Deadbeat Dad

Charles_Pelkey

I had one of my most enjoyable moments as a lawyer in court today. I filed a motion to show cause (a hearing in which the respondent has to show why he's not in contempt of court) against a deadbeat dad and we had the hearing today.

Right away, the judge launches into the guy and after a lengthy (and rather comedic) exchange with the respondent, the judge demands to know what he can pay to bring himself up-to-date.

Deadbeat dad starts in on a rambling "well, I have a check coming" and "I might have a job here" and ... and the judge finally interrupts him and bellows "No, Mr (X) I want to know what you can pay NOW!"

Before he could answer, the judge looks at the respondent and orders him to "empty your pockets. Yes, empty your pockets right there on the desk."

He didn't have a dime on him, but we have a suspended 60-day contempt sentence hanging over this guy and he has two weeks to take care of half of the arrearage, with an order to come current in short order. Some days, I really like hard-assed judges.

gumshoe

Love this story! Thanks for sharing

RaiderDee

Go after the guy with both guns blazing, Charles.  My brother and I went without many of life's  basic comforts for years because my biological father was the ultimate dead beat dad.  I don't care if his ass winds up sitting in a jail cell, it's no worse than what he's doing to his kids.  Go get 'em tiger!

Charles_Pelkey

GumShoe, I am still laughing about this exchange. As a matter of course, attorneys on the winning side draft the court order after such a hearing and I made the thing as specific as you can imagine. This guy has no wiggle room.

RaiderDee, I am going after this guy. We already have arrest warrant drawn up and will be waiting at the judge's door the minute the clock ticks five on the day he's supposed to have substantial cash delivered to the clerk's office. If the money isn't there, the warrant will be issued and the judge already told the guy that he will add 60 days in jail on contempt charges for every month he misses support payments. "And I'll leave you in there until the walls of the detention center come falling down around your head for all I care."

At least the good judge is provided adequate incentive, eh?