Opinion
No. 139507.
November 4, 2009.
Appeal from the Reported below 285 Mich App 158.
Actions on Applications for Leave to Appeal from the Court of Appeals.
Leave to Appeal Granted.
The parties shall include among the issues to be briefed: (1) whether the respondent's incarceration for a period exceeding two years was an automatic ground for termination under MCL 712A.19b(3)(h); (2) if not, whether the family court erred in finding that the respondent failed to provide proper care and custody when the child's mother, who herself was under the jurisdiction of the family court and unavailable to care for the child, placed the child with the respondent's relative; (3) if the trial court erred in terminating the respondent's parental rights under MCL 712A.19b(3)(h), whether the family court may support termination under MCL 712A.19b(3)(c)(i), when the respondent's incarceration and failure to provide proper care and custody were the conditions that led to the adjudication; (4) in the event that termination was appropriate under either MCL 712A.19b(3)(h) or (c)(i), whether it was in the best interests of the child under MCL 712A.19b (5); and (5) in evaluating the impact of MCL 712A.19b(5), whether the family court should have applied the post-amendment version of the statute. MCL 712A.19b(5), as amended by 2008 PA 199 (effective 7/11/08).
I would deny leave to appeal because I am not persuaded that the Court of Appeals was clearly erroneous in its decision to affirm the trial court's order terminating respondent father's parental rights, and I am not persuaded that granting leave will achieve justice in this case.