Termination of Parental Rights

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WI Court of Appeals – District IV

Case Name: Juneau County Department of Human Services v. S.G.M.

Case No.: 2019AP553; 2019AP554; 2019AP555; 2019AP556

Officials: FITZPATRICK, J.

Focus: Termination of Parental Rights

S.G.M. appeals orders of the Juneau County Circuit Court granting partial summary judgment in favor of the Juneau County Department of Human Services (the County) and orders terminating his parental rights to A.M., S.J.M., K.M., and R.M. The circuit court found S.G.M. unfit under WIS. STAT. § 48.415(4) based on the ground of continuing denial of visitation. In support of its motions for partial summary judgment, the County attached as exhibits various orders of the circuit court which revised the “Child in Need of Protection or Services” (CHIPS) dispositional orders in each case and suspended S.G.M.’s visitation. S.G.M. argues that the County failed to comply with the statutory requirements for summary judgment because no affidavit accompanied the revision orders which suspended visitation. Additionally, S.G.M. contends that the County is not entitled to summary judgment because the revision orders suspended visitation pursuant to WIS. STAT. § 48.355(3) and, therefore, do not satisfy the requirements of the pertinent grounds statute. See § 48.415(4)(a). Because I conclude that the County complied with summary judgment procedure and the orders suspending visitation were revision orders under WIS. STAT. § 48.363, I affirm the orders of the circuit court granting partial summary judgment in favor of the County and terminating S.G.M.’s parental rights.

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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.