Victory for good guy Dad
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Last Friday we received an opinion from the Cuyahoga County Court of Appeals which agreed with our argument that the father of a small girl should be named that girl's residential parent. That father had to hire us when he came to the conclusion that the child's mother was much more interested in a party/social life than she was in becoming a stable parent. While the child was in her custody, the mother had picked up her second DUI, picked up another alcohol-related charge, and had ongoing serious social drinking issues - and demonstrated a number of other immature parenting issues. She also moved 6 times in a 2-year period. The father (our client) had a long-standing stable job and owned his own home for many years - and no criminal history. He had the child on his health insurance and always paid his child support. The trial court magistrate (who heard the case at trial) determined that the father (our client) essentially provided much more stability than the mother, and designated the father as the residential parent. However, for reasons that were never completely clear, the trial judge(who did not hear the case at trial) overruled the magistrate - and left the mother as the residential parent. The Court of Appeals reversed the trial court judge and reinstated the magistrate's decision. The child is now going to reside with Dad. What a solid victory for good dads all over the area and a great victory for the child.
This one felt good.
