Antonio Martini, Appellant v. Christopher Price, Appellee

Summary

The court held that Antonio Martini's consent was required for the adoption of his biological daughter because the protective orders, uncertainty about the children's location, and his post-divorce efforts provided justifiable cause for his earlier lack of communication. It affirmed the adoption of his former stepson because Martini was not the child's legal parent and had no right to withhold consent, and the best-interest finding was not clearly erroneous. Justice Goodson, concurring in part and dissenting in part, would have affirmed the finding that Martini's consent was unnecessary for his daughter's adoption.