This section contains the nature of the case and procedural background.

The Department filed a petition for dependency in 1996 alleging that the parents of three children were unable to care for them due to the mother's drug abuse and the father's mental health problems. Eventually, the Department filed a petition to terminate the rights of both parents as the parents had breached the requirements of the case plan. The children were living without water or electricity, and the mother did admit to drug abuse, and the father was hospitalized at the VA. The trial court found that the failure was not due to financial reasons and that they failed to establish a stable residence, continued to use illegal drugs and failed to validate mental health treatment and to complete parenting classes. The rights of both parents were terminated, and this appeal resulted.

The legal issues presented in this case will be displayed here.

The court's holding and decision will be displayed here.

Legal analysis from Dean's Law Dictionary will be displayed here.