Los Angeles County Department of Children & Family Services v. Harold A.

In this dependency case, Harold A. (Father), challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support the jurisdiction and disposition orders made regarding his minor twin daughters, Helen A. (Helen) and Heather A. (Heather). He also asserts the court failed to put certain findings in the record. Part of the evidence before the dependency court focused on the concepts of secondary abuse and battered women’s syndrome, as they relate to the children (or stepchildren, foster children, etc.) of victims of domestic violence. “Secondary abuse” refers to the effect on children of occurrences of abuse in their environment which are not directed specifically at them. Battered women’s syndrome is that collection of symptoms commonly experienced by victims of domestic abuse. Here, there is evidence that the minor children were exposed to domestic violence in their father’s home. *187 This evidence, together with other evidence in the record, supports the orders challenged by Father and we therefore affirm the judgment.

Background of the Case

1. Events Leading to Jurisdiction Over the Minors

On December 13, 1994, the department of children and family services (DCFS) filed a petition…