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 AAL for the minor child M.M.

Issue: whether the mother received sufficient services and time; whether there was evidence to show the mother presented a continuing threat of harm (i.e., that she was still in a relationship with the violent father); whether the father received appropriate services; whether the GAL Program had a conflict of interest requiring reversal; whether the trial court properly considered the child A.M.’s wishes.

Outcome: TPR affirmed for Father, reversed for Mother. D.M. v. Dep’t of Children and Family Servs., — So.3d —-, 2012 WL 280750 (Fla. 3rd DCA 2012).