Disputes between families and the Department of Health and Human Services are almost always ugly. When the state intervenes – with the intention of protecting children – lives and families can be shattered. Most of the time, the department does the right thing. Sometimes, mistakes are made.

What’s striking is how difficult it is to fix them, even after the details are painfully apparent.

Geoffrey Fisher has had his driver’s license revoked and received an order to pay more than $11,000 in delinquent child-support payments. The penalties are harsh, as they should be, when a parent doesn’t take responsibility for a child. That’s not the case, however, with Fisher.

In July 2001, Fisher’s driver’s license was revoked by the state for failure to pay child support for a girl who was born to a woman with whom Fisher had a relationship. The girl, who was removed from her mother by DHS, was placed in foster care. In November 2001, as Fisher tried in vain to take custody of the child, a DNA test confirmed he wasn’t the father. His attempts to gain custody were denied. He hasn’t seen the girl, who was 3 at the time, since then.

By January 2002, Fisher’s license had been restored and the demand for child support had been rescinded. The matter should have been over. But Fisher, and his attorney, failed to file a motion with the court. In April, Fisher received a letter from the DHS saying he owed $11,450 and would lose his driver’s license if he didn’t pay up. The letter acknowledged that Fisher wasn’t the father of the girl, but nonetheless insisted on payment, with a threat of further punishment.

Whether it was a misunderstanding or oversight by Fisher and his attorney or some foul-up within DHS that kept this issue alive, all parties involved now should have the facts. Fisher shouldn’t have to pay the child support and he shouldn’t have his driver’s license suspended. This matter should be easy to resolve. That it’s not is ridiculous.

But beyond the trouble this has caused Fisher – and there’s plenty – a little girl has lost contact with the man she thought was her father. She was placed, at least for a while, in foster care when Fisher was willing to take custody; and she has not benefited from the financial support she deserves. What of this little girl? Her fate is lost in this story.

We support strong sanctions against so-called deadbeat dads. But when mistakes are made, as in the Fisher case, the state should place as much emphasis on making things right as it does on going after lawbreakers.