California Court of Appeal

Order removing minor from de facto parent's home and placing her for adoption by her maternal aunt in Oregon is reversed. The relative placement preference did not apply to the placement order as: 1) no new placement was necessary; 2) it was a placement for adoption; and 3) as the placement order was for adoption, the caretaker preference was applicable.

Appellate Information

• Decided 03/19/2007
• Published 03/19/2007

Judges

Court

• California Court of Appeal

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Law Office of Harold LaFlamme, Orange, and Tina Stevens, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Minor and Appellant, Lauren R.


• For Appellees:
  
• Charles Bergstrom, Orange;  John L. Dodd & Associates and John L. Dodd, Tustin, for Defendant and Appellant Amanda C., Benjamin P. de Mayo, County Counsel, Dana J. Stits, Senior Deputy County Counsel, Paula A. Whaley and Aurelio Torre, Deputy County Counsel, for Plaintiff and Respondent, Orange County Social Services Agency., Rich Pfeiffer, for Respondent, Velda C., Jennifer Mack, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Respondent Mother, Laura R., Nicole Williams and Niccol Kording, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Respondent Father, Dennis R.