IN RE CRYSTAL WALLACE MINOR
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
In the Matter of CHRYSTAL WALLACE,
VINSON MARCUS WALLACE and DAVID
MICHAEL HALLETT, Minors
__________________________________________
FAMILY INDEPENDENCE AGENCY,
UNPUBLISHED
October 10, 1997
Petitioner-Appellee,
v
No. 199373
Oakland Juvenile Court
LC No. 94-058771-NA
MARK WALLACE,
Respondent-Appellant,
and
GENI WALLACE,
Respondent.
FAMILY INDEPENDENCE AGENCY,
Petitioner-Appellee,
v
No. 199695
Oakland Juvenile Court
LC No. 94-058771-NA
GENI WALLACE,
Respondent-Appellant,
and
MARK WALLACE,
-1
Respondent.
Before: Doctoroff, P.J., and Cavanagh and Saad, J.J.
MEMORANDUM.
Respondent Mark Wallace’s parental rights to Chrystal Wallace and Vinson Wallace were
terminated pursuant to MCL 712A.19b(3)(c)(i); MSA 27.3178(598.19b)(3)(c)(i), and respondent
Geni Wallace’s parental rights to Chrystal Wallace, Vinson Wallace and David Hallett were also
terminated pursuant to MCL 712A.19b(3)(c)(i); MSA 27.3178 (598.19b)(3)(c)(i). Respondents filed
separate appeals as of right, which were consolidated for our review. We affirm.
The juvenile court did not err in finding that 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); In re Hall-Smith, 222 Mich App 470; 564 NW2d 156 (1997).
Moreover, once a statutory ground for termination has been met by clear and convincing
evidence, MCL 712A.19b(5); MSA 27.3178(598.19b)(5) requires a parent to put forth at least some
evidence that termination is clearly not in the child’s best interest. In re Hall-Smith, supra. Absent any
evidence addressing this issue by the parent, termination of parental rights is mandatory. Id. In this
case, respondents failed to put forth any evidence from which the juvenile court could conclude that
termination was clearly not in the minor children’s best interest. Hence, the court’s decision to terminate
respondents’ parental rights was in conformity with the requirements of MCL 712A.19b(5); MSA
27.3178(598.19b)(5).
Affirmed.
/s/ Martin M. Doctoroff
/s/ Mark J. Cavanagh
/s/ Henry W. Saad
-2
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