Drury v. Lang

OPINION

The primary issue in this appeal is whether a parent’s failure to communicate with her children for a period of six months is sufficient as a matter of law to support a determination that the parent’s behavior evinces a settled purpose to abandon the children. We conclude that it is not, and reverse the district court’s judgment terminating appellant’s parental rights.

FACTS

Appellant Joanne Drury (Joanne) and respondent Cecil S. Lang (Cecil) were married on September 4, 1976. On August 10, 1983, Joanne was granted a decree of divorce on grounds of irreconcilable differences. The…