Opinion
2021-UP-093
03-19-2021
South Carolina Department of Social Services, Respondent, v. Brooke Bailey and [REDACTED], Defendants, Of whom [REDACTED] is the Appellant. In the interest of a minor under the age of eighteen. Appellate No. 2020-001331
Harry A. Hancock, of Columbia, for Appellant. Scarlet Bell Moore, of Greenville, for Respondent. Michael Julius Schwartz, of Russell B. Long, PA; and Heather Marie Moore, of Axelrod & Associates, PA, both of Myrtle Beach, for the Guardian ad Litem.
THIS OPINION HAS NO PRECEDENTIAL VALUE. IT SHOULD NOT BE CITED OR RELIED ON AS PRECEDENT IN ANY PROCEEDING EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY RULE 268(d)(2), SCACR.
Submitted March 4, 2021
Appeal From Horry County Ronald R. Norton, Family Court Judge
Harry A. Hancock, of Columbia, for Appellant.
Scarlet Bell Moore, of Greenville, for Respondent.
Michael Julius Schwartz, of Russell B. Long, PA; and Heather Marie Moore, of Axelrod & Associates, PA, both of Myrtle Beach, for the Guardian ad Litem.
PER CURIAM
[REDACTED] appeals the family court's order removing his minor child from his custody, finding he physically abused and physically neglected his minor child, and allowing the Department of Social Services (DSS) to forego reasonable efforts at reunification. See S.C. Code Ann. § 63-7-1660(E) (2010) (setting forth findings a family court must make when removing children from the custody of their parents); S.C. Code Ann. § 63-7-1640(C) (Supp. 2020) (setting forth situations when a family court may authorize DSS to forego reasonable efforts at family reunification). Upon a thorough review of the record and the family court's findings of fact and conclusions of law pursuant to Ex parte Cauthen, 291 S.C. 465, 354 S.E.2d 381 (1987), we find no meritorious issues warrant briefing. Accordingly, we affirm the family court's ruling and relieve [REDACTED]'s counsel.
See also S.C. Dep't of Soc. Servs. v. Downer, SC Sup. Ct. Order dated Feb. 2, 2005 (expanding the Cauthen procedure to situations when "an indigent person appeals from an order imposing other measures short of termination of parental rights").
We decide this case without oral argument pursuant to Rule 215, SCACR.
WILLIAMS, THOMAS, and HILL, JJ., concur.