IN RE DEAN/LAWHORN MINORS

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STATE OF MICHIGAN COURT OF APPEALS In the Matter of LORRETTA L. DEAN, RICHARD C. DEAN, ANDRE C. DEAN, STEPHANIE R. DEAN, PATRICIA K. DEAN, and CHRISTINA M. LAWHORN, Minors. FAMILY INDEPENDENCE AGENCY, UNPUBLISHED June 30, 2000 Petitioner-Appellee, v ROBIN LARAN DEAN, a/k/a ROBING LARAN LAWHORN, No. 218443 Wayne Circuit Court Family Division LC No. 96-348453 Respondent-Appellant, and RICHARD CORDIE DEAN, Respondent. Before: O’Connell, P.J., and Kelly and Whitbeck, JJ. MEMORANDUM. Respondent-appellant appeals as of right from the family court’s order terminating her parental rights to the minor children under MCL 712A.19b(3)(b)(ii), (c)(i), (g), and (j); MSA 27.3178(598.19b)(3)(b)(ii), (c)(i), (g), and (j). We affirm. The family 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). Although respondent-appellant attempted to comply with the parent-agency agreement, her continued intimate relationship with respondent demonstrated that the children would be at risk of harm if returned to her. Furthermore, respondent-appellant failed to present evidence that -1­ termination was clearly not in the children’s best interests. MCL 712A.19b(5); MSA 27.3178(598.19b)(5); In re Boursaw, 239 Mich App 161, 179-180; 607 NW2d 408 (1999). Thus, the family court did not clearly err in terminating respondent-appellant’s parental rights to the children. In re Hall-Smith, 222 Mich App 470, 472-473; 564 NW2d 156 (1997). Affirmed. /s/ Peter D. O’Connell /s/ Michael J. Kelly /s/ William C. Whitbeck -2­

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