Hoppe v. Haskins

This appeal from the denial of a motion for relief from a consent judgment has to do with two children born out of wedlock to David Hoppe and Lucy Haskins, one of whom (the “child”) became the subject of protracted litigation between the parties. The serious trouble began in 1980 — a complaint was brought in the Probate Court by the father seeking custody of both children, who were then living with their mother. Two years later, a settlement agreement was signed, both parents and the children having the benefit of counsel. The agreement, which was- carefully drafted, gave custody to the…