Appellate Court Opinions

Appeal from an order terminating parental rights; whether the trial court abused its discretion by not conducting a second competency inquiry and appointing respondent a guardian ad litem under Rule 17.

Appeal from orders terminating respondent's parental rights; termination of respondent's parental rights pursuant to N.C.G.S. 7B-1111(a)(1), (6), (7); neglect; dependency; willful abandonment.

Termination of parental rights; no-merit brief.

Termination of parental rights under N.C.G.S. 7B-1111(a)(1)-(2); whether respondent-mother's trial counsel provided ineffective assistance.

Whether the trial court erred in adjudicating grounds to terminate respondent's parental rights under N.C.G.S. 7B-1111(a)(2); whether the trial court abused its discretion in determining termination was in the juvenile's best interests.

Whether the Utilities Commission possessed the authority pursuant to N.C.G.S. 62-133(d) to authorize the earning of a return upon deferred operating expenses; whether N.C.G.S. 62-133.13, pertaining to unlawful discharges from coal ash basins to the surface waters of the State, bars recovery of the costs at issue; and whether an increase in the residential Basic Facilities Charge was unsupported by competent, material and substantial evidence pursuant to N.C.G.S. 62-94(b)(5) or unreasonably discriminatory.

Whether the Utilities Commission possessed the authority pursuant to N.C.G.S. 62-133(d) to authorize the earning of a return upon deferred operating expenses; whether N.C.G.S. 62-133.13, pertaining to unlawful discharges from coal ash basins to the surface waters of the State, bars recovery of the costs at issue; and whether an increase in the residential Basic Facilities Charge was unsupported by competent, material and substantial evidence pursuant to N.C.G.S. 62-94(b)(5) or unreasonably discriminatory.

Termination of parental rights pursuant to N.C.G.S. 7B-1111(a)(1)-(2) (2019); whether the trial court abused its discretion by concluding that terminating respondents' parental rights was in the best interests of the juveniles.

Appeal from an order terminating parental rights under N.C.G.S. 7B-1111(a)(2), (7) (2019); whether the trial court abused its discretion by denying respondent-father's motion to continue the termination hearing; whether the trial court's findings of fact are supported by clear, cogent, and convincing evidence; whether the trial court's findings of fact support its conclusions of law that grounds exist to terminate respondent-father's parental rights on the basis of willful failure to make reasonable progress to correct the conditions that led to the child's removal and willful abandonment.

Appeal from order terminating parental rights; DSS standing; collateral attack on initial adjudication order; lack of UCCJEA findings.

Termination of parental rights on the ground of neglect pursuant to N.C.G.S. 7B-1111(a)(1).

Whether the trial court erred in determining that it was in the child's best interests to terminate respondent-mother's parental rights.

Termination of parental rights on the ground of neglect pursuant to N.C.G.S. 7B-1111(a)(1).

Appeal from an order terminating respondent-mother's parental rights pursuant to N.C.G.S. 7B-1111(a)(1), (2), and (6); whether the findings of fact support the conclusion of law that respondent-mother's parental rights should be terminated pursuant to N.C.G.S. 7B-1111(a)(2).

Appeal from orders terminating parental rights pursuant to N.C.G.S. 7B-1111(a)(1) and (2); no-merit review pursuant to Rule 3.1(e) of the North Carolina Rules of Appellate Procedure.

Termination of parental rights; whether the trial court received sufficient evidence and made adequate findings of fact to support a termination of respondent-mother's parental rights under N.C.G.S. 7B-1111(a)(1)-(2), (6)-(7).

Appeal from an order terminating respondent-mother's parental rights pursuant to N.C.G.S. 7B-1111(a)(2), (3), and (6); whether the juvenile was left in foster care or placement outside the home for the requisite 12-month statutory time period under N.C.G.S. 7B-1111(a)(2); whether the trial court made sufficient findings of fact to support its conclusion of law that grounds existed to terminate respondent's parental rights under N.C.G.S. 7B-1111(a)(3) and (6).

Termination of parental rights; DSS standing to file termination petition; Jurisdiction to enter nonsecure custody orders; Best interests determination pursuant to N.C.G.S. 7B-1110.

Appeal from order terminating parental rights pursuant to N.C.G.S. 7B-1111(a)(1) and (7); whether the evidence and the trial court's findings support the trial court's adjudication of grounds for termination.