In the Interest of M.P., C.P., N.C., and E.C., Minor Children ( 2018 )

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA
No. 17-2098
Filed March 21, 2018
IN THE INTEREST OF M.P., C.P., N.C., and E.C.,
Minor Children,
P.K., Mother,
Appellant.
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Linn County, Susan F. Flaherty,
Associate Juvenile Judge.
A mother appeals a juvenile court order in a child-in-need-of-assistance
proceeding removing her children from her physical custody. AFFIRMED.
Carla G. Pearson of Pearson Law P.C., Cedar Rapids, for appellant
mother.
Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, and Mary A. Triick, Assistant Attorney
General, for appellee State.
Julie G. Trachta of Linn County Advocate, Inc., Cedar Rapids, guardian ad
litem for minor children.
Considered by Vogel, P.J., and Potterfield and Mullins, JJ.
2
MULLINS, Judge.
A mother appeals a juvenile court order in a child-in-need-of-assistance
proceeding removing her children from her physical custody. In her petition on
appeal, the mother fails to provide any substantive argument to support her
cause. She vaguely questions “[w]hether or not the department used reasonable
efforts to prevent the removal of the children” and “[w]hether or not the
department considered [her] disability in providing services under the ADA.” Her
argument is limited to her statement that she “disagrees with the finding that
reasonable efforts have been made to alleviate the need for out of home
placement.” Her failure to make a specific argument on appeal rather than a
general claim waives error. See In re C.B., 611 N.W.2d 489, 492 (Iowa 2000) (“A
broad, all encompassing argument is insufficient to identify error in cases of de
novo review.”). Furthermore, the mother has failed to state where in the record
she objected to the services offered or requested additional services; she merely
states “[t]he issue was preserved by testimony presented at the trial that services
were reduced before removal.” Error has therefore not been preserved. Cf. In re
L.M.W., 518 N.W.2d 804, 807 (Iowa Ct. App. 1994). Accordingly, we affirm.
AFFIRMED.