Fort v. Department of Health & Rehabilitative Services

Ellis Franklin Fort, Jr. (the father) appeals the trial court’s order which granted the joint motion for substitution of counsel filed by Eileen Emmers (the mother) and the Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services (HRS). Pursuant to rule 9.040(c), Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure, we treat this appeal as a petition for writ of certiorari, grant the petition, and quash the order substituting counsel because the order departs from the essential requirements of law.

The trial court’s order granting the motion for substitution of counsel effectively converted this matter from a section…