Judge reverses parental alienation ruling

Unfortunate news on landmark case .

Heather Capannelli | Publication Date: Monday, 09 November 2009 - Law Times

In another case underscoring the controversy over parental alienation workshops, Justice Thea Herman of the Ontario Superior Court struck down part of an arbitrator’s award earlier this year that would have removed two teenage boys from the custody of their father and sent them to Texas. The decision follows a series of judgments in which Ontario courts have ordered a change in custody and sent the custodial parent along with the children to participate in the workshop.

In S.G.B. v. S.J.L., the court set aside part of an award concluding that the workshop was in the best interest of the boys because the arbitrator relied too heavily on an assessment of them prepared by Richard Warshak, who admitted he hadn’t met them personally.

In his testimony and written evidence, the psychologist and author explicitly declined to make recommendations with respect to the children because he had never observed them before. [more]

How can we progress against the Child Abuse of PAS when Judges do not hold PA accountable? I also feel that many Child Assessments could use video-conferences effectively, at least in the beginning. Save the air-travel for intervention/treatment. But this is a depressing turn of events.

We must continue to educate as many as possible in Family Law about PAS. I maintain that Vellacott's PMB-C422 remains an excellent 1st step and invite EVERYONE to contact their MP/MLA about it.