IN RE DELSHAWN RODNEY FEARS MINOR
Annotate this Case
Download PDF
STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
In the Matter of Delshawn Rodney Fears, Minor.
FAMILY INDEPENDENCE AGENCY,
UNPUBLISHED
July 7, 2000
Petitioner-Appellee,
v
No. 222603
Wayne Circuit CourtFamily Division
LC No. 97-361007
DIAMOND CHANEL FEARS,
Respondent-Appellant,
and
EDDIE COLLIER,
Respondent.
Before: Jansen, P. J., and Hood and Saad, JJ.
MEMORANDUM.
Respondent Diamond Chanel Fears appeals as of right the order terminating her parental rights
to Delshawn Rodney Fears. We affirm.
Respondent was a temporary court ward when she gave birth to Delshawn. Respondent had
no home or income, and the child was made a temporary ward of the court as well, and placed in foster
care. After a series of review hearings, a bench trial was held, and the court terminated respondent’s
parental rights pursuant to MCL 712A.19b(3)(c)(i); MSA 27.3178(598.19b)(3)(c)(i) (condition that
led to the adjudication continue to exist) and MCL 712A.19b(3)(g); MSA 27.3178(598.19b)(3)(g)
(neglect).
There was clear and convincing evidence to support the termination of respondent’s parental
rights under both statutory provisions. The condition that led to the adjudication, respondent’s inability
-1
to provide for the child, continued to exist more than 182 days after the initial dispositional order, and
there is nothing on the record indicating any reasonable likelihood that the condition would be rectified in
a reasonable time. Respondent did not have a home, any means of support, she failed to pursue
educational or employment opportunities, she used drugs, and she failed to follow her treatment plan.
There is no evidence that respondent made any progress in remedying her condition. Respondent did
not provide proper care and custody for her child. The court did not clearly err in finding the statutory
basis for terminating parental rights under both sections was established. In re Sours Minors, 459
Mich 624; 593 NW2d 520 (1999).
Once the court has found statutory grounds for termination by clear and convincing evidence,
the respondent has the burden to show that termination is clearly not in the child’s best interest. In re
Hall-Smith, 222 Mich App 470, 473; 654 NW2d 156 (1997). Respondent presented no evidence
that termination of her parental rights would n be in the child’s best interest, and termination was
ot
mandatory. Id.
Affirmed.
/s/ Kathleen Jansen
/s/ Harold Hood
/s/ Henry William Saad
-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.