Opinion ID: 4534167
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: the divorce and child custody proceedings.

Text: Michael Wilson and Amanda C. Padula-Wilson married in August 1999. Three children were born of the marriage, A.W., C.W., and A.G.W. 1 The parties separated in 2012. Initially, Padula-Wilson had custody of the children; Wilson had supervised visitation. In the context of adjudicating custody and visitation, the circuit court appointed Scott Landry to serve as the 1 A.W. attained the age of majority while this case was pending below. children’s guardian ad litem. Michele Nelson, Ph.D., a partner at Forensic Psychology Associates, PC (“Forensic”), was appointed to conduct mental evaluations of both parents and she was later engaged, over Padula-Wilson’s objection, to set a visitation schedule between Padula-Wilson and her children. Following a recommendation from Dr. Nelson, Dr. Jill Gasper, Ph.D., conducted reunification therapy between Wilson and C.W. Laura Wert was hired to provide therapy for C.W. Cara Campanella provided therapy for A.W. and A.G.W. Campanella and Wert practice at the Westwood Group (“Westwood”). Dr. Gasper initially recommended to Landry a plan of visitation and that neither parent “record the children . . . for purposes of litigation” or “discuss with the children litigation related matters [or] relocation plans.” In April 2013, C.W. told Landry that Wilson was physically abusive and provided a written account of having been physically abused. 2 After later meeting with Padula-Wilson, Landry wrote a report recommending that the custody court award joint legal custody with physical custody to Padula-Wilson. Several days later, Landry, Dr. Nelson, and Dr. Gasper discovered a website that Padula-Wilson had created about the case. The website included videos of the children and mentioned Landry, Dr. Nelson, and Dr. Gasper. Landry and Dr. Gasper thereafter altered their reports to recommend that Wilson have sole custody and that Padula-Wilson be limited to supervised visitation. They later testified that the website and videos led them to conclude that Padula-Wilson was actively alienating the children from Wilson, “damaging” them and “poisoning” their relationship with him. 2 The Court of Appeals of Virginia addressed the allegations of abuse in an unpublished opinion. Padula-Wilson v. Wilson, Record No. 1203-14-2, 2015 WL 1640934 (April 14, 2015). 2 In August 2013, Dr. Gasper and Landry testified that Padula-Wilson was delusional, psychotic, and a flight risk, and recommended the children be removed from her custody. On August 20, 2013, the court removed the children from Padula-Wilson and denied her visitation. In March 2014, the custody court permitted supervised visitation between Padula-Wilson and the children. Later, the court entered a June 2014 final order awarding sole legal and physical custody of the children to Wilson. The order also provided that Padula-Wilson would “continue to have visitation based on the recommendations of Dr. Michele Nelson.” It clarified that Padula-Wilson “shall only have unsupervised visitation with the children when and if Dr. Nelson determines that it is appropriate or determines any alternatives that are in the best interests of the children.” The circuit court also mandated that A.W. continue therapy with Campanella, “who shall coordinate with Dr. Nelson regarding [A.W.]’s visitation with the [mother].” See Padula-Wilson v. Wilson, Record No. 1203-14-2, 2015 WL 1640934 (April 14, 2015). Padula-Wilson subsequently appealed from the June 2014 order, raising several issues. The Court of Appeals of Virginia affirmed the judgment in part, reversed in part, and remanded the action. With respect to the custody and visitation order, the Court of Appeals concluded that the circuit court erred in delegating its judicial authority to Dr. Nelson and Campanella. Id. Ultimately, in March 2017, the circuit court entered an order granting both parents joint legal and physical custody over C.W. and A.G.W.