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1. Irish & Michelle [2009] FamCA 66 (6 February 2009)

Catchwords: FAMILY LAW – CHILDREN – Equal shared parental responsibility – With whom a child lives – child’s view – issues of credit – alienation of child from parent Goode and Goode [2006] FamCA 1346; (2006) FLC 93-286 Newlands and Newlands [2007] FamCA 168 G and C [2006] FamCA 994 Lane & Arthurs [2006] FamCA 87 Parker & Elliott [2003] FamCA 990 Summers and Nathan [2005] FamCA 1406

Date Delivered: 6 February 2009

Before: Benjamin J

Legislation Cited:

Cases Cited:



2. Sawyer & Reid [2009] FMCAfam 228 (6 March 2009)

Catchwords: FAMILY LAW – Interim application for sole parental responsibility – competing applications where original orders are under appeal – extreme conflict between the parents – child acting violently towards the mother – risk of alienation – transfer to the Family Court of Australia.

Date Delivered: 6 March 2009

Before: Altobelli FM

Legislation Cited:

Cases Cited:



3. Lowy & Lindgren [2008] FamCA 1010 (31 October 2008)

Catchwords: FAMILY LAW – CHILDREN – With whom a child spends time – Whether it is in the child’s best interests to spend time with the maternal grandparents – parental alienation – the benefit to the child of a meaningful relationship with the mother as the primary carer – the child’s future relationship with the maternal grandparents

Date Delivered: 31 October 2008

Before: The Hon. Justice Rose

Legislation Cited: Family Law Act 1975 (Cth)

Cases Cited: B and B, Family Law Reform Act 1995 (1997) FLC 92-755



4. Leighton & Carey [2008] FamCA 868 (16 October 2008)

Catchwords: FAMILY LAW – CHILDREN – 6 year old girl – Allegation of sexual abuse – Counter-allegation of alienation – Heard evidence in relation to sexual abuse – Positive finding of sexual abuse – Matter stood over for parties and ICL to consider consequences

Date Delivered: 16 October 2008

Before: Jordan J

Legislation Cited:

Cases Cited:



5. Miller & Wilcox [2008] FMCAfam 917 (16 September 2008)

Catchwords: FAMILY LAW – Extensive domestic violence – total alienation between parties – consideration of father’s proposals to maintain relationship with child.

Date Delivered: 16 September 2008

Before: Burchardt FM

Legislation Cited: Family Law Act 1975, ss.60CC(3)(a), 61DA(2), 61DA(4)

Cases Cited: Goode v Goode [2006] FamCA 1346 Fooks v McCarthy [1993] FamCA 117; (1994) FLC 92-450



6. Barak & Veitch [2008] FMCAfam 335 (31 March 2008)

Catchwords: FAMILY LAW – Parenting – estrangement from children – weight given to teenage children’s clearly expressed views.

Date Delivered: 31 March 2008

Before: Neville FM

Legislation Cited: Family Law Act 1975, ss.4, Part VII Division 1, 60CC(2), (2)(a), 60CC (3)(a), (b), (c), (i), (j), 60CC (4), 60CC (4A), 60CD, Part VII, Division 2, 61B, 61C, 61DA, 65DAA, 65DAC, 65DAE

Cases Cited: C & C [2004] FamCA 708 Department of Health & Community Services v JWB & SMB (Marion’s Case) [1992] HCA 15; (1992) 175 CLR 218 Dylan & Dylan [2007] FamCA 842 Gillick v West Norfolk and Wisbech Area Health Authority [1986] 1 AC 113 Goode v Goode [2006] FamCA 1346; (2007) 36 Fam LR 422 Harrison and Woollard (H & W) [1995] FamCA 30; (1995) 18 Fam LR 788 In the Marriage of PA and JA Litchfield (1987) 11 Fam LR 435 R and R: Children’s Wishes [2000] FamCA 43; (2000) 25 Fam LR 712 In the Marriage of R (Children’s Wishes) [2002] FamCA 383; (2002) FLC 93-108 Reynolds and Reynolds (1973) 47 ALJR 499 U v U [2002] HCA 36; (2002) 211 CLR 238 W and G (No 2) (2005) FLC 93-248 ZN v YH & Anor [2002] FamCA 453 Bates, F.,



7. Calvert & Calvert [2008] FMCAfam 101 (18 February 2008)

Catchwords: FAMILY LAW – Parenting – parental alienation – social science research – weight to be given to expert’s report.

Date Delivered: 18 February 2008

Before: Altobelli FM

Legislation Cited: Family Law Act 1975, ss.60B, 60CC, 61DA, 65DAA

Cases Cited: CDJ and VAJ [1998] HCA 67; [1998] FLC 92-828 Calvert & Calvert [2007] FMCAfam 925 Makita Australia Pty Ltd v Sprowles [2001] NSWCA 305 Rice v Asplund [1979] FLC 90-215



8. Bain & Stewart [2008] FamCA 2 (29 January 2008)

Catchwords: FAMILY LAW – PROCEDURAL – DISQUALIFICATION – Application by Mother to set aside orders following a bitterly contested hearing in January 2007 in which strong findings were made of her lack of credibility and child alienation – Cross application by Father for summary dismissal – Retirement of trial Judge given the findings made at trial – Matter to be re-listed with priority.

Date Delivered: 29 January 2008

Before: Guest J

Legislation Cited: Family Law Rules 2004 (Cth) (as amended) Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) (as amended)

Cases Cited: Rice v Asplund (1979) FLC 90-725 King v Finneran (2001) FLC 93-079 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Re Watson; ex parte Armstrong (1976) 136 CLR 348 at 262 Livesey v New South Wales Bar Association (1983) 151 CLR 288 at 293 Johnson v Johnson (2000) 201 CLR 488 Re JRL; ex parte CJL (1986) 161 CLR 342 at 351