Hello Family Law Section members,
On
Saturday, Sept. 28, NJICLE will present
Parental Alienation: Where Law Meets Science in 2019 from
9 a.m. to 12:35 p.m. at the
Wilshire Grand in West Orange.Most family law professionals have encountered situations where divorcing/divorced parents make negative and disparaging comments about each other to their children. Often, professionals attribute these comments to the stress of divorce or insensitive parenting. There is, however, a line that some parents cross, and their words and actions start to effectuate a child's rejection of the targeted parent.
Conduct like this (which has no legitimate reason), is called Parental Alienation by some professionals. But the concept of parental alienation, both in the courts and among mental health professionals, remains controversial because there are no scientifically validated criteria for distinguishing between alienated children and those who have been abused sexually, psychologically mistreated, and/or subjected to harsh or incompetent parenting.
Advocacy in the mental health, political and legal arenas has gotten ahead of the science. Up until recently, there were no legal criteria for defining parental alienation. Now we have some guidance from New York State. The recently decided NYS AD case of JF v. DF (NY Law Journal, 12/27/18; filed 12/06/18) provides legal criteria for identifying parental alienation (PA) based on tort law. These criteria are intended to differentiate parental alienation from more conventional examples of poor parenting, such as missed phone calls or the occasional vulgarity or snide remark about the other parent.
In addition to their legal implications, the criteria proposed by Judge Richard Dollinger are related to scientific and clinical issues that provide the basis for expert testimony in cases where PA is alleged. Don't miss out on this important new presentation to learn everything you need to know about the legal, scientific, and clinical issues brought into sharp focus by JF v. DF. As an attendee, you'll hear directly from top practitioners as they review the father's allegations, the mother's denial, and Judge Dollinger's decision.
FACULTY
Speakers:Robert Epstein, Esq.
Ziegler, Zemsky & Resnick
Livingston, Hackensack and Westfield
Eileen Kohutis, Ph.D.
Livingston
Madelyn S. Milchman, Ph. D.
Upper Monclair
Matheu D. Nunn, Esq.
Einhorn, Harris, Ascher, Barbarito & Frost, PC, Denville
Steve Resnick, Esq.
Ziegler, Zemsky & Resnick
Livingston, Hackensack and Westfield
TOPICS
• Scientific and clinical issues related to the decision in JF v DF
• The legal criteria for parental alienation (or PA) outlined in JF v. DF
• Advice on litigating parental alienation or PA) claims
• What constitutes "extreme and outrageous conduct"
• Using experts to support a claim of alienation
• Intensive residential treatment programs
• Legal issues related to mandatory intensive residential treatment programs
CLE Credits:NJ CLE information: This program has been approved by the Board on Continuing Legal Education of the Supreme Court of New Jersey for 4.0 hours of total CLE credit. Of these, 4.0 qualify as hours of credit toward certification in matrimonial law.
NJ CLE: This program has been approved for 4.0 credits (50 minute hour)
Matrimonial Law Certification: 4.0 general credits pending
PA CLE: 3.0 substantive credits pending ($12 fee – separate check payable to NJICLE must be submitted at the end of the program)
NY CLE (t&nt): 4.0 professional practice credits
The tuition for NJSBA members is $172. The general tuition is $215. Tuition onsite is $255.
Click here to register for Parental Alienation: Where Law Meets Science in 2019.
Click here to download a form to register.
Click here for a form to register a group.
For questions or to register by phone, please contact an association representative at 732-214-8500.
All the best,
Barbara
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Barbara Straczynski
Director of New Media and Promotions
New Jersey State Bar Association
New Brunswick NJ
(732) 937-7524
[email protected]------------------------------