Canadian Court overturns grounding of 12 year old.

[SirFozzie]

http://www.smh.com.au/news/unusual-tales/court-overturns-fathers-grounding-of-12yearold/2008/06/19/1213770765707.html

A Canadian court has lifted a 12-year-old girl's grounding, overturning her father's punishment for disobeying his orders to stay off the internet, his lawyer said.

The girl had taken her father to Quebec Superior Court after he refused to allow her to go on a school trip for chatting on websites he tried to block, and then posting "inappropriate" pictures of herself online using a friend's computer.

The father's lawyer Kim Beaudoin said the disciplinary measures were for the girl's "own protection" and is appealing the ruling.

"She's a child," Beaudoin said.

"At her age, children test their limits and it's up to their parents to set boundaries.

"I started an appeal of the decision today to reestablish parental authority, and to ensure that this case doesn't set a precedent," she said. Otherwise, said Beaudoin, "parents are going to be walking on egg shells from now on".

"I think most children respect their parents and would never go so far as to take them to court, but it's clear that some would and we have to ask ourselves how far this will go."

According to court documents, the girl's internet transgression was just the latest in a string of broken house rules. Even so, Justice Suzanne Tessier found her punishment too severe.

Beaudoin noted the girl used a court-appointed lawyer in her parents' 10-year custody dispute to launch her landmark case against her dad.

The good news is that this happened in Canada. If this happened in america, Every conservative pundit's head would explode. Wait. That's good news? (In this case, I would agree with them. What. The. Fuck?)

[Mota]

The good news is that this happened in Canada. If this happened in america, Every conservative pundit's head would explode. Wait. That's good news? (In this case, I would agree with them. What. The. Fuck?)

Sometimes things like this make me ashamed to be Canadian.

Other than that, it's all good though.

[Chief Rum]

Stopping parents from abusing children, of course, is one thing and should always be stopped. Stopping parents from allowing children to go on a school trip because said children violated house rules is going way too far.

You're right--this would go over as well as national phone tapping if it were in the US.

[oliegirl]

I am at a loss for words...and yes, I think my head might explode. What is this judge thinking???? Talk about setting the wrong precedent! In today's age of internet based crimes against kids (pedophiles, etc...), it sounds like this father was doing his job and trying to protect his daughter. Hopefully it will be appealed and overturned, and that judge will be thrown off the bench on her ridiculous and unrealistic ass.

[EagleFan]

WTF?

I don't know what is worse. The ruling or the fact that it was even allowed to get that far.

I think my head is also going to explode from this.

[gstelmack]

I don't know what is worse. The ruling or the fact that it was even allowed to get that far.

Agreed, how does something like this even make it into the court system for a trial? Seriously?

[Galaxy]

It is French Canadian. :)

[mckerney]

Agreed, how does something like this even make it into the court system for a trial? Seriously?

Article doesn't seem to give enough info on it, and only mentions custody battle in the last sentence. I'd guess it went to court because the father said that she couldn't go but the girls mother wanted to allow her to.

[SirFozzie]

It looks like the court appointed the girl a lawyer, to look after HER interests, because the custody dispute between the girl's parents has been going on for a decade.

[SirFozzie]

Found a better article

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=6aaf855a-47e3-4e3f-8709-5b53dcfffff0

The father, who is divorced but has legal custody of his daughter, cut off her Internet access after she chatted on websites he had tried to block. She then used a friend's Internet connection to post inappropriate pictures of herself, Beaudoin said.

After discovering that, the father told his daughter she couldn't go on the three-day school trip. According to Beaudoin, the daughter "slammed the door" and went to live with her mother, who was willing to let her take the trip.

However, the school wouldn't allow the girl to go unless both parents consented or she obtained a court order. That prompted the girl, with her mother's support, to take legal action against her father, culminating in Friday's ruling.

According to Beaudoin, Tessier found that denying the trip was unduly severe punishment. The fact that the girl is now living with her mother also factored into the judge's ruling, she said.

The father, who is appealing the decision, was "devastated" by the ruling, Beaudoin said. He is refusing to take his daughter back "because he has no authority over her."

[mckerney]

Found a better article

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=6aaf855a-47e3-4e3f-8709-5b53dcfffff0

The father, who is divorced but has legal custody of his daughter, cut off her Internet access after she chatted on websites he had tried to block. She then used a friend's Internet connection to post inappropriate pictures of herself, Beaudoin said.

After discovering that, the father told his daughter she couldn't go on the three-day school trip. According to Beaudoin, the daughter "slammed the door" and went to live with her mother, who was willing to let her take the trip.

However, the school wouldn't allow the girl to go unless both parents consented or she obtained a court order. That prompted the girl, with her mother's support, to take legal action against her father, culminating in Friday's ruling.

According to Beaudoin, Tessier found that denying the trip was unduly severe punishment. The fact that the girl is now living with her mother also factored into the judge's ruling, she said.

The father, who is appealing the decision, was "devastated" by the ruling, Beaudoin said. He is refusing to take his daughter back "because he has no authority over her."

Clearly a story about a custody battle isn't as sexy as the "Judge Overturns Father's Punishment" angle.

[BYU 14]

I vote for grounding the Mother.

Obviously the court is out of line, but WTF.....What message does that send as a parent when you help your Daughter file?

[M GO BLUE!!!]

As a noncustodial parent I have always backed her mother (within reason.) The mother here is just playing games and now she gets what she wants. Her daughter will live with her and hate the father. Hopefully this blows up in the mother's face too, as she's about to find out what happens when the unruly child doesn't listen to her and she tries to put her foot down, eh.

[Wolfpack]

I suspect dear old mom isn't going to be one to put her foot down. Odds are, she might end up in the next internet show....

[Passacaglia]

Maybe it's just that Kim Beaudoin = worst lawyer ever.

[chesapeake]

Is it April 1st? This can't be a real story.

[PackerFanatic]

WTF?

I don't know what is worse. The ruling or the fact that it was even allowed to get that far.

I think my head is also going to explode from this.

My thoughts exactly. I think there needs to be more REAL trials in Canada or something.