Updated
They filed on 09/21/2020 Brad's Request for Evidentiary hearing and their Witness lists which were actually signed and dated last August 17 and filed with Judge Ouderkirk on that date. Angelina's short list is made up entirely of mental health experts and all of them are at the top of Brad's list. He added assistants Rich Malchat, Darren Laos and Michael Ofstedahl and several others. Angelina's list was just a formality. they only really needed Brad's.
Their request for authorization to proceed with the evidentiary hearing scheduled to commence on Oct. 5 (today) and lasting til Oct. 21 was denied a second time by the Supervising Judge of Family Law, Lawrence Riff.
In his decision, Judge Riff notes that "Petitioner opposes the (ex parte) application on the sole ground that it is premature" because the matter re Judge Ouderkirk is still pending, but "does not controvert any of the factual assertions otherwise set forth by Respondent."
The Judge also noted that both Bley and Kiley did not provide much information about the case: "Respondent provides no information as to the subject matter of the evidentiary hearing or the exigency, if any, relative to the timing of the hearing." "Petitioner does not provide any information concerning the substance or procedure status of the disqualification matter except to note that it is pending." "Neither party has asked the court to take judicial notice of any portion of the Court's file."
While the Witness List names some experts who have worked with the family, they do not give specific information on the children and were thus not filed under seal. The filings and the information therein are knowingly being made public
Laura Wasser filed the S&O on Child Custody and Therapy in court for enforcement purposes on Dec. 2, 2016. It contained the names of the team of trauma specialists who started treating the children immediately after the Sept. 14, 2016 flight. The members of the team have since changed but trauma remains the main area of specialization of many of the mental health professionals listed. Other areas of expertise point to dealing with the children's (cognitive) resistance to Brad, anger management for Brad, and forgiveness for everyone.
Before she filed the Custody stipulation, Wasser and Lance Spiegel exchanged emails over Brad's plan to insist on more visits without therapists present. Wasser wrote, "It is incumbent upon us to help this family achieve their long-term reunification goals in a smooth and expeditious manner... Is it not the end goal that within the next 6-12 months Brad is enjoying frequent and continuous contact with all of the children on a joint custodial basis?" It has instead taken them over 4 years. The severe effects of the plane incident were compounded by additional problems that combined to blow away the therapists' estimates. Among other things, Brad's aforementioned attempts to ignore the therapists' recommendations which were expressly in the children's best interests (his acknowledged hubris) could have only served to further erode the children's trust in him. The May 30, 2018 Order noted that the children at that point were closed down to Brad and had no desire to be alone or have any relationship with him. The Summer 2018 schedule to force the children to open up to Brad was supervised by Dr. Oren Boxer (on their lists) and a psychiatrist.
At some point they will break their silence and they are eager to speak openly. That may be one of the reasons they were readily willing to file the witness lists unsealed with the Superior Court. They've dropped many hints and they are revealing more facts. They've been consistent from the start. They were forced to separate because of the children's trauma and the resulting total rupture in relations between Brad and the children. The end goal has always been family reunification. That has always been their truth. The tabs and pseudos who have taken advantage of their silence to spread lies have tried to ignore, distort or suppress the truth. (Based on their actions and comments, pseudos apparently think there is reason to cheer Judge's Riff's denial.)
Which leads us to Holly Ruston who uploaded several recent legal filings on Scribd and who wrote a comment here saying "Again don't use my docs without permission." Ruston added, "They're mine because I bought them." My long answer is: It is not necessary to obtain permission to embed a publicly posted Scribd file, although in the same vein one could ask if she obtained permission from the Court to post them. Like buying a book, obtaining copies of filings from the court gives interested parties a personal copy they can read, it does not give them ownership of the filings or the contents thereof. Anything posted publicly online is given up for the unrestricted access of everyone. It is my practice to provide links and embeds to give credit to sources, but since she doesn't seem to appreciate source credit, none will be accorded her. My short answer to her lament is: tough.
I do not post, comment or otherwise engage in discussions about Brad and Angelina on any other forum or platform. This blog more than suffices.
Samantha Bley offered more specific descriptions of each expert's expected testimony, and together with a look at the specialization of each one, they provide clues as to the expert's specific contribution to the family's efforts. Anne Kiley just repeated the same general description for all.
Oren Boxer MD, Ph.D. "is expected to testify about his work with the children and Dr. Katz over the course of his work with this family."
Dr. Boxer is a clinical neuropsychologist specializing in evidence-based assessment and treatment of children and adults with neurocognitive deficits that affect academic or occupational performance, as well as social, emotional and behavioral functioning. https://www.orenboxerphd.com/
Dr. Boxer was one of two mental health experts who worked on the Summer 2018 effort to get the children to open up to Brad.
Bren Chasse LFMT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) "is expected to testify about her work with the children, including their current psychological functioning and what interventions are necessary to address their respective needs."
Ms. Chasse specializes in trauma, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, a psychotherapy treatment that was originally designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories) and family reunification. https://www.facebook.com/pg/bchassemft/about/
Alyee LaViolette MS, MFT "is expected to testify about her individual work with Respondent as well as the children and interactions with Dr. Katz over the course of her work with this family."
Ms. LaViolette provides counseling and therapy for Victims of Trauma with a Focus on Domestic Violence and Adults Abused as Children and Anger Management. https://alycelaviolette.com/
Frederic Luskin, Ph.D. "is expected to testify about his individual work with the Petitioner and Respondent as well as the children and interactions with Dr. Katz over the course of his work with this family."
Dr. Luskin is the Director of the Stanford University Forgiveness Projects and has completed extensive research on the training and measurement of forgiveness therapy. Dr. Luskin is the author of the best seller Forgive for Good: A Proven Prescription for Health and Happiness and Stress Free for Good. https://vpge.stanford.edu/people/fred-luskin
Melisssa Brymer, Ph.D. "is expected to testify regarding her interactions and communications with the parties, the children, Dr. Katz, other professionals and third parties regarding the parties and the children."
Dr. Brymer is director of terrorism and disaster programs at the UCLA-Duke National Center for Child Traumatic Stress and an expert on how children deal with stress following disasters, like, for example, school shootings. https://newsroom.ucla.edu/experts/preview/531dadeb299b506ab20001b5/
Allan Yellin, Ph.D.
Dr. Yellin is a psychologist specializing in individual, couples and family therapy for children, adolescents and adults. He is trained in psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral therapy. Dr. Yellin sees many children who are excessive "worriers." https://www.dryellin.com/AboutMe.en.html
Robin Deutsche Ph.D.
Dr. Deutsche is a Diplomate in Couple and Family Psychology. She is the co-author of 7 Things Your Teenager Won’t Tell You: and How to Talk about Them Anyway (Ballantine, 2005, 2011) and co-editor of Overcoming Parent-Child Contact Problems: Family-Based Interventions for Resistance, Rejection, Alienation (Oxford, 2016). http://www.comprehensiveforensicassoc.com/robin-m-deutsch-phd.html
Stan Katz Ph.D. "is expected to testify about his work with this family as both an evaluator and Parenting Coordinator, the recommendations stemming therefrom and the basis for his recommendations" "consistent with his depositions given March 3, August 10 and September 8, 2020."
Dr, Katz is a Clinical and Forensic Psychologist
The nonexperts listed by Kiley are "expected to testify regarding their interactions and communications with and observations of Petitioner, Respondent &/or the children."
Judge Ouderkirk's letter states the Request for a custody order had been pending since June. Like the RFO hearing for 12/21/2020 that was entered in the regular court's schedule last Sept. 15, the request was made in June even though they knew they would not be ready until October.
It will be very difficult at this late stage to find a new judge who can be ready in time and is able and willing to free up 15 straight days for the hearing to proceed as scheduled. The May 30 Order required 7 days of hearings.
Spiegel referred to it as a trial but Judge Ouderkirk referred to it as a hearing and Judge Riff referred to it as a 15-day evidentiary hearing. That is how it is listed. They will be giving evidence -- hearing testimony primarily from the mental health professionals who have been working with the family that the children have sufficiently recovered and again want to live with Brad. If the court agrees, the restrictions and conditions imposed on the family in the aftermath of Sept. 14, 2016 which were put in place at the urging of childcare experts to allow the children to heal, can be lifted.
A look back at notable quotes from September 2016 to-date:
“Her family is broken and she is in agony. Her children are recovering from the events that brought about the filing.”
"The job of the DCFS is to make sure the children are in a safe and secure situation. As we said earlier this week, childcare professionals encouraged a legal agreement accepted and signed by both sides that was in the best interest of the children. Angelina said from the beginning that she felt she had to take action for the health of the family and is relieved that after their 8-week involvement, the DCFS is now satisfied the safeguards are put in place that will allow the children to heal."
Dec 1, 2016
Re Marriage of Jolie Pitt
Dear Lance,
Our meeting yesterday left me feeling disconcerted. You have told us that you intend to file a request for additional non-therapeutic visitation and do not seem to have any regard for what the children's therapists feel is in their best interests. I understand that Brad is frustrated but feel that it is incumbent upon us to help this family achieve their long-term reunification goals in a smooth and expeditious manner. Litigation absolutely does not effectuate that goal. Is it not the end goal that within the next 6-12 months Brad is enjoying frequent and continuous contact with all of the children on a joint custodial basis?
"The parents are committed to act as a united front to effectuate recovery and reunification."
"I've been very lucky to be involved in the Miraval project. We met with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie seven years ago. They own this beautiful property in Provence, which is certainly one of the best and most beautiful estate in Provence."
As we reported in January, the Jolie-Pitts and Perrins would be adding grower Champagne darling Rodolphe Péters, owner of the Pierre Péters maison in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, to their ensemble to create a rosé Champagne, called Champagne Fleur de Miraval. While Marc Perrin may be the more experienced wine guy in the Pitt-Perrin equation, he told Unfiltered via email that “the idea to create the only Champagne house only dedicated to rosé Champagne was Brad's idea."
Re Marriage of Jolie Pitt
Dear Lance,
Our meeting yesterday left me feeling disconcerted. You have told us that you intend to file a request for additional non-therapeutic visitation and do not seem to have any regard for what the children's therapists feel is in their best interests. I understand that Brad is frustrated but feel that it is incumbent upon us to help this family achieve their long-term reunification goals in a smooth and expeditious manner. Litigation absolutely does not effectuate that goal. Is it not the end goal that within the next 6-12 months Brad is enjoying frequent and continuous contact with all of the children on a joint custodial basis?
"The parents are committed to act as a united front to effectuate recovery and reunification."
"We care for each other and care about our family, and we are both working towards the same goal.
"We are and forever will be a family. I am coping with finding a way through to make sure that this somehow makes us stronger and closer.
“It’s just been the hardest time, and we’re just kind of coming up for air. [This house] is a big jump forward for us, and we’re all trying to do our best to heal our family.”
"We’re all just healing from the events that led to the filing . . . They’re not healing from divorce. They’re healing from some . . . from life, from things in life.”
"My whole family… we’ve all been through a difficult time. "
"I've spent most of my days just taking care of the children. I will eventually balance more and do more work but because of family issues it's been extremely tough.
“None of it’s easy. It’s very, very difficult, a very painful situation, and I just want my family healthy.”
What do you like about being a single? And what do you dislike?
"I don't like it. It's not something I wanted."
Is there a good side?
"No. I'm sorry, there’s just nothing nice about it. It’s just hard."
"For me this period has really been about looking at my weaknesses and failures and owning my side of the street.
"I do remember a few spots along the road where I've become absolutely tired of myself. And this is a big one. These moments have always been a huge generator for change. And I'm quite grateful for it. But me, personally, I can't remember a day since I got out of college when I wasn't boozing or had a spliff, or something. Something. And you realize that a lot of it is, um—cigarettes, you know, pacifiers. And I'm running from feelings."
“In the ’90s, all that attention really threw me. It was really uncomfortable for me, the cacophony of expectations and judgments. I really became a bit of a hermit and just bonged myself into oblivion.”
"I'm really, really happy to be done with all of that. I mean I stopped everything except boozing when I started my family. But even this last year, you know—things I wasn't dealing with. I was boozing too much. It's just become a problem.
"I mean, we have a winery. I enjoy wine very, very much, but I just ran it to the ground. I had to step away for a minute...But the terrible thing is I tend to run things into the ground. That's why I've got to make something so calamitous. I've got to run it off a cliff."
That's the thing about becoming un-numb. You have to stare down everything that matters to you.
"That's it! Sitting with those horrible feelings, and needing to understand them, and putting them into place. In the end, you find: I am those things I don't like. That is a part of me. I can't deny that. I have to accept that. And in fact, I have to embrace that. I need to face that and take care of that. Because by denying it, I deny myself. I am those mistakes. For me every misstep has been a step toward epiphany, understanding, some kind of joy. Yeah, the avoidance of pain is a real mistake."
If I'm not creating something, doing something, putting it out there, then I'll just be creating scenarios of fiery demise in my mind. You know, a horrible end.
“I’m not suicidal or something. There’s still much beauty in the world and a lot of love. And a lot of love to be given."
"I know the people who love me know me. And that's enough for me."
"It's a different world, too. We know more, we're more focused on psychology. I come from a place where, you know, it's strength if we get a bruise or cut or ailment we don't discuss it, we just deal with it. We just go on. The downside of that is it's the same with our emotion. I'm personally very retarded when it comes to taking inventory of my emotions. I'm much better at covering up. I grew up with a Father-knows-best/war mentality—the father is all-powerful, super strong—instead of really knowing the man and his own self-doubt and struggles. And it's hit me smack in the face with our divorce: I gotta be more. I gotta be more for them. I have to show them. And I haven't been great at it."
"It's this Marlboro Man image of: Don't show weakness. But then we were questioning: In doing that, are we actually denying our own feelings? Denying a part of ourselves — a vulnerability, in this guise of Superman — to really be open for our loved ones, for our sons and daughters, in the sense that we're all flawed... And is there a peace of mind that comes from embracing one's foibles and humiliations as well as our successes?"
"I think it's cyclical, certainly in America the post-war generation was all about strength and not showing weakness, and winning. And that works to a certain degree, but I think more vulnerability, more getting you arms around your successes and your failures, makes for a better partner, a better dad, a better son."
"Is a better definition for us actually being more open divining a better relationship with your loved ones, with your parents, with your kids, and with yourself?”
"A breakup of a family is certainly an eye-opener that as one — and I'm speaking in general again — but as one needs to understand, I had to understand my own culpability in that, and what can I do better. Because I don't want to go on like this."
HOPKINS: And you’re as easy going as ever.
PITT: "Pretty much, it’s my gliding speed. But I lose it at times. I get sucked into something, and I can lose it. I take my hands off the wheel."
"I'm an asshole when it comes to this need for justice. I don't know where it comes from, this hollow quest for justice for some perceived slight. It's done me no good whatsoever. And this is coming from a guy who hit the lottery, I'm well aware of that. I hit the lottery, and I still would waste my time on those hollow pursuits."
"When I get in trouble it's because of my hubris."
"We’ve always placed great importance on the mistake. But the next move, what you do after the mistake, is what really defines a person. We’re all going to make mistakes. But what is that next step? We don’t, as a culture, seem to stick around to see what that person’s next step is. And that’s the part I find so much more invigorating and interesting."
Pitt is committed to his sobriety. “I had taken things as far as I could take it, so I removed my drinking privileges,” he told me. After she filed for divorce, Pitt spent a year and a half in Alcoholics Anonymous. “It was actually really freeing just to expose the ugly sides of yourself. There’s great value in that.”
"I’m realizing, as a real act of forgiveness for myself for all the choices that I’ve made that I’m not proud of, that I value those missteps, because they led to some wisdom, which led to something else."
"I have a responsibility to myself and my family to remain true and authentic. I treat people whom I love honestly and sincerely."
“I’m hoping to deal with all my regrets. It takes some forgiveness of self as well. And if there’s someone that you need to [apologise to], something you need to clean up, then you clean it up... Then maybe we can dispense with those regrets if they’re handled. I’m a big believer in making amends.”
In early 2017, when Pitt committed to starring in “Ad Astra,” he was still reeling from his recent split from Angelina Jolie, with whom he has six children. "He definitely used the stimuli from his life,” Gray said. “Now, I didn’t get personal with him about it at all — I don’t think it’s my business, or even my job — but he investigated the essence of the character through himself.” When I asked Pitt about that period of time in his life, he at first curtailed the inquiry. “I had family stuff going on,” he said. “We’ll leave it at that.”
"We set out to make a very sincere film, bare, raw honesty. You get older and you just get tired of protecting yourself or having any secrets":
"So many times in my life, I've screwed up. I've talked when I should have listened. I've been harsh when I should have been tender."
"I made a promise to always be truthful. But I wasn't."
"I'm selfish. I'm selfish. I've let so many people down. I'm just a selfish person."
"a self-destructive side"
"I am looking forward to the day my solitude ends. And I'm home."
"I'm unsure of the future, but I'm not concerned. I will rely on those closest to me. And will share their burdens, as they share mine. I will live, and love."
Angelina has “tried to bridge the gap between the kids and their dad. She’s worked to achieve reinstatement for them."
"The real truest love pulls out your best self. It's what you value, what you're loyal to and what you're willing to fight for."
"Sometimes you get hurt, you see those you love in pain, and you can’t be as free and open as your spirit desires."
"we’re all human and very flawed."
"I am a big believer that we have to make mistakes in life and learn from them. And that we are who we are because of all the things we have done right and wrong. We grow."
"We all have something inside of us that maybe we feel is misunderstood or if we let it out completely and be completely who we are it might not be accepted. But then I think what are we doing on this earth if we can't figure out what that is that makes us uniquely us, to be it and then to find those who accept us for it."
"Wisdom, understanding, clarity of thought — all the things that come with age — are also beautiful and feminine qualities. I’d like to think we all get better with age — men and women.”
"I think it is not said enough how much we need the men in our lives to be strong and capable and the best they can be."
"We both very much need and love and learn from the men. And so I think that's also an important message for young girls, to find their own power, but to respect and learn from the men around them."
"Strong women love and learn from men"
"I wear perfume every day, unless I'm in a country where there is malaria and mosquitoes. It's nice for a woman to have a scent that her lover remembers, who identifies it with her. But we do not perfume only for men.”
"I don’t know how many women they’ve said I’ve been dating the last two or three years, and none of it’s true."
"I don't want at this point to be running from anything. I want to sit in it, I want to feel it, I want to get through the rough night. I found in doing so, you come out the other side with a more profound understanding, of yourself and a greater gratefulness for those in your life."
"Pitt might have been up anyway since he’s an admitted binge-watcher: The latest in his Netflix queue is “Mindhunter" Season 2. “That’s great,” says Pitt, who also has definite thoughts on “Netflix-cheating” as a concept. “See, this is the problem with (couple) viewing. It’s something you’ve got to say, ‘Honey, you're just going to have to catch up because I can't wait.'”
Is there anything more powerful than love?
“Family.”
How do they learn about the outside world? And I ask that in the context of how we are all understanding the outside world. And about social media and tech companies, and about what we can trust, etc. What do you do at home?
"I think like most parents, we try our best to insert good stuff. We can't control everything they're exposed to. So we try to ask that they will talk to us about anything they saw that bothers them or that they’re concerned about.”
"I've been very lucky to be involved in the Miraval project. We met with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie seven years ago. They own this beautiful property in Provence, which is certainly one of the best and most beautiful estate in Provence."
As we reported in January, the Jolie-Pitts and Perrins would be adding grower Champagne darling Rodolphe Péters, owner of the Pierre Péters maison in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, to their ensemble to create a rosé Champagne, called Champagne Fleur de Miraval. While Marc Perrin may be the more experienced wine guy in the Pitt-Perrin equation, he told Unfiltered via email that “the idea to create the only Champagne house only dedicated to rosé Champagne was Brad's idea."
“We’re human, we want purpose, we want meaning in our lives. But to attain that, the key is two things: staying creative and being with the people we love."
"In my younger years I would have. Now it's: 'How long do I gotta be away from home - my loved ones?'"
You've won every single award, is this the time of your life?
"Uuuuuuuuh, no."
What's the best thing about life for Brad Pitt today?
"It's a beautiful day in L.A. today."
"I'm not really a party guy."
Pitt, who won his first Oscar in 2014 as a producer for Best Picture 12 Years A Slave, telling us the key to happiness in Hollywood is family and love. "staying creative and hanging with your loved ones."
"After choosing to separate from your partner and children’s father, actor Brad Pitt, how have you sustained a healthy environment for your children?"
"I separated for the wellbeing of my family. It was the right decision. I continue to focus on their healing. Some have taken advantage of my silence, and the children see lies about themselves in the media, but I remind them that they know their own truth and their own minds."
