Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Parental Alienator gets Jail Time and its about time

This is an egregious case of Parental Alienation but is instructive in terms of what the alienating parent will do to the target parent to get the children to hate, in this case, the dad. My ex tried many of the same tactics. What is new in this case is the parent, whose mental health is in question, as are most alienators, got jail time. A precedent has finally been set and hopefully more of this will occur. The children are emotionally impacted, often for life, by this kind of narcissistic behavior but more to the point the parent who would do this to the child is not firing on all cylinders. Serious counseling is in order for this woman. Notably the most vocal and obsessive opponents of Parental Alienation are parents who have lost custody for abusing their children in this manner. It is rather sad to see them use this child punishment as a further weapon to berate other alienated parents as abusers. I believe it more clearly shows the underlying afflictions they may suffer.MJM

 
Updated: Tue., Jun. 8, 2010, 10:59 AM home

An 'ex' to grind

By KIERAN CROWLEY and LEONARD GREENE
Last Updated: 10:59 AM, June 8, 2010
Posted: 2:38 AM, June 8, 2010

She's the ex-wife from hell!


An outraged judge slapped a Long Island woman with a jail sentence for trying to drive a wedge between her ex-husband and their daughters, keeping them apart for weeks at a time and even claiming he groped one of them.

Lauren Lippe is a vengeful roadblock, the barbed wire standing in the way of her two daughters and their desperate dad, Judge Robert Ross said.


Lippe often went nuclear, launching foul-mouthed tirades at Ted Rubin in front of the girls -- calling him a "deadbeat," "loser," "scumbag" and "f - - - ing asshole."


Ross said Lippe, 47, was a scheming manipulator who deliberately planned last-minute trips and events when her ex was scheduled to visit the girls.

"He was compelled to consent or risk disappointing the girls," Ross wrote in his ruling, which found Lippe in contempt for violating the couple's joint custody agreement.

If Rubin protested, Lippe berated him mercilessly.

"We all hope you die from cancer," she once blared at him, the court papers said, with both daughters in her arms.

Lippe even had the nerve to smirk in court when an emotional Rubin described the agony of missing out on Hanukkah with his children. Ross said Rubin was relegated to visit at the end of his ex's driveway, where he lit a menorah with his daughters in his truck and watched them open presents from their grandparents.
But the worst, Ross wrote, was "the crescendo of the plaintiff's conduct" involving false accusations of sexual abuse.

Lippe charged in 2008 that Rubin had fondled the breasts of one of his daughters. Lippe later conceded that she knew nothing sexual had occurred.

"The evidence before me demonstrates a pattern of willful and calculated violations of the clear and express dictates of the parties' Stipulation of Settlement," Ross wrote in a decision handed down last week.
The judge was also annoyed that Lippe had punished the children for wanting to spend quality time with their dad.

On Thursday, Ross sentenced Lippe to six weekends in jail to be served on the first and third weekends of June, July and August. Lippe, who has since remarried, was scheduled to begin her jail time Friday, but her sentence was stayed pending an appeal. Rubin is expected to take care of the children while Lippe is on lockdown.

Ironically, it was Lippe who asked the court to modify the custody agreement.

Lippe declined to comment outside her Lloyd Harbor home, but her lawyer, Kieth Rieger criticized the decision.

"It's extremely unusual, and in this case, it's inappropriate," Rieger said. "He chose to believe the husband and not her. Of course, she's upset, but she's also worried about her children. She's worried that if she goes to jail how it will affect the children."

Rubin, 52, a marketing executive, declined to comment, but has sounded off about his dilemma on his Internet blog.

"Spending time with my girls is something I put before all else," Rubin wrote last year. "They are teenagers now and being a divorced dad, it can be challenging to continue to reach out, put them first, and maintain this in the face of their occasional lack of interest and the roadblocks so easily put in place by their mom."
Additional reporting by Jeane MacIntosh and Selim Algar
 
kieran.crowley@nypost.com
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/an_ex_to_grind_xg3281rUxt068tCFzX1skL#ixzz0qJmpiOoa 
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Sucide by self immolation due to Australian Family Court Judge

The man has since died and he is yet another victim of gender apartheid sentenced to a life not worth living by another biased Family Court Judge. It's interesting Canada and Australia does not have the death sentence for the most heinous of crimes but innocent dads in Canada kill themselves 8 times a day, many for the same reason as this man. A man who loses his children through misandry suffers a devastating loss of self esteem, humiliation and frequently financial havoc.MJM

Man sets himself alight in Brisbane


law courts
POLICE investigate the scene outside the Brisbane law courts after a man set himself alight. Picture: Jodie Richter Source: The Courier-Mail
 
A MAN is believed to have set himself on fire outside of Brisbane's iconic Supreme Court complex after an unfavourable family court decision, according to witnesses at the scene.
The incident happened just after 2pm after the man, believed to be in his 40s, had been sitting in front of the iconic marble Law Courts sign for some time.

Witness reported hearing a bang and seeing flames as would-be rescuers ran to the man's aid.

Emergency workers at the scene say the man is in a critical condition - with burns to 90 per cent of his body.

Sources investigating the incident said the man had earlier been at the Federal Courts for family matter and may not have received the outcome he was after.

Two witnesses, Kylie Pannel and Kylie Beard, who were both close to tears, said they could not believe what happened just 3m from them.


"He said absolutely nothing,’’ Ms Pannel said. "He was so quiet it wasn’t funny."

The incident caused inner-city traffic chaos for more than 90 minutes as up to 15 emergency vehicles crowded into George St to get near the scene.

Police at the scene have declined to comment.
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Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Mother who fed infant son cocaine identified

A case of Parental Alienation with a disastrous life sentence for the innocent child.  The story is also replete with false allegations against the dad. Its so sad but yet part of the culture that is now routine in the malignancy toward dads and men.MJM





By Shannon Kari  June 8, 2010 – 6:15 am

 
Tamara Broomfield was 20 when her son Malique was born, and had no prior criminal record or history of drug addiction. Yet for more than a year, the single mother regularly gave her infant son cocaine — so much that tests later determined it was enough to classify him as a heavy user if he was an adult and left him permanently brain damaged.


The identity of the mother — who was convicted last year of assault causing bodily harm, aggravated assault, failing to provide the necessities of life and administering a noxious substance — was only made public on Monday after the court lifted a publication ban at her sentencing hearing, at the request of Malique’s father and grandmother.





In explaining why he wanted the publication ban lifted, Steve Fitz-Charles said people would better understand why his son behaves the way he does. “I want my son’s name to be revealed, so he can access treatment instead of ridicule.”


Malique is developmentally delayed, and has impulse control and attention disorders. He is required to take Ritalin and other medication to control the possibility of seizures.
The boy also has a sleep disorder, cognitive difficulties and needs one-on-one supervision in school and at home.


Mr. Fitz-Charles, now 27, admitted that as a young man, he sold drugs. He stopped when his son turned one and since that time has returned to school and is about to finish his university degree. During the dispute in Family Court, he said Broomfield would falsely accuse him of being the source of the drugs (Mr. Fitz-Charles was never accused by police of any wrongdoing. He has since been awarded sole custody of Malique).

“Malique was a healthy little boy, ready to take on the world from the get-go,” Mr. Fitz-Charles said.
After their brief relationship ended, he said Broomfield took steps to restrict access. One week after he filed for joint custody, Mr. Fitz-Charles was told his son was in a coma in hospital. “Little Malique looked helpless and lifeless. His ribs were visible on his frail body,” the boy’s father stated.


The abuse was uncovered when Broomfield took her son to hospital with an unexplained seizure; the 2-year-old boy had in fact suffered a stroke and did not get help “until she realized he was dying in front of her eyes,” the judge in the case noted.


The boy had suffered a stroke that was triggered by the cocaine. He was in a coma for several days and doctors thought he would not recover. Nearly five years later, the effects of the brain damage caused by the stroke are evident each day and may worsen, according to the medical evidence.


The young mother has never provided any explanation for her actions.


“Her conduct was self-serving and I dare say, evil,” Crown attorney Andrew Pilla said on Monday in suggesting Broomfield be sentenced to eight years in prison.
Broomfield sat silently and looked straight ahead in the Toronto courtroom as Malique’s grandparents read out moving victim impact statements.


The boy’s grandmother, Yuillie Fitz-Charles, was a teacher in Trinidad when she immigrated to Canada two decades ago. She has worked for several years with agencies that assist special needs children.
Despite her work experience, the daily effort required to take care of Malique is exhausting. “It pains me, that my grandson has to endure such undeserved limitations for the rest of his life,” Ms. Fitz-Charles said.
She spoke of being asked to leave public buses as a result of her grandson’s behavioural difficulties and the need to hold his hand tightly so he does not jump into traffic. Daycare workers have refused to have him in their class. “His special needs are overwhelming,” she said. “I cry everyday for my grandson. I cry for the loss of so many hopes, dreams and expectations; for his subjection to ridicule, prejudice and humiliation — all because of a mother’s cruelty, self-indulgence and indifference.”


Broomfield will be sentenced on July 8. Her lawyer is asking for a further two years in jail and three years probation, in addition to the equivalent of 14 months in pre-trial custody.
National Post
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Sunday, June 6, 2010

A Hidden Crime: Domestic Violence Against Men Is a Growing Problem


Daily Finance
By BRUCE WATSON Posted 10:30 AM 01/30/10
Comments: 183
Amid the media frenzy over Tiger Woods and Bengals receiver Chris Henry, a key aspect of both stories slipped through the cracks: Like millions of other men, Woods and Henry were -- allegedly at least -- the victims of domestic violence perpetrated by their wives or girlfriends. Beyond its brutal physical and psychological costs, domestic violence against men exacts a cruel economic toll at the personal, societal and national levels.

For the most part, the media, authorities and average citizens see domestic violence as a crime that is committed by men and victimizes women. Consequently, funding to combat the problem has overwhelmingly been spent on programs that support women.

Widely Ignored Problem

And yet, more than 200 survey-based studies show that domestic violence is just as likely to strike men as women. In fact, the overwhelming mass of evidence indicates that half of all domestic violence cases involve an exchange of blows and the remaining 50% is evenly split between men and women who are brutalized by their partners.

Part of the reason that this problem is widely ignored lies in the notion that battered males are weak or unmanly. A good example of this is the Barry Williams case: Recently, the former Brady Bunch star sought a restraining order against his live-in girlfriend, who had hit him, stolen $29,000 from his bank account, attempted to kick and stab him and had repeatedly threatened his life.

It is hard to imagine a media outlet mocking a battered woman, but E! online took the opportunity to poke fun at Williams, comparing the event to various Brady Bunch episodes. Similarly, when Saturday Night Live ran a segment in which a frightened Tiger Woods was repeatedly brutalized by his wife, the show was roundly attacked -- for being insensitive to musical guest Rihanna, herself a victim of domestic violence.

Lack of Research

Sometimes it is impossible to ignore the problem, but when domestic violence against men turns deadly -- as in the case of actor Phil Hartman -- the focus tends to shift to mental illness. The same can be said of the Andrea Yates case, which many pundits presented as the story of how an insensitive husband can drive a wife to murder.

Much of the information on domestic violence against men is anecdotal, largely because of the lack of funding to study the problem. Although several organizations explore domestic violence, the biggest single resource is the Department of Justice, which administers grants through its Office on Violence Against Women.

For years, the DOJ has explicitly refused to fund studies that investigate domestic violence against men. According to specialists in this field, the DOJ recently agreed to cover this problem -- as long as researchers give equal time to addressing violence against women.

First National Study

Researchers Denise Hines and Emily Douglas recently completed the first national study to scientifically measure the mental and social impact of domestic violence on male victims. Interestingly, their research was funded by the National Institutes of Mental Health, not the DOJ. Not only does this demonstrate the lack of resources for researchers of this issue, but it also suggests that male battering is perceived as a mental health issue, not a crime.

This decriminalization of domestic violence against men affects research conclusions. While survey-based studies have found that men and women commit domestic violence in equal numbers, crime-based studies show that women are far more likely to be victimized. This inconsistency begins to make sense when one considers that man-on-woman violence tends to be seen through a criminal lens, while woman-on-man violence is viewed more benignly.

A recent 32-nation study revealed that more than 51% of men and 52% of women felt that there were times when it was appropriate for a wife to slap her husband. By comparison, only 26% of men and 21% of women felt that there were times when it was appropriate for a husband to slap his wife. Murray Straus, creator of the Conflict Tactics Scale and one of the authors of the study, explained this discrepancy: "We don't perceive men as victims. We see women as being more vulnerable than men."

Kneed In The Groin

This trend becomes particularly striking when one considers the 1996 case of Minnesota Vikings quarterback Warren Moon, who tried to restrain his wife after she threw a candlestick at his head and kneed him in the groin. Subsequently charged with spousal abuse, he was only acquitted after his wife admitted that she attacked him -- and that her wounds were self-inflicted. Ironically, her admission of fault did not result in charges being brought against her.

While Moon's trial was particularly high profile, his situation is actually very common. In fact, studies have found that a man who calls the police to report domestic violence is three times more likely to be arrested than the woman who is abusing him.

The mainstream perception of domestic violence also impacts the resources that are available to battered men. For example, the Domestic Abuse Helpline for Men and Women, the only national toll-free hot line that specializes in helping male victims of domestic violence, has faced numerous roadblocks in its search for funding. In Maine, where the helpline is based, the surest route to funding is through membership in the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence.

On A Shoestring

But, according to Helpline director Jan Brown, the Coalition refused to even issue the program an application for membership, effectively denying it access to funding. Today, 45 Helpline volunteers field 550 calls per month, 80% of which are from men or people who are looking for help on behalf of a man. Operating with a yearly budget of less than $15,000, it provides intensive training to its workers and offers victims housing, food, bus tickets and a host of other services.

The Helpline's sheltering services are informal and ad hoc, largely because its lack of access to funding makes a shelter financially impossible. In fact, of the estimated 1,200 to 1,800 shelters in the U.S., only one -- the Valley Oasis shelter in Antelope Valley, Calif. -- provides a full range of shelter services to men. And, on average, less than 10% of OVW funds allocated to fight domestic violence are used to help men.

For male victims of domestic violence, the legal system can become another tool for abuse. As in the Moon case, battered men are often likely to find themselves arrested, even when they are the ones who call the police. And, even after the arrest, the process of incarceration, restraining orders, divorce court and child custody hearings continue to disadvantage men.

A High Cost

Restraining orders are a particularly difficult hurdle. Radar Services, a watchdog organization, estimates that approximately 85% of the roughly 2 million temporary restraining orders that are issued every year are made against men. In many states, the requirements for an order are exceedingly vague: In Oregon, for example, a "fear" of violence is sufficient for a restraining order, while Michigan issues them to protect family members against "fear of mental harm."

But there's nothing vague about the effect of restraining orders: They often turn men out of their homes, deny them access to children and result in further personal costs as millions of men have to find new places to live, hire lawyers and pay other expenses. For some men, as Hines and Brown point out, the legal system gives abusive wives and girlfriends tools to continue attacks even after their relationships end.

As Straus notes, "The preponderance of [domestic violence] resources should be made available to women. They are injured more often, are more economically vulnerable, and are often responsible for the couple's children. That having been said, more resources need to be made available to men."

There is no doubt that domestic violence against men can be reduced; the domestic violence initiatives of the past 40 years have brought a hidden crime to light and provided protection for millions of women. The next step is to admit that domestic violence is not a male or female problem, but rather a human problem, and that a lasting solution must address the cruelty -- and suffering -- of both sexes.

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In London Ontario ~ Vigils marks Lucio death and raises awareness of female perpetrated violence on males

An email report by Sean Slaven on the event:

Congratulations to Brad Charlton and the London team for pulling off one of the most monumental events I have ever been apart of. The DV conference and vigil was informative and inspiring,with some of the best advocates of change coming together under one roof.


But, the best part of the event was when the decision was made to take the vigil/ protest from outside the police station to the inside of the police station.
Yes- inside the police station!
 

The group of 20 took the message that domestic violence is not a gender issue right inside where we were able to address our conerns to the police force on their very own ground.
 

Absolutly bloody amazing- they listened and thanked us, which is so different from what most of us have seen where we are usually told to shut up,arrested and put in jail.
 

Well not this time, no threats of being charged, no bullying, no egos!
 

I have never seen this before and would never have believed it if I had not seen it with my own eyes.
 

This my friends was true freedom-freedom of speech, freedom of expression,freedom to gather and protest.
 

I would also like to thank the London police for doing their job and respecting our rights that our fore fathers gave their lives for.
 

Brad and to all those who took part in this truly amazing event- a very big thank you and a job well done.SS







By GEOFF TURNER The London Free Press
Last Updated: June 6, 2010 12:04am

About 20 people marched down Dundas St. to the London Police Service building Saturday night in a candlelight vigil marking the third anniversary of the murder of retired London Police superintendent Dave Lucio.


Lucio was shot June 7, 2007 by acting police inspector Kelly Johnson as he pulled up to her Picton St. condominium building. Johnson then turned her 9-mm service pistol on herself.


The vigil was the culmination of a conference called domestic violence awareness day, presented by the London Equal Parenting Committee.


Organizer Brad Charlton, co-chair of the LEPC, said the conference was meant to draw a connection between domestic violence and equal parenting issues.


“Quite often false allegations of domestic violence are used in court to deny men their rights,” he said.
Dave Lucio’s father Doug, 83, who’s been highly critical of police handling of his son’s death, led the vigil.
Standing before the LPS building, with candle in hand, he repeated his allegation that the 60-page report on Lucio’s death was a “whitewash.”


He said there needs to be more equal treatment in cases of domestic violence.


“Violence is violence whether it’s men or women. There is no difference,” he said.


Conference moderator Kris Titus said she got involved in domestic violence issues 12 years ago when she was separated from her husband because of a violent incident.


She said her husband had smacked her across the face with the back and front of his hand. She said the incident happened because of a “bi-polar condition” brought on by a thyroid problem. She said he was essentially mentally ill at the time, and called the incident “an accident.”


She said once the matter hit the courts, “the system was trying to destroy him.”


Marcher Gwyneth Doty said she was attending to support men who have nowhere to go when facing violence.


“It used to be a man’s world and now it’s a woman’s world,” she said.


“It’s too much, it’s terrible.”


Barbara Jacques, who attended the conference and vigil, said it was important to stand up against violence against men.


“I’ve got three (grown) boys who have gone through it,” she said.


As the vigil assembled at the LPS building, attendees shouted slogans such as “not all men are bad, not all women are good.”

http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2010/06/05/14280126.html#email 
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Monday, May 17, 2010

In Australia: FAMILY relationship centres Cuts to send family battles back to court

I suspect they will not cut the programs that buy votes but will do a disservice to families, the backbone of the country.MJM 



 

Cuts to send family battles back to court

  • Patricia Karvelas, Political correspondent
  • From: The Australian
  • May 13, 2010 12:00AM


FAMILY relationship centres created by the Howard government to keep families out of courtrooms have had their funding slashed by $43.9 million, a move experts say could drive family disputes back into the courts. 


Under changes outlined in the budget, families will have to pay for some counselling sessions that were previously free.

A spokesman for Attorney-General Robert McClelland last night confirmed the cuts to the Family Relationship Services program.

A means test will be applied to counselling services, forcing separating parents to pay for the service if, individually, one of them earns more than $50,000.

The measure was hidden in the detail of the budget papers and was not mentioned in the document that details cuts and increases to programs.

Mr McClelland's spokesman said total funding for the program would be just over $200m each year, while family dispute resolution services would get $90m a year. "It is appropriate for those who use FRC services to contribute to the cost of their provision if they are able to afford it," the spokesman said.

Related Coverage


The means test will be introduced from July 1 next year.

Even with the means test, about two-thirds of clients would continue to receive up to three free hours of mediation.

"Separating families will continue to receive a range of free services and support from FRCs, including intake assessment and screening interviews, referral services, information sessions and facilities for children," the spokesman said.

Family relationship centres have been set up across the country to keep children out of courtrooms, to reduce the financial cost to government of family break-ups and battles in the Family Court, and to lessen the number of acrimonious disputes and custody battles over children.

The centres offer a full range of relationship advice, including pre-marriage counselling, information for separating couples, mediation to help parents gain access to children and advice and help for children, grandparents and other family members.

Families in dispute are generally obliged to try to mediate before commencing proceedings in the Family Court. Centre clients now receive three hours of mediation free at 65 FRCs throughout Australia.
If a session runs longer than three hours, the FRC may charge a fee of $25 to $100 per person per hour for the extra hours.

The new means test will lead to a fee of $30 per hour for the second and third hours of mediation for those earning more than $50,000.

All clients will continue to receive the first hour of mediation free and those who earn less than $50,000 or who receive commonwealth health and social security benefits will continue to receive three hours of free mediation.

Relationships Australia vice-president Anne Hollonds, who runs about half of Australia's 65 centres, said the sector was baffled by the cuts, which would hurt families
.
"You can't resolve disputes in an hour," she said.

Ms Hollonds said the counselling sessions helped domestic violence victims as well as helping people going through separation.

"We are baffled that there would be cuts to a program that has been proven to be successful," she said.
Catholic Social Services Australia executive director Frank Quinlan said the government was abandoning a commitment to help families work through their problems without courts and lawyers.

"It looks like a shift from talking through problems to solving problems through legal dispute," Mr Quinlan said.

Family Relationship Services Australia executive director Samantha Page said no cuts were warranted.
"The major three-year study, 'Evaluation of the 2006 Family Law Reforms', undertaken by the Australian Institute of Family Studies, provided solid evidence that community-based services helped families," Ms Page said.

That study involved 28,000 people who said the support services they received helped them to manage in a more positive way the conflict and distress of separation where children are involved.
"By reducing current investment and planning even more cuts in the future, this government is walking away from family law reforms and acting contrary to its own evidence base," she said.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/cuts-to-send-family-battles-back-to-court/story-e6frg6nf-1225865755234
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