In the Interest of R. W.

Adams, Judge.

The mother of R. W. successfully defended one or more earlier deprivation actions and one termination action arising out of her care of R. W., who has cerebral palsy, and as many as five of her other seven children. When the Department of Family and Children Services filed yet another deprivation action regarding R. W, the mother raised the defense of res judicata. The juvenile court held that because the current deprivation action addressed facts and circumstances not in existence at the time of the most recent prior order, res judicata was not applicable. The court then found…