In re Interest of Tannen F.
A-21-0249; A-21-0250; A-21-0254, In re Interest of Logan J. et al., children under 18 years of age. State of Nebraska v. Erika J. (Appellant), Eric F. (Cross-Appellant)
Juvenile Court for Scotts Bluff County, County Judge James M. Worden
Attorney for Appellant: Andrew M. Pope (Crites & Shaffer Law Office)
Attorney for Cross-Appellant: Audrey M. Long (A. Elliott Law)
Attorney for Appellee: Danielle Larson (Scotts Bluff County Attorney General’s Office)
Juvenile Action: Termination of Parental Rights
Action taken by Juvenile Court: The juvenile court entered a dispositional order allowing the Department of Health and Human Services to determine reasonable visitation between the children and their parents. The juvenile court later allowed the State leave to amend its petition to terminate the parental rights of Erika J. and Eric F. to include the statutory ground under Neb. Rev. Stat. §43-292(7) (Reissue 2016) during trial before the Appellants’ case-in-chief. Following the trial, the juvenile court found that the State had proved by clear and convincing evidence that statutory grounds existed to terminate the parental rights of Erika J. and Eric. F., and that the termination was in the best interests of the children.
Assignments of Error on Appeal: Did the juvenile court err in allowing the state to amend the petition at trial to include the statutory ground under § 43-292(7)? Did the juvenile court err in finding there was clear and convincing evidence to establish that statutory grounds existed to terminate Erika J.’s parental rights? Did the juvenile court err in finding that the termination of Erika J.’s parental rights was in the children’s best interests?
Assignments of Error on Cross-Appeal: Did the juvenile court err in delegating its authority to determine Eric F.’s rights to visitation of his children to the Department of Health and Human Services? Did the juvenile court err in allowing the state to amend the petition at trial to include the statutory ground under § 43-292(7)? Did the juvenile court err in finding there was clear and convincing evidence to establish that statutory grounds existed to terminate Eric F.’s parental rights? Did the juvenile court err in finding that the termination of Eric F.’s parental rights was in the children’s best interests?