M.L. v. Superior Court
John F. Krattli, Acting County Counsel, James M. Owens, Assistant County Counsel, and Kim Nemoy, Deputy County Counsel, for Real Party in Interest Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services.
Petitioners M.L. (father) and S.O. (mother) are the parents of D.L., a two-and-one-half-year-old girl who was detained from the home of her parents by the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (Department) after her two-month-old sister was declared dead under suspicious circumstances. After an autopsy report concluded that homicidal suffocation was strongly suspected, the juvenile court sustained various dependency petition allegations, including an allegation that the parents likely caused the death of the deceased child through physical abuse. The court denied reunification services to both parents and scheduled a hearing for the selection and implementation of a permanent plan (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 366.26) for D.L.[1]
The parents filed separate writ petitions challenging the juvenile court’s decision to schedule a permanent plan hearing. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.452.) They claim substantial evidence does not support (1) the juvenile court’s jurisdictional findings, and (2) the juvenile court’s decision to deny them reunification services. We disagree with both contentions, and deny the petitions.
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