Sinclair v. Sinclair, 121 F.3d 709

Docket Number
No.96-1015
Published
No
Decision Date
1997-07-30
Name of Court
United States Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit
Opinion by
Merritt, Gilbert S; Boggs, Danny J; Daughtrey, Martha C
Counsel for Petitioner
Sinclair (Pro Se), Richard C
Counsel for Respondent
Sinclair (Pro Se), Lana
Counsel for Court
Requesting State
Canada
Requested State
United States of America
Procedural History

District Court ordered the return of the children to Canada for the Petitioner/ father. The respondent/ mother filed a timely notice of appeal pre se.

Summary of Facts

Petitioner father, resident of Canada, had custody of the two minor children in question. The respondent/ mother took the two youngest (of the four) with her to her parentÂ’s home in Michigan. Petitioner/ father sought return of his two youngest minor children (of four children) over whom he had custody pursuant to a Canadian judgment. District court heard evidence presented by both parties and their attorneys and rendered its bench opinion for Petitioner father, ordering the return of the children. Respondent mother filed timely notice of appeal pro se. She contends that the district court 1) ignored evidence that her children needed protection from abuse suffered in Canada and 2) improperly refused to hear evidence from two key witnesses.

Defenses Raised

Hague Article 13b: Grave risk of harm to the child if returned to the petitioning country

Statutes Considered (ICARA)
11603(e)
Articles Considered (Hague Convention)
13(b)
Cases Considered
Cooley v. Carmike Cinemas Inc., 25 F.3d 1325 (1994); Friedrich v. Friedrich , 78 F.3d 1060 (1996); Prevot v. Prevot, 59 F.3d 556 1995
Judicial Outcome or Order
Return Order Affirmed (for appellate cases)
Posted
2006-09-08

Why this Project?

We are a team of individuals from various professional backgrounds who are dedicated to creating a comprehensive resource that will enable mothers, domestic violence advocates, attorneys and judges to better prepare themselves for Hague Convention cases in the United States' legal system.

Copyright © Hague Domestic Violence Project, UMN and UW Schools of Social Work