C.A. 1st;
A144936

The First Appellate District affirmed dependency court orders. The court held that a father who inflicted devastating and irreparable brain injury on his infant son was properly denied reunification services.

Marina F. had two children, infant Andrew C. and Andrew's half-sibling, five-year old Madison S. Andrew was admitted to the emergency room when he was less than a month old with injuries including a skull fracture, bilateral hematomas on both sides of the brain, and diffused retinal hemorrhage in his right eye, as well as multiple old rib fractures. According to one of Andrew's treating physicians, Andrew's head trauma resulted in “devastating and irreversible” brain injury. Andrew's physicians concurred that the skull injuries were nonaccidental, were of a type usually caused by blunt force trauma and shaking, and had occurred within 72 hours prior to his admission to the hospital. Andrew's father, L.C., who lived with Marina and the children, later admitted, in a recorded telephone conversation, that he had caused Andrew's head injury, although he denied having any responsibility for the prior rib fractures. The Alameda County Social Services Agency initiated dependency proceedings as to both children.