B.L., the Father v. Department of Children And Families
This text of 174 So. 3d 1125 (B.L., the Father v. Department of Children And Families) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court of Appeal of Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.
Opinion
The father appeals from the circuit court’s order finding that he contributed to the dependency of his two children based on two alleged domestic violence incidents towards the mother on December 24, 2013, and April 8, 2014. The father argues that the dependency adjudication against him was not supported by competent, substantial evidence of present or prospective abuse, primarily because the • evidence against him consisted entirely of hearsay without an applicable exception, that is, the mother’s statements as conveyed through the investigating officers. We agree with the father’s argument. See W.S. v. Dep’t of Children & Families, 41 So.3d 433, 434 (Fla. 1st DCA 2010) (“Where an adjudication of dependency is based entirely on inadmissible hearsay, or where the trial court relies heavily on inadmissible hearsay, it must be reversed.”). Thus, we reverse the dependency adjudication as to the father.
Reversed.
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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack
174 So. 3d 1125, 2015 Fla. App. LEXIS 14516, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bl-the-father-v-department-of-children-and-families-fladistctapp-2015.