Court Opinion

ID: 4396730
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-05-15 09:05:34.651657+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:52:07.518095
License: Public Domain

If this opinion indicates that it is “FOR PUBLICATION,” it is subject to
                 revision until final publication in the Michigan Appeals Reports.

                          STATE OF MICHIGAN

                           COURT OF APPEALS

                                                                    UNPUBLISHED
In re GRABOWSKI, Minors.                                            May 14, 2019

                                                                    No. 345608
                                                                    Grand Traverse Circuit Court
                                                                    Family Division
                                                                    LC No. 17-004395-NA

Before: GLEICHER, P.J., and RONAYNE KRAUSE and O’BRIEN, JJ.

PER CURIAM.

        Respondent, was the father of two children, SG and AG, that are the heart of this matter
and he claims an appeal by right from the trial court’s order terminating his parental rights. The
children’s mother was originally a party, however she passed away during the pendency of this
case. Both parents admitted to the trial court’s jurisdiction. Respondent admits that his
participation in the case was minimal, and he does not challenge the termination of his parental
rights. Rather, respondent challenges the placement of the children with their mother’s
grandparents, based on sexual abuse perpetrated against the children’s mother and aunt by
relatives. At trial, the evidence showed that the abuse perpetrators were no longer in contact
with the family. In any event, because respondent does not challenge the termination of his
parental rights, he lacks legal standing to challenge the children’s placement. We therefore
dismiss the instant appeal.

                                         I. STANDING

        “In order to have standing, a party must have a legally protected interest that is in
jeopardy of being adversely affected.” In re Foster, 226 Mich App 348, 358; 573 NW2d 324
(1997). MCR 7.203(A) provides that this “[C]ourt has jurisdiction of an appeal of right filed by
an aggrieved party . . . ” A person is not an “aggrieved party” merely because that person is
unhappy with the outcome of a proceeding. “Rather, to have standing on appeal, a litigant must
have suffered a concrete and particularized injury” arising from “the actions of the trial court.”
Federated Ins Co v Oakland Co Road Comm, 475 Mich 286, 291-292; 715 NW2d 846 (2006). If
a court determines that an appellant lacks standing, the court must “recognize its lack of
jurisdiction and act accordingly by . . . dismissing the action, or otherwise disposing thereof, at
any stage of the proceeding.” In re Fraser’s Estate, 288 Mich 392, 394; 285 NW 1 (1939).

                                               -1-
        MCL 722.2 provides that a parent’s parental rights to his or her unemancipated children
consist of “the custody, control, services and earnings of the minor . . . ” Those parental rights
are lost when the parent’s parental rights are terminated. In re Beck, 488 Mich 6, 15; 793 NW2d
562 (2010). “In other words, the terminated parent loses any entitlement to the custody, control,
services and earnings of the minor.” Id. (quotation marks, ellipsis, and citation omitted).

       In his brief on appeal, respondent explicitly states that he does not contest the trial court’s
termination of his parental rights. Because respondent’s parental rights were terminated, and he
does not challenge the termination, he is no longer entitled to the custody or control of SG and
AG. See In re Beck, 488 Mich at 15. Given that respondent has no right to the control of SG
and AG, he does not have a legally protected interest that is adversely affected by the trial court’s
decision to place the children with their maternal great-grandmother. See In re Foster, 226 Mich
App at 358. Respondent is not an aggrieved party, and, therefore, he lacks standing. See
Federated Ins Co, 475 Mich at 291-292. Accordingly, this court does not have jurisdiction to
consider his appeal. See In re Fraser’s Estate, 288 Mich at 394; MCR 2.703(A).

                                        II. GOOD CAUSE

         We nevertheless recognize the seriousness of respondent’s concerns, and we do not wish
to suggest that we dismiss them lightly. We have, therefore, reviewed the record in this matter.
After the children were removed, it was determined that they were eligible for membership in the
Muscogee (Creek) Tribe through their relationship to their maternal grandfather. Accordingly,
the trial court determined that SG and AG were Indian children under the Indian Child Welfare
Act (ICWA), 25 USC 1901 et seq., and the Michigan Indian Family Preservation Act (MIFPA),
MCL 712B.1 et seq. The trial court conducted a removal hearing in compliance with ICWA and
MIFPA with a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians appearing as a
qualified expert witness on behalf of the Muscogee (Creek) Tribe. Because SG and AG were
Indian children, they were required to be placed in accordance with the placement preferences
provided in ICWA, 25 USC 1915(a), and MIFPA, MCL 712B.23(1). Under those placement
preferences, absent good cause to the contrary, a member of the child’s extended family is
afforded first preference for pre-adoptive and adoptive placement of the child. See 25 USC
1915(a) and (b); MCL 712B.23(1) and (2). Accordingly, the trial court placed the children with
their maternal great-grandmother.

        Respondent, who consistently waived his right to counsel throughout the proceedings
below, asserted that the children’s mother, and her sister, had been sexually abused by their
stepfather and by their uncle, who had at the time lived with their maternal grandmother. The
only evidence offered by respondent was a recording he made of a telephone call to the
children’s mother’s sister. The trial court ordered respondent to provide the recording to the CPS
worker for investigation. The CPS worker testified that she investigated respondent’s claims and
determined that although the children’s maternal grandmother was not an appropriate placement
because of the allegations, there were no concerns with respect to the children’s maternal great-
grandmother. One of the perpetrators was not a blood relative and had been convicted of sexual
abuse, and the other lived out of state. Significantly, the family maintained contact with neither
abuser. The CPS worker testified that she created a “safety plan” for the maternal great-
grandmother, with whom the children were placed, in the event that either perpetrator who lived
out of state were to attempt contact. The children’s mother’s sister was consulted, and she

                                                 -2-
opined that she did not have any concerns regarding the children’s placement with their maternal
great-grandmother.

        On appeal, respondent contends that “at no point did any of this information give [the
CPS worker] any pause as to placement of these minor children with this family.” The record
clearly shows otherwise. Despite respondent’s somewhat combative attitude toward the court
and workers, his allegations were taken seriously, investigated, substantiated, and addressed.
Respondent seemingly fails to recognize the steps that were taken to ensure that the abusers
cannot come into contact with the children, and he consequently offers no explanation for why
those steps might be inadequate. Therefore, although respondent does not have standing to
challenge the placement of the children, it is readily apparent from the record that no “good
cause” has been established to interfere with the children’s placement pursuant to with ICWA
and MIFPA. We would therefore find no merit to respondent’s appeal even if respondent had
standing to pursue the appeal.

       Dismissed for lack of standing.

                                                           /s/ Elizabeth L. Gleicher
                                                           /s/ Amy Ronayne Krause
                                                           /s/ Colleen A. O'Brien

                                              -3-