Opinion ID: 2056781
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Issues Specific to Particular Appellants

Text: [¶ 43] Despite raising the issue in their notice of appeal, the cousin couple have not argued in their joint brief with the father that the court erred in denying their motion to intervene or for interested-person status, and any appeal of that issue is deemed waived. [10] See Holland v. Sebunya, 2000 ME 160, ¶ 9 n. 6, 759 A.2d 205, 209. Further, the claim that they should have been considered for a kinship placement, not having been presented during the termination proceeding, is deemed waived. [¶ 44] Finally, because we affirm the court's denial of the mother's and father's motions for relief from judgment, the unrelated couple's appeal is moot. See Roop v. City of Belfast, 2008 ME 103, ¶ 3, 953 A.2d 374, 375. Regardless, contrary to the unrelated couple's contention, the court did not err as a matter of law or abuse its discretion in denying their motions to intervene and for interested-person status. See M.R. Civ. P. 24; 22 M.R.S. § 4005-D(1)(C), (2), (5) (2008). No matter how well-intended, an unrelated individual or couple, such as the unrelated couple here, cannot intervene in and join any adoption proceeding that interests them to compete with other applicants to adopt a child. A special relationship with the child must be demonstrated. See M.R. Civ. P. 24(a)(2); 22 M.R.S. § 4005-D (2008). Were the law otherwise, adoption proceedings involving attractive children, such as children who might gain access to a large trust fund, could become a free-for-all of opportunistic litigation. The court properly denied the unrelated couple's effort to intervene or gain interested-person status in this proceeding. The entry is: Judgments affirmed.