STORM2K

Parents' Battle Over Girl's Cell Phone Heads To Court
Father Says He Prohibited Phone To Protect Daughter

POSTED: 9:51 a.m. EDT September 15, 2003

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, N.J. -- A New Jersey mother and father weren't able to connect on cell phone privileges for their daughter -- so they took it to court.

The 13-year-old girl -- a high school freshman -- lives with her mother but visits her dad weekly.

Her father, Frank Mellace, prohibited her from using the cell phone at his house because she was getting so many calls.

Mellace told the judge he was trying to protect his daughter after learning she had described herself on the Internet as "single, sexy and sweet" -- and told people to call her.

The girl's mother says her daughter carries the phone for safety reasons.

The judge said the girl can use her phone whenever she's at Mellace's home -- but told her she was not allowed to use it during dinnertime.

Mellace is appealing.


IMO the judge just basicly told the child, you dont have to listen to your father.. If you dont like his rules just take him to court and ill fix it for you.. Realy ticks me off.. Thoughts??

Another case where the government is too involved in our lives. And our tax dollars were really wasted over a court case like this??? (shaking my head in disgust yet again)

(shaking my head in disgust yet again)

Boy if I had a nickel for everytime i saw that.. LOL

What ever happened to a citizen's right to "be secure within his dwelling" (including banning incoming phone calls to his eejit daughter, who should have KNOWN better than to post her cell number all over the Web)?

The inmates are running the asylum, from the bench... :o

This may tick some people off, but in my opinion, the parents lost their sovereignty when they divorced. When parents divorce, they automatically get the courts in their lives, for better or worse. Moral of the story: Choose wisely, don't screw up, and stick it out at least until the kids are grown up.

I have to say I agree with Chad. It is ridiculous how the courts have come to be foster parents for some people. That if you don't like what somebody says come here we'll fix it for you. I hang my head in shame at how litigious(sp.) our society has become.

Life is ridiculous lately! I don't believe those parents! They couldn't come up with a wise decision on their own so they take it to court and waste our hard earned money? UGH!

I think that these responses all tie together. There's a lot of irresponsible people around. They make dumb mistakes, blame others, and look for someone else to solve their problems. No wonder the daughter is rude like that with her phone.

If that were my daughter, she would no longer have a cell phone , or any friends to talk to for a long time!!! and she would not be going anywhere so we would not have to worry about her safety. That judge needs some special help too!!!

Rediculous, SO rediculous!

LAwyers and the Judges propogate this also. If they weren't so greedy to take these frivolous cases, the court system wouldn't be so crammed with crap.

I'm with LakeEffect....using her cell phone would be the least of her worries!!

LAwyers and the Judges propogate this also. If they weren't so greedy to take these frivolous cases, the court system wouldn't be so crammed with crap.

Blizzard you are so right. I stand behind you on this one 100%. I get so annoyed watching all those lawyer commercials "have u been in an accident? then call 1-800-lawsuit!" or other ridiculous things like that.