SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. -
It will likely be several weeks before a judge in Shelbyville decides whether a Russian boy who was sent back to his home country by his adoptive mother in Tennessee can be added as a plaintiff to a lawsuit seeking child support.
A hearing on the matter was initially set for Thursday in Bedford County but was delayed. A date as to when the hearing might be rescheduled was not given.
In April 2010, then-Shelbyville resident Torry Hansen sent the then seven-year-old boy named Justin on a plane to Moscow by himself with a note saying that she didn't want to be his mother anymore because the child had psychological problems and she feared his potential violence.
Hansen has since moved to California.
Hansen's adoption agency, World Association for Children and Parents, filed the lawsuit seeking child support.
Larry Crain, an attorney for the agency, said Thursday's hearing was to determine whether the boy, now nine years old, can be added as a plaintiff.
"This action is about a breach of contract on behalf of this minor child, it is also to make sure the actions of this mother of abandoning him, putting him on a plane to Moscow are addressed in terms of what consequences should be imposed," said Crain Thursday outside the Shelbyville courtroom.
Crain added that Hansen and her mother Nancy, who is also named in the lawsuit, will at some point need to be back in Shelbyville, "if they want to defend this lawsuit."
The attorney said he expected to depose Torry Hansen within a few weeks.
Thursday's hearing was delayed due to a media presence at the courthouse.
Hansen's attorney argued the media should not be allowed in the courtroom because of the young boy's juvenile status.
Judge Lee Russell set a November 21 hearing to determine whether the media will be allowed in the courtroom for the proceedings.
Previous Stories:
