$30,000 spent to decides birthday venue for child
TWO warring parents who cant even agree on the location of their little girls birthday have asked the Family Court to rule on where her party should be held and who should be invited.
It took a judge, three barristers, three solicitors and a day in court at an estimated $30,000 to work out where the girl should celebrate her seventh birthday.
“It is clear to me that there are enormous complexities for this little girl,” Justice Linda Dessau said.
The parents have been before the court “a number of times” since they split up early last year.
It was just four days before Christmas when they were last before the court and Justice Dessau ordered they both undergo “therapeutic counselling”.
Three months later they were back, having done no counselling and at odds over the birthday party. Her dad wanted to celebrate at McDonalds with gifts, balloons, his relatives, his new partner – and their seven-month-old baby girl.
Her mum wanted it to be on familiar ground at her daughters usual play centre, with no relatives.
Justice Dessau said if they had undergone counselling, they could have sorted this out there.
“Instead the parties find themselves at court yet again today; another frustration and expense for both of them,” the judge said.
A family report prepared for the court showed the girl was extremely resistant to seeing her father. The father blames the mother and her family for influencing her.
“I have a completely open mind about that,” Justice Dessau said. “And in due course, if, sadly for the child, her parents are not able to reach some sensible … arrangements for her, then I will hear the case and I will hear evidence to try and unravel those complexities.”
The judge ruled the father could be with his daughter between 3pm and 5pm on her birthday at the local childcare centre – alone. She said the girl should meet her half-sister sooner rather than later but in an orderly and sensitive way and not at a birthday party.
“It is essential to the mothers case that she is stressed and completely overwhelmed by these returns to court,” said Justice Dessau.
“It is equally essential to the fathers case that he is frustrated by the returns to court and the fact that he is progressing so slowly towards a normal relationship with this daughter.”
Family law experts yesterday slammed parents who tie up valuable court time with “trivial” matters. Michael Taussig QC said if somebody came to him asking to run a case in court about a birthday, he would tell them to see a psychiatrist.
“Unfortunately the Family Court has to deal with dysfunctional people constantly and this is just one example,” he said.
His suggestion would have been two birthday parties – one with mum, the other with dad.
“Most people would work it out that way,” he said.
Source:$30,000 spent to decides birthday venue for child, 7 | NEWS.com.au
