Trial victory reunites father and abducted daughter

Client(s) Client FP

Jones Day New York successfully obtained the return of a father's 12-year old daughter to the Dominican Republic under the Hague Convention in a child abduction case brought in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. The child was taken by her mother from the Dominican Republic under the guise of a summer vacation. The mother failed to return the child at the end of the trip, thereby violating a written agreement with the father. After hearing evidence during the course of a two-day trial, the court found that the "mother had cut off all contact with the father, despite contrary testimony from the minor, which equitably tolled the statute of limitations." The Court also found that petitioner was exercising his custody under the Convention based on a ne exeat right over the child. The father was reunited with his child after two years of not knowing the child's whereabouts or well-being. Jones Day was also successful in obtaining full compensation for most of the client's and witness's expenses and of all attorneys fees and legal costs.