Jerkins v. Department of Health & Rehabilitative Services

William Jerkins (Appellant), the former husband, appeals from a final order granting the Department of Health and Rehabilitative Service’s 1993 motion to establish arrearages in child support allegedly owed to Marion Jerkins, the former wife, for the period from 1954 to 1972. We reverse the order. Our examination of the record leads us to conclude that Appellant established, by the evidence of exceptional and compelling circumstances, all the elements of the defense of laches necessary to bar the claim for child support arrearages. Van Meter v. Kelsey, 91 So.2d 327 (Fla.1956); Brumby v.…