Court Opinion

ID: 9583467
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 22:38:59.132296+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:39:02.199080
License: Public Domain

OXBERGER, Chief Judge
(dissenting).
I respectfully dissent. I would remand this case to the trial court to appoint Michael P. Murray of Hillcrest Services. Mr. Murray was appointed by the court to do a family custody evaluation at the time of the original dissolution action. I would request Mr. Murray to investigate the daughters’ claims of inappropriate sexual conduct. I would direct Mr. Murray to conduct whatever psychological tests of the parties and their children as he determines are necessary.
Dr. Sannito, a reputable Professor of Psychology at Loras College, interviewed the daughters, now ages thirteen and twelve. Based on those interviews, Dr. Sannito said he was concerned with the father’s conduct as reported by the girls.
I appreciate the majority’s and the trial court’s reluctance to give weight to Dr. Sannito’s testimony because he did not interview the father. However, the noncustodial parent is in a difficult situation when her children report inappropriate sexual conduct by the custodial parent. In this case, the father punished the girls when he received a copy of Dr. Sannito’s written report.
I am concerned that we deny an accused father his chance to defend himself, but I am not ready to dismiss a reputable expert witness’s judgment that the father is engaging in inappropriate sexual conduct involving his daughters.
I would not award attorney fees at this time.