IN RE GRAMELSPACHER & KITCHEN MINORS
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
In the Matter of LUKE GRAMELSPACHER and
CODY KITCHEN, Minors
FAMILY INDEPENDENCE AGENCY, f/k/a
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES,
UNPUBLISHED
May 5, 1998
Petitioner-Appellee,
v
No. 201633
Kent Juvenile Court
LC No. 95-000400-NA
LAURA GRAMELSPACHER,
Respondent-Appellant,
and
DENNY PETRY and SCOTT KITCHEN,
Respondents.
Before: Holbrook, Jr., P.J. and Gribbs and R.J. Danhof*, JJ.
MEMORANDUM.
Respondent-appellant appeals as of right from the juvenile court order terminating her parental
rights to the minor children under MCL 712A.19b(3)(c)(i) and (g); MSA 27.3178(598.19b)(3)(c)(i),
and (g). We affirm.
The juvenile court did not clearly 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). Further, respondent-appellant failed to show that termination of her parental rights
was clearly not in the children’s best interests. In re Hall-Smith, 222 Mich App 470, 472-473; 564
*Former Court of Appeals Judge, sitting on the Court of Appeals by assignment.
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NW2d 156 (1997). Thus, the juvenile court did not err in terminating
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respondent-appellant’s parental rights to the children.
MCL 712A.19b(5); MSA
27.3178(598.19b)(5). Testimony at trial established that experts diagnosed respondent-appellant with
various mental health conditions. Two caseworkers testified that these conditions affected respondent
appellant’s ability to parent the children. They testified that respondent-appellant was unable to focus
on the needs of the children and to perform certain care-giving tasks.
Respondent-appellant’s claim that she had been misdiagnosed misapprehends the testimony at
trial. While her diagnosis of bi-polar disorder, made in 1996, may be correct, all testimony regarding
the predictability of the effectiveness of treatment was guarded. Moreover, testimony showed that a
diagnosis of bi-polar mood disorder did not exclude other diagnoses, such as pervasive personality
disorder of borderline schizophrenia. Respondent-appellant’s argument must fail. The juvenile court
did not clearly err in its decision.
Affirmed.
/s/ Donald E. Holbrook, Jr.
/s/ Roman S. Gribbs
/s/ Robert J. Danhof
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