OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Supreme Court has upheld a contempt of court order against the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services over its handling of a state ward’s foster placement.

The case involves the removal of a 12-year-old boy from a Norfolk group home where a Douglas County juvenile court had ordered him placed. But a state caseworker last year failed to inform the court, the county attorney or the boy’s court-ordered representative of the boy’s possible removal from the program over failed contract negotiations with the state.

The court found the department and a private child welfare agency with which it had contracted in contempt, and the department appealed, saying the judge violated the separation of powers doctrine.

On Friday, the high court disagreed and upheld the contempt order.