Opinion ID: 2136773
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: mother's denied continuance

Text: Pursuant to SDCL 26-8-22.6: The court, on the motion of any interested party or on its own motion, may order the petition to be amended to conform to the evidence. If the amendment results in a substantial departure from the original allegations in the petition, the court shall continue the hearing on the motion of any interested party, or the court may grant a continuance on its own motion, if it finds it to be in the best interests of the child or any other party to the proceeding. SDCL 26-8-22.6 (emphasis added). Clearly, the amendment of the petition to include Mother was a substantial departure from the original petition. It added another party to the petition and effectuated an adjudication of that party's rights in the matter. Under these circumstances, the command of SDCL 26-8-22.6 is clear: [T]he court shall continue the hearing on the motion of any interested party [.] (Emphasis added). The language of this provision is mandatory; it relates to matters of substance, as opposed to procedure. See Chicago & N.W. Ry. Co. v. Buckingham Trans. Co. of Colo., 69 S.D. 1, 5 N.W.2d 729 (1942); Bon Homme County Farm Bureau v. Bd. of Com'rs of Bon Homme County, 53 S.D. 174, 220 N.W. 618 (1928). See generally 73 Am.Jur.2d, Statutes § 22; 2A Sutherland Stat.Constr., § 57.03, 57.11. It is clearly intended to avoid the type of prejudice which was occasioned upon Mother. Mother was not given notice by the petition that her parental rights were being adjudicated at the hearing, and when, after the fact, it was determined her parental rights were at issue, the trial court denied her any opportunity to present evidence in support of her position. This was prejudicial error. SDCL 15-6-61. We reverse the determination that H.M. and S.M. are dependent and neglected as to Mother and the termination of Mother's parental rights.