Department of Children & Families v. D.T.

The Department of Children and Families appeals an “Order on Parents’ Motion for Sanctions,” which awarded attorney’s fees and required “Representatives of the Department, not the Attorneys or their staff’ to perform 1000 hours community service or pay a $1,000 fine to the Family Visitation Center in Ocala, Florida. We reverse.

Because the lower court was proceeding under its contempt power to punish the Department for violating a court order, it should have followed the procedure required by Rule 8.285(b), Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure (2001). The court failed to issue an order to show…