Termination of Parental Rights

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WI Court of Appeals – District I

Case Name: State of Wisconsin v. K.L.

Case No.: 2018AP2180; 2018AP2181; 2018AP2182; 2018AP2183

Officials: BRENNAN, J.

Focus: Termination of Parental Rights

K.L. appeals from a July 24, 2018 order terminating his parental rights to four of his children, J., S., O., and M., who at the time of the order were aged ten, eight, seven, and five, respectively. He argues that the trial court’s finding that he failed to assume parental responsibility is clearly erroneous because the evidence is not sufficient to support it. He argues that the trial court failed because its finding focused on “only the period since [the children’s] removal [from the family home],” and that the trial court “need[ed] to look at the actions of K.L. throughout the lives of the children as a whole and not simply since their removal.” We have reviewed the record, and it flatly contradicts this view of the trial court’s finding. Ample evidence in the record supports the finding of the trial court. We therefore affirm.

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Derek A Hawkins is trademark corporate counsel for Harley-Davidson. Hawkins oversees the prosecution and maintenance of the Harley-Davidson’s international trademark portfolio in emerging markets.