I am a huge fan of an organization called the "High Conflict Institute", founded by Bill Eddy, LCSW, Esq., and Megan L. Hunter, MBA. Their unique approach to dealing with conflict comes from years of studying conflicts, and the realization that the conflicts are not driven by events, but in fact driven by the personalities [...]
With the recent events in which General Petraeus has resigned after his affair with biographer Paula Broadwell, national attention is turning to the "other other woman" who received emails from Broadwell which caused that woman, whose name is Jill Kelley to report these emails to the authorities. Mrs. Kelley, a Tampa socialite married to a [...]
One of the troubling aspects of parental alienation is the manner in which the children are enlisted on the "side" of the alienating parent. Because the alienating parent has successfully convinced the children that the other parent is their enemy, the children are presented to the court, therapists, and the general public as being "independent [...]
It is no secret that in family law there are those individuals who are willing to stop at almost nothing to cause harm and wreak vengeance upon a spouse who dares to oppose them. Most of these individuals suffer from terrible personality disorders and these individuals are encouraged by the manner in which our adversarial [...]
Although justice can and does happen on a daily basis in the family courts here in California, one need only be at the end of an injustice to lose all hope and faith in the system. I often tell people seeking advice that justice is not the purpose behind the courts, but conflict resolution. Justice [...]
One of my favorite blogs on family law has an interesting article on a local court case that has gone to appeal. http://www.thurmanarnold.com/Blog2/2011/May/Marriage-of-Davenport-Trial-Court-SANCTIONS-Wife.aspx You can read a more detailed synopsis of the case there. The case apparently involved 18 volumes and a motion for sanctions under Family Code 271, what is known as a "Feldman" [...]
If you are reading this the chances are you have already previewed a number of websites from a number of authorities, both lawyers and laypersons, making claims about bias in the family courts. Most of them fall along the lines of two common themes: people who think women are being favored and people who think [...]
In a word, yes. California Law allows parties to file a "Petitioner to remove a trustee" if they are not following the directions of the trust. A trust is a plan (hence the term "estate plan") for the person putting money into the trust, called the "settlor". A trustee has a "fiduciary" duty, meaning a [...]
Enhancing Mechanisms to Handle Perjury I fully support your analysis, conclusion, and recommendations, but would add to that. Under “New civil sanctions” the conditions necessary for criminal prosecution are listed. I believe all parties should be informed of the consequences of perjury at the outset and if the conditions listed are met, that prosecution should [...]
Enhancing Mechanisms to Handle Perjury This is one of the most frustrating aspects of family law. People lie baldly all the time, often in the face of overwhelming evidence of the falsity of the testimony. Victims of perjury lose faith in the system which is essentially powerless to punish it. A civil sanction would [...]
