MIAMI, FL—The Fourth District Court of Appeal affirmed a father’s request for award of sanctions against the mother. Kelley Kronenberg Partner Natalie S. Kay and the Family Law Attorneys represented the father for several years in this post final judgment paternity action.
Ms. Kay successfully obtained the dismissal of an ex parte domestic violence injunction sought by the mother on behalf of the minor child, against the father. Despite the judge’s clear oral ruling dismissing the ex parte injunction, the mother summoned law enforcement to her residence when the father arrived to pick up his daughter as approved by the Court. Sadly, the father was arrested for violation of a temporary injunction because the Judge’s oral ruling had not yet been entered in writing or placed on the Clerk’s docket.
Given the frivolous and unsubstantiated claims made by the mother that ultimately cost the father approximately $80,000.00 in Attorney’s Fees to defend, Ms. Kay and the Family Law Attorneys filed a motion for Attorney’s Fees and Sanctions against the Mother for her bad faith actions.
On April 9, 2020, Judge Davis ordered the mother to pay $58,653.00 toward the reasonable and necessary attorney’s fees incurred by the father in the proceedings, as well as $3,705.10 for reimbursement of costs related to payment of the child’s reunification therapist. The mother appealed this sanctions order, but the Order entered by Judge Davis was Affirmed on May 13, 2021. Ms. Kay also represented the father in the appellate case.
