Wilson

Robin R. Wilson, a nurse, and Michael C. Shea, a deputy sheriff, had a child, Amanda, in 1990. Robin, however, did not bring this paternity action until June 1998, and the instant appeal arises from a move-away and child support order signed and filed in December 1999. The order was the result of Robin’s relocation to South Carolina to be with her mother.

Even though the trial judge granted the move-away order, the dominant theme of the hearing was the systematic poisoning of Michael’s relationship with his daughter by Robin. Robin would not allow Michael to take Amanda to see his family, and had even gone so far as to tell Amanda when she was not yet five years old that Michael’s wife was a witch. He was not allowed to stay on Amanda’s fifth birthday (Amanda pleaded, “Daddy, don’t go. Don’t go, please.”) and after that, Robin told him, “Why don’t you just leave. I don’t want nothing to do with you. I don’t want your money. I don’t want you to have nothing to do with Amanda.” In the wake of the episode Michael didn’t see his daughter for three years. Finally, when the case was filed and initially referred to mediation, Amanda was “petrified” of seeing her father; after a…