Krishna v. Krishna, 1997 WL 195439 (N.D.Cal. April 11, 1997

Docket Number
C 97-0021 (SC)
Published
No
Decision Date
1997-04-11
Name of Court
United States District Court, N.D. California
Opinion by
Conti, Samuel
Counsel for Petitioner
N/, A
Counsel for Respondent
N/, A
Counsel for Court
Requesting State
Austria
Requested State
United States of America
Procedural History

Petitioner/father filed suit under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of Child Abduction seeking the return of his child to Australia.

Summary of Facts

Petitioner/ father and Respondent/ mother were married on December 24, 1992 and soon after moved to Australia from Fiji. Petitioner/father threatened Respondent/mother with physical harm and inflicted physical violence. The argument caused Respondent/mother to contact the police. The police report indicates that Petitioner/ father slapped Respondent/ mother across the face and threatened her with a knife and a belt. On may 12, 1996, Respondent/mother left the marital home with the child and family and relocated to her parents home in California, United States. Respondent/mother alleges that Petitioner/father gave her the child’s passport with the knowledge that she would be traveling to California. Petitioner/father alleges that he gave the passport to Respondent/mother with the understanding that she intended to move elsewhere in Australia. The court indicated that the evidence demonstrates that Petitioner/father knew Respondent/mother intended to leave the country. Petitioner/father has had contact with Respondent/mother since her relocation to California. The DV charge against Petitioner/father in Australia was dropped and the court indicated that there is a relatively limited abuse history, however, Respondent/ mother alleges that Petitioner/ father beat her regularly since her son’s first birthday and has beaten her seriously on five occasions.

Defenses Raised

Hague Article 12: Child had become “well-settled” in the new environment

Hague Article 13a: Acquiescence or consent to the removal of the child by the requesting party

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

Statutes Considered (ICARA)
11601, 11603(e)
Articles Considered (Hague Convention)
Cases Considered
Feder v. Evans-Feder, 63 F.3d 217 (3rd Cir.1995); Friedrich v. Friedrich, 983 F.2d 1396 (6th Cir.1993)
Judicial Outcome or Order
Return Order Denied
Posted
2006-09-19

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