IN RE LITTERAL MINORS
Annotate this Case
Download PDF
STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
In the Matter of T.L., J.L., and J.L., Minors.
FAMILY INDEPENDENCE AGENCY,
UNPUBLISHED
January 23, 2001
Petitioner-Appellee,
v
TERRY LITTERAL,
No. 226272
Macomb Circuit Court
Family Division
LC No. 98-046297-NA
Respondent-Appellant.
Before: Talbot, P.J., and O’Connell and Cooper, JJ.
MEMORANDUM.
Respondent appeals as of right from a family court order terminating his parental rights to
his minor children pursuant to MCL 712A.19b(3)(c)(i), (g), and (j); MSA
27.3178(598.19b)(3)(c)(i), (g), and (j). We affirm.
Respondent contends that petitioner failed to present clear and convincing evidence to
terminate his parental rights. We review for clear error a trial court’s finding that petitioner
proved statutory grounds for termination. In re Trejo, 462 Mich 341, 356; 612 NW2d 407
(2000); In re Miller, 433 Mich 331, 337; 445 NW2d 161 (1989); MCR 5.974(I). After carefully
reviewing the lower court record, particularly respondent’s own testimony, we conclude that the
trial court’s conclusions were not clearly erroneous. These facts adduced at trial seriously drew
into question the level of dedication that respondent had to his children and his willingness to
improve his parenting skills after reaching his short-term goal of gaining their custody. Nor did
the trial court err in declining to find that terminating respondent’s parental rights was clearly not
in the child’s best interests. The evidence revealed that respondent was irresponsible and prone
to neglecting his children, and his own testimony raised serious questions regarding his sincerity
in improving his ability to parent.
Affirmed.
/s/ Michael J. Talbot
/s/ Peter D. O’Connell
/s/ Jessica R. Cooper
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.
