Stefani,
It is tricky! I would say you have to be very careful with this situation.
If the police says alcohol was involved, and the client is not willing to
take responsibility for it, nor it willing to abide by previously agreed
Plan B, I think the possibility of manipulation and more abuse is there and
could be increased by trying to continue the col process. Safety of clients
and children always should be the first consideration. But, again, you know
the clients and I don't. . .
Ada
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Ada Gonzalez, Ph.D., LMFT
Principal, GrowthCoach
Coaching People for Change and Growth
Email: ada@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Web site: www.growth-coach.com
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"Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul.
Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal."
-Pamela Vaull Starr
On Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 4:18 PM, Lawlady <stefani@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I have a tricky situation.
A client to a col law case was arrested and charged with Domestic
Violence.
The couple has a parenting agreement as to dates/times and due to some
changes in the schedule, some hot emotions, and some potential drinking
when
the client was not supposed to be drinking, the altercation happened. The
parenting plan provides for Plan B if there is drinking. One client says
no
drinking occurred and this episode does not trigger Plan B. Do you think
that this arrest terminates the collaborative process per se? Must lawyers
withdraw? The clients are on the fence about whether to withdraw. I think
that the couple has been clear that they don't want to return to the
divorce
coach on the case. We've used mediation in the past to reach a parenting
plan. Another option would be to return to mediation to discuss does Plan
B
apply. One spouse feels this is ridiculous and a waste of time because
clearly the police report said alcohol was used.
Thank you.
Stefani Quane
206/932-9699
