Source: http://fathersunite.org/New/Case_Law_Fathers_Rights.htm
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 18:12:23+00:00

Document:
But improved with links to all cases at this site.
Thomas, Lord Denman, Chief Justice of England (b.1779 d.1854).
"A delusion, a mockery, and a snare."
Connell v. The Queen, 11 Clark and Finnelly Reports.
"The mere repetition of the Cantilena of lawyers cannot make it law, unless it can be traced to some competent authority; and if it be irreconcilable, to some clear legal principle."
Below is a copy of some raw material which Bob Hirschfeld, who worked for Nat Denman years ago, stumbled on recently in his files. The cases were gathered years ago in this list by Nat Denman (now deceased), the great granddaddy of fathers rights across the States, and have not been checked for "obsolescence" . . . for whether any courts' minds have changed on the subject. Many cites, particularly those to the U.S. Supreme Court, are likely still fine.
Please also note that many references are to the unofficial reporters (private company which adds headnotes with a "key" system) rather than to the official reporters (entity which has contract with government to print the opinions in the form in which they are issued by court). Because time is of the essence for many of you with pending cases, I have listed them in an "as is" condition.
Note also that the citations are not necessarily in the correct format. Although as a pro se party you don't need to use the so-called correct format because much is forgiven, you should use it if you know it: it makes you appear more knowledgeable -- image, appearances. . . . A book which should be in all law libraries is A Uniform System of Citation, published and distributed by The Harvard Law Review Association, Gannett House, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
September 1983 issue of SINGLE DAD'S LIFESTYLE Magazine.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The cases cited below usually involve many more issues than the one for which they are herein cited. The interpretation preceding the citation is that of Denman or other editor, and not necessarily an interpretation agreed upon by others. FOR YOUR PROTECTION, YOU MUST LOOK UP AND READ a cited case before you cite it in your own pleadings, to make sure that it is "on point" with what you are trying to do. Otherwise, you run the risk that the other side will look up and read your cited case and find something in it distinguishable from your case, or even usable against you.
It is usually preferable to quote in legal pleadings the particular pertinent wording from reading the case itself, followed by the volume/reporter designation/page/year citation, rather than to quote the general, and unofficial, summary by which the cases are stated below.
Most of the cited decisions can be found in your local (and publicly available) county, state, city or college law library. If you haven't already done so in preparing your own legal pleadings, it is essential that you spend some time in one of these law libraries learning how to look up and find the cited cases. There are often helpful other users of the library, or you can ask at the desk for a reference on how to use a law library.
Parental rights may not be terminated without "clear and convincing evidence."
A child has an equal right to be raised by the father, and must be awarded to the father if he is the better parent, or mother is not interested.
If custodial mother has boyfriend living with her, state can change custody to father.
Visitation (parenting time) is a constitutionally protected right which can be protected in federal court, even if father is in prison.
Custody can be awarded to father of girls of "tender years" if mother commits perjury, and is otherwise immoral.
Arguments that Joint Custody constitutes a "fundamental right."
Mother cannot take child out of state if that prevents "meaningful" relationship between father and child.
All of these cases deal with preventing the custodial mother from taking the child out of the jurisdiction.
Ex Parte conferences, hearings or Orders denying parental rights or personal liberties are unconstitutional, cannot be enforced, can be set aside in federal court, and can be the basis of suits for money damages.
(1999 Warning from Bob Hirschfeld. Rankin later overturned in part in 9th Circuit.
Judges' refusal to consider evidence and psychologist reports denies due process right to "meaningful hearing."
Laws and Court procedures that are "fair on their faces" but administered "with an evil eye and a heavy hand" (discriminatorily) are unconstitutional.
Federal Courts can rule on federal claims (constitutional questions) involved in state divorce cases and award money damages for federal torts or in diversity of citizenship cases involving intentional infliction of emotional distress by denial of parental rights, "visitation", as long as the Federal Court is not asked to modify custodial status.
Although court may acquire subject matter jurisdiction over children to modify custody through UCCJA, it must show independent personal jurisdiction (significant contacts) over out-of-state father before it can order him to pay child support.
SAUMS V. SAUMS, 610 SW 2d 244.
Attorney's fees only if court-appointed in contempt for non-payment of child support.
Custody can be changed if visitation is denied.
Unlawfully retaining noncustodial parent cannot argue change of custody at Habeas Corpus hearing.
Process service in family matters must provide due process protection.
Stay of execution by Court of Appeal protects its jurisdiction, not to protect Appellant's rights.
PACE V. MCEWAN, 604 SW 2d 231 (1980) Also bearing on supersedeas bond.
MAGNA CHARTA, Art.40, June 15, 1215.
Attorney can be sued for malpractice under consumer protection laws.
HAGUE V. CIO, 307 US 496.
But claim under $10,000 is cause of dismissal of diversity of citizenship action in federal court.
DELOACH V. WOODLEY, 405 F2d 496 (1969).
Spouses can sue each other while still married for torts, intentional and unintentional.
Lewis v. Lewis, 370 Mass. 619, 629-630, 351 N.E.2d 526 (1976).
Interspousal immunity is also inapplicable to claims of fraudulent conveyance, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty as trustee of property held in trust for wife. Garrity v. Garrity, 399 Mass. 367, 371-372, 504 N.E.2d 617, 620 (1987).
Judge's dismissal for no cause is reversible.
Federal judges can set aside or overturn state courts to preserve constitutional rights.
Right to electronically record one's own conversations without "beep note" when life, liberty or property is threatened, or to preserve sanctity of home.
A conspirator is responsible for the acts of other conspirators who have left the conspiracy before he joined it, or joined after he left it; statutes of limitations tolled for previous acts when each new act is done.
State statute of limitations is tolled (does not run) in SOME STATES while same action is pending in federal court; action can be brought in State Court after federal court dismisses for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.
Either parent can sue for interference with parental rights.
Children must be returned to home state before child support payments are continued.
Custody can be changed if wife is "disrespectful" of "visitation" order.
Wife held in contempt for denial of visitation; new judge should not suspend contempt order.
Alimony and wive's lawyers fees are civil debts, not enforceable by contempt procedures, since the Constitution did away with debtor's prison.
DAVIS V. BROUGHTON, 382 SW 2d 219.

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