Didon v. Castillo — treaty — reversal — Greenaway

The Hague Convention allows a parent to petition for return of a child who has been removed from her country of “habitual residence” in violation of the parent’s rights. In a clear and thorough opinion, the Third Circuit today held that the Hague Convention does not permit a child to have two “habitual residence” countries at the same time, and ruled that the parent’s petition here must be dismissed because the child’s country of habitual residence does not recognize the Hague Convention.

Joining Greenaway were McKee and Fisher. Arguing counsel were civil appeals lawyer Anthony Vetrano of Vetrano Vetrano & Feinman for today’s losing parent and Michelle Pokrifka of CGA Law Firm for the winning parent.