12-year-old takes her dad to court

Jun 22, 2008


A 12-year-old Canadian girl, grounded for disobeying her father, went to court to overturn her punishment — and won.

The girl, from Quebec, appealed to the Quebec Superior Court after her father refused to allow her to go on a school trip because she had disobeyed his instructions to stay off the Internet.

The Globe and Mail reported that the man — who is divorced from the girl’s mother — had banned his daughter from going online after she posted photos of herself on a dating site.

Then the grade 6 student allegedly had a row with her stepmother, which led her father to ban her from going on a three-day school trip that would mark her graduation from primary school.

The girl moved in with her mother, who agreed to allow her to go on the trip.

However, the school required the permission of both parents, so the girl took the matter to court.

Last Friday, Judge Suzanne Tessier ruled in the girl’s favour, saying the punishment was too severe and the girl had been sufficiently disciplined.

The father’s lawyer, Kim Beaudoin, said the judge also said there was no reason for the punishment to stand, since the girl was now living with her mother — even though the father has custody.

The girl went on the trip this week, according to Reuters.


More at: The Times

What a bloody mess when 12-year olds can sue if they don't like the discipline. Her dad is right I believe as there are just too many predators out there and her mother is a sleaze bag who just wants revenge at her ex. I wouldn't let my 12 year old post a pic. Never ever!

I cant believe the courts would allow a 12 yr old to even make case.

A bit more background from The Ottawa Citizen

That's crazy. As long as physical abuse wasn't occuring, what gives the court to say that the punishment is to severe?

In my mind it would be to severe if he banned her from ever doing anything ever again. But seriously, it sounded like he had the girl's best interests in mind considering he was trying to punish her for posting photos of herself on a dating site.

What a pile of crap!

What a bunch of malarkey.
There are times when the authorities need to step in but this type of situation is not one of them.

WTH? I love how we have these rules for "adults" but yet we constantly allow minors to either file as adults or be tried as adults. Why have a law that defines minors (in any country) if we're not sticking to it? Sheesh

Yeah, this is a really stupid case. The dad has appealed the decision now and I guess it'll go back to court.

Wow...
Whats really the point of appealing it too...
This should have been laughed out of the courtroom

Nativedude wrote:

Wow... Whats really the point of appealing it too... This should have been laughed out of the courtroom

I think he tries to make a point to the judge and the law system itself. This was ridiculous from any point of view. And I wonder about this girl's mother.