Hartland Father Wins Custody After Lengthy Battle Hartland Father Wins Custody After Lengthy Battle

2/23/13 - A Hartland Township man has succeeded in a lengthy fight to win custody of his daughter. Daniel Quinn is thanking everyone for their support in his fight, saying his daughter Maeleigh has no idea how many angels have stood up to do their part. Back in June, legislation inspired by Quinn’s story was signed into law that enables biological fathers like Quinn to petition the court for parental rights. The bills give biological fathers more rights and get rid of the Michigan Paternity Act, which Quinn said had prevented him from seeing his daughter for the past four years. Michigan’s old law, which had been in effect since 1956, presumed a husband is the father of his wife’s children. The mother of Quinn’s child was married to another man when she became pregnant. After living with Quinn for a period of time, she decided to reconcile with her husband and took their daughter, who ultimately ended up in the custody of a now-convicted drug dealer. According to police, the crimes were committed by the child’s mother’s husband in the girl’s presence. Despite that, Quinn didn’t have the right to tell a judge why he would be a better caretaker for his own daughter. An update on Quinn’s Facebook page says the ruling was made this month and he’s working to tie up loose ends in the courts but it shouldn’t be long before Maeleigh is back home. (JM)