In re D.B.
Annotate this CaseT.B. and L.B. appealed findings and orders adjudicating their younger son a dependent of the juvenile court under Welfare and Institutions Code section 300(j), and removing him from their custody under section 361(c)(1). T.B. and L.B. had two sons, six-year-old Jordan, and two-year-old D.B. A teacher noticed Jordan bleeding through his jeans; examination revealed numerous linear marks, mainly on his right thigh, in different stages of healing. When questioned, L.B. said T.B. had given Jordan a beating. The parents said they routinely disciplined Jordan by hitting him with a belt or by making him exercise. L.B. and T.B. each said they were disciplined in a similar manner when they were growing up and, in later interviews, described childhoods with significant physical, and in L.B.'s case, sexual abuse. They physically disciplined Jordan approximately four times a month using a belt. T.B. said he kept the buckle in his hand, folded the belt, and hit Jordan between five and 15 times, depending on the situation. T.B. did not believe it was appropriate to hit a child with a broom or other household item, but believed it was appropriate to hit a child for two to five minutes. The child should be told why he was being hit. The parents denied using physical discipline on D.B., who was then 18 months old. D.B. did not have any bruises, marks or injuries. A pediatric child abuse specialist determined Jordan's injuries were consistent with inflicted child abuse. The pattern of injuries on his body indicated he was hit with a belt and belt buckle. The parents did not challenge findings and orders under sections 300(a) and 361, made on behalf of Jordan, but they contended there was not substantial evidence to support the jurisdictional and dispositional orders for D.B. Finding substantial evidence to support the dispositional findings and orders, the Court of Appeal affirmed.
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