IN RE HOWELL MINORS
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
In the Matter of SADIE HOWELL and HANNA
HOWELL, Minors.
FAMILY INDEPENDENCE AGENCY,
UNPUBLISHED
August 10, 1999
Petitioner-Appellee,
v
No. 213365
Macomb Circuit Court
Family Division
LC No. 00-044831
CAROLINE HOWELL,
Respondent-Appellant,
and
MICHAEL A. RATAJ,
Respondent.
Before: White, P.J., and Markey and Wilder, JJ.
MEMORANDUM.
Respondent appeals as of right the order assuming jurisdiction over the minor children after a
jury trial. We affirm.
The court’s assumption of jurisdiction over the minor children was supported by a
preponderance of the evidence. MCR 5.972(C)(1); In re Brock, 442 Mich 101, 108-109; 499
NW2d 752 (1993); In re Riffe, 147 Mich App 658, 671; 382 NW2d 842 (1985). There was
evidence that respondent emotionally abused her children by repeatedly making claims of sexual abuse
against her ex-husband and subjecting her children to examinations and interviews, even though the
sexual abuse allegations were consistently determined to be unsubstantiated. There was also evidence
that respondent coached the children into making false accusations. Further, respondent continued to
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deny her ex-husband his visitation rights with the minor children, contrary to court orders, thus depriving
the children of the love, support and nurturing of their father.
Affirmed.
/s/ Helene N. White
/s/ Jane E. Markey
/s/ Kurtis T. Wilder
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