Florida Department of Revenue ex rel. A.L. v. S.B.

LaROSE, Judge.

The Department of Revenue seeks reversal of a trial court order dismissing with prejudice, for failure to join an indispensable party, its initial petition to establish paternity, child support, and for the award of other relief. The indispensable party was the child’s legal father. The Department argues that because the dismissal was for a procedural error, not on the merits, the trial court should have dismissed the petition without prejudice. We agree and reverse. See Fla. R. App. P. 9.030(b)(1)(A).

Dismissal with prejudice is a severe sanction. See Obenschain v. Williams, 750…