Source: https://www.hcmmlaw.com/blog/2008/11/15/what-is-parental-alienation-and-parental-alienation-syndrome/
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 19:10:26+00:00

Document:
What Is Parental Alienation And Parental Alienation Syndrome?
Submitted by Robert L. Mues with legal research and assistance from Aaron Hill, an extern from the University of Dayton School of Law.
A disorder that arises primarily in the context of child-custody disputes. Its primary manifestation is the child’s campaign of denigration against a parent, a campaign that has no justification. It results from the combination of a programming or brainwashing of a child by one parent to denigrate the other parent and the child’s own contributions to the vilification of the target parent.
Gardner, R.A. (1998). The Parental Alienation Syndrome, Second Edition, Cresskill, NJ: Creative Therapeutics, Inc.
There are three stages of PAS. These stages include mild, moderate and severe. In a mild case there are naive alienators and the perpetrator can be educated and changed. However, in a severe case the perpetrator is often delusional and their entire being is focused on destroying the other parent’s relationship with the child.
How Do Courts in Ohio Deal with PAS Cases?
Most judges and magistrates are conservative in their orders. Even in severe cases, sanctions to the alienating parent are often relatively inconsequential. If a party perseveres and repeatedly demonstrates to the Court continued contemptuous violations by the alienating parent, a few brave judges have switched custody. In those cases, often the alienating parents ultimately become desperate, their excuses and mental health weaken. But typically, the time and effort to demonstrate this to a Court can take years; during which the innocent parent often becomes frustrated with the process recognizing the irreparable harm to the child. Mild or moderate cases of PAS do not result in custody changes. So expert testimony as to the level of PAS is required.
In Pathan v. Pathan, the Second District Ohio Court of Appeals in Montgomery County determined that a mild or moderate case of PAS was not enough to prove a change in custody was necessary. Pathan v. Pathan, 2nd Dist. No. 17729, 2000 WL 43711 (Jan. 21, 2000) at pg 4. In Pathan, the mother was found to have caused a moderate case of PAS in the child by disrupting the efforts of the father to communicate with his child. However, the court found that the harm caused by changing custody to the father outweighed the advantages of a change in environment.
In Allen v. Murphy, the Fifth District Ohio Court of Appeals agreed with the lower court’s determination that the mother engaged in “the worst sort of parental alienation” and created “an alternate sphere of reality” by convincing her children they were victims of abuse. Allen v. Murphy, 5th Dist. No. 2003AP100081, 2004-Ohio-2578, 2004 WL 1124953 (May 17, 2004) at pg. 1. This more severe case of PAS resulted in a change in custody. Another case of severe PAS was presented to the Ohio Court of Appeals Twelfth District in Doerman v. Doerman. In Doerman, the mother thwarted every attempt of the court to ensure the father parenting time. Doerman v. Doerman, 12th Dist., 2002 WL 1358792 (June 24, 2002) at pg. 6. The court determined it was in the best interest of the children that the father be named legal custodian.
PAS is one of many factors that are considered for the determination of custody set forth in O.R.C. §3109.04(F)(1). However, PAS can play a significant role in the determination of custody. Through an expert opinion, the court will first determine if PAS exists. Second, the court will make a decision as to the level of PAS in the particular case. In Ohio, there must be a severe case of PAS for custody to change on the basis of PAS alone. Proving a severe case of PAS is difficult. It requires exceptionally strong facts, a long history of alienation, expert testimony and a judge who is willing to make what might be perceived as a controversial decision.
Next week, Judianne Cochran, a nationally recognized expert on parental alienation, will be a guest contributor to the Ohio Family Law Blog. We are very pleased to be able to post an excellent article she has written for us outlining the warning signs of parental alienation. Don’t miss her insights!
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Quick and decisive action is needed in cases involving parental alienation. Richard Gardner pointed that out. The courts and its entourage need to find a method to identify Parental Alienation when it exists and take this decisive action at the forefront.
Parental Alienation is child abuse and it is parent abuse. What are we paying all those psychologists with their court appointed studies for anyway?
In response to Robert Gartner’s comment about what are we paying the psychologists for? The problem I run into is, each time you have an evaluation they are not allowed to review previous evaluations. So each time, the conclusion is the same: Although what my ex husband is doing is wrong, (with holding visitation and turning the children against me) the children should stay with him and the court should consider a change in custody IF it continues.” So HOW MANY TIMES do I have to hear this response (after 2 psych evals and one GAL investigation) before the courts actually DO SOMETHING?? How long does it have to continue before the court allows a change of custody?? Do my children have to all 3 hate me first? (So far my ex husband has only been successful in alienating one of my three children but I’m sure the younger two aren’t far behind unless the courts punish him for his contempt and allow my court ordered visitation again.)After so long, it’s hard to hold out hope.
Coincidentally, most of them have designed a program which includes their continued employment!
So heads up, parental alienation is not a psychological disorder. It’s a physical act of isolating one’s children and targeting the child and other parent, for the express purpose of changing the child’s feelings for the other parent.
Whether a parent who would do such a terrible thing has a psychological problem is a S-E-P-A-R-A-T-E issue.

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