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Challenging the Forensic Psychiatrist's Report
Some courts have indicated a willingness to reject the recommendation of neutral forensic experts, weighing the evidence on their own to make a custody determination.
For example, courts have rejected neutral expert testimony they have found unpersuasive in favor of other experts who testified in the case. In State ex rel. H.K. v. M.S. 187A.D.2d50, 592 N.Y.S.2d708 (1st Dept 1993) the First Department rejected various expert testimony it determined to be not credible. There, the parties had agreed on joint custody, the mother having physical custody and the father exercising daily visitation. Due to circumstances not relevant here, the parties ended up in a custody dispute that resulted in a long trial. In affirming an award of sole custody to the mother, the appellate court noted that the trial court was free to reject the recommendation of the court-appointed neutral expert, as well as experts who testified on the father's behalf, and credit the mother's experts. The court, in determining that the mother was a more fit parent, noted that the expert testimony rejected by the court was “seriously undermined on cross examination.” See also, Merl v. Merl, 128 A.D.2d 685, 513 N.Y.S.2d 184 (2d Dept. 1987) (court rejected court-appointed expert's recommendation with regard to custody in favor of the recommendation of the psychiatrist for one of the parties who had treated both parties and their child, to various degrees, for 8 years).
The DOJ's Corporate Enforcement Policy: One Year Later
The DOJ's Criminal Division issued three declinations since the issuance of the revised CEP a year ago. Review of these cases gives insight into DOJ's implementation of the new policy in practice.
Use of Deferred Prosecution Agreements In White Collar Investigations
This article discusses the practical and policy reasons for the use of DPAs and NPAs in white-collar criminal investigations, and considers the NDAA's new reporting provision and its relationship with other efforts to enhance transparency in DOJ decision-making.
The DOJ's New Parameters for Evaluating Corporate Compliance Programs
The parameters set forth in the DOJ's memorandum have implications not only for the government's evaluation of compliance programs in the context of criminal charging decisions, but also for how defense counsel structure their conference-room advocacy seeking declinations or lesser sanctions in both criminal and civil investigations.
Compliance Officers: Recent Regulatory Guidance and Enforcement Actions and Mitigating the Risk of Personal Liability
This article explores legal developments over the past year that may impact compliance officer personal liability.
Bankruptcy Sales: Finding a Diamond In the Rough
There is no efficient market for the sale of bankruptcy assets. Inefficient markets yield a transactional drag, potentially dampening the ability of debtors and trustees to maximize value for creditors. This article identifies ways in which investors may more easily discover bankruptcy asset sales.