DocketNumber: 5541
Citation Numbers: 11 Conn. App. 573
Filed Date: 7/21/1987
Status: Precedential
Modified Date: 9/8/2022
In this juvenile matter, the department of children and youth services (DCYS) filed a petition to terminate the parental rights of the respondents, whose son, then nine years old, had been placed in its custody since he was two years old. The child has not resided with the respondents, his biological parents, since he was two weeks old, but has been with his foster parents since eight months of age. From the granting of the petition, the respondents have appealed.
This petition to terminate parental rights was preceded by a long history of litigation. The last disposition prior to the filing of the present petition was a denial of both an earlier petition by DCYS to terminate parental rights and a petition by the natural parents to revoke the order committing him to the commissioner of DCYS. The respondents appealed from that denial but were denied relief. See In re Thomas L., 4 Conn. App. 56, 492 A.2d 229 (1985).
The present petition to terminate parental rights was commenced on August 26,1985. After a hearing, the trial court concluded that there was clear and convincing evidence that there was no ongoing parent-child relationship and further that it was in the best interests of the child to terminate the respondents’ parental rights.
The respondents claim on appeal that (1) the evidence presented was insufficient to support the trial court’s conclusion, and (2) the trial court drew an improper adverse inference from the fact that they were under court order not to visit the child.
The respondents’ second claim is without merit. The court properly considered the respondents’ conduct which led to the order in question, as well as the lack of effort on their part to change their behavior so that visitation could be resumed.
There is no error.