Jordan Hartman Missouri Cases

Grandparents Jerry and Elizabeth Steele sought visitation rights with their granddaughter after the child's mother died and the child was adopted by the father's new wife. The trial court denied Father's motions to dismiss, and the parties subsequently entered into a consent judgment awarding Grandparents monthly visitation. Father appealed the consent judgment, arguing the Grandparents lacked standing. The appellate court dismissed the appeal, holding that a party who consents to a judgment is not "aggrieved" under section 512.020, RSMo, and therefore lacks statutory authority to appeal.