In the Matter of B.S. and G.S. 2009 MT 113, there were numerous incidents of domestic violence witnessed by the 6 year old boy and 3 year old daughter. The parental rights of both the mother and the father were terminated. The mother appealed. Among other things, the mother argued that there was insufficient proof that the children had been abused or neglected because the children had never gone through a psychological examination. See Paragraph 24. The effect of the children’s observations of parental violence, was obvious: “Six-year-old G.S. had been in 17 residential placements during the preceding year, and was possibly headed for “the next level” of inpatient therapeutic treatment due to his extreme levels of violence.” See Paragraph 15.
A tough start in life for these kids. A good decision by the trial court and the Montana Supreme Court.
