Reanna Rodgers, Appellant v. Destiny Rodgers, Appellee

Summary

The court affirmed the stepparent adoption because Reanna's consent was unnecessary after she significantly and without justifiable cause failed to communicate with her children for more than one year. The court held that a suspension of visitation did not justify abandoning all other forms of communication, particularly where Reanna could have sought review of the visitation order after obtaining a clean drug screen. Justice Wynne concurred on the alternative support ground, while Justices Baker and Womack dissented, concluding that the court order justified at least part of the noncommunication period and that the statutory year had not accrued before the adoption petition was filed.