Did he, the father, get permission from the Ohio court to relocate to Flordia when he moved to reside closer to the mother years ago? You see the issue is that a court in a state is responsible for this child that was involved in the divorce. If there was never a granting of movement then the case can not be just dumped onto the recieving state. If he did get permission to relocate then he should be able to file in the state of flordia, as the case was transferred when permission was granted to relocate.Or it should have been.
If the court in Ohio is saying no, then most likely he did not reiceve a court order for relocation years earlier and he MUST go to the hearing or the court will rule in her favor by default.....the good news is if he does appear and she does not, because she is chasing you know what again then the court could rule in his favor by default.
If he does not have a job and this custody battle persists then it will not look to good for him and his ability to support a child in the future, especailly if she has a job.