IN RE JOLYNN MATTHEWS MINOR

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STATE OF MICHIGAN COURT OF APPEALS In the Matter of JOLYNN MATTHEWS, Minor. FAMILY INDEPENDENCE AGENCY, UNPUBLISHED March 30, 1999 Petitioner-Appellee, v No. 212518 Washtenaw Circuit Court Family Division LC No. 94-022806 NA BEVERLY MATTHEWS, Respondent-Appellant. Before: O’Connell, P.J. and Jansen and Collins, JJ. MEMORANDUM. Respondent appeals as of right from a family court order terminating her parental rights to the minor child under MCL 712A.19b(3)(c)(ii), (g) and (j); MSA 27.3178(598.19b)(3)(c)(ii), (g) and (j). This case is being decided without oral argument pursuant to MCR 7.214(E). We affirm. Respondent does not specifically attack the three statutory grounds for termination that the family court found to exist. “The failure to brief the merits of an allegation of error is deemed an abandonment of an issue.” In re JS & SM, 231 Mich App 92, 98; 585 NW2d 326 (1998). We accordingly presume that the court did not clearly err in finding clear and convincing evidence of those grounds for termination. Id. See also MCR 5.974(I); In re Miller, 433 Mich 331, 337; 445 NW2d 161 (1989). Further, our review of the record persuades us that there is no merit in respondent’s arguments that petitioner either violated respondent’s due process rights or failed to make reasonable efforts to achieve reunification. Finally, respondent failed to show that termination of her parental rights was clearly not in the child’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). -1­ Thus, the family court did not err in terminating respondent's parental rights to the child. Id. Affirmed. /s/ Peter D. O’Connell /s/ Kathleen Jansen /s/ Jeffrey G. Collins -2­

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