News US/Brazil Custody Battle

kepp · 12-23-2009, 03:24 PM

For those who remember this news story from a while back...it looks like the father finally got custody.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americ...tle/index.html

Brazilian relatives of a 9-year-old boy, who had been the subject of an international custody battle with the child's father, will not file any further appeals after the Brazilian Supreme Court ruled against them, their attorney told CNN Wednesday.

The family is just looking for a peaceful handover of Sean Goldman to his father, attorney Sergio Tostes said, and plan on starting dialogue to allow the transfer to happen immediately.

The chief justice of the Brazilian Supreme Court ruled Tuesday in favor of David Goldman, who had been battling the family of the boy's deceased mother for custody. The ruling by Chief Justice Gilmar Mendes will reunite Sean with his father.

Last week, a lower court unanimously upheld a decision ordering that Sean Goldman be returned to his father in New Jersey.

David Goldman arrived in Rio de Janeiro to reunite with his son, but one Supreme Court justice issued a stay, ordering Sean to remain with his Brazilian relatives until the high court could consider the case. Mendes' decision lifted the stay.

The boy's grandmother, Silvana Bianchi, was expected to appeal. But Tostes said Wednesday the family wants to act in the child's best interest. The family was expected to either speak publicly through Tostes or hold a news conference Wednesday.

Tostes said he is meeting with an intermediary to arrange the handover, but said he didn't believe it would happen Wednesday. He said he would like Bianchi to meet with David Goldman so she can tell him what Sean likes to eat, what he enjoys doing and other details.

Ideally, this process will go smoothly, he said, and there is no reason to rush.

In an earlier letter to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Bianchi said that the legal process was overlooking the boy's own desires.

"I feel threatened by losing my grandson Sean because of international pressures that don't consider the interest of a 9-year-old child who passionately desires to remain among those that gave him comfort in the mother's death," the letter states in part. "They allege that the Hague Convention determined to hand him over him immediately. I am not a lawyer. But what I know is that the Convention establishes as priority the interest of the child, and the child wasn't heard."

Upon hearing the family would file no further appeals, Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, said, "This is not good news. This is great news."

The custody battle began in 2004, when Goldman's wife, Bruna Bianchi, took Sean, who was then 4, from their home in New Jersey to Rio de Janeiro for what was to have been a two-week vacation. She never returned, instead remarrying there and retaining custody of Sean. She died last year in childbirth.

Goldman has argued that as the sole surviving parent, he should be granted custody.

The Bianchi family has argued it would traumatize Sean to remove him from what has been his home for five years.

The custody battle garnered much media attention and spilled over into the political arena as well.

U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-New Jersey, had placed a hold on a trade bill that would have benefited Brazil to the tune of $2.75 billion, but he lifted it after the court's ruling, spokesman Caley Gray told CNN.

The bill in question, which sailed through the Senate after the senator dropped the hold, provides export tariff relief to 130 countries, of which Brazil would be the fifth-largest recipient, Gray said.

Lautenberg's hold was designed to exert additional pressure on Brazilian authorities to abide by the court order to return Sean to his father, he said.

While the chief justice was still studying the case, Brazilian Attorney General Luis Inacio Adams said the executive branch of the Brazilian government sided with Goldman.

"Once we stop cooperating and start breaking our treaties and international obligations, Brazil risks the chance of not having its own requests in the matters regarding international judicial help granted, based on the principle of international reciprocity," Adams said Monday.

"Not releasing the minor into the custody of his father could bring sanctions against Brazil," he added. "It could damage Brazil's image before the international community."

teedubya · 12-23-2009, 03:28 PM

Looks like that kids mom got some karma delivery... you don't leave for "2 weeks" and NEVER contact the dad again... that is completely shitty.

Frazod · 12-23-2009, 03:42 PM

I've seen a TV show about this (60 minutes or something similar) - the article doesn't even scratch the surface of what the father has gone through. The dead bitch's family is wealthy and politically connected, and have mercilessly ****ed with this guy for years.

kepp · 12-23-2009, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

I've seen a TV show about this (60 minutes or something similar) - the article doesn't even scratch the surface of what the father has gone through. The dead bitch's family is wealthy and politically connected, and have mercilessly ****ed with this guy for years.

And who knows how they've brainwashed the boy. It's going to take a long time to build that relationship back up.

Frazod · 12-23-2009, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kepp

And who knows how they've brainwashed the boy. It's going to take a long time to build that relationship back up.

Supreme Court or not, I won't believe it's over until the plane touches down in the U.S. with the kid onboard. Who knows what else these snakes have up their sleeves.

Chiefnj2 · 12-23-2009, 03:55 PM

Good job by Lautenberg. Too bad someone didn't do something similar years ago. The poor guy missed out on 5 years of his kids life.

Frazod · 12-23-2009, 03:57 PM

Here's a link to the official site:

http://bringseanhome.org/

Cntrygal · 12-24-2009, 02:45 PM

I'm glad that they are finally together again.

**alnorth** · 12-24-2009, 02:57 PM

moral of this story: don't have kids with crazy women from other countries.

Frazod · 12-24-2009, 03:00 PM

On the plane, on the way home.

As a last indignity, the douche family refused an offer to quietly bring the kid through an embassy side entrance and instead paraded him through a crowd of reporters and agitated bystanders. ****ers. I hope we smartbomb their goddamn house.

12-23-2009, 03:24 PM
kepp MVP Join Date: Aug 2005 Casino cash: $3519212	US/Brazil Custody Battle For those who remember this news story from a while back...it looks like the father finally got custody. http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americ...tle/index.html Brazilian relatives of a 9-year-old boy, who had been the subject of an international custody battle with the child's father, will not file any further appeals after the Brazilian Supreme Court ruled against them, their attorney told CNN Wednesday. The family is just looking for a peaceful handover of Sean Goldman to his father, attorney Sergio Tostes said, and plan on starting dialogue to allow the transfer to happen immediately. The chief justice of the Brazilian Supreme Court ruled Tuesday in favor of David Goldman, who had been battling the family of the boy's deceased mother for custody. The ruling by Chief Justice Gilmar Mendes will reunite Sean with his father. Last week, a lower court unanimously upheld a decision ordering that Sean Goldman be returned to his father in New Jersey. David Goldman arrived in Rio de Janeiro to reunite with his son, but one Supreme Court justice issued a stay, ordering Sean to remain with his Brazilian relatives until the high court could consider the case. Mendes' decision lifted the stay. The boy's grandmother, Silvana Bianchi, was expected to appeal. But Tostes said Wednesday the family wants to act in the child's best interest. The family was expected to either speak publicly through Tostes or hold a news conference Wednesday. Tostes said he is meeting with an intermediary to arrange the handover, but said he didn't believe it would happen Wednesday. He said he would like Bianchi to meet with David Goldman so she can tell him what Sean likes to eat, what he enjoys doing and other details. Ideally, this process will go smoothly, he said, and there is no reason to rush. In an earlier letter to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Bianchi said that the legal process was overlooking the boy's own desires. "I feel threatened by losing my grandson Sean because of international pressures that don't consider the interest of a 9-year-old child who passionately desires to remain among those that gave him comfort in the mother's death," the letter states in part. "They allege that the Hague Convention determined to hand him over him immediately. I am not a lawyer. But what I know is that the Convention establishes as priority the interest of the child, and the child wasn't heard." Upon hearing the family would file no further appeals, Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, said, "This is not good news. This is great news." The custody battle began in 2004, when Goldman's wife, Bruna Bianchi, took Sean, who was then 4, from their home in New Jersey to Rio de Janeiro for what was to have been a two-week vacation. She never returned, instead remarrying there and retaining custody of Sean. She died last year in childbirth. Goldman has argued that as the sole surviving parent, he should be granted custody. The Bianchi family has argued it would traumatize Sean to remove him from what has been his home for five years. The custody battle garnered much media attention and spilled over into the political arena as well. U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-New Jersey, had placed a hold on a trade bill that would have benefited Brazil to the tune of $2.75 billion, but he lifted it after the court's ruling, spokesman Caley Gray told CNN. The bill in question, which sailed through the Senate after the senator dropped the hold, provides export tariff relief to 130 countries, of which Brazil would be the fifth-largest recipient, Gray said. Lautenberg's hold was designed to exert additional pressure on Brazilian authorities to abide by the court order to return Sean to his father, he said. While the chief justice was still studying the case, Brazilian Attorney General Luis Inacio Adams said the executive branch of the Brazilian government sided with Goldman. "Once we stop cooperating and start breaking our treaties and international obligations, Brazil risks the chance of not having its own requests in the matters regarding international judicial help granted, based on the principle of international reciprocity," Adams said Monday. "Not releasing the minor into the custody of his father could bring sanctions against Brazil," he added. "It could damage Brazil's image before the international community."
Posts: 14,735

12-23-2009, 03:28 PM	#2
teedubya Most Valuable Poster Join Date: Oct 2003 Casino cash: $8993042	Looks like that kids mom got some karma delivery... you don't leave for "2 weeks" and NEVER contact the dad again... that is completely shitty.
Posts: 36,828

12-23-2009, 03:42 PM	#3
Frazod Did you hear what I said? Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $-586615	I've seen a TV show about this (60 minutes or something similar) - the article doesn't even scratch the surface of what the father has gone through. The dead bitch's family is wealthy and politically connected, and have mercilessly ****ed with this guy for years.
Posts: 121,714

12-23-2009, 03:55 PM	#6
Chiefnj2 In Search of a Life Join Date: Mar 2007 Casino cash: $6674388	Good job by Lautenberg. Too bad someone didn't do something similar years ago. The poor guy missed out on 5 years of his kids life. __________________ Mismanaging the clock.
Posts: 22,540

12-23-2009, 03:57 PM	#7
Frazod Did you hear what I said? Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $-586615	Here's a link to the official site: http://bringseanhome.org/
Posts: 121,714

12-24-2009, 02:45 PM	#8
Cntrygal Brrrrr..... Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: USA!!! :) Casino cash: $9954930	I'm glad that they are finally together again.
Posts: 4,793

12-24-2009, 02:57 PM	#9
alnorth . Join Date: Dec 2002 Casino cash: $57156239	moral of this story: don't have kids with crazy women from other countries. __________________ how many emo kids does it take to change a lightbulb? HOW MANY?! none they just sit in the dark and cry
Posts: 36,130

12-24-2009, 03:00 PM	#10
Frazod Did you hear what I said? Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $-586615	On the plane, on the way home. As a last indignity, the douche family refused an offer to quietly bring the kid through an embassy side entrance and instead paraded him through a crowd of reporters and agitated bystanders. ****ers. I hope we smartbomb their goddamn house.
Posts: 121,714