Challenging Parental Alienation
I. WHAT is the problem?
a. Contact resistance/refusal
b. Assessment of contact resistance as parental alienation
II. WHY is this a problem?
a. DV, CSA connections
b. Nature of proposed treatments
c. Impacts on children
III. HOW do we address this problem?
a. Legal strategy
b. Using expert witnesses
c. Examining experts’ backgrounds
d. Rebutting false claims
If you need assistance registering for this program, please contact Ann Horn at Ann@SonomaCountyBar.org or (707) 542-1190 ext. 100
SCBA is happy to consider any accommodations you may need to participate in this program. Please contact SCBA at Reception@SonomaCountyBar.org or (707) 542-1190 ext. 100 to discuss what accommodations can be made available to you.
Speakers

Margaret Drew
Associate Professor of Law
University of Massachusetts School of Law
Margaret Drew is an Associate Professor of Law who teaches at the University of Massachusetts School of Law, USA, and has represented domestic abuse survivors in trial and appellate courts. Professor Drew’s scholarship has focused primarily on intimate partner abuse and its impact on vulnerable populations. Some areas of interest are lawyer malpractice in domestic violence cases, the vulnerability of people living with HIV, the use of Collaborative Law in domestic violence cases, and bringing a human rights framework to legal remedies for survivors of abuse.

Jean Mercer
Professor Emerita of Psychology
Stockton University in New Jersey
Jean Mercer is Professor Emerita of Psychology at Stockton University in New Jersey, USA. She is a developmental psychologist with concerns about potentially harmful therapies that are used for children, including "holding therapy" and other coercive methods. She has published a number of articles critiquing theory and research on parental alienation allegations in child custody cases.

Johanna Kleppe, JD, MBA, CFLS
Certified Family Law Specialist
Empower Law Group
Johanna is a Certified Family Law Specialist and handles a range of family law cases, from complex financial matters to child custody and visitation issues. In addition to family law, Johanna represents families and children in probate guardianships and juvenile dependency cases. She is trained in collaborative law and mediation, and serves as a parenting coordinator in family law cases.