In Re Bernadette C.

We observe initially that respondent Placer County Probation Department has filed no brief herein. Rule 17 (b), California Rules of Court provides in pertinent part: “If the respondent’s brief is not filed within the time prescribed .. . the clerk of the reviewing court shall notify the parties by mail that the case may be submitted for decision on the record and on the appellant’s opening brief unless the brief is filed within 30 days after the date of the mailing of the notification or good cause is shown for relief. If the brief is not filed within that period ... the court may accept as true the statement of facts in appellant’s opening brief .... ” The parties have been notified of the default. We accept the statement of facts in appellant’s opening brief, noting, however, that our own independent search of the record supports such factual recitation.

This is an appeal from a jurisdictional order sustaining a petition pursuant to section 300, subdivision (a), Welfare and Institutions Code and from the subsequent dispositional order adjudging the minor in question to be a dependent child of the court, removing her from the custody of her mother and ordering placement…