Contentious custody dispute - Christina Block seeks the reunion of her children through filing a constitutional appeal.
In the ongoing child custody battle between her and her ex-spouse, wealthy Hamburg resident Christina Block has filed a constitutional complaint to the Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe. As reported by Welt, this complaint stems from a Berlin-based constitutional law specialist, representing Christina Block's Hamburg law firm Unger in the dispute. The complaint alleges violations of legal hearings for both Christina and the children involved.
Block and her ex-partner have been locked in a custody battle for years over their two younger children, approximately aged 10 and 13. Following a summer visit in 2021, these two children remained with their father in Denmark, against their mother's wishes. In October 2021, the Hanseatic Higher Regional Court granted Christina Block the authority to decide on the children's residence. However, subsequent to a court decision in February 2024, it was determined that German courts had no further jurisdiction, as the children had established a permanent residence in Denmark.
Abduction Investigation
On New Year's Eve, unknown individuals secretly transported the children back to Germany, prompting a court-ordered return to Denmark. The public prosecutor's office is currently investigating Christina Block and her father, Eugen Block, founding father of Block House restaurants, for suspected child abduction. They are believed to have orchestrated and carried out the abduction with the help of other suspects. The authorities have already executed multiple searches of both business and private premises.
Christina Block's defense attorney in the criminal case has maintained that she never authorized anyone to forcefully bring her children back to Hamburg from Denmark. Eugen Block denies any involvement, telling the "Hamburger Abendblatt" in May that he has no clue about the matter.
Climbing Legal Fees
Since the beginning of the custody dispute, Christina Block has reportedly spent over half a million euros in legal fees. As expressed to Bild in June, the ongoing processes and procedures leave her bewildered as to why her ex-partner continues to obstruct an independent expert's creation of a psychological report for the children, despite being denied this opportunity in Denmark.
According to Block, this expert was even threatened with police intervention and barred from entering Denmark when attempting to assess the situation. She insists that an unbiased expert should be permitted to evaluate both parents and the children to ensure a well-rounded understanding of the situation.
Perspective of the Grandfather
In response to feelings of being treated unfairly by the state, Hamburg entrepreneur Eugen Block, now 83, went on record at the opening of a new restaurant in May, expressing frustration over the authorities permitting his grandchildren to remain in Denmark.
In light of these ongoing legal proceedings, Christina Block has decided to escalate her case to a higher authority, filing a complaint with The Court of Justice, seeking justice for the alleged violations during the legal hearings. Despite the Hanseatic Higher Regional Court granting her the authority to decide on her children's residence, the jurisdiction issue was later dismissed in February 2024, leading to an unfavorable court decision.
