State Department of Health & Rehabilitative Services v. Spragg

The appellants, State of Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services (HRS) and Teresa Diana Lopez (the mother), challenge the trial court’s final judgment of paternity and temporary current support. We reverse that portion of the final judgment finding that the appellee, Thomas Edward Spragg, was not liable for reimbursing HRS for public assistance monies paid on behalf of his minor child.

On July 22, 1993, the appellants filed a complaint against the appellee to establish paternity, child support, and other relief. At the hearing on those issues, the trial court found that the…