Ruppel v. Lesner

This appeal presents a custody dispute between a child’s parents on the one hand, and her maternal grandparents on the other. The circuit court entered an order giving temporary custody to the grandparents, and the Court of Appeals affirmed.

We conclude that in the circumstances of this case such an award of custody to the grandparents was improper, and reverse.

I

The child in question, Julie Lesner, was born on June 25, 1969. Her natural mother, defendant Pamela Lesner, was divorced from Julie’s natural father, and then married defendant Rodney Lesner, who adopted Julie. Plaintiffs Richard…