| --PEERgroup --Parental Equality Enforcement Resource |
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| 1998 |
| Jan 12, 1998 - Garry files contempt citation against Kathy for disregarding court order to contact Ruff to begin therapy sessions. Hearing set for Jan 27, 1998. Jan 27, 1998 - Hearing cancelled. Telephonic conference between attorney’s and judge re-set hearing for February 25, 1998. Feb 19, 1998 - Attorney Moultrie appears in court to address Kathy’s refusal to pay her court-ordered share of GAL fees. Feb 20, 1998 - Kathy requests continuance of Hearing scheduled for Feb 25, 1998. Granted by Bonaventura. Hearing rescheduled for May 18, and May 19, 1998, nearly 3 MONTHS LATER. Feb 25, 1998 - While the hearing scheduled today to address the Kirk case was continued as requested by Kathy, the hearing proceeded to address solely the issue of Moultrie’s compensation. [PEERgroup note: Why should money for the lawyers take precedence over the relationship between a father and daughter?] April 3, 1998- Dr. Ronald Ruff submits his "Report after Evaluations" as ordered by the court. It contains, in part, the following: Regarding the second session of reunification between Garry and Teri Ann... "It is significant, in my opinion, to note that Teri Ann appeared very relaxed, both by her body language and her more comfortable ease of communicating with her father during this interview. I was a marked contrast between the initial visit and today’s session... It was generally a very relaxed and, in my opinion, productive session.... After that session I called Kathy into my office to briefly reassure her that I felt it was a [productive] session. Kathy, again, became very angry saying, “How could it be a good session my daughter is so scared, crying, and is talking about how her father has molested her?...both Teri Ann and her mother were being very dramatic and overreacting." Third and Fourth sessions... "Ann seemed to be predisposed to the next two and final session with an attitude of not wanting to get close to her father or to engage in any type of positive, therapeutic communication. She appeared oppositional, terse, and during most of the time, would not even look at her father." [PEERgroup note: This abrupt change in demeanor of Teri Ann was due to Kathy’s sabotage and the progress towards reunification of the session as recalled in Ruff’s description of Kathy’s reaction after learning of the ‘success’ of the second session above.] About reunification... "The current therapeutic efforts at reunification appear to be at an impasse..." Opinions and Recommendations... "Parental Alienation has occurred...Teri Ann has such a well ingrained sense of alienation towards her father, most likely by her mother, that she vies her father as evil and, as a result, will not even consider now, at this point and time, the possibility of having a relationship with him." "Garry Kirk, on occasion, been very inappropriate and impulsive regarding the discharge of his anger and even rage." [PEERgroup note: Garry's beginning to lose patience with and respect for Bonaventura and the system that has taken his child despite recognizing his innocence of any wrong-doing.] Ruff’s recommendations... 1. Reunification therapy continue 2. Kathy continues her individual therapy sessions 3. Garry Kirk undergo therapy for anger management 4. Teri Ann continue individual therapy and collateral interviews between Kathy and Teri Ann 5. After further interviews, a neutral individual be selected to accompany Teri Ann and her father on supervised visitation April 6, 1998 - Bonaventura removes Dr. Ruff from the case despite Garry’s appeal to keep him on and Dr. Ruff's agreement to stay on. However, Bonaventura now picks Dr. Caruana to assume the role of head therapist and the process begins all over again. Kathy, perhaps thinking that first-come-first-serve offers a strategic advantage in therapy, asks Bonaventura to order that she and Teri Ann have the first appointment with newly appointed Dr. Douglas Caruana. Bonaventura complies with Kathy's request. Removing Ruff buys Bonaventura more time and allows her to avoid following Ruff’s recommendations. Garry Cook is emotionally decimated and very distraught that the unanimous recommendation of the evaluations completed over the past 3 1/2 year have been virtually ignored by Miller and now by Bonaventura. Garry begins looking for a new attorney. April 28, 1998 - Garry fires his attorney [PEERgroup note: the attorney cannot be named because Judge Richards, at the attorney’s request, has issued a order to protect the attorney's identity]. May 1, 1998 - Garry’s new attorney files Emergency Petition for supervised visitation in an attempt to get Garry some sort of visitation. Matter set for hearing May 6, 1998. May 6, 1998 - HEARING: No visitation granted. Judgment issued today is to facilitate the payment of the guardian ad litem, Cheryl Moultrie. Bonaventura states in court that there have been “too many” psychologists involved in this case and so she will appoint a final psychologist to give a definitive ruling that will end this case. Bonaventura issues order specifying the scope of Dr. Caruana's assignment. Now, after 3 1/2 years of the court facilitating Kathy’s parental alienation while simultaneously denying Garry any contact with his child, Bonaventura orders the following: “Doctor Caruana is to establish if the relationship between the father and minor child is viable, and if so, to establish what interventions will be necessary to re-establish said relationship.” [PEERgroup note: So, Caruana is to appraise just how much damage the court has allowed to occur and if the damage the court has allowed is reversible.] June 24, 1998 - Bonaventura denies fathers motion for visitation with his child and also denies mothers request to keep child out of any further reunification therapy. July 31, 1998 - Dr. Douglas Caruana submits first report to Bonaventura which includes the following: Page 2: “[Teri Ann] at times exhibited mild contempt for this examiner’s questions. Her voice was very stilted, with a rehearsed presentation when describing issues involving molestation.” Page 2: Teri Ann is: “...somewhat emotionally stilted youngster, whose pattern of speech is rehearsed...” Page 2: “...Kathy was 1/2 hour late for two of her appointments, and had to cancel one appointment...” Page 3: “In these sessions, Kathy demonstrated a full range of affect, often with extremely rapid shifts.” [PEERgroup note: Emotional instability?] Page 3: “...an individual with very firm views, rapidly shifting emotions, and serious gaps in her understanding and healthy ability in the area of parenting skills.” Page 4: “...it does appear that Teri Ann is either rehearsing or being coached ...” Page 5: “Data generated in this evaluation is strikingly similar to the previous professional reports. The accusations against Garry are stilted, rehearsed, and very atypical in nature.” Page 5: “The highly symbiotic and dependent relationship between Teri Ann and Katy. . . was noted by previous professionals as well as this examiner.” Aug 26, 1998 - Garry’s attorney files motion for immediate hearing. Judge Bonaventura sets hearing date nearly TWO MONTHS in the future, October 13. Sept 3, 1998 - Three years since Garry has been allowed visitation with his daughter. Oct 13, 1998 - HEARING: Dr. Caruana testifies that Kathy is refusing therapy with him as she has done with previous court-ordered therapists. Court orders Garry and Kathy to have four sessions with Caruana within next 30 days. Court “takes under advisement” (i.e., will issue ruling later on) when or if Garry will get to see his child. Bonaventura orders Kathy into individual therapy and Garry into individual therapy. Caruana highly recommends Carole Dougherty, social worker, to facilitate reunification therapy between father and daughter. Dec 2, 1998 - Dr. Caruana submits letter to court warning that “If Kathy continues to present an overbearing influence due to her demands, it is likely that the court will need to intervene at a much more drastic level.” [to facilitate a relationship between father and daughter] Dec 14, 1998 - Garry files request that judge issues ruling so that he can have visitation over the Christmas holiday. Dec 25, 1998 - Third consecutive Christmas without any contact between Garry and his daughter Teri Ann. |
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| "All the cards were marked in advance. The trial was a pig-circus, he never had a chance." - Bob Dylan, Hurricane |