IN RE TATIANA GREER MINOR
Annotate this Case
Download PDF
STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
In the Matter of TATIANA GREER, Minor.
FAMILY INDEPENDENCE AGENCY,
UNPUBLISHED
May 19, 2000
Petitioner-Appellee,
v
No. 219966
Kent Circuit Court
Family Division
LC No. 97-000383-NA
TONY GREER,
Respondent-Appellant,
and
CHERRIES MACDONALD,
Respondent.
Before: Gribbs, P.J., and Doctoroff and T. L. Ludington*, JJ.
MEMORANDUM.
Respondent-appellant (hereinafter “respondent”) appeals as of right from the family court’s
order terminating his parental rights to the minor child pursuant to MCL 712A.19b(3)(a)(ii), (g) and (h);
MSA 27.3178(598.19b)(3)(a)(ii), (g) and (h). We affirm.
Respondent first contends that the family court denied him his right to counsel by failing to
appoint an attorney to represent him at the adjudicative and review hearings. We disagree. An indigent
parent involved in a hearing which may terminate their parental rights enjoys the right to appointed,
competent counsel. In re Nash, 165 Mich App 450, 458; 419 NW2d 1 (1987). However, this right
arises when a petition seeking permanent custody of a child is filed, or when there is an indication by the
family court that termination of parental rights has become a possibility. Id. In this case, there is no
indication that respondent-appellant’s parental rights were in jeopardy until after the supplemental
* Circuit judge, sitting on the Court of Appeals by assignment.
-1
petition seeking termination of respondent-appellant’s parental rights was filed. Thus, the family court
did not violate respondent-appellant’s right to counsel by failing to appoint an attorney to represent him
at the adjudicative and review proceedings.
Next, we conclude that the family court did not clearly err in finding that the statutory grounds
for termination were established by clear and convincing evidence. MCL 5.974(I); In re Miller, 433
Mich 311, 337; 445 NW2d 161 (1989). Further, respondent failed to show that termination of his
parental rights was clearly not in the child’s best 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 family court did not err in terminating respondent’s parental rights to the child. Id.
Affirmed.
/s/ Roman S. Gribbs
/s/ Martin M. Doctoroff
/s/ Thomas L. Ludington
-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.