Opinion ID: 1659672
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: second hearing

Text: Forming the basis for appeal No. 92-CA-275, Mary next filed a motion to modify judgment and for contempt. Alleging a material change in circumstances adverse to the parties' minor child, Mary sought to have John Doe's visitation rights extinguished and to have him enjoined from any contact or communication with the minor child. As the basis for contempt, Mary alleged that John, in violation of the previous court order, had failed to make a $200.00 payment toward her attorney fees and, further, that he had failed to pay the medical expenses and therapy costs for the minor child. John Doe answered and filed a counter-complaint for contempt, based on Mary's refusal to allow John's court ordered visitation with the minor child. John then moved for production of the minor child for examination and evaluation, which Mary opposed. John also sought a preliminary injunction. Several witnesses testified at the June 7, 1991, second hearing on John's motion for independent evaluation of the child. Paulette Hall, a social worker with the Department of Human Services (DHS), was qualified as an expert in the field of child sex abuse. Ms. Hall had observed John's visitation with Jane at the Department and testified that the pair appeared to have a loving relationship, exhibiting appropriate behavior. Ms. Hall formed the opinion that Jane had been emotionally and mentally abused, but not sexually abused. She did not think further evaluation of Jane by professionals would be detrimental to the child. Mickey Jones, a child abuse investigator with the Department, also testified that the visitation he supervised between Jane and John revealed no fear on Jane's part. Dr. Jan Boggs, a psychologist and counselor, was also qualified as an expert in the field of child sexual abuse. Dr. Boggs said that John and Mary both needed to be involved in the evaluation of Jane; that another independent evaluation should be obtained on Jane and that this would not be detrimental to the child; that it was not unusual for a child victim of sexual abuse to need considerable time and therapy before understanding what has happened to her; and that John was apparently randomly selected by Chance, from over a dozen names Jane had supplied, as the perpetrator of her sexual abuse. [4] Dr. Boggs felt Chance's evaluation and therapy of Jane was inadequate and improper. Assuming John had abused Jane, Dr. Boggs found John to be a good candidate for rehabilitative treatment. Due to Jane's emotional state, her psychiatrist, Dr. Guild, admitted the child to Charter Hospital on November 4, 1990, where she remained in treatment until November 20, 1990. After Jane was discharged from the hospital, she had another 15 to 18 sessions with Chance. Since the hospitalization, Chance said Jane had consistently named John and his father, Papaw Don, as perpetrators of her sexual abuse and of other threatening incidents that occurred at the fox pen. However, Jane also continued to name others as perpetrators of her sexual abuse. Chance stated that evaluation of Jane by another expert would be detrimental to the child and, in only six or eight sessions, as suggested by Dr. Boggs, not enough trust would develop to make the evaluation worthwhile. [5] Chance felt that Jane's testifying in court would be emotionally distressing to her, whether in John's presence or not. John again testified that he had never had any sort of inappropriate contact with Jane, and neither had anyone else when Jane was in his custody. John said he and Jane had a good relationship before his visitation rights were terminated and he felt he could reestablish this relationship with Jane. The chancellor examined Jane in chambers to ascertain whether she exhibited any fear of her father, whether her mother had instructed her as to the statements she had made, and whether a discussion would upset her. Jane said she did not want to visit with her father, but did not mention any sexual abuse. The chancellor noted no fear of John. Jane said she didn't want to see John because her mother told her he was on drugs, and because John is mean and whips her. Jane also said her mother didn't want her to visit with John. Jane said her mother told her Papaw Don and Lois Doe do drugs. At the close of the hearing the chancellor authorized an independent evaluation of Jane Doe.