Case Name: Kathleen M. FOUST, Appellant, v. Ivan MALDONADO, Guardian etc., Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 2005-04-01
Citations: 896 So. 2d 972
Docket Number: No. 5D04-2266
Parties: Kathleen M. FOUST, Appellant, v. Ivan MALDONADO, Guardian etc., Appellee.
Judges: PALMER and ORFINGER, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 896
Pages: 972–973

Head Matter:
Kathleen M. FOUST, Appellant, v. Ivan MALDONADO, Guardian etc., Appellee.
No. 5D04-2266.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fifth District.
April 1, 2005.
David C. Brennan, Orlando, for Appellant.
No Appearance for Appellee.

Opinion:
GRIFFIN, J.
Tkis is an appeal of an order removing a professional guardian,' Kathleen M. Foust ["Foust"]. We agree with Foust that the notice given and procedure employed at the June 8, 2004, hearing were inadequate to meet the requirements of law, including the statutory and rule procedures for guardian removal contained in Florida Probate Rule 5.660 and section 744.477, Florida Statutes (2003). We also agree that in light of the trial judge's coincidental contact with Mr. and Mrs. Spino at the auction of the ward's property and their communications during the hearing, the trial judge should have recused himself and allowed another judge to conduct the removal hearing.
REVERSED and REMANDED.
PALMER and ORFINGER, JJ., concur.