robertlathamesq.org

Author: Robert Latham

  • #NovaChildRep Symposium

    I’ll be attending, tweeting (@robertlathamesq), and possibly live blogging (if there is somewhere to set up) the Legal Representation of Children Symposium at Nova Southeastern University today.  Hope to see you there.

  • DM v. DCF is PCA’d

    I’m on an accurate prediction streak. The second DM v. DCF was per curiam affirmed by the Third DCA yesterday.

  • Emotional Debate on Florida House’s Proposal to Reduce RTI Stipend to Age 21

    You can watch the January 24, 2012 meeting of the Florida House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee here. Debate and public comment on PCB HCAS 12-03, which lowers the maximum eligibility age for RTI to 21 years old, starts at approximately 77:00 and runs for about 47 minutes. It’s worth taking a listen to.

  • I called it again: DM v. DCF

    I’m apparently pretty good at calling easy cases. As predicted here, the Third wasted no time getting the opinion out in DM v. DCF, — So.3d —-, 2012 WL 280750 (Fla. 3rd DCA 2012): the father’s TPR is affirmed, the Mother’s TPR is reversed. They make no mention of single-parent termination, or the lack of evidence of…

  • Second DCA: Grandparent Standing and Limiting the Keeping Children Safe Act

    Section 39.01(51), Florida Statutes (2010), defines “party” to include “the petitioner.” Because the grandparents are petitioners in the trial court, they are not “essentially” parties, they are parties. Thus, we determine that they have standing to challenge the order. In addition, the effect of the order is to prohibit the grandfather from living with his wife, which…

  • D.M. v. DCF (Fla. 3rd DCA) (argued January 25, 2012)

    This is a different D.M. than I posted last week. There’s a clear affirmance of TPR coming here.  Court: Florida Third District Court of Appeal Judges: Lagoa, Fernandez, Schwartz Attorneys: Sandford Rockowitz for the Mother; Hillary Kambour for the GAL Program; Karla Perkins for DCF (joining GAL Program’s oral argument). Issues: whether there was competent…

  • Florida Senate Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee on Psych Meds and APD

    Children, Families, and Elder Affairs – January 25, 2012 (podcast) (expanded agenda). Psychotropic Medication (SB 1808) – podcast audio 3:15 – 14:38 Agency for Persons with Disabilities – podcast audio 1:27:00 and on. Interesting stuff. 

  • Y.A. v. DCF is PCA’d

    As predicted (at least by me), Y.A. (OA here) was PCA’d yesterday.

  • D.M. v. DCF (Fla. 3rd DCA 2012)

    Well this is a definite reversal for the mother.  Court: Florida Third District Court of Appeal Judges: Ramirez, Suarez, Rothenberg Attorneys: Kevin Colbert for the Mother, Denis Burger for the Father, FIU College of Law Family and Child Advocacy Clinic for minor child A.M.; Hillary Kambour for the GAL Program, Karla Perkins for DCF, another…

  • Florida Independent Living Bill Now in House’s Hands

    Done! SB 434 is already in messages with the House. The amendments in the Senate were as follows: explicitly made DCF guardian of the person of a child in its custody updated the legislative purpose required a plan for health care coordination and “connection to a positive adult” removed $25 minimum for RTI extended adoption…