In re Maxwell J. CA2/2

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

This case first came to the attention of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (the Department) on May 5, 2012, as a result of allegations that Matthew2 (born 1999) had been physically abused. The incident occurred on April 30, 2012, when Matthew and his siblings, Maxwell (born 2000), and M. (born 2001), were in a car with Mother. Mother became upset and punched Matthew in the mouth and split his lip. When contacted at her home on May 6, 2012, Mother was upset and uncooperative with the Department’s social worker (CSW) assigned to the case. Mother stated she was under a lot of stress. She and Father3 were going through a divorce and she worked two jobs because Father’s child support was not sufficient. Mother claimed Father was uncooperative and allowed the children to misbehave when they visited with him. She stated all of the children were disrespectful to her when they returned from visiting Father. On the day of the incident, Matthew was fighting with his sister M. over loose change. She “smacked” him in the mouth and he began to bleed.

1 Unless otherwise indicated, all further statutory references are to the…