J.H. v. State, Department of Health & Social Services

OPINION

BRYNER, Justice.

I,. INTRODUCTION

Jane Hart's parental rights to her three-year-old daughter, Jenny, were terminated by the superior court. 1 This case presents the questions whether the Department of Health and Social Services (the department) was estopped from petitioning for termination of Jane's parental rights and whether the trial court's factual findings supporting termination are clearly erroneous. Because the court's findings are not clearly erroneous and the evidence does not warrant estoppel and because applying estoppel against the state would in any event violate the public…