robertlathamesq.org

Author: Robert Latham

  • Child Abuse Ad that Only Kids Can See

    An advertising friend of mine sent this to me: via Gizmodo. Set aside that this is an advertiser bragging about their own cleverness. I think the fact that cleverness is required forces people to confront that kids are more likely to be abused by family members than by strangers. Reaching those kids has always been…

  • Florida Fifth DCA: Poverty and Medical Neglect

    The Fifth DCA recently issued an opinion in A.J. v. DCF upholding a finding of dependency in a poverty + medical fragility case. According to the opinion, the parents were living out of a car, medical appointments were missed, and the child’s life was endangered. This, the court held, was sufficient to show neglect. The…

  • Permanent Guardianship Reversals #3 and #4

    #3: Oh look, someone in C.L. v. DCF, — So.3d —- (Fla. 5th DCA 2013) didn’t… set forth written findings, explain why a guardianship was being chosen over an adoption, order the guardian not to return the child to the parent, and specify the nature and frequency of visits with the parents. #4 In S.G. v.…

  • Criminal contempt for skipping school?

    Is there any legal authority for a judge to order a dependent child to attend school and then hold her in contempt when she skips? I’ve heard that a child is currently sitting in juvenile detention over the weekend under those exact circumstances. (Note: not one of my clients.) Edit: A quick Westlaw search of…

  • Fathers get to see adoption files too

    A father, who was challenging his consent to adoption, was denied access to the pleadings that were being used against him because adoption files are “confidential.” The Fourth DCA disagrees: We fail to understand how he would not be entitled to see the pleadings and papers filed in the proceeding to take away his rights.…

  • Contested reunification orders need findings too

    In this case, the trial court made a finding only as to the parents’ compliance with the case plan. The court failed to address the other statutory factors [in 39.621(10)]. Moreover, there was no competent, substantial evidence to support a finding as to any of the factors because the Department was not on notice that…

  • Follow me @robertlathamesq

    With the upcoming demise of Google Reader, my previous newsfeed aggregator of choice, I’ve switched over to feedly. The upshot of this is significantly improved ease of sharing, which is why my twitter is suddenly overflowing with interesting things.  Follow me on twitter: @robertlathamesq Or like me on facebook: facebook.com/robertlathamesq  (Be sure to tweet at…

  • Orlando Sentinel: With LGBT groups in Capitol, House briefly debates ’sexual oreintation’ foster care bill

    A beautiful moment:  It was a rare first-person discussion for the Florida House: two openly gay lawmakers discussing the problems they experienced as teens. The Florida House briefly showed its new, more diverse membership Tuesday when two freshmen openly gay House members supported an amendment to an otherwise non-controversial foster-care bill to prohibit foster parents from…

  • Normalcy Bill Passes!

    I’m a day late (and more than a dollar short)–the Normalcy Bill has passed and will be sent to Governor Scott! Congrats to Florida Youth Shine and everyone else who worked together and very hard to make this a reality. 

  • DCF to CLS: Seek Attorneys ad Litem for Medicaid Denial Cases

    DCF, understandably, sees the futility and waste of paying for medical services that Medicaid should be covering. Medical support is an important component of permanency for families. I wouldn’t limit this advocacy to just out-of-home kids: we should extend this service to parents (as part of case plans and reasonable efforts) and to kids still…