IN RE SHAQUITA LAYCHANETTE SMITH MINOR

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STATE OF MICHIGAN COURT OF APPEALS _____________________________________ In the Matter of SHAQUITA LAYCHANETTE SMITH, Minor _____________________________________ FAMILY INDEPENDENCE AGENCY, UNPUBLISHED September 30, 1997 Petitioner-Appellee, v ANITA SMITH, a/k/a LANITA SIMONE SMITH, No. 200269 Wayne Juvenile Court LC No. 94-321789 Respondent-Appellant, and KEN DUMAS, a/k/a KENNETH DUMAS, a/k/a PETER DUMAS, Respondent. ____________________________________ Before: Markey, P.J., and Neff and Smolenski, JJ. MEMORANDUM. Respondent-appellant appeals as of right from the juvenile court order terminating her parental rights to the minor child under MCL 712A.19b(3)(a)(ii), (c)(i), (g), and (j); MSA 27.3178(598.19b)(3)(a)(ii), (c)(i), (g), and (j). We affirm. The juvenile court did not err in finding that the statutory grounds for termination were established by clear and convincing evidence. MCR 5.974(I); In re Miller, 433 Mich 331, 337; 445 NW2d 161 (1989); In re Hall-Smith, 222 Mich App 470, 472-473; 564 NW2d 156 (1997). Moreover, once a statutory ground for termination has been met by clear and convincing evidence, MCL 712A.19b(5); MSA 27.3178(598.19b)(5) requires a parent to put forth at least some -1­ evidence that termination is clearly not in the child’s best interest. In re Hall-Smith, supra. Absent any evidence from the parent addressing this issue, termination of parental rights is mandatory. Id. In this case, respondent-appellant failed to put forth any evidence from which the juvenile court could conclude that termination was clearly not in the minor child’s best interest. Hence, the court’s decision to terminate respondent-appellant’s parental rights was in conformity with the requirements of MCL 712A.19b(5); MSA 27.3178(598.19b)(5). Affirmed. /s/ Jane E. Markey /s/ Janet T. Neff /s/ Michael R. Smolenski -2­

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