M.A., MOTHER OF L.A., A CHILD
v.
DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

Fla. 5th DCA | 2020-11-30
No. 20-1869
Robbins, S. Sue, Evander, C.J., Orfinger, J., Cohen, J.
Florida District Court of Appeal, Fifth District (2020)

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Holding

The trial court properly terminated M.A.'s parental rights where DCF proved grounds for termination under section 39.806(1)(d)3., (1)(e)1., and (1)(e)3., Florida Statutes, by clear and convincing evidence.


Headnotes

[1] In a parental rights termination proceeding, the Department of Children and Families need prove only one statutory ground for termination by clear and convincing evidence…

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Facts & Procedural History

M.A. appealed the termination of her parental rights to her child L.A. The trial court found that DCF proved multiple statutory grounds for terminatio…

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Opinion of the Court
Affirmed. Evander

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA

FIFTH DISTRICT

NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO

FILE MOTION FOR REHEARING AND

DISPOSITION THEREOF IF FILED

M.A., MOTHER OF L.A., A CHILD,

Appellant,

v. Case No. 5D20-1869

DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND CORRECTED FAMILIES,

Appellee. ________________________________/

Opinion filed November 30, 2020

Appeal from the Circuit Court for Marion County,

S. Sue Robbins, Judge.

Carl New, Ocala, for Appellant.

Kelley Schaeffer, Appellate Counsel, Children’s Legal Services, Bradenton, for Appellee.

Thomasina F. Moore, Statewide Director of Appeals, and Joanna Summers Brunell, Senior Attorney, Appellate Division, Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office, Tallahassee, and Cody L. Frank, of Brown Sims, P.C., Defending Best Interests Project, Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office, Coral Gables, for Guardian ad Litem.

PER CURIAM.

M.A. appeals the order terminating her parental rights to L.A. We affirm. The record supports the trial court’s findings that the Department of Children and Families (“DCF”) proved, by clear and convincing evidence, grounds for termination pursuant to

2

section 39.806(1)(d)3., (1)(e)1., and (1)(e)3., Florida Statutes (2020). Because DCF was required to prove only one statutory ground for termination, we do not need to address whether the trial court correctly relied on other grounds for termination. See, e.g., D.G. v. Dep’t of Child. & Fams., 250 So. 3d 871, 871 (Fla. 5th DCA 2018).

AFFIRMED.

EVANDER, C.J., ORFINGER and COHEN, JJ., concur.


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