Los Angeles County Department of Children & Family Services v. Esmeralda L.

This is a juvenile dependency case in which the appellants are the minor, Andrew L., and his de facto parents, Carmine S. and Steven B.

Andrew, Carmine and Steven are appealing the juvenile court’s orders which granted the petition for modification (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 388) 1 and request for reunification services of Anthony L., who is Andrew’s biological father. Anthony has filed a responsive brief. The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (the Department) appears as respondent, siding with Anthony.

There was substantial evidence to support the juvenile court’s rulings that (1) Anthony did all he could reasonably do under the circumstances to *181 demonstrate his commitment to Andrew while the case was still at the family reunification phase, and (2) his due process rights were thwarted by the dilatory behavior of the Department’s caseworker. (Adoption of Kelsey S. (1992) 1 Cal.4th 816, 825 [ 4 Cal.Rptr.2d 615 , 823 P.2d 1216 ] (Kelsey S.); In re Julia U. (1998) 64 Cal.App.4th 532, 540-541 [ 74 Cal.Rptr.2d 920 ] (Julia U.).) Finding no abuse of discretion, we affirm.

PROCEDURAL HISTORY AND FACTS

The juvenile court judge, Emily A. Stevens,…