Matter of T.N.B., A.M.B., and S.M.B YINC ( 2020 )

04/14/2020 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA DA 19-0570, DA 19-0571, DA 19-0572 _________________ IN THE MATTER OF T.N.B., A.M.B., and S.M.B., ORDER Youths in Need of Care. _________________ On October 1, 2019, K.R.T., Appellant Mother of the youths in the captioned matter, filed Notices of Appeal in three cases, Cause No. DA 19, 0570, Matter of T.N.B., YINC, Cause No. DA 19-0571, Matter of A.M.B., YINC, and Cause No. DA 19-0572, Matter of S.M.B., YINC. An initial review of the District Court record in these cases demonstrates that these cases were handled in parallel proceedings, the facts as to the Appellant Mother are nearly identical in all three cases, and the District Court’s order terminating Mother’s parental rights is the same. While a reply brief has not been filed in these matters, the filing deadline has passed, and the cases have been submitted to the Court for review. On March 19, 2020, Appellant Father filed a Notice of Appeal in all three cases. Appellant Father appeals from a different order than Mother. However, the order from which Father appeals is the same in all three matters. Briefing has not yet commenced for Father. We deem it appropriate to consolidate these matters for purposes of judicial economy. Because Mother’s appeal has been submitted to the Court for review, and Father’s appeal has not yet been briefed, we have determined that Father’s appeal should be separate from Mother’s appeal. Therefore, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Cause Nos. DA 19-0570, DA 19-0571, and DA 19-0572 are hereby consolidated under Cause No. DA 19-0570 and captioned In the Matter of T.N.B., A.M.B., and S.M.B., Youths in Need of Care. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Father’s appeals shall be consolidated under a separate cause number. The caption shall be In the Matter of T.N.B., A.M.B., and S.M.B., Youths in Need of Care. The Clerk is directed to assign a new cause number to Father’s case. Upon assignment of a new number, the Clerk shall notify the parties. The Clerk is directed to provide a copy of this Order to all parties listed in these matters. 2 Electronically signed by: Mike McGrath Chief Justice, Montana Supreme Court April 14 2020