It’s not what you’re thinking! In the case of S.J.C. v. State of Florida, 30 Fla. L. Weekly D 1257 [Fla. 2nd DCA 2005], the Second District Court of Appeal presents an unusual case, discussing child abuse as a defense by a minor child to the criminal charge of battery [on his mother] – it shows how a parent, intending to use corporal punishment on a child, may cause a child to reasonably expect to be injured sufficient to invoke that child’s right to use self-defense. Hmmm, something to think about when mediators hear someone raise “child abuse” during mediation.
By the way, the Mediation Training Center is a collaborating organization in this year’s Dispute Resolution Center Annual Conference, August 25 – 27, 2005 in Orlando, Florida. Here’s the Conference Brochure and here’s the Registration Form. Looks like a winner!
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