Olivia D’Ammizio

The applicant father brought a motion for expanded parenting time on a step-up basis for the parties' 4-year-old son.

The respondent mother opposed the motion, alleging past abuse and arguing the father was unengaged in the child's upbringing.

The court found the mother's position inflexible and not focused on the child's best interests, noting that the current arrangement of brief visits at a mall was insufficient for bonding.

The court granted the father's proposed step-up parenting plan and awarded him $12,000 in costs.

The respondent father brought a motion to increase his parenting time with the parties' daughter.

The applicant mother opposed the motion, relying on two separate, unfounded allegations of child abuse she had reported to the police and CAS.

A section 30 assessor recommended a gradual increase in the respondent's parenting time and joint custody.

The court found the assessor's report to be probative and held that increasing the respondent's parenting time was in the child's best interests and in furtherance of the maximum contact principle.

The court ordered a gradual increase in the respondent's parenting time but declined to change interim custody at this stage.