Freier v. Freier

969 F. Supp. 436, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21129, 1996 WL 780497
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Michigan
DecidedOctober 4, 1996
Docket2:96-cv-73967
StatusPublished
Cited by27 cases

This text of 969 F. Supp. 436 (Freier v. Freier) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Michigan primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Freier v. Freier, 969 F. Supp. 436, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21129, 1996 WL 780497 (E.D. Mich. 1996).

Opinion

ORDER GRANTING PETITION FOR RETURN OF MINOR CHILD TO ISRAEL

HOOD, District Judge.

I. BACKGROUND/FACTS:

This matter is before the Court on the Complaint and Petition by Jonathan M. Freier for Return of Minor Child, Avital Freier, to Ra’anana, Israel, her habitual residence. The Complaint is brought against Judith D. Freier, the mother, under the International Child Abduction Remedies Act (“ICARA”), 42 U.S.C. § 11601 et seq., and the Hague Convention of the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (the “Hague Convention”).

Petitioner Jonathan Freier and Respondent Judith D. Freier are currently married. Both are dual United States and Israeli citizens. They both moved separately to Israel in the late 1970s. In 1987, they returned to Michigan to get married and then returned to Israel to live where they have lived together continuously. Respondent has two children from a prior marriage (Yonathan, 14 and Michal, 11) who also lived with the parties. On June 10, 1992, the couple’s only child together, Avital, was born in K’far Sava, Israel. She is now four years of age. Avital has resided in Israel since her birth. Petitioner is self-employed as a marketer of toys. Respondent has been continuously employed since the marriage with various employers. Respondent has vacationed during the summers with her three children at her parents’ home in Southfield, Michigan. Petitioner asserts that since their marriage, Respondent has been present in Michigan for approximately 101 days:

a. 1987: July 7 through August 18 August 30 through September 4
b. 1988: July 6 through August 2
c. 1990: July 1 through August 2
d. 1993: July 12 through August 12 (3 weeks, 10 days of which were spent in Virginia)
e. 1995: July 29 through August 27 (18 days and the balance spent in Virginia, California, England and Germany)

Of the days Respondent has spent in Michigan, Avital, born in 1992, has spent approximately 8 weeks in Michigan: July 12 through August 12, 1993 (less than 10 days spent in Virginia) and 18 days between July 19 through August 27, 1995. After each visit, Respondent would return to Israel in time for the children to begin school. 1

*438 Avital attended a day care in Israel (Na’amat Day Care Center) from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. during work days since she was one year old until she was removed. For the current school year, she was approved to transfer to the public school, Paamonit Kindergarten, across the street from her home. (Exhibit N, Petitioner’s Brief).

Avital was born with a hair lip and cleft palate and has been under continuing medical care in Israel since her birth. She has undergone three surgical procedures there to date and has participated in speech therapy for the last six months. The two times Avital has visited Michigan, she was checked by doctors for second opinions.

Avital is an official member of the synagogue Lechu N’ranina in Ra’anana. She has extended family in Israel, including a paternal grandmother, aunts, uncles and cousins. Avital has participated in nature trips with other families between the months of June and October each year.

When Respondent departed Israel on June 30, 1996, she informed Petitioner that she would be vacationing with her parents in Michigan until August 1. The date of return on their tickets was August 1, 1996. Petitioner thought Respondent was just vacationing with her family in Michigan as she had in the past. Petitioner had no idea that Respondent was thinking about not returning home. As a family, they had made plans for the current school year. Avital was expected to attend the public kindergarten. Petitioner asserts that if he had known Respondent was not returning, he would not have willingly let the children go. (Exhibit J, Petitioner’s Brief, Petitioner’s affidavit).

Respondent asserts that she had begun discussing with Petitioner the possibility of permanently relocating to Michigan in August 1995. 2 Respondent asserts that the parties were having financial difficulties because Petitioner refused to work, leaving Respondent as the primary provider for the family. Respondent also asserts that Petitioner became abusive toward her oldest child, Yonathan, who filed a police report against Petitioner. Petitioner claims that there was never an assault against the children. Yonathan did file a police report complaining that Petitioner did not allow him sufficient time to finish his meals. With Respondent’s concurrence, the report was rescinded. (Exhibit J, Petitioner’s Brief, Petitioner’s Affidavit and Exhibit G, Police Report). Respondent claims that the marriage continued to deteriorate and she continued to state her desire to return permanently to Michigan. Respondent made arrangements for the children and herself to return to Michigan but Petitioner refused to go. However, he allowed the children to leave Israel. Respondent asserts that Petitioner was aware that Respondent was unhappy and wanted to remain in Michigan.

When Respondent arrived in Michigan on July 1, 1996, she called Petitioner to inform him that they had arrived safely, stating that she missed him and was thinking of him. When she did not call again for some time, he telephoned Respondent on or about Wednesday, July 17,1996. At that time, Respondent informed him that she was not returning to Israel and that she wanted a divorce. Petitioner attempted to dissuade Respondent. She responded by telling Petitioner that she would extend her return tickets until August 14, 1996. To date, Respondent and the children have not returned home.

Respondent asserts that Petitioner had always talked as though the child, Avital, would remain with Respondent. She claims that his real goal is her return. Respondent further asserts that Petitioner filed an action in the Rabbinical Court in Israel requesting that the court enter an order prohibiting Respondent from leaving Israel should she *439 return. Petitioner responds indicating that Respondent can contest such an action with the Rabbinical Court with a Rabbi as her representative.

On August 19, 1996, Respondent filed a divorce action in Oakland County Circuit Court and obtained an Ex Parte Custody Order for physical custody of Avital. 3 Respondent enrolled her three children in the Akiva Hebrew Day School in Lathrup Village, Michigan. On August 20, 1996, Petitioner filed a Request for Return of Abducted Child with the State of Israel under the Hague Convention. On August 23,1996, the instant action was filed with the Court pursuant to ICARA and the Hague Convention.

II. ANALYSIS:

A. Jurisdiction.

The United States and Israel are both signatories to the 1980 Hague Convention. The United States Congress ratified the Convention by enacting ICARA.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
969 F. Supp. 436, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21129, 1996 WL 780497, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/freier-v-freier-mied-1996.