In re: A.S., N.S., M.S., N.S., E.S., B.S., Jr., N.T
Annotate this Case
Download PDF
An unpublished opinion of the North Carolina Court of Appeals does not constitute controlling legal authority. Citation is disfavored, but may be permitted in accordance with the provisions of Rule 30(e)(3) of the North Carolina Rules of Appellate Procedure. IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF NORTH CAROLINA No. COA18-120 Filed: 4 September 2018 Cumberland County, Nos. 17 JA 60–66 IN THE MATTER OF: A.S., N.S., M.S., N.S., E.S., B.S., Jr., N.T. Appeal by respondent-father from orders entered 24 August 2017 and 25 October 2017 by Judge Tiffany M. Whitfield in Cumberland County District Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 12 July 2018. Elizabeth Kennedy-Gurnee for Department of Social Services. petitioner-appellee Cumberland County Jeffrey L. Miller for respondent-appellant father. Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP, by Catherine G. Clodfelter, for guardian ad litem. PER CURIAM. Respondent, the father of the juveniles A.S., N.S., M.S., N.S., E.S., and B.S. Jr., appeals from orders adjudicating the juveniles neglected, granting custody of the IN RE: A.S., N.S., M.S., N.S., E.S., B.S., JR., N.T. Opinion of the Court juveniles to the Cumberland County Department of Social Services, and denying him visitation.1 Respondent’s appellate counsel filed a no-merit brief pursuant to Rule 3.1(d) of the Rules of Appellate Procedure, stating that after a conscientious and thorough review of the record on appeal, he was unable to identify any issues of merit on which to base an argument for relief. See N.C. R. App. P. 3.1(d). Appellate counsel provided Respondent with copies of the no-merit brief, trial transcript, and record on appeal, and advised him of his right to file a brief with this Court as required by Rule 3.1(d). Respondent did not exercise his right under Rule 3.1(d) to a file a pro se brief. “Rule 3.1(d) does not explicitly grant indigent parents the right to receive an Anders-type review of the record by our Court, which would allow our Court to consider issues not explicitly raised on appeal.” In re L.V., __ N.C. App. __, __, 814 S.E.2d 928, 929 n.2 (2018). As a result, any arguments challenging the trial court’s orders are abandoned on appeal. See N.C. R. App. P. 28(b)(6) (“Issues not presented in a party’s brief, or in support of which no reason or argument is stated, will be taken as abandoned.”). Accordingly, we affirm the trial court’s orders. AFFIRMED. Panel consisting of Judges DIETZ, TYSON, and MURPHY. 1 The juveniles’ mother did not appeal the trial court’s orders and is not a party to this appeal. Respondent is not the father of N.T., and N.T.’s father did not appeal the trial court’s orders and is also not a party to this appeal. Thus, N.T. is not a subject of this appeal. -2- IN RE: A.S., N.S., M.S., N.S., E.S., B.S., JR., N.T. Opinion of the Court Report per Rule 30(e). -3-
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.
