CURRICULUM VITAE

Summary

National practice limited to expert services in cases of false allegations of child sexual abuse.  Founder and principal of Nichols Consulting, a firm providing comprehensive consulting services in criminal cases and civil matters.

Education

                                    City University of New York at Hunter College

                                    Master Of Social Work [1982]

                                    Family Practice

                                    City University of New York at Queens College

                                    Bachelor of Arts [1980]

                                    Psychology & Sociology

Honors & Awards

                                    Valedictorian, Summa Cum Laude – Queens College

                                    Silberman Fellowship – Hunter College

                                    Fellowship – Protestant Federation – Hunter College

                                    Presidential Commendation – Wash. D.C., June 10, 1988

Licensure

                                    Certified Social Worker

                                    University Of The State Of New York

                                    Education Department – December 24, 1982

                                    Psychotherapy Privilege

                                    License Number R027557

CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

Clinical Supervisor

                                    Federation Employment and Guidance Service [FEGS]

                                    1995-96 – Far Rockaway, New York

Provided clinical supervision and management for a professional staff of clinicians in a family agency which is the largest social service agency in America.  Client population consisted of predominantly children who were high risk of abuse and neglect.  Responsible for quality assurance and certify that all professional practice met city, state and federal compliance standards.  Responsible to insure comprehensive and detailed documentation of clinical work to agency and regulatory departments’ requirements.

Psychotherapist

                                    New York – Beginning 1982.

Specializing in family practice and problems related to divorce, separation, and marital difficulties.  Also performed independent evaluations in the context of custody disputes and matters in criminal or domestic courts involving allegations of abuse and/or neglect.

Expert Consultant

                                    National Practice from 1988 to present.

Consult with attorneys and clients in cases of false allegations of child sexual abuse regarding all aspects of trial preparation in criminal and civil matters.

Protective Caseworker

                                    Queensboro Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Children

                                    1980 & 1981 – Queens, New York

Completed 9-month clinical internship [NY state licensing requirement] as protective caseworker in the context of major child abuse agency.  Provided expert testimony in family court in abuse and neglect proceedings.  Later [1981] retained by agency to provide counseling to women and children as part of the agency’s incest unit.

Clinical Director

                                    OZ Counseling Center of Queens College

                                    1979-80 – Flushing, New York

Clinical director of community-based crisis intervention center providing intervention services and referral in a 24-hour college agency targeting domestic and substance abuse related crises.

Community Service

                                    Crisis Line of Queens

                                    1978 – S. Ozone Park, New York

Director of Community Services of a church-sponsored, 24-hour, hotline providing comprehensive family services and referral.

Substance Abuse

                                    U.S. Army

                                    1973-77 – Ft. Meade, Maryland

Alcohol & Drug Abuse Officer providing family support services for returning personnel in multi-branch program supported by Walter Reed Medical Center.

ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE

National Program Director

                                    F.A.I.R., The National Father’s Organization

                                    1985-88 – Camden, Delaware

CEO of national, non-profit organization dedicated to responsible and involved fatherhood in the context of divorced families.  Specific duties included the provision of a legislative agenda, legislative testimony, development and supervision of a research team and public relations.

Director of Community Services

                                    Professional Mental Health Associates

                                    1982-84 – Queens, New York

Director of a pro bono association of private practitioners responsible for the development and implementation of intervention programs to identify and assist abused women and children by providing linkage to existing community programs and identification of “system failures” in need of programmatic response.

RESEARCH & PUBLICATIONS

Visitational Interference & Child Support Default – 1986-87

Primary research of the largest national study of its kind that surveyed and interviewed 2,228 subjects in 48 states to determine the relationship between visitational interference and subsequent defaults in child support payments after divorce.  Study conducted under the auspices of the National Father’s Organization.

Research Report – 1987

Reported findings of national visitation study in a report titled “Divorced Fathers’ Estrangement From Children As A Result Of Visitational Interference And Its Correlation To Child Support Default Rates: An Empirical Analysis Utilizing A Large Data Base”.  Report published in American Fatherhood [August 1987] and nationally reported in the popular press including Newsday, Chicago Tribune, Miami Herald, Boston Globe and Los Angeles Times.  The reported finding, which correlated a ten-fold increase in child support defaults where visitational interference existed, attracted the attention of Congress Which was then fashioning the Family Support Act of 1988 [Public Law 100-485].  Received commendation from President Reagan on June 10, 1988 for   “promoting responsible fatherhood” through research and other activities.

Publications

False Allegations of Child Sexual Abuse: The Attorney’s Desk Reference [1994, N. C. P.I.  Inc.: Conway, South Carolina – Reviewed: Family Law Reporter, 11-1-94, p. 1012] a comprehensive volume designed to assist attorneys to identify and defend against false allegations of child sexual abuse in criminal and domestic cases.  Now in fourth edition.

Webmaster of the internet website, “False Allegations of Child Sexual Abuse” that provides extensive information for attorneys and clients involved in false allegation cases [www.falseabuse.com].

Authored numerous monographs regarding domestic relations and false allegations designed for mental health professionals, attorneys and parents.  Of particular popularity was Malicious Child Abuse Allegations [F.A.I.R., 1987] which was taken from testimony presented before a special joint session of the Utah State Legislature and which has been credited by the popular press as being instrumental in the enactment of America’s first comprehensive state law making the malicious reports of false allegations a felony.

Developed, published and implemented  Nichols’ Comprehensive Parenting Inventory [1993] which is a comprehensive evaluation instrument designed to assist Guardians Ad Litem and mental health professionals in determining the best interests of children in contested custody cases.  This instrument was tested and mandated for usage in Horry and Georgetown counties, South Carolina. 

PUBLIC RELATIONS - 1986-92

Has had research and legislative testimony covered by national media including the major television networks.  Regular radio talk-show gust nationally, speaking on a range of current domestic issues, including: KCCL, Paris, AR; KICK, Rapid City, SD; KROW, Reno, NV; WACR, Columbus, MS; KFTM, Ft. Morgan, CO; KKAT, Salt Lake City, UT; WFBG, Altoona, PA; SCLT, Newark, OH; KGEZ, Missoula, MT; KOIT, San Francisco, CA; KAYN, Tucson, AZ; WNOO, Chattanooga, TN; WPWC, Dumfries, VA; WSMQ, Bessemer, AL; KOGT, Orange, TX; WAYI, Glens Falls, NY; WCSJ, Morris, IL; and WWHL, Cocoa, FL.

TEACHING

Queens College – 1981-82

Lectured in social statistics for the department of psychology and trained crisis intervention counselors at the college’s counseling center.

Hunter College – 1982-83

Instructor in the context of final year internship teaching needs identification and intervention techniques to municipal workers dealing with abuse and other family crisis agencies.

Seminars – 1990 - Present

Designed and conducted seminars nationally for attorneys practicing in criminal or domestic courts.  Seminar content included the proper preparation and utilization of expert testimony where false allegations of child sexual abuse are suspected.  Seminars conducted nationally including:  Pittsburgh, PA; Smithtown, NY; Cleveland, OH; Sarasota, FL; Ft. Worth, TX; Salt Lake City, UT; Atlanta, GA; Atlantic City, NJ; Baltimore, MD; Wilmington, DE; and Las Vegas, NV.

Legislative Testimony – 1986-90

Provided legislative testimony as expert in the contest of proposed domestic law legislation before legislative committees and agencies in numerous jurisdictions including: Health And Human Services, Washington, D.C. [Family Support Act of 1988]; Special Joint Session of the Legislature, Salt Lake City, UT [Malicious Allegations Bill]; Committee on Domestic Violence, Albany, NY [Protective Order Bill For Battered Women]; and Interstate Commission on Child Support Collection, Washington, D.C.  [HHS mandated enforcement hearings].

   CASES

Alabama

    Alabama v. Marks – Birmingham

Arizona

    Arizona v. McCready – Tucson

    In the matter of M.R. – Phoenix

California

    California v. Paul – Tomales

    California v. Sehested – Ojai

    California v. Shah – Freemont

    In the matter of R.P. – Marin County

Colorado     

     Colorado v. Pierce – Avon
                   

Connecticut

                                                Connecticut v. Chaparro – East Hartford

                                                Connecticut v. Arpin - Norwich                                               

District Of Columbia

                                                United States v. Vann – D.C.

Florida

                                                Florida v. Baldwin – Tallahassee

                                                In the matter of G.H. – Clermont

                                                Florida v. Williamson – Key Largo

                                                Florida v. DeNiro – Naples

                                                Florida v. West – Pensacola

Georgia

                                                Georgia v. Cash – Macon

                                                Georgia v. Doss – Forsyth

                                                Georgia v. Harden – Marietta
                                                Georgia v. Craft - Atlanta

Hawaii

                                                Hawaii v. Turner – Hilo

Illinois

                                                Illinois v. Drew – Waukegan

                                                Illinois v. Fuentes – Addison

                                                Illinois v. Socchera – Chicago

                                                In the matter of R.C. – Clinton
                                                Illinois v. Von der Ohe - Rockford

Kansas

                                                Kansas v. Daicy – Olathe

                                                Kansas v. Underberg – Lawrence

Kentucky

                                                Kentucky v. Roller – Paris

                                                Kentucky v. Morton – Paducah

Louisiana

                                                Louisiana v. Dickerson  - New Orleans

                                                Louisiana v. Anderson – Baton Rouge
                                                Louisiana v. Peters - Oberlin

Maine

                                                Maine v. Deabler – Rockland
                                                Sasseville v. Sasseville - Lewiston

Maryland

                                               Baker v. Baker – Annapolis

                                               Kennett v. Kennett – Ocean City

                                               Maryland v. Williams – Baltimore

                                    Maryland v. Thornton – Baltimore

                                    Maryland v. Hyde – Westminster
                                    Maryland v. Bruette - Elkton
                                    Maryland v. Kuehn - Elkton

Massachusetts

                                                Massachusetts v. Aspen – Worcester

                                                Aspen v. Aspen – Worchester

                                                Massachusetts v. Francis – Pittsfield

Michigan

                                                Michigan v. Dick – Grosse Point

Missouri

                                                Olsen v. Olsen – Springfield

Nebraska

                                                Nebraska v. Dunlap­ – Lincoln

                                                Nebraska v. Kinberg – Lincoln

Nevada                                 

                                                Nevada v. Allen – Las Vegas

New Jersey

                                                New Jersey v. Panetta­ – Cherry Hill

                                                In the matter of D.K. – Flemington

New Mexico
                                                New Mexico v. Beard - Raton

New York

                                                New York v. Epperly – Oneonta

                                                New York v. Kanani – Manhattan

                                                In the matter of F.N. – Rocky Point

                                                New York v. Roland – Middleburgh

                                                New York v. Shannon – Yonkers

                                                New York v. Funk – Liverpool

                                                New York v. Weber – Troy
                                                New York v. Riback - Albany
                                                New York v. Rosenberry - Balwinville
                                                New York v. Broderick, Endwell

                                                In the matter of S.H. - Niagra Falls
                                                New York v. Maggio - Copperstown

North Carolina

                                                North Carolina v. Clark – Monroe

                                                North Carolina v. Coward – Greenville

     North Carolina v. Formoso – Cary

Ohio

                                                Ohio v. Gibson – Cincinnati

                                                Ohio v. Fransam – Akron
                                                Ohio v. Hill - Zanesville
                                                Ohio v. Pruchnicki - Peninsula

Pennsylvania

                                                Pennsylvania v. Delbridge – Wilkes-Barre

                                                Pennsylvania v. Schlegal – Camp Hill

                                                In the matter of L.T. – Harrisburg

                                                Urbansky v. Urbansky – Pittsburgh

                                                Mayercheck v. Mayercheck – Monroeville

                                                Pennsylvania v. Russell – York

                                                Pennsylvania v. Crocetto – Philadelphia
                                                Pennsylvania v. Brooks - Schwenksville
                                                Pennsylvania v. Evanko - Butler

South Carolina

                                                South Carolina v. Baxter – Conway

Tennessee

                                                In the matter of D.C. – Memphis
                                                Tennessee v. McConnell - Memphis

Texas

                                                Texas v. Autrey – Fort Worth

                                                Texas v. MacPete – Dallas

                                                Texas v. Steffey – Linden

                                                Texas v. Tollar  - Houston

                                                Doe et. al. v. Lutheran Social Service – Dallas

                                                Texas v. Stechert – Austin

                                                In the matter of J.& H. T. – Flower Mound

Utah

                                                Utah v. Heerman – Duchesne

                                                Utah v. Kuypers – Salt Lake City

Virginia

                                                Virginia v. Spencer – Richmond

                                                In the matter of W.B. – Heathsville
                                                Virginia v. Canedo - Arlington
                                                Virginia v. Olson - Mclean

Washington

                                                Washington v. Carmichael – Vancouver

                                                Washington v. Fahim – Auburn

                                                Washington v. Stark – Oak Harbor
                                                Herrman v. Herrman - Spokane

West Virginia

                                                West Virginia v. Wensell – Morgantown

Wisconsin

                                                Wisconsin v. Halley – Racine

                                                Wisconsin v. Webber – Schofield

                                                Wisconsin v. Spaulding – Milwaukee

                                                Wisconsin v. Provance – Racine

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP – National Association Of Social Workers

REFERENCES UPON REQUEST