Lawrence v. State, Department of Revenue ex rel. Walker

PARKER, Judge.

John J. Lawrence appeals the trial court’s order denying his motion for relief from a contempt judgment entered for failure to pay child support. The contempt judgment followed a motion filed by the State of Florida Department of Revenue (DOR) on behalf of Melissa Walker.1 Because Lawrence presented evidence to rebut the DOR’s assertion that he had the ability to pay bi-weekly child support of $220, we reverse.

On April 2, 1998, the trial court found that Lawrence was $7,576.29 in arrears on child support and held him in contempt of court. The court ordered Lawrence to pay a…