Opinion ID: 1842982
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Merits of Argument

Text: [¶ 7.] SDCL 15-6-60(b) permits a court, among other things, to relieve a party from a final judgment within a reasonable time for any reason justifying relief. Matter of J.M.J., 368 N.W.2d 602, 607 (S.D.1985) (holding denial of a petition to vacate a termination order was reversible error). Rule 60(b) is an extraordinary remedy which should be granted only where there has been a showing of exceptional circumstances. Matter of T.M.B., 416 N.W.2d 260, 263 (S.D.1987). Any decision to grant or deny rule 60(b) relief rests with the sound discretion of the trial court and will not be disturbed on appeal except for abuse. Divich v. Divich, 2002 SD 24, ¶ 8, 640 N.W.2d 758, 761. [¶ 8.] The trial court found that: (1) mother timely petitioned to vacate the order of termination; (2) mother did not want the tribe involved in any case regarding her children; (3) mother would not have terminated her rights if she had known the tribe would seek jurisdiction over D.G.; (4) mother was mistaken in her beliefs concerning the involvement of the tribe; (5) father told mother prior to her voluntary termination, as well as before the birth of D.G., that he was not enrolled in any tribe; (6) father sent a letter to DSS indicating he was not enrolled in a tribe; and, (7) mother relied upon these statements from father. Based on these findings of fact, the trial court determined that mother was entitled to have the termination order vacated on the grounds of mistake and misrepresentation, and these facts constituted exceptional circumstances justifying rule 60(b) relief. [¶ 9.] Under these circumstances, the trial court's decision was not an abuse of discretion. Mother had previously objected to transfers of jurisdiction to tribal court when her other children were involved, she was unaware of father's tribal enrollment based on his representations, and she testified she would have objected to the transfer of jurisdiction if she had been aware that was a possibility. [1]