The District Court of Appeal of Florida has upheld a child support order against Malik Lewis. The court ruled that Lewis's due process rights were not violated, as he received proper notice of a hearing regarding his child support case. This decision affects Lewis and potentially others involved in similar child support disputes.
The case, Malik Lewis v. State of Florida Department of Revenue, Child Support Program, was filed on October 7, 2026, under docket number 3D2026-0105. The ruling emphasizes the importance of proper notice in administrative hearings, particularly in child support cases.
Background
Malik Lewis is the appellant in this case, appealing a final administrative child support order issued by the Florida Department of Revenue's Child Support Program. The dispute arose when Lewis claimed that his due process rights were violated because he did not receive notice of a hearing held on December 17, 2025. The hearing was conducted by the Department of Administrative Hearings.
The case reached the District Court of Appeal after Lewis contested the administrative order. He argued that without proper notice, he was unable to present his case effectively. The Department of Revenue, represented by Attorney General James Uthmeier and Assistant Attorney General Sarah C. Prieto, maintained that Lewis had been properly notified.
The Ruling
The court ruled in favor of the Department of Revenue, stating that Lewis's claim of not receiving notice was unfounded. The record showed that a notice of the hearing was sent to Lewis at the address he had provided to the Department of Revenue on September 29, 2025. Importantly, the notice was not returned to the sender, indicating it was successfully delivered.
The court noted, “Due process does not require the affected person [to] receive notice; it only requires that the government give notice.” This statement underscores the court's position that as long as the government follows proper procedures in notifying individuals, the requirements of due process are met.
The judges involved in this decision were Chief Judge SCALES and Judges LOGUE and GOODEN. The ruling affirmed the lower court's decision, solidifying the administrative order regarding Lewis's child support obligations.
Impact
This ruling has significant implications for individuals involved in child support cases in Florida. It reinforces the notion that as long as the proper notice is sent to the address on record, the due process requirements are satisfied. This could affect how future cases are handled, particularly in terms of how parties ensure they keep their contact information updated with the Department of Revenue.
Furthermore, the ruling may serve as a precedent for similar cases where individuals claim they did not receive notice of hearings. It highlights the responsibility of individuals to ensure their contact information is current and the importance of the government's role in providing notice.
What's Next
Details were not available in the court filing regarding whether Lewis plans to appeal this decision further. There is no indication of any related cases pending at this time.