Michigan man, Japanese wife in dispute over son, 8

ST. CLAIR SHORES (AP) -- An international custody dispute between a Michigan native and his Japanese wife over their 8-year-old son has landed in the Macomb County courts. Carl Mueller and his wife, Mayumi, appeared in court last Thursday, but the matter was put on hold as Circuit Judge Mary Chrzanowski adjourned a full hearing to July 11 because Carl Mueller wasn't able to contact a lawyer to represent him. Chrzanowski said she probably will award custody to Mayumi Mueller. Carl Mueller moved to Japan and got married in 2002. He worked as an English teacher. Mueller said he later moved with the boy to China because of his faltering relationship with his wife and a lack of career opportunities. He said a job there didn't last, and in March, instead of returning to Japan, he and his son moved to St. Clair Shores to live with Mueller's parents. Carl Mueller told The Macomb Daily of Mount Clemens he did so because he feared that under Japanese family law, he may never see his son again. Mayumi Mueller's attorney, Jeanne Hannah, asked Chrzanowski to award custody to her client, accusing Carl Mueller of "abducting" the child. Hannah gave Chrzanowski a June 24 order from a Japanese court awarding the child back to the mother, with a hearing date set for July 22. For now, the boy will remain at his grandparents' home in St. Clair Shores, but a visitation schedule has been set up so his mother can see him while she's in town, WXYZ-TV reported. Published: Mon, Jul 4, 2011