E.D., the Father v. Department of Children and Families
CourtDistrict Court of Appeal of Florida
Date FiledJuly 22, 2026
Docket3D2026-0223
StatusPublished
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Full Opinion
Third District Court of Appeal
State of Florida
Opinion filed July 22, 2026.
Not final until disposition of timely filed motion for rehearing.
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No. 3D26-0223
Lower Tribunal No. D24-15187
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E.D., the Father,
Appellant,
vs.
Department of Children and Families, et al.,
Appellees.
An Appeal from the Circuit Court for Miami-Dade County, Michelle
Alvarez Barakat, Judge.
Kevin G. Thomas, for appellant.
Sara Elizabeth Goldfarb, and Laura J. Lee (Tallahassee), for appellee
Guardian ad Litem; Karla Perkins, for appellee Department of Children and
Families.
Before LOGUE, LINDSEY and LOBREE, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
E.D., the father, appeals a final judgment terminating his parental rights
to his children, Em.D. and Ez.D. We affirm because the record contains
substantial, competent evidence that the Department of Children and
Families established by clear and convincing evidence that statutory grounds
for termination exist, specifically section 39.806(1)(b) and (1)(f), Florida
Statutes (2025). “The parental rights of one parent may be severed . . . ‘[i]f
the protection of the child[ren] demands termination of the rights of the single
parent’” or “‘[i]f the parent whose rights are being terminated meets any of
the criteria specified in s. 39.806(1) . . . (f).’” § 39.811(6)(d),(e), Fla. Stat.
(2025). “The standard of review where a trial court terminates parental rights
on the basis of egregious conduct, is whether the order is supported by
competent substantial evidence.” I.D. v. Dep’t of Child. & Fams., 13 So. 3d
1117, 1119 (Fla. 3d DCA 2009); S.M.O. v. Dep’t of Child. & Fams., 357 So.
3d 773, 777 (Fla. 3d DCA 2023) (same). “[I]t is within the province of the trial
court to weigh the evidence presented and to make credibility
determinations.” I.D., 13 So. 3d at 1120 (citing M.R. v. Dep’t of Child. & Fam.
Servs., 783 So. 2d 277, 278 (Fla. 3d DCA 2001)).
Affirmed.
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