A-17-1260, Dirks v. Shumate
Gage County District Court, Judge Ricky A. Schreiner
Attorney for Appellant: Benjamin H. Murray (Germer, Murray & Johnson)
Attorney for Appellee: Dustin Garrison (Garrison Law Firm)
Civil Action: Grandparent Visitation
Action Taken by the Trial Court: Dean Dirks and Michelle Dirks (the Dirks) filed an action seeking grandparent visitation with their grandson, T.D. Subsequently, the Dirks’ son relinquished his parental rights to T.D., and T.D. was later adopted by his stepfather. After the adoption, T.D.’s mother, Rachel Shumate moved to dismiss the Dirks’ action for grandparent visitation based on standing and mootness principles. The trial court concluded that although the Dirks retained standing, the case had become moot; the trial court granted the motion to dismiss.
Assignment of Error on Appeal: Did the trial court err in finding the Dirks’ application for grandparent visitation was moot and granting Shumate’s motion to dismiss?