A.G., MOTHER & R.G., FATHER OF R.G., A CHILD, APPELLANTS,
v.
DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, APPELLEE

Fla. 5th DCA | 2006-09-29
No. 5D05-4325
SAWAYA, J., concurs., GRIFFIN, J., concurs in part and dissents in part with opinion.
938 So. 2d 606 Florida District Court of Appeal, Fifth District (2006)

AI-generated. These summaries, headnotes, and key points are machine-generated and may contain errors or omissions. Always verify against the full opinion text below. Not legal advice.

Synopsis

The Fifth District Court of Appeal reversed a dependency adjudication against both parents, finding that the trial court erred by relying solely on attorney proffers of conflicting facts without receiving any actual evidence, sworn testimony, or stipulated facts at the adjudicatory hearing. The court held that due process required a full evidentiary hearing when the proffers presented significantly different factual scenarios with different legal outcomes.


Holding

A trial court cannot adjudicate dependency based on conflicting attorney proffers alone. Due process requires a full evidentiary hearing when proffers present significantly different facts that would yield different legal outcomes. Additionally, even if a parent's attorney tenders facts supporting dependency, the court must inquire directly of the parent to ensure any admission or consent is voluntary and made with full understanding of the nature of allegations and consequences.


Headnotes

[1] Due process requires an evidentiary hearing when attorneys proffer significantly different facts that would yield different outcomes on the issue of child dependency.

[2] A trial court cannot adjudicate a child dependent based solely on attorneys' proffers of facts without sworn testimony or stipulated facts.

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Key Quotes

“It is important to note that there was no evidence, no sworn testimony, and no stipulated facts presented to the trial court at the adjudicatory hearing.”

Establishes the fundamental defect in the trial court's proceedings—the complete absence of any actual evidence supporting the dependency finding.

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Facts & Procedural History

An adjudicatory hearing on a dependency petition was scheduled against both parents. At the hearing, the Mother's attorney offered to have the case re…

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Opinion of the Court
EVANDER, J.

EVANDER, J.

The trial court adjudicated R.G., a child, dependent as to both parents, R.G. (“Father”) and A.G. (“Mother”). The Department of Children and Families (“DCF”) properly concedes error as to the Father. We find the trial court also erred in adjudicating the child dependent as to the Mother. The record reflects that an adjudicatory hearing was scheduled for October 28, 2005, on the petition for dependency filed against both parents. At the beginning of the hearing, the Mother’s attorney1 advised the judge:

Seriously, I would truly be happy to have (DCF’s attorney) proffer his evidence as to what he believes makes this child dependent, and I’ll proffer mine and let you make a decision.

The trial judge apparently accepted this proposal and both attorneys made proffers. It is unnecessary to state the details of each proffer. It is sufficient to say the proffered “facts” by each attorney were significantly different. An adjudication of dependency of the child as to the Mother may well have been justified if the facts were as proffered by DCF’s attorney. An adjudication of dependency could not stand if the facts were as proffered by the Mother’s attorney.

The court then addressed the Mother directly. The Mother stated: “I take care of my son. I have more than — more than enough evidence to prove that.” The trial judge then announced he was finding the child dependent as to both parents. The Father’s counsel then argued a motion to dismiss the petition as to the Father. The trial judge denied the motion and reaffirmed his decision to adjudicate the child dependent as to both parents.

It is important to note that there was no evidence, no sworn testimony, and no stipulated facts presented to the trial court at the adjudicatory hearing.

Although we do not condone the Mother’s attorney’s offer to have the case resolved by proffers, we decline to affirm the trial court’s decision on “invited error” grounds. At the time of the Mother’s attorney’s offer, it was possible that each attorney would proffer identical or similar facts which would support only one possible outcome on the issue of whether the child should be adjudicated dependent as to the Mother. However, once the two attorneys proffered significantly different facts which would yield different outcomes depending on which attorney’s proffer was accepted, due process required the trial court to proceed with an evidentiary hearing. Lane v. Lane, 599 So. 2d 218 (Fla. 4th DCA 1992).

Additionally, even if the Mother’s attorney had proffered facts which would support a finding of dependency, it would have been incumbent on the trial judge to make inquiry directly of the Mother to determine whether any admission or consent to a finding of dependency was made voluntarily and with a full understanding of the nature of the allegations and the possible consequences of the admissions or consent. Fla. R. Juv. P. 8.325(c). See also In Interest of C.M., 632 So. 2d 1093 (Fla. 1st DCA 1994). There was simply no competent evidence to support the trial court’s order. In Interest of A.L., 711 So. 2d 600 (Fla. 2d DCA 1998). The order adjudicating the child dependent is hereby reversed and the cause remanded.

REVERSED and REMANDED.

SAWAYA, J., concurs.

GRIFFIN, J., concurs in part and dissents in part with opinion.

. It should be noted the Mother's appellate counsel was not the attorney who represented her in the trial court.

Other
GRIFFIN, J.,

GRIFFIN, J.,

concurring in part, dissenting in part.

I disagree that the trial court erred by following the procedure requested by appellant’s counsel that DCF “proffer his evidence as to what he believes makes this child dependent, and I’ll proffer mine and let you make a decision.” Nor do I think that Rule 8.325 applies to a circumstance such as this. I also conclude that the determination of dependency as to the mother is supported by the record.


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