Dane County DHS v. A.D., 2022AP76 & 2022AP77, District 4, 3/31/22 (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity Another case showing that in TPR proceedings, “egregious” conduct is coming to mean “missing one hearing.” A.D. appeared at the first eight—count ’em: eight!—hearings at which he was ordered to appear. At the eighth hearing, the court allowed… Read more
E. Procedure
Dunn County Human Services v. N.R., 2021AP129 & 2021AP1830, District 3, 1/28/22 (one-judge decision; in eligible for publication); case activity The circuit court properly exercised its discretion in allowing the foster parent of N.R.’s children to testify at the grounds trial in N.R.’s TPR proceeding. The petition alleged continuing CHIPS grounds, which meant the County… Read more
Marathon County DHS v. S.K., 2021AP1124 & 2021AP1125, District 3, 11/18/21 (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity The circuit court granted partial summary judgment on the petitions to terminate the parental rights of S.K. (“Sarah”) for failure to assume parental responsibility of her two daughters. The court of appeals reverses, holding there are genuine… Read more
Juneau County DHS v. B.J., 2021AP1359, 2021AP1360, 2021AP1361, District 4, 11/4/21 (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity The circuit court properly granted summary judgment on the TPR petitions against B.J., based on: B.J.’s was conviction for sexually assaulting one of the children, among other crimes, for which he was sentenced to 50 years of… Read more
State v. P.G., 2021AP1231, 2021AP1232, & 2021AP1233, District 1, 11/2/21 (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity P.G.’s challenges the sufficiency of the TPR petitions against him and claims the COVID epidemic affected his ability to meet the conditions of return. His arguments are in vain. First, he argues a TPR petition must met the… Read more
State v. L.M., 2021AP970, District 1, 9/8/21 (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity The circuit court properly exercised its discretion in denying L.M.’s motion to vacate the default judgment entered against her in this TPR case. L.M. failed to appear at the initial appearance, though she’d served by mail and told about the court… Read more
Douglas County DHHS v. D.B., 2020AP982, District 3, 8/10/21 (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity D.B. claims trial counsel at his TPR trial was ineffective for: (1) failing to object to the application to his case of the amended version of the statute governing continuing CHIPS grounds; (2) failing to introduce evidence about additional… Read more
State v. M.R.K., 2021AP141, District 1, 6/22/21 (one-judge decision; not recommended for publication); case activity The Latin word grex means “flock,” “herd,” or “group,” and is the root of several English words. Gregarious originally meant “tending to live in a flock, herd, or community rather than alone” but has become a synonym for “sociable.” Egregious… Read more
