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Q: Custody evaluator in DuPage and Kane Co., Illinois ( No Answer,   29 Comments )
Question  
Subject: Custody evaluator in DuPage and Kane Co., Illinois
Category: Miscellaneous
Asked by: kay0627-ga
List Price: $50.50
Posted: 23 Oct 2004 08:05 PDT
Expires: 22 Nov 2004 07:05 PST
Question ID: 418924
Do you have any more input on Dr. Roger Hatcher, Aurora, Illinois,
regarding court cases in Kane and DuPage Counties, Illinois?  He is
spinning out of control awarding all children to dads even if mom is
fine.  No one is stopping him.  Judges rubberstamp his decisions
without checking for lies.

Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 23 Oct 2004 08:54 PDT
I found no indications that Dr. Hatcher has ever been disciplined by
the State of Illinois.

His role and testimony in custody cases (and a few other types of
cases) is mentioned in about half a dozen legal cases.


For instance, one case notes:

-----
Dr. Roger Hatcher testified that he was a clinical psychologist and
had been retained...to perform a custody evaluation of A.W.J. pursuant
to Supreme Court Rule 215 ((166 Ill. 2d R. 215). In performing his
evaluation, Dr. Hatcher conducted multiple interviews with the
parties, observed A.W.J. in "play interaction" with each of his
grandparents, and reviewed all the past psychological ...reports...Dr.
Hatcher questioned [name's] ability to care for A.W.J. as she grew
older...

...The trial court did not accord significant weight to the testimony
of the Pattersons' Rule 215 expert, Dr. Roger Hatcher, finding that he
was substantially impeached on cross-examination and...by the
testimony of the other experts.
-----

This is one case, at least, where Dr. H's opinions were not
rubberstamped by the court.


I'd be glad to excerpt other material pertaining to Dr. Hatcher from
the few other cases in which his name turns up.  Would that be a
suitable answer to your question...?  If not, please let us know what
sort of additional information you are seeking.

Thanks.


pafalafa-ga

Clarification of Question by kay0627-ga on 23 Oct 2004 09:49 PDT
You are on the right track.  In Kane County, I have been told Hatcher
ruled for the fathers in 100% of the custody battles he reviewed.  A
woman in Kane Co. is suing him and he has been placed on leave so
right now he is getting no more referrals in Kane Co.  This may also
be true for Dupage Co.  His reports repeat the same sentences in his
evaluation of the mothers.  If you can find his actual reports and
read them you will see this repetition.  I'm most concerned about
Sproat v Sproat in DuPage Co.  Judge Mehling just ruled against by
friend based on Hatcher's review plus a close friendship with the
stepfather of the father seeking custody, who won.  Please keep
digging and if I owe you more money, let me know.  Thank you, Kay0627

Clarification of Question by kay0627-ga on 25 Oct 2004 19:32 PDT
Has anyone read my clarification?  I'm hoping for a response soon.  Thank you
Kay0627

Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 25 Oct 2004 19:50 PDT
Hello kay0627-ga,

Yes, I read your clarification, and sorry for not responding sooner.

Truth is, I'm a bit stumped on how to best answer your question.  The
key source of material I can find on Dr Hatcher is about half a dozen
cases that appear in legal databases in which he is mentioned.

There isn't a lot of in-depth information in these cases...in fact,
the excerpt I quoted on Oct 23 is about as detailed as it gets.

I do not have access to any of Dr. H's case reports or related
materials, so I can't look into these, nor did I find any mention of
him in local newspaper articles.  And a lot of local county cases just
don't make it into online databases -- I didn't see anything on Sproat
v Sproat.

My question to you then, is this:  Are the citations and brief
excerpts from a few legal cases enough to make for an answer to your
question.  I was hesitant to post this information, as it ain't much. 
But it is all I could find.

Let me know what you think.

pafalafa-ga

Clarification of Question by kay0627-ga on 26 Oct 2004 15:01 PDT
Thanks for the further input.  I guess we're at the end of the road on
Hatcher, unless I can go to the courthouse and actually read his
reports.  Thanks for checking.
Kay0627

Clarification of Question by kay0627-ga on 29 Oct 2004 18:33 PDT
To pafalafa, now we have info from Grundy county.  I googled Hatcher
and found 2 cases in detail, one on topic.  Please keep digging.  If I
found 2 cases in detail, certainly you can find more.
Thanks you, Kay0627

Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 29 Oct 2004 19:36 PDT
kay0627,

Hello.  I must say, I admire your persistence on this one.

As I mentioned a few days ago, I did unearth a number of cases where
Dr. Hatcher is mentioned.  In particular, these are:


In re Marriage of De Bates 
Trettenero v. Police Pension Fund
Tawrel v. Patterson
Divelbiss v. Divelbiss
In re Marriage of Henry
In re Marriage of Kerman
Leggett v. Kumar
In re Marriage of Engelbach
People v. Rutkowski
In re Marriage of Anderson


The Tawrel case seems to be have the most detailed account pertaining
to Hatcher, and this is the case I provided an excerpt from earlier. 
More detail from the case is given below:

==========

In re A.W.J., a Minor (Jean K. Tawrel, Petitioner-Appellee, v. Linda
Patterson and Mitch Patterson, Respondents-Appellants (Richard J.,
Respondent)).

No. 2-99-1165

APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS, SECOND DISTRICT


May 23, 2000

...Dr. Roger Hatcher testified that he was a clinical psychologist and
had been retained by Linda and Mitch Patterson to perform a custody
evaluation of A.W.J. pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 215 ((166 Ill. 2d
R. 215). In performing his evaluation, Dr. Hatcher conducted multiple
interviews with the parties, observed A.W.J. in "play interaction"
with each of his grandparents, and reviewed all the past psychological
... reports, including Dr. Dres's.

...Based on the results of his evaluation, Dr. Hatcher recommended
that sole custody of A.W.J. be placed with Linda and Mitch Patterson.
Dr. Hatcher noted that A.W.J. had been living with the Pattersons
since July 1996, and that A.W.J. was extremely well-attached to the
Pattersons. Dr. Hatcher believed that the Pattersons had a good
ability to care for A.W.J. in their household and that Linda Patterson
would be a "stay at home" mother for A.W.J. Dr. Hatcher noted that
A.W.J. was well-suited to the Pattersons by his temperament and was
used to "their attentive but not over-controlling lifestyle." Dr.
Hatcher also rejected Dr. Dres's implication that Linda Patterson had
failed in her parenting of Richard J. Dr. Hatcher found no evidence
that Linda had been anything except a competent, caring, and
appropriate parent for both of her children.

..Dr. Hatcher questioned Tawrel's ability to care for A.W.J. as she
grew older. Dr. Hatcher testified that she is experiencing significant
neuropsychological impairments of memory, orientation, and confusion.
Tawrel also appeared anxious, depressed, and easily agitated. Dr.
Hatcher noted that, during the play sessions with...A.W.J., Tawrel
appeared focused on keeping order as opposed to actively involving
herself in A.W.J.'s representational play and fantasy. Dr. Hatcher
concluded that Tawrel would be easily stressed by the normal behaviors
and difficulties that A.W.J. is likely to show as he grows older.


...On October 1, 1999, following the trial, the trial court entered an
order granting sole custody of A.W.J. to Tawrel. In making its
determination, the trial court primarily relied upon the findings of
the court-appointed psychologist, Dr. Dres, and the recommendations of
the GAL, Brigid Duffield. The trial court also found the testimony of
Jean Tawrel's Supreme Court Rule 215 (166 Ill. 2d R. 215) expert, Dr.
Kadi Sprengle, to be clear and convincing. The trial court did not
accord significant weight to the testimony of the Pattersons' Rule 215
expert, Dr. Roger Hatcher, finding that he was substantially impeached
on cross-examination and... by the testimony of the other experts.

...As detailed above, the Pattersons' expert, Dr. Hatcher, recommended
that custody by placed...with Linda and Mitch Patterson. Dr. Hatcher
questioned Tawrel's physical and psychological ability to adequately
raise A.W.J. as he grew older. The trial court accorded Dr. Hatcher's
testimony little weight, finding that it had been substantially
impeached on cross-examination and by the testimony of the other
experts. We see no reason to disturb this determination. A trial court
is not compelled to follow the recommendation of an expert in custody
matters. In re C.B., 248 Ill. App. 3d 168, 179-80, 188 Ill. Dec. 28,
618 N.E.2d 598 (1993). Here, Dr. Hatcher's testimony was in direct
conflict with that of Drs. Dres and Sprengle, who found that Tawrel
possessed both the physical and mental ability to be A.W.J.'s
custodian. The trial court was in the best position to assess the
testimony and we cannot say that its determination was against the
manifest weight of the evidence.

==========

The other cases I mentioned also have information on Dr H, but it is
generally not as detailed as the above account.

Would you like me to post the excerpts from these cases as an answer
to your question?

Let me know what you think.

pafalafa-ga

Clarification of Question by kay0627-ga on 01 Nov 2004 13:35 PST
Dear Trailwalker, Thanks for the update.  We need all the info we can
get on Hatcher.  We are trying to bring his reign to an end.  Thanks,
again, and stay in touch.
Kay0627

Clarification of Question by kay0627-ga on 01 Nov 2004 19:37 PST
To Pafalafaga, any more info for us?  As you can see, this is a
serious matter.  We need your help to root out the truth.
Kay0627

Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 01 Nov 2004 19:46 PST
Hi Kay,

No I'm sorry, but I don't have any additional information on Dr.
Hatcher beyond the information in the cases I mentioned the other day:


In re Marriage of De Bates 
Trettenero v. Police Pension Fund
Tawrel v. Patterson
Divelbiss v. Divelbiss
In re Marriage of Henry
In re Marriage of Kerman
Leggett v. Kumar
In re Marriage of Engelbach
People v. Rutkowski
In re Marriage of Anderson

Unfortunately, I don't have access to the Grundy County cases, but I
wish you the best in your efforts to keep the courts on the up and
up...especially when it comes to the welfare of the kids.

pafalafa-ga

Clarification of Question by kay0627-ga on 07 Nov 2004 13:38 PST
To Justice for Children-ga, from Kay0627.  Thank you for your help. 
I'm gathering info for a friend who just lost her children because of
Hatcher.  Shared custody is all we're looking for.  I will go to those
courthouses and copy the cases you mentioned.  I look forward to
hearing from you in the future.
Kay0627

Clarification of Question by kay0627-ga on 09 Nov 2004 13:28 PST
To Trailwalker, thanks for your help.  And, thanks for reading this
board.  I appreciate your interest.
I did learn that Hatcher was dropped as an evaluator by DuPage Co. at
least a yr. ago but I haven't been able to learn why.  I'm thinking of
hiring a private eye to get to the bottom of this.
Kay0627
Answer  
There is no answer at this time.

Comments  
Subject: Re: Custody evaluator in DuPage and Kane Co., Illinois
From: trailwalker-ga on 28 Oct 2004 08:03 PDT
 
Kay 0627
I have used Dr. Hatcher   Grundy County Illinois I have lost my
children even though there was significated proof of abuse from the
father. Dr. Hatcher dismissed it all claiming that I lied to make my
ex look bad. He didnt bother with the facts that DCSF has been called
(never by me) at least 6 times on my ex. He dismissed the hospital
records where my child told the emergency room Doc that the dad threw
him in the car. He dismissed other councilors recomendation that my
children never see their father becuase of the abuse. Dr hatcher
dismissed it all. Maybe I should have paid him more money   Im told
that the way to win with Hatcher
Subject: Re: Custody evaluator in DuPage and Kane Co., Illinois
From: trailwalker-ga on 28 Oct 2004 08:08 PDT
 
Kay 0627
Do you have any information on Dr Hatcher in Dupage of Kane County? Do
you have any proof that he is no longer used? I could really use that
information here in Grundy County.
Subject: Re: Custody evaluator in DuPage and Kane Co., Illinois
From: kay0627-ga on 28 Oct 2004 12:11 PDT
 
To Trailwalker, thanks for your input.  I'm sorry for your troubles. 
I do have some info on Hatcher but nothing verified right now.  I will
know more soon and will  contact you later.  Did you get your children
back?
Subject: Re: Custody evaluator in DuPage and Kane Co., Illinois
From: kay0627-ga on 29 Oct 2004 21:01 PDT
 
Thanks for the excerpt on this case.  Now Grundy Co. has spoken with
problems there re: our Dr. Hatcher.  Please look at Grundy Co., Il.
court notes, if you can, where Hatcher was involved.  I understand
Hatcher was dropped as a referral in DuPage Co.  Can you find the date
for me that he was dropped, plus reasons and by whom?  That would be
swell.  Ditto Kane and Grundy Counties, if he was dropped by them,
also.
Thank you, Kay0627
Subject: Re: Custody evaluator in DuPage and Kane Co., Illinois
From: kay0627-ga on 30 Oct 2004 15:13 PDT
 
To Pafalafa-ga, yes, keep digging, esp. the records of DuPage Co.,
Grundy Co. and Kane Co. to see if Hatcher has been dropped.  I
understand in one case, kids were awarded to the dad, who murdered his
children.  In another case, the mom who lost her kids because of
Hatcher committed suicide.  Certainly there is more info out there on
this "person."  It is our job to find it.  Thank you.
Kay0627
Subject: Re: Custody evaluator in DuPage and Kane Co., Illinois
From: trailwalker-ga on 01 Nov 2004 11:24 PST
 
dear kay and parffaa (spelled wrong i know)
The case in Grundy County was with Patrick Gleason  its been about 2
years ago now there was an amber alert for the children when the dad
did not return them to their mother on time. Patrick Gleason is now in
a Michigan prison for the murder of his two children. Dr. Hatcher a
year before they were killed recomended that these two children go
live with the dad       NOW THEY ARE DEAD ! and Dr. Hatcher just
continues to ruin lives!!!  HE needs to be stopped!!!
Subject: Re: Custody evaluator in DuPage and Kane Co., Illinois
From: trailwalker-ga on 01 Nov 2004 11:27 PST
 
Pafalfa-ga   Please look up the Gleason case in Grundy County the
murder made national news but no ever mentioned Dr. Hatchers involment
with this case. Had he of done his job, he should have seen in some of
the test that they give you what this man was like
Subject: Re: Custody evaluator in DuPage and Kane Co., Illinois
From: justiceforchildren-ga on 07 Nov 2004 09:44 PST
 
There is a lot of controversy about the well-being of the children
once Judges follow Dr. Hatcher's recommendations for sole custody (99%
of the time) to the fathers or changes in custody from the mothers to
the fathers.  I know it has been asked if cases can be found that
involve Dr. Hatcher and his recommendations.  Unless cases are
appealled they are not published.  Appellate Courts will not look at
evidence presented at trial, only if the law was followed by the Judge
when he made his decision.  Basically the Trial Court is the Fact
Finder and the Appellate Court deals only with issues of Law - was the
law followed.  The Appellate Court believes the Trial Court Judge was
in the best position to hear the evidence and determine the
significance and weight of the evidence, as well as the credibility of
the witnesses, etc.  So, the bottom line is if a case is not
appealled, the only way of getting information about other cases is
going to the Circuit Clerks office in the County in which the case was
heard, pulling the file, and requesting copies that you will have to
pay for.  All of the cases are public record and anyone has the right
to copy them, although some of the evidence may be sealed as is the
Judge's notes that he took during the trial.  The problem is unless
you know about the case specifically you will never know it exists and
therefore will never know to go and copy it.  Your lawyer would have
no way of knowing about it either unless he/she happened to hear about
it by chance.  This is how this custody evaluator seems to be getting
away with his actions.  A very important case, in my opinion, in Kane
County is Kelli Ann Walker (now Jansen) vs.  Jeffrey Ross Walker, Case
No.  D KA 98 597.  This one will break your heart.  In DeKalb County,
which is part of the 16th Judicial Circuit along with Kane County, is
Steven O'Brien vs. Theresa Stockero, Case No. 99 F 107.  Their closing
and rebuttal arguments were submitted in writing and are available to
be copied by the public.  There was a lot of information about Dr.
Hatcher in those briefs.  The ruling in this case just came out this
week and this mother and her attorney were able to overcome Dr.
Hatcher's recommendation.  The Judge ruled that the child would remain
in the custody of her mother despite Dr. Hatcher, as the
Court-Appointed Custody Evaluator, recommending sole custody being
changed to the father.  Also, I believe Sue Smith and Patrick
Gleason's case from Grundy County was already mentioned by someone
here.  Unfortunately those children are no longer with any of us.  All
three of these were Dr. Hatcher cases.  Finally, I would like to make
it very clear that I am not pro mother or pro father.  I am pro
children and their best interests.  I know both mothers as well as
father that should be the custodial parent.  What I am against is
custody evaluators destroying the lives of children in either taking
bribes or fighting for father's or mother's rights.  I have my
opinions regarding Dr. Hatcher.  I do not know how he sleeps at night.
 I will try to find more unpublished, local cases and will post them
here so that parents can go the Courthouses and copy them if needed. 
Our children our innocent and deserve a loving, peaceful childhood. 
Let us also not forget that our children are our future.  If we damage
them, we are damaging our futures as well.
Subject: Re: Custody evaluator in DuPage and Kane Co., Illinois
From: trailwalker-ga on 09 Nov 2004 11:40 PST
 
to Kay and justis
I am a Grundy County resident, I am going to go to the court house and
try to get more information on the the Gleeson / Smith case. Namely 
what Dr. hatchers report had to say
Subject: Re: Custody evaluator in DuPage and Kane Co., Illinois
From: justiceforchildren-ga on 14 Nov 2004 00:20 PST
 
I have just a little information on a few other cases involving Dr.
Roger Hatcher fron Apogee/PsychCare Associates in Aurora, IL.  The
first is from DuPage County:  Gloria McQueen is suing Dr. Hatcher
and/or his associates.  If you go to the DuPage County Courthouse, ask
to view and/or copy Case No. 00 L 00130.  This case apparently was
filed in 2000 and I do not know the current status.  If anyone in
DuPage County looks this up and finds that out, please post.  The
other case was a custody case in Kane County.  It is about five years
old.  A flight attendant mother, Debbie Peterson, lost custody of
their twin son and daughter to the father, an airline pilot with the
same airline.  This was as a result of Dr. Hatcher's recommendation
that custody be given to the father.  I don't have the case number,
but it is Peterson vs. Peterson (I am not sure if Debbie/Deborah
Peterson was the plaintiff or respondent.)  It was decided five years
ago, but it may have been filed a year or two before that.  If I hear
of anymore cases I will post here.  If any reviews either of those
cases, please post some of the facts here as well.  Toghether we will
help stop the injustices to these innocent children.
Subject: Re: Custody evaluator in DuPage and Kane Co., Illinois
From: kelli252-ga on 17 Nov 2004 09:15 PST
 
I am Kelli Jansen(Walker)the one mentioned in one of the comments. I
have information about Dr. Roger Hatcher.
Subject: Re: Custody evaluator in DuPage and Kane Co., Illinois
From: kay0627-ga on 22 Nov 2004 09:34 PST
 
To Justiceforchildren, are you in touch with Stella?  Just curious.
Kay0627
Subject: Re: Custody evaluator in DuPage and Kane Co., Illinois
From: shadowmom-ga on 23 Nov 2004 08:11 PST
 
I am reading all of this and am amazed at my luck.  I had an attorney
in Grundy County, Morris, IL who strongly urged me to contact Dr.
Hatcher IMMEDIATELY for a custody evaluation.  Thank god I did not.  I
tried to contact this Dr several times when finally his secretary said
to me, did Randy show you the video tape of Dr. Hatcher?  I said no. 
Evidently there is a video tape of Hatcher that he supplies to
attorney's on his custody evaluations.   My attorney's name was
Randolph Gordon of Morris IL.  Please steer clear of this guy in
custody situations.  I have a letter from him telling me that I am
being accused of PAS and according to Illinois Law, the recommendation
is to switch custody.  That is not the law.  He tried to scare me into
seeing this guy.  Now I know why, it would make his job easier. 
Hatcher would have recommended a change in custody, and that would be
the end of it.  But I fooled them all.  I did not see this doctor,
only because he told me that I needed $6000 cash.  I explained to him
that I had two major medical insurances that covered psychological
visits and he told me that I still needed $6000 cash, a big red flag
to me.  Anyone using this attorney?  Let me know and I will show you
the two letters I received from him.
Subject: Re: Custody evaluator in DuPage and Kane Co., Illinois
From: kay0627-ga on 23 Nov 2004 15:26 PST
 
To shadowmom, thanks for joining in.  How can I get this video?  It
might help our case.  Thanks for the head's up on your lawyer.
Kay0627
Subject: Re: Custody evaluator in DuPage and Kane Co., Illinois
From: shadowmom-ga on 23 Nov 2004 21:31 PST
 
I am new here, so I don't know how we get together to trade
information.  All I know is that Dr. Hatcher has a video of himself
that he supplies to local attorneys about his custody evaluations. 
Randy Gordon took $500 from me as a retainer with a agreement (nothing
in writing)that I pay him $500 every two weeks to represent me.  He
failed to file in court his appearance as my attorney (another red
flag), did not prepare for court, he wrote me two letters denying me
expert witnesses, and refused to supbeona my witnesses, he told me to
just have them show up in court (this is in writing).  When we went to
court, he never showed up and the judge called him from the courtroom.
 He told the judge that I owed him money so he would not represent me.
 All along he knew that I was not stupid and he could not pull the
wool over my eyes.  Too many "red flags" where this attorney was
concerned.  Please, please, please, if you are in a custody battle do
not use this guy.  He will rob you blind and do nothing, I have two
letters signed by him to prove it.  I don't know how anyone can get
this video.  Perhaps someone could go to Gordon's office under the
pretense of needing an attorney, say that Hatcher's secretary asked if
you viewed the video of Dr. Hatcher and ask to see it.  Or have the
news do it.  They go undercover all the time for stories, why not this
one?  I heard the Tribune is doing something on the lines of Hatcher. 
I know someone in Grundy county that had Hatcher as a custody
evaluator and he recommended she lose custody of her son, she has not
been to court yet.  How do we all connect here?  This is the only page
I have visited.  Is there a home page somewhere where there is a link
to email each other?  I don't want to give my email here.
Subject: Re: Custody evaluator in DuPage and Kane Co., Illinois
From: shadowmom-ga on 23 Nov 2004 21:35 PST
 
Or better yet, anyone have an attorney willing to contact Hatcher
saying that he was recommended by several attorneys to use him as a
custody evaluator and ask if he has any information that can be
provided as to what he does.  Maybe he will send them a copy of this
video.  Just a thought
Subject: Re: Custody evaluator in DuPage and Kane Co., Illinois
From: fighting4her-ga on 30 Nov 2004 12:27 PST
 
I have been going through a custody battle and divorce from my ex for
almost 3years now.  I had an evaluation done by a court appointed
evaluator, who stated that my husband is a womanizer and that my
daughter would never grow up with a good self esteem about herself as
a girl if he was given custody.  There are other reasons listed as
well as to why I should be awarded custody.  So my ex than stated that
he wanted his own evaluation done, and he chose Dr. Hatcher (I now see
why).  This was unusual to me at the time because we both reside in
McHenry, Illinois and our case is in the McHenry Co. Courts.  I just
found out the day before Thanksgiving, that Dr. Hatcher is siding with
my ex.  We still have not seen the report.  I have court in Dec. and
am looking for any information that will help me discredit him.  I am
learning a lot from what I am reading here, and it saddens me so to
find out that my daughter, who wants to be with her mommy, is being
used as a pawn against me.  If Dr. Hatcher has been suspended or his
license has been suspended please let me know.  I am looking for just
about anything at this stage of the game.
Subject: Re: Custody evaluator in DuPage and Kane Co., Illinois
From: kay0627-ga on 30 Nov 2004 13:28 PST
 
For Palafa, can you tell me what courts the cases you noted are from? 
I would love to read each case.  How did you find these?  Many of
these could be useful.
Thanks,
Kay0627
Subject: Re: Custody evaluator in DuPage and Kane Co., Illinois
From: kay0627-ga on 06 Dec 2004 11:52 PST
 
My lawyer just left a message saying she called Hatcher for the tape
and he denies its' existence.  So that ends that!
Kay0627
Subject: Re: Custody evaluator in DuPage and Kane Co., Illinois
From: fighting4her-ga on 06 Dec 2004 16:02 PST
 
I am still waiting for my report from Hatcher.  It seems it must be
taking him some time to figure out what to write about me.  I finished
my evaluation with him on Sept. 28th, his office called my lawyer Nov.
24th to let us know that he was siding with my ex, and yet I still
haven't physically received the report. Hmmmm.....
Subject: Re: Custody evaluator in DuPage and Kane Co., Illinois
From: kay0627-ga on 07 Dec 2004 07:22 PST
 
To Fighting4her, do you think he's changing his stance?  I wonder if
he knows we're watching him.  I'd love for him to get hot under the
collar.
Kay0627
Subject: Re: Custody evaluator in DuPage and Kane Co., Illinois
From: shadowmom-ga on 07 Dec 2004 08:13 PST
 
Isn't it amazing that he does not have a "copy" of himself on tape?  I
think that someone has to come up with a ploy to get this tape because
it DOES exist.  It is just figuring out how to get it.  Yes, he has to
know we are watching him.  Do you know this guy is out for the money
and only the money.  How old is he anyway?  Maybe he will do what the
nutbag Richard Gardner did to himself.  I couldn't even get an
appointment with this guy until I had $6,000.  What does that tell
you?  Thank god I didn't have the money, and more thank gods, that the
judge didn't order him as a custody evaluator in our case.  I have
heard his name being tossed around in the hallways of our courthouse
and I shudder everytime I hear someone say it.  What can we do to
"catch him" in lies?  Perhaps we could go to him with the pretense
that we need a custody evaluation and video him?  Why is no one using
undercover video taping of his sessions with him?  I record everything
with everyone involved in my custody case.  That way when they say
something different, I bring it to their attention that I have
recorded what they said and ask them to verify that they said
something different.  This usually backs them off.  I know it is
illegal in Illinois, but hey, no one and I mean no one, is going to
lie and make me lose my child.
Subject: Re: Custody evaluator in DuPage and Kane Co., Illinois
From: fighting4her-ga on 07 Dec 2004 18:54 PST
 
Kay,
I wish that were the case.  Just got my report today, he says that my
ex is more psychologically stable than myself.  I am going to another
psychologist and getting a 3rd set of tests done.  The 1st evaluator
says I'm fine, Hatcher says I'm unstable, guess I'll just have to
prove him wrong and get another test!;)  Wish me luck guys, got
pretrial on Friday!
Subject: Re: Custody evaluator in DuPage and Kane Co., Illinois
From: shadowmom-ga on 07 Dec 2004 19:37 PST
 
I don't know who your first evaluator was, but Dr. David Finn from
Rolling Meadows is excellent, also, someone I would strongly recommend
is Dr. James Dugo.  He runs the "male batterers" program from Cook
County.  You would have to look him up on the internet as I don't have
his address right now.  But Dr. Finn is excellent too.  Dr. Doreen
Salina of Chicago is excellent too, she testified at my hearing.  She
will work with you on payments also.  Good luck and let me know who
you decide to go to.  Can you tell us who your first evaluator was? 
Someday I may be in this nightmare again and need an evaluator.
Good luck to you, I will say a prayer for you.
Subject: Re: Custody evaluator in DuPage and Kane Co., Illinois
From: kay0627-ga on 08 Dec 2004 08:07 PST
 
Someone's case involved the husband carrying a fake gun in his
waistband.  Please see today's Tribune, 12/8, headline re:  fake guns
and how real they appear.  This might help, who knows?
Subject: Re: Custody evaluator in DuPage and Kane Co., Illinois
From: kay0627-ga on 08 Dec 2004 08:09 PST
 
Fighting4her, good luck on Friday.  See earlier post re: good evaluators.  
Looks like we need to start a fund to help moms like you pay the
bills.  We need an angel!
Kay0627
Subject: Cook County, Illinois, evaluator
From: considerthechildren-ga on 13 Dec 2004 00:05 PST
 
I have heard about Dr. Hatcher and it is well known that he bias
against mothers. I too had a biased custody evaluator in Cook County,
IL by the name of Rober Puls. He originally recommended sole custody
to me, the mother, based on psychologist testing and collateral
contacts. In his findings he concluded that the father had no prior
knowledge of his children (i.e., medical records, school history)even
though he was married and living with his family for 14 years. The
father just chose not to make himself available. After the evaluations
came out, the judge in our case said that the father could not get
joint custody of the children unless the mother agrees to joint. A
"hired gun" was then appointed to the case to conduct "family
counseling" even though she was not qualified. She worked in the same
office and same suite as the evaluator. The father's attny then
entered an order to the court alleging that the mother was a "parental
alienator." This same evaluator, Robert Puls, Psy.D., then conducted a
one hour interview, less than 6 months later, with no testing and
concluded in his updated report that the mother was accused of
Parental Alienation Syndrome without any evidence to support this. He
then recommeded to the courts that the father should have custody of
the children and the mother should move out of the marital residence.
Robert Puls has destroyed our lives. He altered our lives forever. He
was then arrested this year (3/04) for a DUI. How can a custody
evaluator who has a substance abuse problem make determinations on the
best interest of the children? The mother lost everything as a direct
result of this evaluator. He sold my children out for $3,000! Are
there any other mothers effected by this evaluator?
Subject: Re: Custody evaluator in DuPage and Kane Co., Illinois
From: kay0627-ga on 13 Dec 2004 09:19 PST
 
Consider the children, I am truely sorry to hear of your troubles. 
Thank you for sharing your story.  Are you appealing this case? 
Please keep us posted on your situation.
Kay0627
Subject: Custody evaluator in Cook County, Illinois
From: considerthechildren-ga on 13 Dec 2004 12:26 PST
 
Kay,
I am currently in the appeal process. My case was put into De Novo as
a threat so that I would never contest custody. However, I did turn
around and appeal the case. It is in the lower courts. I retained a
great attny who managed to appeal the case based only on the evidence
and not on any "expert witnesses." Based on the evidence and now 2 1/2
yrs later, I am now getting sole custody of my children. It has cost
me over $120,000 and the loss of my home to appeal the damage that
Robert Puls has done. Our family courts don't need these evaluators
involved in our cases! These evaluators are destroying our families.

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