Department of Children & Families v. K.H.

Florida District Courts of Appeal
Department of Children & Families v. K.H., 937 So. 2d 807 (2006)
2006 Fla. App. LEXIS 15239; 2006 WL 2632101
Orfinger, Palmer, Torpy

Department of Children & Families v. K.H.

Opinion of the Court

PER CURIAM.

In this dependency action, Appellant challenges the lower court’s summary dismissal of the petition prior to the conclusion of the adjudicatory hearing. We reverse.

During an adjudicatory hearing on Appellant’s petition for dependency, the trial court, sua sponte, summarily dismissed the petition after Appellant’s first witness had testified but before Appellant had concluded presenting evidence in support of the petition. In so doing, the lower court violated Appellant’s right to due process. Therefore, the order is reversed and this matter is remanded with instructions that the court conduct a new hearing on Appellant’s petition.

REVERSED and REMANDED.

PALMER, ORFINGER and TORPY, JJ., concur.

Reference

Full Case Name
DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES v. K.H. the Mother and A.A. the Father
Cited By
6 cases
Status
Published