Case Title: Interest of Z.B.

Citation: 

Docket Number: 20170395

State: north-dakota

Court: North Dakota Supreme Court

Date: 2018-01-22T00:00:00Z

Document:
Interest of Z.B.  Court Description: 6 An appeal from a juvenile court order terminating parental rights is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2). IN THE SUPREME COURT STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA 2018 ND 6 In the Interest of Z.B., Minor Child ---------- State of North Dakota, Petitioner and Appellee v. Z.B., a child; the Executive Director of the North Dakota Department of Human Services, Respondents and G.B., her father, Respondent and Appellant No. 20170395 Appeal from the Juvenile Court of Stark County, Southwest Judicial District, the Honorable Dann E. Greenwood, Judge. AFFIRMED. Per Curiam. James A. Hope, State's Attorney, Dickinson, ND, for petitioner and appellee; submitted on brief. Joseph L. Mrstik, Dickinson, ND, for respondent and appellant G.B.; submitted on brief. Interest of Z.B. No. 20170395 Per Curiam. [¶1] G.B. appealed a juvenile court order terminating his parental rights in Z.B. On appeal, G.B. argues the juvenile court clearly erred in finding Z.B. was deprived, in foster care for 450 out of the previous 660 nights, G.B. abandoned Z.B., social services set unreasonable reunification goals, and the juvenile court abused its discretion in terminating G.B.'s parental rights. The juvenile court terminated G.B.'s parental rights based on findings of (1) deprivation, (2) abandonment, and (3) the number of nights spent by Z.B. in foster care exceeding 450 out of the previous 660 nights. Any one of these three findings provides adequate and independent grounds for termination. Because the juvenile court's findings relating to deprivation and number of nights spent in foster care were not clearly erroneous, we summarily affirm under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2). [¶2] Gerald W. VandeWalle, C.J. Daniel J. Crothers Lisa Fair McEvers Jon J. Jensen Jerod E. Tufte