In Re M.L.

757 A.2d 849 (2000)

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Nature of the Case

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Facts

Appellant (W) is the natural mother of the child. The child was born February 6, 1995, and H. is the child’s natural father. The parents were never married and shared custody from the time of her birth. A custody dispute in 1997 resulted in W getting primary physical custody and H having partial custody every other weekend. W did complain that H did not properly care for the child during her weekends with him in that he lacked supplies for the child and did not feed her. In 1996, W alleged that H was sexually abusing the child. W subjected the child to six different physical exams for sexual abuse, and each time, the physicians reported that the child had diaper rash or normal redness from wearing diapers and that there was no sexual abuse. Despite the lack of evidence, W continued to make her allegations. Eventually, the County Youth Services filed a petition for dependency. The court found that the child was a dependent child and awarded custody to H. This appeal resulted.