PA / NJ Family Law Attorney- Moshinski Law, P.C.

Important victory for Parents in dependency cases- Parents have a first amendment right to film DHS workers during investigations ! (***Please note that right is not absolute and is subject to reasonable restrictions***) Call today for a free case analysis.

Rest East Notorious RBG

DON’T LET THE FACT THAT YOUR INNOCENT ALLOW YOU TO PUT YOUR GUARD DOWN. Parents ~ don't be naive, this can happen to YOU ! SCENARIO (posted with permission): 5 month-old baby boy with history of eczema has a flare-up on Sunday; parents monitor and apply prescription meds for the first 24 hours. On Monday, parents put baby down for a nap. When baby wakes up, parents notice that the baby has scratched one rash open (on his cheek) and that his right cheek is slightly bleeding. ...His skin has slight discoloration now and his left eyelid is slightly swollen (all symptoms of eczema). Parents call the baby’s PCP and the PCP's office (that is getting ready to close) instructs the parents to take the baby to the local children’s hospital. At some point, someone at the hospital reports the child as having unexplained injuries. That report is called into the Pennsylvania child abuse hotline. Unbeknownst to parents, over the next 24-48 hours, many of the medical personnel / hospital staff that are coming to talk to them are from the hospital’s child abuse investigative team. Parents have no idea, at this point, that they are being investigated for child abuse. Parents don't really become suspicious until they realize that the child is medically cleared for discharge but that the hospital isn't discharging him. Unbeknownst to parents, the child is on what is called a social hold. Basically, the child is not going to be discharged until the county agency arrives and investigates the "unexplained injuries." When the investigator arrived, parents were interviewed separately. (Parents CAN refuse to be interviewed by the county child welfare agency... which I'll save for a separate post). I was present during mother's interview and father had separate counsel present during his interview. Thankfully, the baby was not taken into custody; mom, dad and baby left he hospital together! (There’s a safety plan in effect I will discuss the legalities of safety plans in a future post, but all in all ~ successful outcome.) County child abuse investigators save lives, but sometimes they get it wrong! REMEMBER ~ AS A PARENT, YOU HAVE THE ABSOLUTE RIGHT TO HAVE PRIVATE COUNSEL PRESENT DURING THE INITIAL INTERVIEW WITH THE COUNTY INVESTIGATIVE WORKER. It may be the difference between your child going home and going into ‘the system.’

Consultations for defending or obtaining PFA's are always free! Good Evening Attorney Debra,... Please accept my apology for this delayed response, and be assured that it in no way reflects the profound gratitude I feel for your generosity. From your 1st call with XXXX, to the conclusion of the case, you have been nothing but kind, understanding, compassionate, and Ready to defend him. You immediately stepped right in with a sympathetic ear and a determination to defend My Son, and for this I AM TRULY GRATEFUL. May God continue to richly Bless you! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! Warmest Regards, XXXXXX, A truly Grateful Mother

Virtually Adopted !