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Madaline S. v. Pamela K. (In re D.K.)

COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT (San Joaquin)
May 30, 2012
C067811 (Cal. Ct. App. May. 30, 2012)

Opinion

C067811

05-30-2012

Guardianship of D.K., a Minor. Madaline S., Petitioner and Appellant, v. Pamela K., Objector and Respondent.


NOT TO BE PUBLISHED

California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

(Super. Ct. No.

39201000240035PRGPSTA)

Madaline S. appeals from the denial of a guardianship petition that she brought with her husband, Ron. The petition sought guardianship of their nephew (the minor).

The appellate record does not contain a transcript of any proceeding in the trial court. Accordingly, this is known as a "judgment roll" appeal. In addition, appellant's opening brief does not assert any error by the trial court. Because on a judgment roll appeal every presumption is in favor of the judgment, and because appellant does not articulate any error, we will affirm the judgment.

BACKGROUND

Madaline and Ron filed a petition for appointment of guardian of minor on April 26, 2010. Madaline is the minor's maternal aunt. The petition is not part of the appellate record.

The trial court ordered preparation of a report pursuant to Probate Code section 1513, subdivision (c). The parties were referred to mediation, a visitation plan was ordered, and a paternity test established that Ron is not the minor's biological father.

Undesignated statutory references are to the Probate Code.

The San Joaquin County Human Services Agency filed its report on July 27, 2010, indicating that Madaline was seeking guardianship of the minor because she believed the minor was at physical risk from the minor's mother or her boyfriend. Child Protective Services had received a separate referral regarding the family alleging physical abuse of the minor.

Madaline provided pictures of the minor with bruises on his arm and buttocks. The pictures were turned over to the social worker handling the physical abuse allegations. Madaline said the child screams and runs away when he is returned to mother, that mother keeps the minor in diapers even though he is toilet trained, and that the minor is always dirty when he comes to her house.

On August 23, 2010, following receipt of the section 1513 report, the trial court denied the guardianship petition and the case was closed.

Madaline filed another petition on November 23, 2010, again seeking to be named the minor's guardian. That petition is also not contained in the appellate record. The petition was denied on December 27, 2010, and the case was closed.

DISCUSSION

Madaline does not raise any legal issues. Her opening brief says she "would like to talk about all the minute orders" and the "Health & Human Services reports." She notes that she gave pictures of the minor to Child Protective Services.

Madaline is required to articulate her contentions on appeal with appropriate argument and authority, even when self-represented. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.204, (a)(1)(B).)

Moreover, in a judgment roll appeal, "'every presumption is in favor of the validity of the judgment and any condition of facts consistent with its validity will be presumed to have existed rather than one which will defeat it. [Citation.] The sufficiency of the evidence to support the findings is not open to review. [Citation.]'" (Estate of Kievernagel (2008) 166 Cal.App.4th 1024, 1031.)

In any event, having reviewed the record, we do not discern any legal error.

DISPOSITION

The judgment is affirmed.

MAURO, J. We concur:

HULL, Acting P. J.

BUTZ, J.


Summaries of

Madaline S. v. Pamela K. (In re D.K.)

COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT (San Joaquin)
May 30, 2012
C067811 (Cal. Ct. App. May. 30, 2012)
Case details for

Madaline S. v. Pamela K. (In re D.K.)

Case Details

Full title:Guardianship of D.K., a Minor. Madaline S., Petitioner and Appellant, v…

Court:COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT (San Joaquin)

Date published: May 30, 2012

Citations

C067811 (Cal. Ct. App. May. 30, 2012)