Dr. Kathleen Dully: Lawsuits & Insights into Controversies
Who Is Dr. Kathleen Dully?
Dr. Kathleen M. Dully is the medical director of a Florida CPS office called “First Coast CPT”. Her expertise focuses on child neglect, emotional abuse, and physical abuse. Ongoing lawsuits from proven-innocent parents, and articles from civil rights experts, have surfaced patterns of decision-making & behavior that we’ll discuss.
Dully has been in her current role since 2017. Her work includes teaching medical students, conducting research, and securing grants from the Florida Department of Health.
Fee-for-service contracts with the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) and federal reimbursements under Title IV-E—are often discussed as encouraging over-diagnosis of abuse to generate revenue. Advocacy sites like Florida Families have labeled this a "child protection racket," citing research that Dr. Dully may benefit financially from court testimonies ($300–$600 per hour) and grants tied to high case volumes. Research further suggests that the overall CPS system provides little to no accountability or oversight for errors in diagnosis - which can - and, according to court records, have, torn perfectly loving American families apart from their children.
The Lawshe v. Hardwick et al Lawsuit
One of the most prominent ongoing cases against Dully is Lawshe v. Hardwick et al, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida (Case No. 3:2024cv00044). This federal civil rights lawsuit, brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleges violations of constitutional rights and the plaintiffs are seeking damages and a jury trial.
Dully's role involves medical evaluations &/or testimonies that contributed to decisions affecting the plaintiffs' family, such as child removal or custody restrictions.
Motion(s) to dismiss have been filed by Dully.
A court order in October 24 required Dully to respond to the plaintiffs' second amended complaint within weeks,..
Reports of Additional Legal Actions
Beyond the Lawshe case, there are reports of other potential lawsuits involving Dr. Dully. In August 2025, a Facebook post from the group "Family Forward Florida" announced the filing of a federal lawsuit against Governor Ron DeSantis, DCF Secretary Shevaun Harris, and other state officials. It specifically accused Dr. Dully of lying on the stand in a child abuse case, claiming this contributed to the unlawful removal of children without due process. It aligns with advocacy efforts by groups who criticize Dully's involvement in cases where her testimonies allegedly led to family separations for financial gain.
These claims echo past controversies, such as the Sullivan family case and other judgments mentioning her testimony, like a 2016 final judgment in a family case.
Dully's cases highlight the challenges in child welfare systems, where appointed medical staff like her play key, and allegedly conflicted, roles in high-stakes decisions about whether often perfectly loving American families can be separated by state force.
As these lawsuits unfold, they may influence policy reforms in Florida's DCF and child protection teams. Families affected by such cases often turn to advocacy groups for support, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability.
If you're following child welfare issues or have experiences to share, sound off in the comments. Stay tuned for updates as these cases develop—legal proceedings can evolve quickly.
Note: This blog is for informational purposes only and is based on public records. It does not constitute legal advice.