Kenneth M. Osterkamp, Appellant v. Kattaryna Stiles, Appellee

Summary

The court affirmed the denial of Kenneth Osterkamp's petition to adopt Simon because the evidence established that Kattaryna Stiles never unconditionally represented that she would consent to the adoption. Although Stiles encouraged Osterkamp's parental relationship with Simon and held him out as Simon's father, those actions did not establish equitable estoppel because Osterkamp understood that any adoption depended on improvement in their relationship. The court also affirmed the attorney-fee award because Osterkamp challenged it only on the premise that the adoption decision was erroneous.