A.E. v. Department of Children and Families — Fifth District affirmed without a written explanation

Case
A.E., Father of N.E. and A.E., Children v. Department of Children and Families
Court
Florida Fifth District Court of Appeal
Judge
Jay, C.J.; Makar, J.; Wallis, J.
Date Decided
August 27, 2026
Docket No.
5D2026-0892
Topics
Child Dependency, Family Law, Per Curiam Affirmance
Source
Read the full opinion

Background

A.E., the father of children N.E. and A.E., appealed from a ruling of the Circuit Court for Hernando County in a child-dependency proceeding. Circuit Judge Stephen E. Toner, Jr. entered the ruling under review.

The Fifth District’s opinion does not describe the underlying facts, the circuit court’s ruling, or the arguments raised on appeal.

The Court’s Holding

The Florida Fifth District Court of Appeal affirmed the circuit court’s ruling in a per curiam decision.

The court provided no written reasoning and announced no legal rule. Chief Judge Jay and Judges Makar and Wallis concurred.

Key Takeaways

  • The Fifth District left the circuit court’s ruling in place.
  • The opinion does not disclose the factual or legal grounds for the appeal.
  • Because the court issued an unexplained per curiam affirmance, the decision supplies no express legal analysis for future cases.

Why It Matters

The decision ends this stage of the appeal by preserving the result reached in the Hernando County dependency proceeding. Its broader significance is limited because the Fifth District did not explain its reasoning or establish an articulated rule of law.

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