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An  unpublished  opinion  of  the  North  Carolina  Court  of  Appeals  does  not  constitute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.
NO. COA12-806
NORTH CAROLINA COURT OF APPEALS
Filed:  18 December  2012
IN THE MATTER OF:
R.J.U., JR.                                                                                     Durham County
and C.D.U.                                                                                      Nos.  10 J  32-33
Appeal  by  Respondents  from  order  entered                                                   16  April                                                    2012  by
Judge  Brian  C.  Wilks  in  Durham  County  District  Court.    Heard  in
the Court of Appeals  3 December  2012.
No   brief   filed   for   Petitioner-Appellee   Durham   County
Department of Social Services.
Melanie Stewart Cranford for Guardian ad Litem.
Annick Lenoir-Peek for Respondent-Appellant Mother.
Michael E. Casterline for Respondent-Appellant Father.
BEASLEY, Judge.
Respondents  appeal  from  the  trial  court’s  order  terminating
their  parental  rights  to  the  minor  children.     We  affirm  the
order of the trial court.
On  8  February  2010,  the  Durham  County  Department  of  Social
Services                                                                                        (“DSS”)  filed  a  juvenile  petition  alleging  that  the




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children  were  abused  and  neglected  based  on  R.J.U.’s1  admission
to  the  hospital  for  an  overdose  of  cocaine.    R.J.U.  was  two  and
a  half  years  old  and  C.D.U.2  was  almost  a  year  old  at  that  time.
The children were adjudicated neglected on  9 April  2010.
DSS   filed   a   motion   to   terminate   Respondents’   parental
rights  on                                                                                 29  December                    2010,  and  alleged  as  to  each  parent  the
                                                                                                                           grounds  of  neglect  and  incapability  of  providing  care.                                           In
                                                                                                                           addition,  DSS  alleged  Respondent-father  failed  to  legitimate  the
                                                                                                                           children  and  failed  to  pay  a  reasonable  portion  of  the  cost  of
                                                                                                                           care  for  the  children.     The  termination  hearing  was  held  on
                                                                                           several  dates  beginning  on   28  April                                                                   2011  and  concluding  on   12
March                                                                                      2012.                           At  the  start  of  the  termination  hearing,  DSS
dismissed   the   ground   of   failure   to   legitimate   against
Respondent-father.    After  hearing  the  evidence,  the  court  found
the  existence  of  the  remaining  grounds  for  termination  against
Respondents,   and   also   determined   that   termination   of   their
parental  rights  was  in  the  best  interests  of  the  children.
Respondents appeal.
Respondents’  appellate  attorneys  have  each  filed  a  no-merit
brief   on   Respondents’   behalf   respectively   in   which   they
1  To  protect  the  privacy  of  the  minor  child,  his  initials  are  used  in  this
opinion.
2  To  protect  the  privacy  of  the  minor  child,  his  initials  are  used  in  this
opinion.




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acknowledge  that  after  a  careful  and  thorough  review  of  the
record,  they  have  been  unable  to  find  any  issues  of  merit  on
which  to  argue  for  relief.    Pursuant  to  N.C.R.  App.  P.             3.1(d),
they  have  each  requested  that  this  Court  conduct  an  independent
examination  of  the  record.                                                Respondents  have  not  filed  any
arguments on their own behalf.
In  addition  to  seeking  review  pursuant  to  Rule                        3.1(d),
appellate   counsel   direct   our   attention   to   potential   issues
regarding  the  trial  court’s  findings  and  conclusions  on  grounds
for  termination.    Counsel,  however,  acknowledges  that  resolution
of these issues would not alter the final result.
After  carefully  reviewing  the  transcripts  and  record,  we
are  unable  to  find  any  reversible  error  in  the  trial  court’s
order.    The  trial  court’s  findings  of  fact  support  at  least  one
ground  for  termination  for  each  parent,  and  the  trial  court  did
not  abuse  its  discretion  in  determining  that  termination  of
Respondents’  parental  rights  would  be  in  the  best  interests  of
the  minor  children.    See  N.C.  Gen.  Stat.  §§  7B-1110  and  7B-1111
(2011).                                                                      Accordingly,   we   affirm   the   trial   court’s   order
terminating Respondents’ parental rights.
Affirmed.
Chief Judge MARTIN and Judge ERVIN concur.




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Report per Rule  30(e).

Download 12-806.pdf

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