1 © 2009 | ojen.caA c i v i l s o c i e t y t h r o u g h e d u c At i o n A n d d i A l o g u e

Scenario: Pilon v. Tremblay PaGeList of participants 2What happened? 3 - 4Relevant Law 5 - 9Background information for witnesses 10 - 19

role PreParaTion PaGePreparing for a Mock Trial 1 - 9Time Chart 10Etiquette 11 - 12Role Preparation for:

Applicant and Respondent Lawyers 13 - 16Judge 17Court Services Officer 17Court Clerk 18 - 19

For each OJEN Family Law Mock Trial, there are three packages: » oJen Family law mock Trial Scenario » oJen Family law mock Trial Role Preparation Package » oJen Family law mock Trial Justice Sector Volunteer Package

Youth need the Scenario and role Preparation packages. Justice sector volunteers/teachers/organizers need all three packages.

JuSTice SecTor volunTeer PackaGe PaGePurpose of a Mock Trial 1Mock Trial Time Chart 2Information for:

Lawyer Coaches 3 - 4Mock Trial Judges 5 - 6

FAMILY LAW MOCk TRIAL: Pilon v. Tremblay

1 © 2009 | ojen.caA c i v i l s o c i e t y t h r o u g h e d u c At i o n A n d d i A l o g u e

ThiS PackaGe conTainS: PaGeList of participants 2What happened? 3 - 4Relevant law 5 - 9Background information for witnesses 10 - 19

FAMILY LAW MOCk TRIAL: Scenario: Pilon v. Tremblay

Pilon v. Tremblay

For each OJEN Family Law Mock Trial, there are three packages:

» oJen Family law mock Trial Scenario

» oJen Family law mock Trial role Preparation Package

» oJen Family law mock Trial Justice Sector volunteer Package

Youth need the Scenario and role Preparation packages. Justice sector volunteers/teachers/organizers need all three packages.

» Child Support

A c i v i l s o c i e t y t h r o u g h e d u c At i o n A n d d i A l o g u e 2 © 2009 | ojen.ca

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list of participants1.Stella Pilon (applicant)

2.Alexandre Tremblay(respondent)

3.Amélie Tremblay (stellaandalexandre’sdaughter)

4.Maureen Bradley(respondentwitness)

5.Joseph Pilon(applicantwitness)

6.Lawyers for the Applicant (3)

7.Lawyers for the Respondent (3)

8.Judge (canbeplayedbyastudent,ateacher,ajudge,oralawyer)

9.Court Services Officer(keepsorderinthecourt)(optional)

10.Court Clerk (assiststhejudge) (optional)

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What happened?alexandretremblay’sfirstmarriageendedfourteenyearsagoin1994.thefirstmarriageonlylastedforfiveyears.hehasonechildfromhisfirstmarriage.hisfirstwife’snameisstellaandhisfirstchild’snameisamélie.amélieiseighteenyearsoldandabouttostartuniversityinthefall.shewillbeenrolledinafilmstudiesprogramonafull-timebasis.

alexandreandMaureenhavebeenmarriedforfourteenyears.thisisalexandre’ssecondmarriage.alexandreandMaureenweremarriedassoonasthedivorcewithstellawasfinalized.alexandrehastwochildrenfromhissecondmarriagewithMaureen.theirnamesareBen,whoisfourteen,andsam,whoiseleven.alexandreisapublicschoolteacherwhoworksintoronto.heearns$55,000peryear.MaureenworksataLoblawsgrocerystoreasacashierandearns$32,000peryear.

whenalexandreandhisfirstwife,stella,brokeup,améliewasfouryearsold.atfirst,alexandrewouldseeamélieonceinawhile.itwasalwaysdifficultforthetwoofthemtotalk,however,andmanytimes,améliewouldsaythatshedidn’twanttoseehim.infact,whensheturnedeight,amélierefusedtohaveanythingmoretodowithherdad.shesenthimaletter,tellinghimthatsheneverwantedtohearfromhimorseehimagain.(shegotalittlehelpfromhermominwritingtheletter,asshecouldnotfullyarticulatesentencesonherownyet.)

Josephisstella’sbrother.hetoldherhedidnotthinkitwasagoodideatohaveaméliewritetheletter.hethoughtitwouldcausealotofunnecessaryangerbetweenthem,andmightdomoretroublethangood.hehaslivednextdoortostellasinceshewasmarriedtoalexandre,andusedtobegoodfriendswithalexandrewhenhewasmarriedtostella.heknowsalexandrewell.Butwhenalexandreandstelladivorced,stellamadeJosephpicksides,andinsistedhenotcommunicateanymorewithalexandre.

priortoreceivingtheletterfromamélie,alexandrepaid$100/monthofchildsupporttoamélie.alexandrewasupsetaboutpayingchildsupporttoachildwhodidnotlovehimanddidnotwanttoseehim.whenshewrotehimthelettersayingthatshedidn’twanttohearfromhimagain,thatwasthelaststraw.hede-cidednottohaveanythingmoretodowithher,sohestoppedcallingaltogether.however,hecontinuedtopaychildsupport,becausehefeltobligedtodoso.

stellaworkedafterhermarriagetoalexandreended,butitwastoughforher.

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shesufferedfromdepressionandsoshecouldn’tstayatajobforalongtime.thereweremanytimeswhenshewantedtogetamélienewclothesorpayforhertoparticipateinafter-schoolprograms,butsheoftencouldnotbecauseshedidnotmakeenoughmoney.shewasupsetatalexandreforneverofferingtohelpcoverthecostoftheseprogramsforhisdaughter.shealsothoughthathecouldhavebeenpayingmorethan$100permonthforchildsupport,butneverknewwhattodoaboutit.sheiscurrentlyearning$38,000asateacher’sassistant.

stellahasbroughtanapplicationforchildsupport.shewantsalexandretocon-tinuetopaychildsupportwhileamélieisinuniversity.alexandrethinksthatnowthatamélieis18,heshouldnothavetopayanymorechildsupport.hebelievesthatamélieendedtherelationshipwithhimwhenshesenthimtheletterandcannolongerbeconsidereda“childofthemarriage.”heisalsoangryatstellabecauseheisconvincedthatshehelpedaméliewritethatletter,andmighthaveactuallybeenconvincingamélienottolikehim.

STella iS aSking For The Following:• continuedpaymentofchildsupport,butintheamountof$510per

month,whichiswhatsheinsistssomeoneearning$55,000shouldbepayinginchildsupport(foundatwww.justice.gc.ca)

• $45,000inretro-activechildsupportforunderpayingchildsupportoverthepast14years.

• thatalexandrepayforamélie’suniversityeducation.

iSSueS:• shouldalexandrestillbeobligatedtopayforamélietogotouniversity?

• hasamélieendedherrelationshipwithherdadbywritingthelettertohim?doesthatmatter?

• shouldalexandrehavetocontinuepayingchildsupport?ifso,is$510reasonable?

• shouldalexandrehavetopayretroactivechildsupport?

noTeS:• thepartiesdivorcedin1994butthedivorceorderdoesnotdealwith

childsupport.

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whaT iS child SupporT and whaT iS iTS purpoSe?1

WhAt is child support?allchildrenhavetherighttoreceivereasonableandnecessaryfinancialsupportfromtheirparents.childsupportismoneypaidbyoneparenttoanotherparent,forthebenefitofthechild,aftertheparents’relationshipbreaksdown.thesupportpaymentsensurethatthechild’sexpensesarereasonablymet.normally,theparentwithwhomthechildlivesmostofthetimereceivesthepaymentsonbehalfofthechild.

Who hAs to pAy child support?Biologicalparentsandparentswhohaveadoptedachildareobligatedtopaychildsupport.ifastep-parenthascontributedtothesupportandmaintenanceofthechildforatleastoneyear,theymayalsohavetopaysupport–evenifthebiologicalparentismakingafinancialcontribution.Buttheclaimforchildsup-portagainstastep-parentmustbemadewithinoneyearfromthetimethestep-parentlastcontributedtothechild’sfinancialexpenses.

hoW do you get child support?childsupportcanbeworkedoutinaseparationagreement.ifyoucan’tagree,youcanapplytothecourtforanorderthatchildsupportbepaid,givingnoticeofyourapplicationtotheotherparent.also,ifyouareonincomeassistance,youcanseekhelpfromyoursupportworkerattheemploymentandincomeassis-tanceprogram.

hoW is child support determined? theamountisdeterminedbythechildsupportGuidelines.theguidelinesspecifyacertainamountofsupport,dependingonthepayingparent’sincomeandthenumberofchildren.theseguidelinesbecamelawonMay1,1997andwererevisedonMay1,2006(andupdatedagainonapril1,2007).YoumayfindthechildsupportGuidelinesonthefederaldepartmentofJusticewebsiteatwww.justice.gc.ca.

1FromthecanadianBarassociation,online:<http://www.cba.org/Bc/public_media/family/117.aspx>.

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WhAt Are “speciAl or extrAordinAry” expenses?insomecases,youcanapplytothecourtforanadditionalcontributionfor“specialorextraordinary”expenses.therearefourtypesofspecialorextraordinaryexpensesthecourtcanconsider:  

• child care expenses,sotheparentwholooksafterthechildcanworkorobtaintraining

• medical or health related expensesforthechild

• someeducational expenses

• someexpensesforextra-curricular activities

thesetypesofexpensesaren’tautomaticallydeemedtobespecialorextraordi-naryexpenses–theyhavetobereasonabletoo.eachexpenseisalsoconsideredonitsownmeritstoseeifitfallswithinthecategoryofspecialorextraordinaryexpensesinyourparticularcircumstances.Forexample,achild’spianolessonsmaybeaspecialorextraordinaryexpense.

eachparentisexpectedtocontributetothesespecialexpensesinproportiontotheirincome.Forexample,iftheparentshaveequalincomes,theywouldeachpayone-halfofthespecialorextraordinaryexpenses.Or,ifoneparentearnstwiceasmuchastheother,thenthatparentwouldpaytwo-thirdsofthespecialexpensesandthelowerearningparentwouldpayone-third.

WhAt if eAch pArent hAs A child in their cAre? ifeachparenthastheprimarycareofoneormoreofthechildren,thechildsup-porttobepaidbyeachparentforthechildrenintheotherparent’scareiscal-culatedandsetoffagainsteachother.theparentwhowouldenduppayingthehigheramountthenpaysthedifferencetotheother.

WhAt if you cAn’t Afford the Amount set by the child support guidelines?incertaincircumstances,whereitcanbeshownthatthepaymentsrequiredwouldcause“unduehardship”forthechildoreitherparent,thecourtcanraiseorlowertheamount.Unduehardshipmeansitwouldbeveryunfairorcausegreatdeprivation.whenaclaimofunduehardshipismade,ahouseholdstandardoflivingtestisapplied,wherethefinancialcircumstancesofeachparentandtheirrespectivehouseholdincomes(includinganewspouse’sincome)areweighedagainsttheother.showingunduehardshipiscomplicatedandverydifficult.

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do you hAve to disclose your finAnciAl circumstAnces?toobtainanorderforchildsupport,financialdisclosuremustbemade.thepayingparentmustproviderecentproofoftheirincome,togetherwiththeirrecentincometaxreturns.theincomethatisnormallyconsideredisthatwhichisdeclaredonline150ofthepayingparent’smostrecentincometaxreturn,ortheir“totalincome.”insomecases,forexample,whereunduehardshipisclaimedorspecialexpensesaresought,thereceivingparentmayberequiredtodisclosetheirfinancesaswellasthepayingparent.

WhAt is An “interim” support order?afteraclaimismadeforchildsupport,acourtusuallymakesan“interim”order.theseorderscanbeobtainedrelativelyquickly.interimsupportisusuallyinplacewhilepeoplearewaitingfortheirdivorcetobecomefinal,oruntilacomprehen-siveagreementorfinalcourtorderisinplace.interimsupportarrangementsremainineffectuntilthey’reeitherchangedbyanotherinterimorderormadepermanent.  

hoW long is child support pAid for? childsupportispaidforaslongasthechildcontinuestofallwithinthelegaldefinitionofa“child.”inOntario,achildissomeoneundertheageof19,orwhois19oroverbutdependentonaparent.Forexample,auniversitystudentorsomeonewithhealthproblemsrequiringfinancialsupportmayremainachild,eventhoughtheyare19orover.

cAn you get A child support order to cover the pAst?Yes.childsupportorderscanbemaderetroactively,i.e.forthepast,particularlyifyounotifiedtheotherparentaboutyourneedforchildsupportoryourintenttopursuechildsupportoranincreaseinsupportpayments.

WhAt if circumstAnces chAnge?eitherparentcanapplytohaveachildsupportorderoragreementchangedorvariedifthere’sachangeincircumstances.thelawrequiresupdatedfinancialinformationtobeexchangedeachyearorifthereisachangeofincome.iftherehasbeenachange,thechildsupportGuidelinesshouldbeconsultedtodeter-minewhatnewamountofchildsupportshouldbepaid.

WhAt cAn you do if child support isn’t pAid?ifyourspouseorpartnerdoesn’tpaytherequiredchildsupport,thegovernment-runFamilyresponsibilityOffice(FrO)canhelpyou.staffcanhelpyoucollect

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supportpaymentsthatareowedandmonitorasupportordertomakesurepaymentscontinuetobemade.

WhAt is the fAmily responsibility office (fro)?theFrOisafreeprogramfundedbytheprovincialgovernment.itmonitorsyoursupportpaymentsandenforcescourtordersandfiledseparationagreementswheresupportistobepaid.thereisnocostfortheservicesofthisprogram.

the fro Assumes responsibility for enforcing your order or AgreementYoucangettheirpermissiontotakesomeenforcementactionsonyourown,butonceyourorderoragreementisfiledwiththeFrO,theprogramnormallyenforcestheorderoragreementonitsown.theprogramcantakeallthesamelegalactionsthatyoucouldtakeyourself,aswellasalotofotherthingsthatanordinarypersoncannotdo,suchassuspendingyourspouse’sdriver’slicenceortakingawaytheirpassport.

hoW does the fro enforce An order or Agreement?ifyourorderoragreementisfiledwiththeFamilyresponsibilityOffice,allsupportpaymentsmustbesenttotheprogram.theFrOwillthensendthepaymentsontoyou.thereareseveralstepstheFrOcantake:

• Garnishment:ifapaymentisn’tmade,theprogramcan“garnish”ortakethewagesofthenon-payingspousetocoverthesupportowed.thisisnormallytheFrO’sfirststep. 

• Notice of Attachment:theprogramcanissuewhatiscalledanoticeofattachmentagainstanypersonorinstitutionthatowesmoneytothenon-payingspouse,sotheprogramcanreceivethismoneyinstead.inad-ditiontoemployers,theseinstitutionsincludebanks,theworkers’safety&insuranceBoard(wsiB),andtheGovernmentofcanadafortaxrefunds,employmentinsurancepaymentsandotherfederalpaymentsorrebates.

• Property Encumbrance:theprogramcanfilesupportordersagainstpropertyownedbythenon-payingspouse,sothatthepropertycannotbesoldorre-mortgagedwithoutthearrearsbeingdealtwithfirst. 

• Jail:Ultimately,ifyourspousedoesn’tpay,theFrOcanrequestthecourttocommitthemtojailforthenon-paymentofarrears.

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legiSlaTion1. Divorce Act (foundatwww.laws.justice.gc.ca).specifically:

a.Sections 2(definitions)and15.1(childsupportOrders).

2. childsupportGuidelines(foundatwww.justice.gc.ca).specifically:

a.Section 3(2)(b) andsection 7(whetherachildwhoistheageofma-jorityisabletomakeacontributiontohisorheruniversityeducation).

3. Family Law Act (foundatwww.e-laws.gov.on.ca).specifically:

a. Sections 31(1)and (2)(Obligationofparenttosupportchildenrolledinfulltimeeducationprogram).

caSe lawMarlerv.Marler[2007]a.J.no.987(alta.Q.B.)

Greenv.Green[2007]O.J.no.454(sup.ct.)

Farden v.Farden[1993]B.c.J.no.1315(s.c.)

Solomos v.Solomos [2007]O.J.no.133(s.c.)

Fulldecisionscanbefoundatwww.canlii.org

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STELLA PiLON, applicanT

Your background:

• Youare41yearsold.Youliveintorontowithyourdaughter,amélie,inabungalow.

• Youandyourex-husband,alexandre,divorcedfourteenyearsagoin1994.

• Yourbrother,Joseph,hasbeenyourneighbourforover18years.

• Youarenotcurrentlymarriedandarenotseeinganyone.

• améliehasappliedforuniversityandhasbeenacceptedtobeginnextsemesterinafilmstudiesprogram.

• amélieworksattheredtomatorestaurantonKingstreetintoronto.herwagesarenotgoodbutsheisagoodserverandshemakesalotofmoneyintips.shehasbeenworkingfor1yearnow.Lastyear,herincomewas$12,000,includingtips.

• améliehasdonereallywellinschool.shegradu-atedatthetopofherclassandshewonascholar-shipof$2,000.00towardhertuitionfees.

• Youcurrentlyearn$38,000asateacher’sassis-tant,butbecauseofyourdepressionyoufindithardtokeepajobforlongenoughtogainasenseofsecurity.Youarenotsurewherethingswillbeoneyearfromnow,thoughyouhopetostillbeinthesamejob.

Your version of what happened:

• Youarestillangryatyourex-husband,alexandre.Youfeellikeyouwereabandonedbyhim.hedidn’tmakealotofefforttobeafathertoamé-lie.Forexample,shewouldphonehimandhewouldnotreturnphonecalls.Often,hewouldcancelvisitsthataméliehadplannedwithhim.

how can i PrePare To be a Good wiTneSS durinG Trial?

» Learn your facts by heart. » You will be sworn in during the trial and need to spell your character’s full name. » Stick to the script. Don’t make up facts because this is unfair to the student lawyers. » Listen to the questions carefully. If you do not understand the question, then ask to have it repeated. » If a lawyer asks a question about something that isn’t in your package, you can say you don’t know the answer. » Speak with the lawyers representing your side ahead of time, and get into character when you take the stand.

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STELLA PiLON, applicanT• Youknowthataméliehasstrongmemoriesofyourdivorceeventhoughshe

wasonlyfouryearsold.sheusedtohearyoucryingyourselftosleep.thiswentonforyears.Youhaveneverbeenthesamesincealexandreleftyou.andyoustilldon’tunderstandwhyhewantedadivorce.

• Youhaveneverhadaseriousrelationshipsincethen.améliehasalwayslivedwithyou.whenshegoestoYorkUniversity,shewillbelivinginresidence.thiswillbeherfirsttimeonherown,andyourfirsttimeonyourown.

• Youhadanoralagreementwithalexandre,whichisabindingcontract,thathewouldpay$100permonthforamélie’schildsupport.hisdaughterisnotyet19,andnonetheless,sheisinaspecialcircumstancethatwarrantsalex-andre’scontinuingtopaychildsupport–sheisinuniversity.

• Youwantedhimtopaymore,buthesaidhecouldn’t.Manytimesintheyearsafterthedivorceyouapproachedhimtoincreasehispaymentsashisincomeincreased,butherefusedtodoso,alwayssayingthathewasnotearningallthatmuchmore,plushehadtwootherchildrentosupport.

• amélie’stuitionatYorkUniversityis$5,278.00.textbooksandsupplieswillcostbetween$1000.00and$1500.00.shewantstoliveinresidencewithherbestfriend,shawney,whoisalsostudyingfilm.residencewillcost$3,986.00peryear.themandatorymealplanis$2,500.00peryear.Youestimateherpersonalexpensesperschoolyeartobe$2,200.00peryear.shewillhavetojointhemedicalplanatYorkwhichwillcost$190.00fortheyear.

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QueSTionS you Should Think abouT when PreParinG:How did you feel about Alexandre getting remarried so soon after your divorce?

How did you feel about Alexandre ending the child support payments, now that Amélie is going to university?

Is Amélie’s income enough to support herself in school? Will she be able to continue working when in school? Should she?

What are you doing to help ensure sufficient income to allow her to go school?

Should she stay in residence and get a meal plan? Would it be more responsible to have her live and eat at home? Would this save costs?

Is a compromise a reasonable option?

Will there be consequences if Amélie does not receive child support? What will they be? How will the tuition be paid if it is not paid by Alexandre?

What would the retro-active child support payments be used for if you got them?

Have you seen Alexandre’s financial records? Do you know his true financial situation?

STELLA PiLON, applicanT

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AMéLiE TREMBLAY, daughTer

Your background:

• Youareeighteenyearsold,youliveintoronto,andyoulivewithyourmom,stella.

• YouworkattheredtomatorestaurantonKingstreetintoronto.Yourwagesarenotgoodbutyouareagoodserverandyoumakealotofmoneyintips.Youhavebeenworkingfor1yearnow.Lastyear,yourincomewas$12,000,includ-ingtips.

• Youhavedonereallywellinschool.Yougradu-atedatthetopofyourclassandyouwonaschol-arshipof$2,000.00towardyourtuitionfees.

Your version of what happened:

• Youarestillangryatyourfather,alexandre.Youfeellikeyouwereabandonedbyhim.hedidn’tmakealotofefforttobeyourfather.Forex-ample,youwouldphonehimandhewouldnotreturnphonecalls.Often,hewouldcancelvisitsthatyouhadplannedtogether.

• Youwrotealettertoyourfatherbutthatwasafterhecancelledanothervisitwithyouandyouwereangry.Youadmitthatyourmotherhelpedyouwritetheletter.

• Youhavestrongmemoriesofyourmotherandfather’sdivorceeventhoughyouwereonlyfouryearsold.Yourememberhearingyourmomcry-ingherselftosleep.thiswentonforyears.Yourmomhasneverbeenthesamesinceyourdadleftyourmom.Forthis,youblameyourdad.

• Youhaveneverlivedonyourown.whenyougotoYorkUniversity,youwillbelivinginresidence.thiswillbeyourfirsttimeonyourown.

how can i PrePare To be a Good wiTneSS durinG Trial?

» Learn your facts by heart. » You will be sworn in during the trial and need to spell your character’s full name. » Stick to the script. Don’t make up facts because this is unfair to the student lawyers. » Listen to the questions carefully. If you do not understand the question, then ask to have it repeated. » If a lawyer asks a question about something that isn’t in your package, you can say you don’t know the answer. » Speak with the lawyers representing your side ahead of time, and get into character when you take the stand.

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AMéLiE TREMBLAY, daughTer• YourtuitionatYorkUniversityis$5,278.00.textbooksandsupplieswillcost

between$1000.00and$1500.00.Youwanttoliveinresidencewithyourbestfriend,shawney,whoisalsostudyingfilm.residencewillcost$3,986.00peryear.themandatorymealplanis$2,500.00peryear.Youestimateyourper-sonalexpensesperschoolyeartobe$2,200.00peryear.YouhavetojointhemedicalplanatYorkwhichwillcost$190.00fortheyear.

QueSTionS you Should Think abouT when PreParinG:How did you feel about your dad getting remarried so soon after your divorce?

How did you feel about your dad ending child support payments at this time in your life?

Is your income enough to support yourself in school? Will you be able to continue working when in school? Should you?

What role should your mom have in contributing to your education? Should everything rest on your dad’s shoulders, especially considering that he has two other children to support?

What are you doing to help ensure sufficient income to allow yourself to go school? Are bursaries and student loans (e.g. O.S.A.P.) an option?

Should you stay in residence and get a meal plan? Would it be more responsible to live and eat at home? Would this save you and your parents costs?

What consequences will not receiving child support have on you? How else would you afford school?

If your mom succeeds in getting retro-active child support payments, should they go to you?

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ALExANdRE TREMBLAY, reSpondenT

Your background:

• Youare44yearsold.Youadmitthatamélieisyourdaughterthroughyourmarriagetohermother,stella.Youdivorcedyourfirstwife,stella,fourteenyearsagoin1994.

• immediatelythereafter,youmarriedMaureenandhavebeenmarriedtoherforfourteenyears.

• YouhavetwochildrenfromyourmarriagewithMaureen-Ben,whoisfourteen,andsam,whoiseleven.

• Youareapublicschoolteacherintorontoandearn$55,000peryear.Yourcurrentwife,Maureen,worksataLoblawsgrocerystoreasacashierandearns$32,000peryear.

Your version of what happened:

• Youhadanoralagreementwithstellathatyouwouldpay$100permonthforamélie’schildsupport.Youhavetwochildrennowandyoudon’twanttopaysupporttoachildwhoendedherrelationshipwithyouwhenshewaseightyearsold.

• Youopposestella’sapplicationforcontinuedchildsupportwhileamélieisinuniversity.Youbelievethataméliestoppedbeingachildofmarriageforchildsupportpurposeswhensheturned8andwroteyoutheletterendingyourrelationshipwithherin1998.

• Youthinkthatitisridiculoustogotouniversityforadegreeinfilmstudies.améliewillnotbeabletosupportherselforgetajobwiththiskindofdegree.

how can i PrePare To be a Good wiTneSS durinG Trial?

» Learn your facts by heart. » You will be sworn in during the trial and need to spell your character’s full name. » Stick to the script. Don’t make up facts because this is unfair to the student lawyers. » Listen to the questions carefully. If you do not understand the question, then ask to have it repeated. » If a lawyer asks a question about something that isn’t in your package, you can say you don’t know the answer. » Speak with the lawyers representing your side ahead of time, and get into character when you take the stand.

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ALExANdRE TREMBLAY, reSpondenT• Youknownothingaboutamélieorherlifeorherfinancialneeds.Youheard

thataméliewonsomekindofscholarshipandthatsheworksasawaitresssoyouarenotsurewhyshewouldneedyourmoneyanyway.

• Youwouldn’tmindgettingtoknowyourdaughterbutyoufeelthatithastobeonyourterms.sheneedstoacceptyouforwhoyouareandacceptthatyouhavemovedonwithyourlife.

QueSTionS you Should Think abouT when PreParinG:How do you feel about Stella’s inability to hold down a permanent job because of her depression?

Does the fact that Amélie works and earns her own money mean you should pay less, if anything, to her?

What are your obligations as her biological father?

How responsible is her mother for Amélie’s well-being?

Does the fact that you have other financial responsibilities and other dependant children have any significance in supporting your insistence on not paying child support? Or, if you have to pay, should it act to reduce the amount you pay?

In the past you did not have the money to pay more than $100 per month. What does this mean, if anything, for child support back-payments?

Have you tried to explain things to Stella, and perhaps even show her your financial records so she knows your actual financial situation?

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JOSEPh PiLON, applicanT wiTneSS

Your background:

• Youare42yearsold.Youarestella’sbrotherandhavelivednextdoortostellasincesheandherex-husband,alexandre,gotmarriedandboughtthebungalow.

• Youknowthatamélieistheirdaughter.infact,youattendedherbirth.Youareherfavoriteuncle.

• Youaresingleandlivealone.

Your version of what happened:

• Yourememberwhenalexandredivorcedstella,fourteenyearsagoin1994,andhowquicklyhewasremarried(toMaureen).

• Yourecallhowoftenaméliecriedtoyouaboutherparent’sdivorce,andhowoftenshecom-plainedtoyouinlateryearsaboutherfather’sbadhabitofstandingherupforplanstheyhadmadetogether.shefeltherdadwasaliaranddidnotcareenoughabouthertospendtimewithher.thismadeherveryangry.

• Yourememberwhenamélietoldyoushewaswritingalettertoherdad.Youdidn’tthinkitwasagoodidea,butyouunderstoodwhyshewassoangry.whenshesaidhermomwashelpingherwriteit,youadvisedstellaagainstit,butleftitatthat–youdidn’tthinkitwasyourbusinesstogetinto.

• Youwereatamélie’sgraduation,andhelpedhercelebrateheraward.Youareproudofher,andknowhowproudsheistohaveachievedwhatshehasacademically.shereallylovesfilm,andisconfidentthisistheprogramthatbestfitswhatshewantstodowithherlife.

how can i PrePare To be a Good wiTneSS durinG Trial?

» Learn your facts by heart. » You will be sworn in during the trial and need to spell your character’s full name. » Stick to the script. Don’t make up facts because this is unfair to the student lawyers. » Listen to the questions carefully. If you do not understand the question, then ask to have it repeated. » If a lawyer asks a question about something that isn’t in your package, you can say you don’t know the answer. » Speak with the lawyers representing your side ahead of time, and get into character when you take the stand.

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JOSEPh PiLON, applicanT wiTneSS• Yourememberseeingthedivorceorder,andrecallthatitdidnothaveany-

thingrelatingtochildsupportpayments.Butyoualsorecallbeingtoldbystellathatsheandalexandrehadorallyagreedto$100permonthinchildsupport.Youhavealso,onmanyoccasions,seenthechequeswrittentostellafromalexandre.

• Youagreewithstella’sapplicationforcontinuedchildsupportwhileamé-lieisinuniversity.Youdonotbelievethataméliestoppedbeingachildofmarriageforchildsupportpurposeswhensheturned8andwrotetheletterendingherrelationshipwithherdadin1998.

• Youknowthatamélieworksasawaitress,andrecallbeingtoldbyheranafewoccasionsthatworkisunpredictable;shetoldyouthatbeingawaitressishardworkandverytiring.aswell,shesaidthatrestaurantsarenotasstableastheyusedtobe,andthattheonesheworksathasconsideredclosingonacoupleofoccasions.

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MAuREEN BRAdLEY, reSpondenT wiTneSS

Your background:• Youare42yearsold.Youarealexandre’scurrent

wifeandhavebeenmarriedtohimforfourteenyears,sincehedivorcedstellain1994.

• YouworkattheLoblawsgrocerystoreasacashierandearn$32,000peryear.

• Youhavetwochildrenwithalexandre–Ben,whoisfourteen,andsam,whoiseleven.

Your version of what happened:• Yourememberwhenalexandredivorcedstella,

fourteenyearsagoin1994.thetwoofyoumar-riedshortlythereafter.Youalsohadyourfirstsonrightaroundthattimetoo.

• Yourecallhowoftenalexandretriedtomakeap-pointmentswithamélie,buthadtobreakthembecauseofhowthingswouldcomeupatworkorwiththetwokids.sometimesitwasbeyondhiscontrol,buthewastooembarrassedtogetintoitwithstellaoramélie.

• Yourememberhavingtodealwithphonecallsfromstellainpastyears:shewouldcallwhenevershelostherjob,andwhilecryingonthephonewouldinsistthatalexandreincreasehischildsup-portpayments.thecallswouldcomeinalmostdaily,thentrickleawayoveracoupleofweeks.whenevershefoundanewjobshewouldn’tcallthehousedemandingmorechildsupport.infact,shewouldusuallybecomeabitnicer,asthoughsuckinguptoalexandre.

• Bothyourchildrenareinvolvedinextra-curricularactivities,includingsportsandmusic,whichcostsalotofmoney.Youseethisascriticaltotheirproperdevelopment,andarenotabouttostopit,eventhoughitcanbetoughonthebankattimes.

how can i PrePare To be a Good wiTneSS durinG Trial?

» Learn your facts by heart. » You will be sworn in during the trial and need to spell your character’s full name. » Stick to the script. Don’t make up facts because this is unfair to the student lawyers. » Listen to the questions carefully. If you do not understand the question, then ask to have it repeated. » If a lawyer asks a question about something that isn’t in your package, you can say you don’t know the answer. » Speak with the lawyers representing your side ahead of time, and get into character when you take the stand.