Filed: Jun. 29, 2016
Latest Update: Mar. 02, 2020
Summary: IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL FIRST DISTRICT, STATE OF FLORIDA T. J., FATHER OF A.J., MINOR NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO CHILD, FILE MOTION FOR REHEARING AND DISPOSITION THEREOF IF FILED Appellant, v. CASE NO. 1D16-0378 DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, Appellee. _/ Opinion filed June 22, 2016. An appeal from the Circuit Court for Baker County. Phillip Pena, Judge. Henri C. Cawthon, Law Office of Henri C. Cawthon, P.A., Gainesville, for Appellant. Ward L. Metzger, Jacksonville, for Appel
Summary: IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL FIRST DISTRICT, STATE OF FLORIDA T. J., FATHER OF A.J., MINOR NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO CHILD, FILE MOTION FOR REHEARING AND DISPOSITION THEREOF IF FILED Appellant, v. CASE NO. 1D16-0378 DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, Appellee. _/ Opinion filed June 22, 2016. An appeal from the Circuit Court for Baker County. Phillip Pena, Judge. Henri C. Cawthon, Law Office of Henri C. Cawthon, P.A., Gainesville, for Appellant. Ward L. Metzger, Jacksonville, for Appell..
More
IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL
FIRST DISTRICT, STATE OF FLORIDA
T. J., FATHER OF A.J., MINOR NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO
CHILD, FILE MOTION FOR REHEARING AND
DISPOSITION THEREOF IF FILED
Appellant,
v. CASE NO. 1D16-0378
DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN
AND FAMILIES,
Appellee.
_____________________________/
Opinion filed June 22, 2016.
An appeal from the Circuit Court for Baker County.
Phillip Pena, Judge.
Henri C. Cawthon, Law Office of Henri C. Cawthon, P.A., Gainesville, for
Appellant.
Ward L. Metzger, Jacksonville, for Appellee.
PER CURIAM.
Appellant, T.J., appeals an order placing his minor child into a permanent
guardianship. As Appellant argues, and as the Department of Children and Families
and Guardian ad Litem concede, reversal is warranted given the Department’s failure
to produce evidence or testimony during the permanency hearing. See C.S. v. Dep’t
of Children & Families,
41 So. 3d 368, 368-69 (Fla. 1st DCA 2010) (noting that a
trial court’s order of permanent guardianship must be supported by competent,
substantial evidence); C.A. v. Dep’t of Children & Families,
27 So. 3d 241, 242-43
(Fla. 4th DCA 2010) (“It is well-settled that the Department has the burden of
proving that reunification with the parent would endanger the child.”).
REVERSED and REMANDED for further proceedings.
LEWIS, WETHERELL, and RAY, JJ., CONCUR.
2