Alice H. VanDeven

This is a costs endorsement following the dismissal of a Hague Convention application.

The respondent (mother) sought over $215,000 in costs after successfully defending the application.

The court reviewed the principles of costs, including reasonableness and the parties' financial circumstances.

Despite the respondent's full success on the underlying application and a rejected settlement offer, the court significantly reduced the requested costs to $50,761.01.

The decision emphasizes that costs awards must be proportionate and subject to the reasonable expectations of the parties, especially given their modest financial circumstances, and that success is not divided when pre-requisite findings are made but the ultimate relief sought is denied.

The applicant father sought the immediate return of the child to Ohio, USA, under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.

The respondent mother opposed, relying on Article 13(b) (grave risk of harm) and Article 13(2) (child's objection).

The court found that the child was habitually resident in Ohio and wrongfully removed.

However, the court determined that both Article 13(b) and Article 13(2) exceptions applied, citing the father's controlling and abusive behavior, the child's forced performance of demeaning chores, the presence of loaded weapons, and the child's strong, independent objection to returning.

The application for the child's return was dismissed.