Megan Elizabeth Fife

The applicant father brought a summary judgment motion seeking sole decision-making responsibility, primary residence, supervised parenting time for the mother, and retroactive and ongoing child support for their 15-year-old child.

The respondent mother, who struggled with addiction and mental health issues, failed to file responding materials or attend the hearing, and had a history of non-compliance and delays.

The court found no genuine issue for trial, granted the father sole decision-making and primary residence, ordered supervised and virtual parenting time for the mother at the father's discretion, and awarded retroactive and ongoing child support, plus an elevated costs award due to the mother's conduct.

This trial concerned custody, access, and child support for a three-year-old child.

The applicant mother sought sole custody, primary care, supervised access, a restraining order, and permission to travel.

The respondent father sought joint custody (later sole custody) and equal time-sharing.

The court found the mother engaged in significant "gatekeeping" behavior, demonstrating a disregard for the father's parental rights and court orders.

Despite this, the court granted the mother sole custody and primary residence, prioritizing the child's stability given her young age and long-standing primary care with the mother.

The father was granted a detailed access schedule, and the mother's gatekeeping was strongly condemned.

The mother's requests for supervised access and a restraining order were denied.

Retroactive child support was ordered against the father, and a detailed parenting order was established to counter the mother's gatekeeping.