IN RE GATLIN MINORS
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
__________________________________________
In the Matter of JEREMIAH NOAH GATLIN,
JEDADIAH GWENNAYE GATLIN and
JEHSOUHA ISSAC GATLIN, Minors.
FAMILY INDEPENDENCE AGENCY,
UNPUBLISHED
February 26, 1999
Petitioner-Appellee,
v
No. 212144
Wayne Circuit Court
Family Division
LC No. 91-296541
PATRICIA ANNICE GATLIN,
Respondent-Appellant,
and
ED CARTER, BERNARD BELLAFONT, a/k/a
BERNARD BELLAFANT, and JODY WHATLEY,
Respondents.
Before: McDonald, P.J., and Hood and Doctoroff, JJ.
MEMORANDUM.
Respondent-appellant appeals as of right from the trial court order terminating her parental
rights to the minor children under MCL 712A.19b(3)(c)(i), (g) and (j); MSA
27.3178(598.19b)(3)(c)(i), (g) and (j). We affirm.
Respondent-appellant challenges the termination of her parental rights under § 19b(3)(c)(i) only.
Because only one statutory ground is necessary to terminate parental rights and because respondent
appellant does not challenge the termination of her parental rights under the other statutory subsections
relied on by the trial court, respondent-appellant is not entitled to appellate relief with respect to the
issue whether a statutory ground for termination was sufficiently proven. Roberts & Son Contracting,
-1
Inc v North Oakland Development Corp, 163 Mich App 109, 113; 413 NW2d 744 (1987) (failure
to address an issue which necessarily must be reached precludes relief).
The record does not reveal that the Family Independence Agency failed to make reasonable
efforts either to prevent the children’s removal or to assist respondent-appellant in rectifying the
conditions that led to removal.
Finally, respondent-appellant failed to show that termination of her parental rights was “clearly
not” in the c
hildren’s best interests. MCL 712A.19b(5); MSA 27.3178(598.19b)(5); In re HallSmith, 222 Mich App 470, 472-473; 564 NW2d 156 (1997). Thus, the trial court did not err in
terminating respondent-appellant’s parental rights to the children.
Affirmed.
/s/ Gary R. McDonald
Harold Hood
/s/ Martin M. Doctoroff
/s/
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