QUESTION

Do I have grounds to sue for severe emotional distress?

Asked on May 28th, 2015 on Litigation - Montana
More details to this question:
My parents were married for 13 years. They got married two months before I was born, and when I was 10, my dad moved out of our family home. When I was 14, my dad secretively tested my DNA, lying to me in the process and saying that we were just getting DNA Identification Tests and that myself and three younger siblings were all participating. When the results came back that he is not biologically my father, he immediately petitioned the Montana courts to have his parental rights revoked. He then decided to discontinue our relationship, but still fights for time with and custody over my siblings. He has tried to place the blame on my mother, even though he is aware that she was taken advantage of in college and had nothing to do with the circumstance. He raised me for nearly 13 years and now wants nothing to do with me, and has even tried to convince a judge to make my mom reimburse him for the amount of child support and medical costs that he had assisted in paying for me. His mother has harassed me, my mother, and my mother's family. Because of this harassment I had to have my cell phone carrier block her numbers. My "dad" and his mother have also made up false information about myself and my mother and have tried to convince my other siblings (ages 14, 12, and 9) that they are true and we are horrible people. I am not welcome to engage with my "dad" or his new wife like my siblings are, because I am not part of the family. I have been accused for the falling out of my "dad's" and my relationship, and the divorce of my parents. I am now 17 years old, and battling with the mental and emotional distress, fears, obstacles, and such things on a daily basis. I tried for a very long time to gain back his respect, to no avail. I would like to know if I have proper grounds to sue or if I am better off finding a way to cope. I never asked for the abandonment, but I do feel that as an adult, having once committed to the responsibility of being a parent.
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1 ANSWER

Plaintiff Animal Bites Attorney serving Missoula, MT at Bulman Law Associates PLLC
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I don't believe you have a lawsuit worth pursuing. Even if you did have a right to sue your non-biological father, lawsuits are about money for damages that your "ghost daddy" could never pay you. The lawsuit process of depositions and hearings would further tie you to him and force interaction he does not want. It would not be good for you either. He sounds like a deadbeat loser in many many ways. It is not your fault that he is so petty. For the sake of reducing his child support payments a tiny amount, he betrayed your trust as well as needlessly upset your siblings. Very small minded man. Unfortunately, the legal system can't heal this kind of injustice. However, what goes around comes around. He will get bowel cancer sooner rather than later now, for sure. Stay bonded with your mother. Remind your siblings that your history together and mother's blood make you family forever no matter what the jerk says about you or her. You all can overcome this POS. In a surprising twist, shouldn't you be happy his genes, in fact, aren't part of you? As bad as he is, he's not part of you. On the issue of finding your biological father, don't obsess. If and when the time is right, it will happen. If not, the mystery doesn't have to change things. Good Luck with your dreams.
Answered on May 29th, 2015 at 9:18 AM

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