The Cobleigh Family Legal Case
This page provides a detailed account of the legal proceedings involving Susan Cobleigh and her family, focusing on the custody of her grandson, Austin Wlazniak. Handled by Equal Justice, this case highlights complex issues related to parental rights, agency intervention, and systemic challenges.
Case Overview
Ms. Susan Cobleigh, the maternal grandmother of Austin Wlazniak, has been an advocate for her family’s legal rights in a complex custody case involving multiple agencies. The case primarily centers around the fitness of Laurel Cobleigh, Austin’s mother, to retain custody of her son due to concerns raised about her mental health. Various legal battles ensued, including hearings related to the involuntary placement of Laurel under the Baker Act.
Figure 1: Court document from the Cobleigh case (Involuntary placement).
Involuntary Placement under the Baker Act
In April 2019, Laurel Cobleigh was subjected to involuntary placement proceedings under the Baker Act after a petition was filed by Morton Plant Hospital. This resulted in a court hearing, where the possibility of involuntary placement was evaluated. The petition cited concerns about Laurel’s mental health, posing a risk to her ability to care for Austin:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}. Download Baker Act Hearing Document
Figure 2: Baker Act hearing document related to Laurel Cobleigh’s case.
Challenges with Child Protective Services
The involvement of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Child Protection Investigation Division and Eckerd Connects raised concerns about bias and procedural errors. Despite multiple requests, the agencies delayed essential steps, such as home studies, and were accused of mishandling critical evaluations related to Austin’s custody:contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}. Learn more about Eckerd Connects
Figure 3: Documentation from Child Protective Services regarding Austin Wlazniak’s case.
Judicial Rulings
Throughout the case, various court rulings determined the next steps for the family, with one critical ruling being the denial of a motion to transfer venue. Judge Kimberly Todd emphasized that the length of time the case had been open—over nine months—played a significant role in maintaining jurisdiction and moving towards permanency for Austin:contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}.
Figure 4: Judge’s ruling on the denial of a venue transfer request.