What is the likelihood that a custodial parent would abduct his child? Close to nil. Indeed, why would a custodial parent take
a chance to jeopardize his parental rights with an abduction? Now, what is the likelihood that the same custodial parent would abduct his child and bring it to Haiti after the devastating earthquake that shook this country? Nil. Haiti is not exactly the place where to bring a child now.
That’s the story that model Maria Vianna, who lives in New York City, tried to sell to Manhattan Family Court. Her husband, anchorman Rony Curvelo, has the custody of his daughter Jennifer and they both live in Brazil. Curvelo mistakenly sent an email his ex that was destined to his producer, asking about covering the earthquake in Haiti. That was it. As he was waiting for Jennifer at Kennedy Airport in January, he was served with paper and could not bring Jennifer to Brazil.
Eventually judge Sosa-Lintner dismissed this no- brainer case. That’s no sign tough that Manhattan Family Court has broken with its old evils. The amazing twist of this case is that in Manhattan Family Court, Vianna’s story can even fly. On the sole basis of this baroque accusation of planning to abduct his daugher to Haiti, Curvelo temporarily lost his parental rights. Sosa-Lintner indeed granted Vianna temporary custody of Jennifer. Non-custodial fathers know that in family court, you are guilty until proven innocent. Curvelo was guilty of the accusation to intend to commit a crime and preventively lost his parental rights for a while. He was cleared from this accusation. Champagne!
President Obama is closing Guantánamo. I believe he would be well inspired not to get rid only of a symbol of a model of justice, but of the model of justice itself. Family “justice” is part of it.