Family Law

• Author: International Law Group

In September 1998, Ms. Deborah Taylor had originally obtained a temporary protection order against Kevin Nudd from a Family Court under New Zealand's Domestic Violence Act of 1995. There was, however, no service upon Nudd who was then and is now residing in the United States though he often visits Australia. Ms. Taylor obtained a further temporary protection order in July 1999 which she did succeed in serving upon Nudd.

Since 1980, the parties have had a stormy on-and-off relationship which had worsened during the last two years. In 1995, they had a son, Shelby. Ms. Taylor later asked for a protection order because Nudd kept on contacting her directly and through her New Zealand relatives with a relentless zeal that she found stifling and against which she wanted some legal protection.

The evidence at the hearing showed that Nudd had been making harassing and coercive telephone calls to Ms. Taylor up to six times a day. He also bombarded her with mail. Moreover, Nudd had often expressed his firm intention to keep up a relationship with Ms. Taylor which she did not want, and found frightening. Failing that, he wished...