Pamela Brownlee v. Jessica Lauren Powell, Ryan Lowery and Thomas Wayne Powell

Summary

The Court held that the former live-in partner's petition stated a potentially viable claim for in loco parentis visitation because Mississippi law does not categorically limit that doctrine to spouses or grandparents. The chancery court therefore erred by dismissing the petition without allowing the petitioner to prove that the circumstances fell within the narrow exception for very limited, unique situations. The Court also declined to review an evidentiary challenge that was not preserved and reversed the award of attorney's fees because the petition was not frivolous.