paragraph 3(d)(v), Montana Supreme Court 1996 Internal
Operating Rules, as amended in 2006, the following memorandum decision shall not be
cited as precedent. It shall be filed as a public document with the Clerk of the Supreme
Court and its case title, Supreme Court cause number and disposition shall be included in
this Court’s quarterly list of noncitable cases published in the Pacific Reporter and
Montana Reports.
¶2 D.D. is the biological father of two daughters, E.D., currently 6 years old and S.D.,
currently 9 years old. He is also the biological father of N.D., a 12-year-old boy. In
March 2010, the Eighth Judicial District Court terminated his parental rights to these
children. He appeals this ruling. We affirm.
ISSUE
¶3 A restatement of the issue on appeal is whether the District Court abused its
discretion when it terminated D.D.’s parental rights.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
¶4 On April 16, 2009, the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS
or the Department) received a report that E.D., N.D. and S.D. were being, or had been,
abused or neglected. An extensive investigation was conducted over several days
resulting in the removal of the children from their parents on May 7, 2009. The children
were placed with their maternal grandparents. Subsequently, on May 12, 2009, DPHHS
filed petitions for emergency protective services for each of these children. The
Department also sought to have the children adjudicated youths in need of care and to
2
obtain temporary legal custody over them. On May 15, the District Court granted
protective services and ordered a show cause hearing on May 26. The order also
indicated that a guardian ad litem and appropriate counsel for the parents be appointed.
At the May 26 hearing the children were adjudicated youths in need of care. The court
issued its order on June 10, 2009.
¶5 Subsequently, in November 2009, DPHHS petitioned for termination of D.D.’s
parental rights under § 41-3-609(1)(d), MCA, on the grounds that D.D. had subjected at
least one of the children to aggravated circumstances, as set forth in § 41-3-423(2)(a)-(e),
MCA. On March 1, 2010, the District Court made numerous pertinent factual findings
before concluding DPHHS was not required to make reasonable efforts to reunify the
children with their father. The court then terminated D.D.’s parental rights. D.D.
appeals.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
¶6 This Court reviews a district court’s order on termination of parental rights for an
abuse of discretion. In re C.M.C., 2009 MT 153, ¶ 19, 350 Mont. 391, 208 P.3d 809
(citation omitted).
DISCUSSION
¶7 D.D. argues on appeal that the District Court’s decision to terminate his parental
rights was not supported by clear and convincing evidence. He also asserts that
termination was unnecessary as other viable options existed to achieve permanency for
the children. The State counters that substantial evidence was presented to support the
court’s determination that the Father’s rights should be terminated based upon his lengthy
3
history of sexual predilections and “aggravating circumstances” surrounding his
relationship with his daughters. Moreover, the State notes that under § 41-3-445(8),
MCA, it was not statutorily required to seek less permanent guardianship arrangements
when valid permanent adoption arrangements are available.
¶8 We have determined to decide this case pursuant to Section I, Paragraph 3(d) of
our 1996 Internal Operating Rules, as amended in 2006, which provides for
memorandum opinions. Our review of the record indicates that the court’s findings are
clearly supported by the evidence presented in this case. Additionally, the court’s legal
conclusions are supported by Montana law. We conclude there was no abuse of judicial
discretion.
¶9 We affirm.
/S/ PATRICIA COTTER
We concur:
/S/ MIKE McGRATH
/S/ JAMES C. NELSON
/S/ MICHAEL E WHEAT
/S/ JIM RICE
4