False Recovered Memories of Child Sexual Abuse
Exposing False Allegations – Register-Her.com
Hmm, a US website that publishes the identities of false accusers, for all to see.
This idea may end up being a great, albeit only deterrent to the epidemic of false allegations in the Family Courts.
Given that the Gillard government will soon be encouraging even more false allegations in the Australian Family Court by removing any penalty for perjury, then maybe using the internet to expose the truth may become the only option available to bring some common sense to this rampant crime against innocent parents and children.
I would go one further and ensure that both male and female false accusers to be published, as long as the weight of evidence concludes that they have knowingly made a false allegation.
I see the publication of these moral criminals and child abusers by any other name, as no different to the publication of deadbeat dads that have proliferated across the web, although one would have to consider the necessary safeguards in order to protect minors when child abuse is alleged. This part would have to be thought out carefully.
In any case, if it is good enough to out one form of abuse, then surely it is good enough to out another form.
Perhaps this is an idea that should be explored further for Australia.
11% of all Americans Falsely Accused of Abuse, Survey Shows
A national survey of 10,000 Americans reveals 11% report they have been falsely accused of abuse. The first-ever survey of its type probed persons’ first-hand experiences with false allegations of child abuse, domestic violence, and sexual abuse. The study was commissioned by Stop Abusive and Violent Environments, a victim advocacy organization.
The survey results headlined a False Allegations Summit, which was held today at the Fairfax Hotel in Washington, DC.
Conducted May 2-4, 2011, the survey also found 15% of respondents personally knew someone who has been falsely accused of abuse. In 81% of the cases the falsely accused person was a male, and in 70% of cases the false alleger was a female. Twenty-six percent of the wrongful accusations were made in the context of a child custody dispute.
“This survey shows tens of millions of Americans have been falsely accused of abuse,” explains SAVE spokesperson Natasha Spivack. “These persons were stamped with the scarlet Abuser label, leaving them to wonder whatever happened to the notion of ‘innocent until proven guilty.’”
The Summit featured statements by leading stakeholder organizations, including the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Home School Legal Defense Association, American Coalition for Fathers and Children, National Coalition for Men, and Encounters International.
The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers statement spotlighted the “immense, often irreparable harm caused to our clients by false allegations, not only to reputation and personal relationships, but often to the accused individual’s livelihood and even heath.”
The Summit also included the emotion-wrought testimonies by four victims of false allegations of abuse.
The False Allegations Summit is being held in the wake of a recent Washington Post front-page article about Sean Lanigan, a local school teacher who was falsely accused of sexual molestation by a 12-year-old student. The article triggered editorial commentaries and citizens’ expressions of disbelief and outrage.
The full survey results can be viewed here: http://www.saveservices.org/false-allegations-awareness-month/survey-results/. The False Allegations Summit is the kick-off to False Allegations Awareness Month in June. More information on the observance can be found here: http://www.saveservices.org/false-allegations-awareness-month/.
Stop Abusive and Violent Environments is a victim advocacy organization working for evidence-based solutions to partner abuse: www.saveservices.org.
Counsellors sued for implanting False Memories of Child Sexual Abuse
USA: 
A Dane County jury granted $1 million to Dr. Charles and Karen Johnson, who claimed mental health care providers led their daughter to falsely accuse her parents of sexual and physical abuse Sunday.
In 1991, Charlotte Johnson, who opposed the lawsuit, confronted her parents about memories of sexual and physical abuse.
Recovered memory therapy is said to be a controversial approach that therapists use to help patients recover alleged repressed memories.
In 1996, the Johnsons sued Roger Memorial Hospital in Oconomowoc and Heartland Counseling Services in Madison. The couple also sued Madison therapist Kay Phillips, Oconomowoc therapists Jeff Hollowell and Tim Reisenauer and the therapists’ insurers, according to court records.
The Johnsons claimed their daughter’s treatment was negligent, caused emotional distress and breached a contract to provide appropriate care.
The jury found Hollowell and Phillips negligent, but Reisenauer was found not negligent. The lawsuit against Rogers Memorial Hospital was settled out of court prior to the verdict.
Johnson’s attorney, William Smoler, of Hausmann-McNally S.C., has argued five cases before the Wisconsin Supreme Court in the past 10 years. These cases have resulted in new laws and rights for people who were the victims of practitioners implanting false memories of childhood abuse, according to Hausmann-McNally’s website.
The verdict came after a two-week trial and 10 hours of deliberation. The case was brought before the Wisconsin Supreme Court twice.
Dr. Charles Johnson is a former Madison physician and Karen Johnson is a former nurse. They currently live in St. Louis.
â€â€Maggie DeGroot
Published: Monday, January 24, 2011
