HalfTheMan & MLC-W

[HTM]

Hi Huddy,

I did cancel the Mediation appointment a few weeks ago, somewhat out of spite but also upon solicitors advice. My W had gone to the family court and applied for a Non-Molestation/Occupancy Order without me present to oppose it, hence why I got the solicitor involved; protect your kids & yourself right? Well the scheduled 30min court hearing that the solicitor & I were due to attend, refuting the allegations, got cancelled last minute by my W She did at least drop the Occupancy part of the order which if upheld could have seen me kicked out of the family home.

This NMO is my W abusing a legal system put in place to protect people in more dire Domestic Violence cases; yes I've argued, got angry & shouted -no worse than my W- but certainly nothing physical.

So it may go against certain DB-ing principles but I have to do what I can to get this NMO dropped completely as it has an automatic power of arrest attached to it; picture the scene... Mediation taking place, W disagrees with a proposal I make, it gets heated & she speed-dials then I'm dragged off without any redress until later at the Police Station, scary!

At present I have reinstated the Mediation appointment on a 'shuttle' basis, i.e. separate rooms, in the hope W makes good on her commitment to drop the NMO completely if I go ahead. Though if she doesn't I will have to give serious consideration to pursuing a fully contested hearing (day in court, cross-examination, evidence submission, etc.) meaning the £900 I've already outlaid to the solicitor will escalate to something closer to £10k. Watch this space!

In a way, I'm ok to go through mediation as I'm confident any reasonable impartial 3rd party would see I'm not being difficult and open to comprise, as long as what comes out of this is a win-win for Ss & me I'll be happy. However, I will take your experience on-board and get your point about anyone who doesn't see things W's being an enemy.