Case Name: Douglas NELSON, Appellant, v. Harold HERNDON and Linda Gail Herndon, his wife, Appellees
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1979-02-23
Citations: 371 So. 2d 140
Docket Number: No. KK-459
Parties: Douglas NELSON, Appellant, v. Harold HERNDON and Linda Gail Herndon, his wife, Appellees.
Judges: McCORD, C. J., and MELVIN, J., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 371
Pages: 140–141

Head Matter:
Douglas NELSON, Appellant, v. Harold HERNDON and Linda Gail Herndon, his wife, Appellees.
No. KK-459.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, First District.
Feb. 23, 1979.
Walter R. Carfora, Gainesville, for appellant.
C. Valentine Bates of Bates & DeCarlis, Gainesville, for appellees.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
Nelson appeals a judgment of adoption awarding his seven-year-old daughter to Harold Herndon and Linda Gail Herndon. The mother of the child is deceased. We reverse.
Under the evidence presented, the only legal basis upon which this adoption could be granted is by a showing of abandonment of the child by the natural father. It fails in this respect and the trial court so found. See Harden v. Thomas, 329 So.2d 389 (Fla. 1 DCA 1977); Turner v. Adoption of Turner, 352 So.2d 957 (Fla. 1 DCA 1977); § 63.072, Florida Statutes (1977).
REVERSED.
McCORD, C. J., and MELVIN, J., concur.
MILLS, J., specially concurring.