Juveniles – TPR — default judgment

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Wisconsin Court of Appeals

Civil

Juveniles – TPR — default judgment

Yvette A. appeals a trial court order denying her postjudgment motion for relief from a trial court order terminating her parental rights to her daughter, Amya C. Yvette argues that the trial court erred in entering a default judgment at the “grounds” phase of the termination of parental rights proceeding based on her failure to appear because the failure was neither egregious nor in bad faith. Specifically, Yvette argues that at the time of the grounds hearing, she was hospitalized in a locked mental health unit of a local hospital and could not personally appear in court. We conclude that the trial court was entitled to enter a default judgment for Yvette’s failure to appear, based on the trial court’s findings that Yvette had a history of checking herself into hospitals without actually needing psychiatric hospitalization and had checked herself into the hospital shortly before the hearing concerning her child. We therefore affirm the trial court’s order. This opinion will not be published.

2012AP548 In re the termination of parental rights to Amya C.

Dist I, Milwaukee County, DiMotto, J., Kessler, J.

Attorneys: For Appellant: Bates, Gregory, Kenosha; For Respondent: Spies, Jenni E., Wauwatosa