Dan Bucatinsky: More Than I Can Chew
Court trumps dad over detention
Filed under: Teens, Divorce & Custody, Weird But True
Gee, I hope my kids don't read this story -- I don't need to show up in court every time I send them to sit on the stairs. You see, a twelve-year-old girl in Quebec, Canada didn't like being grounded -- and missing a graduation trip with her elementary school mates -- so she filed a lawsuit. Just over a week ago, Quebec Superior Court Judge Suzanne Tessier ruled that the father's punishment was out-of-line.At first, the punishment was simply that the daughter was not allowed to go online because she had posted pictures of herself on an internet dating site, but then, when she got into a fight with her stepmother, the dad brought the hammer down -- "OK, it's final. You're not going," he told her, referring to the school trip. The girl took off and went to stay with her mother. She filed a motion asking the court to overturn the punishment.
The Judge's reasoning was that the girl had already been sufficiently punished and that, since she was currently living with her mother, the punishment wasn't really applicable. The father does have custody, but in Quebec, parents do have "joint parental authority," according to Miriam Grassby, a Quebec family lawyer, regardless of who has custody.
I don't know all the details of the situation, and it does seem that everyone considers this to be an anomaly, but I'd hate to see the already over-worked courts dealing with disgruntled teens on a regular basis. What do you think?
| Yes, kids need to have a voice and neutral representation | |
|---|---|
| No, this is a matter for parents only |
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ReaderComments (Page 3 of 3)
6-25-2008 @ 12:35PM
jeannie said...Okay....now your just either plain stupid or living in a glass bubble if you don't think that drunk driving kills!!! ARE YOU SERIOUS??? DO you really think that the police department or Highway officials need to lie about kids getting killed by drunk drivers. I can show you a couple of "real victims" if you'd like?? You give teenagers a BAD NAME DUDE!! That was the most stupid comment I have ever read in my life! WOW!!! Hey go ahead drink and drive....It's harmless your right, its all a conspiracy against you.
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6-27-2008 @ 11:13AM
IHeartDogs said...I do think that drunk driving kills, I just think that lying to the students about their friends dying is a cruel and ineffective way to try to teach them about drunk driving. Students are more likely to remember that the school tricked them and not what the school is actually trying to teach them about drunk driving.
6-25-2008 @ 12:39PM
Meg said...And do u remember Adam when Angelica sued her daddy for punishing her. Ne way no wonder kids act the way they do letting them get by with nething
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6-25-2008 @ 1:03PM
Jim said...Wow just more government taking away parental rights. The government takes our rights away to discipline our children yet hold us respo0nsible when they do something wrong.
As a custodial dad i am glad my son, who I no longer can control is 17 almost growwn. Wait at 17 he is now considered an adult, yet again iu am still responsible for his actions until he's 18.
And so we see our children becoming less moral, educated etc etc, and the govt continues to tie our hands. Can't wait for DEC my son turns 18
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6-25-2008 @ 1:44PM
Lila said...This is the dumbest case i ever heard of. What a misuse of juditial power. You basically trumped her dad who had every right to punish her in the manner in which he did. Im totally ashamed of the judge that made that decision. He should be canned
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6-25-2008 @ 6:55PM
anna said...she went to court over a trip . her dad needs to lighten up
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6-26-2008 @ 7:31PM
RP said...Another case of parental alienation on the part of the mother. She along with the "judge" should be grounded!
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7-01-2008 @ 5:07PM
Amanda said...This article is just a load of crap. Kids do need to have a voice and be heard. Parents just never want to listen. That's why kids never listen to their parents. Keep that in mind if you are reading this and you are a parent. Dude, if I was that I would do the same thing. Put yourself in that girl's shoes. Parents don't know crap. They don't know what it's like being a kid nowadays, and I would know. They are clueless. Graduation trips are extremely important. Your bestfriend could be moving away and the last time you were ging to see her was on that trip. But then, your parents go all psychotic on you. Everything is downhill from there and then you are so fckn pissed off, you might as well file a lawsuit against your moron parents. :D
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