IN RE WALLACE MINORS

 Annotate this Case
Download PDF
STATE OF MICHIGAN COURT OF APPEALS In the Matter of JERRY WALLACE and KATELYN WALLACE, Minors. FAMILY INDEPENDENCE AGENCY, UNPUBLISHED February 16, 1999 Petitioner-Appellee, v No. 210363 Kent Circuit Court Family Division LC No. 97-000307 NA EDWARD SMITH WENTWORTH and DEANNA WALLACE, Respondents-Appellants. Before: Murphy, P.J., and MacKenzie and Talbot, JJ. MEMORANDUM. Respondents Edward Smith Wentworth and Deanna Wallace appeal as of right from a juvenile court order terminating their parental rights to the minor children. Respondent Wentworth’s parental rights were terminated under MCL 712A.19b(3)(a)(ii); MSA 27.3178(598.19b)(3)(a)(ii), and respondent Wallace’s parental rights were terminated under MCL 712A.19b(3)(c)(ii) and (g); MSA 27.3178(598.19b)(3)(c)(ii) and (g). We affirm. According deference to the juvenile court’s superior ability to judge the credibility of the witnesses who appeared before it, we conclude that 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, respondents failed to show that termination of their parental rights was clearly not in the children’s best -1­ interests. MCL 712A.19b(5); MSA 27.3178(598.19b)(5); In re Hall-Smith, 222 Mich App 470,472-473; 564 NW2d 156 (1997). Thus, the juvenile court did not err in terminating respondents’ parental rights to the children. Id. Affirmed. /s/ William B. Murphy /s/ Barbara B. MacKenzie /s/ Michael J. Talbot -2­

Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.