In re C.M

C.M. (the father) appeals from the order adjudicating his biological children, C.M., C.M. and Z.M., dependent. The trial court found that the father had ""an anger management problem"" and had used ""inappropriate parenting approaches"" when he became angry, and as a result had harmed his children. The father argues that the Department's evidence was legally insufficient to warrant an adjudication of dependency. We agree and reverse. The dependency adjudication in this case was based primarily on an incident involving the father and his teenage stepdaughter. The mother described the incident as a verbal altercation that began when she asked if anyone had put dishwasher detergent into the dishwasher. The argument became physical after the stepdaughter said ""sorry"" in an ""inappropriate"" tone. The father felt that the stepdaughter had been disrespectful to him, and he struck her on the shoulder. He struck her a second time as she retreated from the room, causing a small bruise on her back. They continued to fight as the father followed the stepdaughter into her bedroom. At this point, the mother intervened and broke up the fight.