956 A.2d 103
Docket: And-08-431.Supreme Judicial Court of Maine.Submitted on Briefs: September 15, 2008.
Decided: September 16, 2008.
Henry W. Griffin, Esq., Lewiston, ME, for the father.
G. Steven Rowe, Attorney General, Nora Sosnoff, Asst. Atty. Gen., Office of the Attorney, Augusta, ME, for the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.
Katherine McConnell, Esq., Portland, ME, Guardian ad litem.
Panel: SAUFLEY, C.J., and CLIFFORD, ALEXANDER, LEVY, SILVER, MEAD, and GORMAN, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
[¶ 1] The father of Olivia C. appeals from the judgment of the District Court (Lewiston, Beliveau, J.) that found jeopardy, as to him, unproved but allowed the Department of Health and Human Services to retain custody of Olivia C, despite its failure to prove jeopardy as to the father pursuant to 22 M.R.S. 4035 (2007). The State concedes that upon the court’s finding that the State had failed to prove jeopardy, the State lacked authority to
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retain custody of the child as against the father. The State’s view of the law is correct. Accordingly, we must vacate the District Court’s order and remand for appropriate proceedings to consider the father’s request that he be awarded custody of the child.
The entry is:
Judgment vacated. Remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.