With parental rights voided, man not subject to child support payments

Article here. Excerpt:

'PARKERSBURG – A circuit judge has ruled a Wood County family law judge erred in ordering a Parkersburg man to support a child who’s no longer his.

Judge J.D. Beane on Jan. 22 granted Larry Ryan’s writ of prohibition against Judge Brian C. Dempster. In his writ, Ryan argued Dempster usurped his authority by making him pay child support for a daughter from whom the state severed his parental rights two years ago.

According to Ryan’s petition, his ex-wife, Destiny, initiated divorce proceedings against him in 2010. The reasons for the divorce are not stated.

A year later, the state Department of Health and Human Resources initiated abuse and neglect proceedings against Ryan regarding the welfare of his daughter, Grace. Though it is unclear the specific reasons for DHHR’s actions, the petition says Senior Status Cabell Circuit Judge John Cummings on March 29 terminated Ryan’s parental rights.

No reason is given why Cummings was appointed to the case. Nevertheless, the petition states Cummings’ order also relieved Ryan of his obligation to pay Destiny child support.'