Los Angeles County Department of Children & Family Services v. Deshall C.

*1315 Opinion

A mother appeals from an order of the dependency court summarily denying her petition under section 388 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. 1 However, subsequent to the order appealed from, the dependency court terminated the mother’s parental rights; the mother did not appeal from the termination order and that order is now final. Thus, there is no effective relief which may be afforded the mother on her appeal from the section 388 order. Accordingly, the mother’s appeal is moot and must be dismissed.

Facts and Procedural Background

Jessica K. (bom October 1995) is the daughter of Deshall C. (mother). On September 24, 1996, Jessica was detained by the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services on account of mother’s drag abuse and neglect. On October 25, 1996, Jessica was adjudicated a dependent of the court and placed in a foster home. Mother failed to reunify with Jessica, and reunification services were terminated on October 24, 1997. A selection and implementation hearing was scheduled for April 10, 1998, but continued several times at the request of the Department to complete adoption planning.

On March 31, 1999, mother filed a petition…