Dane County DHS v. Mable K., 2014AP398 & 2014AP399, District 4, 7/10/14 (1-judge; ineligible for publication); case activity: 2014AP398; 2014AP399 Mable K. is not entitled to a new grounds trial based on two alleged evidentiary errors—the admission of evidence about her lack of contact with her children after the period of alleged abandonment, and the admission of evidence of specific instances… Read more
1. Harmless error
Dane County DHS v. Nancy M., 2013AP1886 & 2013AP1887, District 4, 2/13/14; court of appeals decision (1-judge; ineligible for publication); case activity: 2013AP1886; 2013AP1887 During the first day of a fact-finding hearing to the court to determine whether there were grounds to terminate Nancy’s parental rights, the trial court admitted evidence about Nancy’s bonding with… Read more
Barron County DH&HS v. Tara H., 2013AP2250, District 3, 12/27/13, unpublished; case activity This is Tara H.’s 2nd trip to the court of appeals regarding this TPR. The first time she won a new dispositional hearing. At the start of that 2nd dispositional hearing, Tara’s counsel asked the trial court about the relevant time period… Read more
La Crosse Co. DHS v. Kristle S., 2012AP2005, District 4, 11/21/12 court of appeals decision (1-judge, ineligible for publication); case activity The parent was given a meaningful opportunity to cross-examine the social worker with respect to conditions for the children’s return, in that the trial court permitted extensive questioning on these issues before instructing counsel to pursue a different… Read more
Rock County HSD v. Jennifer B., 2011AP1524, District 4, 9/8/11 court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Jennifer B.: Gina Frances Bosben; case activity Evidence of the child’s diagnoses (ADHD; PTSD) was relevant to the main issue in contention, and was not unduly prejudicial, hence was admissible in the grounds phase of the TPR… Read more
Kevin G. v. Jennifer M. S., 2009AP1377, District 4, 8/17/11 court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Jennifer M.S.: Susan E. Alesia, SPD, Madison Appellate; case activity Evidence held sufficient to support termination for failure to assume parental responsibility, § 48.415(6)(a), applying “totality-of-the-circumstances test” where “the fact-finder should consider any support or care, or lack thereof, the… Read more
State v. Marquita R., 2010AP1981, District 1, 12/14/10 court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Marquita R.: Carl W. Chesshir TPR – Default as Sanction Delay of over two-and-one-half years between petition and fact-finding hearing (despite statutorily mandated schedule of 45-day limit, § 48.422(2)), caused by Marquita R.’s “egregious” and “bath faith” conduct… Read more
Waukesha County DH&HS v. Michelle P., 2009AP1087, District 2, 8/25/10 court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Michelle P.: Eileen A. Hirsch, SPD , Madison Appellate Authority of the local department to suspend visitation without judicial approval is an “interesting” issue, but one that need not be reached under these facts because the… Read more
