In Re Brian W.

In this juvenile dependency proceeding (Welf. Inst. Code, § 300 ), 1 the four children of appellant, Christine W., were placed in foster care. On appeal from the jurisdictional finding that the children were dependent children, appellant claims procedural error and insufficiency of the evidence. We affirm the juvenile court's order.

The case was set for January 31, 1995, for a "J-1" hearing. On January 31 both parents, through counsel, denied the allegations of the petition, and the matter was continued to March 8 for a settlement conference on jurisdictional and dispositional issues. The juvenile court referee ordered the parents to appear. On March 8 the matter was again continued to March 28 for a settlement conference.

On March 28 the settlement conference was held. Neither parent personally appeared, but both were represented by counsel. The father's attorney asked that the "appropriate orders" be entered but stayed, as counsel believed the father intended to appear. The request was denied. The mother's attorney stated he did not know where his client was. The juvenile court referee found that both parents had wilfully failed to appear and entered both parents' default. The…