In re Interest of Meridian H.
Nebraska Supreme Court
798 N.W.2d 96 (2011)

- Written by Katrina Sumner, JD
Facts
In September 2007, Tiffani H. (defendant) got into a car accident with her three-year-old daughter, Meridian H., in the car. Tiffani went to jail for drunk driving, and Meridian was placed in the care of foster parents. Meridian had two older siblings who had been placed in foster care before she was born, when Tiffani and the children’s father relinquished their parental rights. Meridian’s siblings, Damon and Aleeah, were then adopted by Jeffrey and Karen H. (intervenors), who lived in Minnesota. Jeffrey and Karen became aware of the situation with Meridian in fall 2007 and let the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (the agency) (plaintiff) know that they would be happy to foster Meridian so that she could be placed with her siblings. In March 2008, the agency placed Meridian with foster parents Shane and Brandi K. (intervenors). After Tiffani’s incarceration and release, the agency provided services to Tiffani pursuant to a plan to reunify her with Meridian. However, by February 2009, Tiffani decided that she wanted to relinquish her parental rights. The juvenile court considered placing Meridian with either set of foster parents. Jeffrey and Karen, Shane and Brandi, and the children’s maternal grandparents (intervenors) sought to intervene after the motion to terminate Tiffani’s rights was filed. In March 2010, Jeffrey and Karen filed a motion to have Meridian’s placement changed to their home. However, in September 2010, the juvenile court terminated Tiffani’s parental rights and denied Jeffrey and Karen’s motion. The court decided that it was in Meridian’s best interests to remain with her current foster parents. Jeffrey and Karen appealed on a number of grounds and alleged that the court violated public policy by not placing siblings together and erred in failing to recognize Damon and Aleeah’s fundamental liberty interest under the Fourteenth Amendment Due Process Clause in preserving their family unit. The maternal grandparents also filed a cross-appeal in favor of placement with Jeffrey and Karen.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Stephan, J.)
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