O.M. v. State, Department of Children & Families

ALTENBERND, Judge.

The mother and father appeal a default judgment that terminated their rights to their eight children. We reverse because the trial court had no authority to enter a *991default when the parents, who were represented by counsel, were ninety minutes late to an adjudicatory hearing. The trial court also erred when it allowed the attorneys representing these indigent parents to withdraw during the period in which notices of appeal are filed and records are prepared.

In April 1996, after four years of dependency proceedings, the State of Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative…