Abell v. Clark County Department of Public Welfare

ROBERTSON, Presiding Judge.

Defendant-appellant Peggy Abell appeals a default judgment entered against her in an action to terminate parental rights initiated by the petitioner, Clark County Department of Public Welfare (County Welfare). Due to the- important constitutional rights involved, we reverse.

In September, 1977, the three children of Abell were made wards of County Welfare. The action was consented to by Abell, then known as Peggy Jean Patton. On June 19, 1979, County Welfare filed a petition to terminate parental rights, alleging the children to be neglected, abandoned and deserted,…