date: Aug. 22, 2008

subject: Comments Re: David Kieffer

message text:

It's good to find out that I'm not alone here.

My ex husband was the first to be interviewed by Dr Kieffer - and it seems to me that the first parent who speaks tells the truth in his opinion.

My ex told Dr Kieffer that I was a stripper and singer in a rock band[; t]hat I was out all night drinking and my kids were neglected. The truth is that I manage a clinic for a major hospital in Denver, and have done so for 15 years. When I was married to my ex, I did sing backing vocals in my friends band, and for a while after we divorced I sang in a cover band to make extra money (he didn't pay child support for 3 years). I've never even set foot in the strip club he said I worked at.

Dr Kieffer reported that my primary source of income was as an "alternative performer". It was like he never heard a word I said, but only took the word of my ex. No mention of my long term employment as a respected member of our medical community.

My ex has a sex addiction, had to get psychotherapy and attend a 12 step program. He admitted to having fantasies about my older child (then 9 years old) from a previous marriage . . . [redacted]

When I voiced my concerns about it, Dr Kieffer said that just because he engages in bestiality doesn't mean he will actually harm a child[; t]hat there are tests for such a thing, but it would do to much harm to [my son], so he wouldn't recommend it.

No mention of this in his report, but he did say that my cutting off contact between [my son] and my older daughter was unforgivable. He recommended to the court 50/50 parenting time, and that I have my hair tested for drugs.

I asked him if he would like to meet my extended family that lives next door to me, he said that he wasn't interested. Then stated in the report that it is notable than no one in my family stepped forward to defend me.

If there is a lawsuit against this man, I want in. Is there a way to formally complain to the courts?

date: Aug. 12, 2008

subject: Comments Re: David Kieffer

message text: Hi,

I want to let you know that I too was scorned by Dr. Kieffer. He was appointed (hand selected) by the judge presiding over my divorce case. Kieffer was not submitted by either lawyer to the judge. Kieffer was assigned to my case in June 2007 and was rushed by the judge to have it completed by the first week of Sept 2007. Knowing Kieffer's unprofessionalism makes me wonder why the judge hand selected this particular CFI !!? The judges use the information from these CFI's to determine cases. The judge in my case relied on Kieffer's suggestions.

I was a stay at home mother who went to night school to complete my [redacted] and waited until my children were older and in school to complete a 40hr/wk no pay internship to gain my creditials as a [redacted]. My ex-spouse earns more than $130,000/yr including his yearly bonus. My marriage was for 15yrs. I was not able to find work in Colorado in my profession, so I had to search for jobs elsewhere and centered on areas near where I have family living so my kids could benefit from external family relations during the process of divorce and still have the stability of having me there for them since that is what they have been used to.

During my sessions with Kieffer, he was very unprofessional. He was assigned to determine who the primary parent was and to determine a parenting plan, "in the best interest[s] of my children." Kieffer told me my ex-spouse provided a research article on gifted students, I told him I had a recent article and could bring it in for the next session. Kieffer stated that that would not be needed since you can find articles to support what you want. Being in research myself, that is pretty much true, so I did not bring the article. In Kieffer's final report he used that against me. He explained that my ex-spouse supplied an article on gifted students, while I did not!

Kieffer did not observe my kids with either parent, which I thought was odd since he needed to determine relationships and interactions between the parent and children. He called me prior to interviewing my children and asked me how they would answer certain questions. Since I do know my children, respect their opinions, and my kids are not afraid to express their concerns to me I did know how they would answer the questions he asked me. He then used my knowledge and awareness of my kids against me stating that my kids parroted me. I did not realize his phone call was to be used against me in such a way.

In Kieffers report, it comes across that my ex-spouse's income and wants were more important to guide the decisions of the court then the best interest of the children. Kieffer spent EIGHT pages painting a picture of me as being emotionally unstable and unable to stay focused but, stated that I was extremely intelligent. He took maybe one page describing my ex-spouse with positive attributes and spent little space discussing the children but did describe that they were intelligent, well adjusted individuals who would cope fine with moving. Anything my ex-spouse said Kieffer stated that it was verified, but anything I said was not verified. I saw no proof on how he verified anything. He did say that the children were more aligned with me and that I am the primary/managing parent. I had provided Kieffer with the cross state parenting plan and his statement to me was that my ex-spouse will not do a distant parenting plan so the evaluation of my plan was disregarded and not entered into his report. He then recommended one week on/off between the households stating that I will remain the primary parent even though the kids will be moving every single week for the rest of their lives (I was still in Colorado at the time). The fact that I was moving in order to obtain a job was ignored. The one week on/off is what my ex-spouse wanted. The parenting schedule at the time, the children lived with me during the week and visited my ex-spouse on the weekends. The only change the children wanted was for them to have at least one weekend with me. Then when I moved, they wanted to live with me.

Kieffer used my children's concern for caring about both parents as a way to say that they were not old enough to make up their own minds, my children are 13yrs and 11.5yrs. I have always encouraged my children to express their concerns and feelings.

Also, once Kieffer found out I grew up with a mentally hadicap sibling he spent one session obtaining my opinion on how he should decide a case which involved mentally handicapped parents. He then charged me for his time!

Kieffer does decide on a result and then form conclusions to his favored parent -from what I gather he favors the parent that is not capable of being emotionally attached or expressive. I too provided the research and information Kieffer requested and then Kieffer presented the information in a way to be used against me. Now I live out of state where I was able to find a job and yes, near family. The judge went back through Kieffer's report to find new "findings" to change the primary parent and now my ex-spouse suddenly will do a cross state parenting plan because the kids are now living during the school year in Colorado.

I am appalled that the CFI's do not truly evaluate in the best interest of children and that the courts put so much trust in their evaluations. There are no standards for them to follow, no set questions, no protocol, and the CFI's have too much power to destroy families. I still have a hard time believing that someone who spent one hour with each of my children can determine what is in their best interest. I do not want to imagine how many children/families Dr. Kieffer has negatively affected/harmed.

I am currently getting my case submitted for appeals. My children are strong and I have taught them to take life in stride. They believe in me in that I will get everything 'fixed' with their situation, so they can get back to being able to follow their dreams.

Please keep my personal information anonymous. I would like to help out, just so other children are not subjected to such psychiatric abuse and misconduct.

date: Apr. 30, 2008

subject: Comments Re: David Kieffer

message text:

David Kieffer has caused my family such heartache, distress, and expense. Kieffer’s “Report to the Court” and his own file in my case show many of his lies, misrepresentations, omissions, illogical conclusions, inconsistencies, exaggerations, contradictions, lack of professionalism, lack of qualifications, and unfounded accusations, as well as his character. If it wouldn’t have been for my personal experience with Kieffer, I might not believe the other horror stories on this Web site. It would be difficult for me to believe “professionals” could do this to families and get away with it! But I believe every word, especially about Kieffer, simply because I know what he did to us. I thank God for this Web site, because the Bible tells us, “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.”

I know hindsight is 20/20 and looking back, I would’ve done so many things differently had I known from the beginning what I know now. Kieffer used everything I told him and all the documents I provided for him against us. It seems that Kieffer begins his “investigations” with a conclusion, and then works his investigation to fit that conclusion. I believe this because of the way I know Kieffer twisted the information he used in our case. When one reads Kieffer’s work, his biases are pretty apparent in his use of verbs and adjectives. He seems to use very strong language to describe the individual he’s against and much gentler terms for the party whose side he’s on.

Don’t be shy about following the advice in the comment below dated 2 February 2008; I wish I had had that advice before my interviews with Kieffer started. Here’s my story:

Kieffer was appointed our CFI at the beginning of April 2007, and ordered to complete his investigation by 8 June 2007. Weeks would pass before Kieffer’s office would call to schedule an appointment and many times I felt the need to call and get appointments set and I wonder what would’ve happened if I hadn’t done that as often as I did it. He didn’t finish his investigation and, subsequently file his report, until a week before my hearing, which was 3 August 2007. I was pro se throughout the investigation and after I read his report, I requested a copy of his file. After reading through the file, I knew I had to hire an attorney, but no attorney would talk to me with less than a week before my hearing. I had a very hard time convincing the magistrate (who was already against me because he had read Kieffer’s report) to give me a continuance, but I told him that I saw a bias in Kieffer’s report and I believe that’s what caused him to reconsider and eventually grant me a continuance. The unjust part of getting my continuance was that the magistrate (to please the opposing party) forced me to enter into interim orders based on Kieffer’s recommendations all without due process and as a condition of granting my continuance request. I have a transcript of this hearing. So with that, I had to enroll my children into public school against our will and against the law (no due process).

Kieffer communicated with the opposing party and counsel without informing me that these communications were taking place. He often communicated with opposing party and/or counsel without sharing that information with me. Yet, whenever I communicated with Kieffer, he would ask that I put my request in writing and copy opposing counsel.

Our hearing on 10 October 2007 lasted over five hours and most of that was Kieffer on the stand. How I wish I could afford to get a transcript of that hearing! In my opinion, my attorney did an excellent job of discrediting Kieffer. So much so, in fact, that the magistrate concluded the hearing by proclaiming that, “this hearing has raised more questions than it answered.” He then ordered Kieffer to do a “mini follow-up” investigation to report on the children’s adjustment to public school, and he also asked each party to provide curricula descriptions and give their opinions on each one (public school vs. my homeschool). Another hearing wasn’t scheduled, we were just told to send in our documents and when everything was in, he’d make a ruling. Despite all the obvious inconsistencies peppered throughout Kieffer’s work, in the end, the magistrate ruled for most of Kieffer’s recommendations. This is the power these CFIs have! They either need stronger regulations and more accountability or they need to be stopped!

date: Feb. 28, 2008

subject: Very interested in helping you out

message text:

Dear Sir/Madam;

I too was scorched by David Kieffer in a Custody Evaluation concerning my daughter (15 years old at the time).  Kieffer was suggested by my ex-wife's attorney (Judith Shively) to the court and horror-of-horrors he was appointed to our case.  At the time I knew nothing of his sullied reputation but would soon experience his flim-flam procedures first hand.  Of course, he found in favor of his client's (Judith Shively) client (my ex-wife).  I was stunned but also appropriately outraged by Kieffer's flawed and twisted Final Report, so outraged that I wrote a 42 page Formal Complaint to the Colorado Board of Mental Health. Dr. Amos Martinez was President of the Board at the time.  My report went nowhere due to the Statute that eliminated oversight of the Colorado Mental Health Board regarding Court Appointed Child Evaluators and School Psychologists, the VERY PEOPLE who should have been the MOST ACCOUNTABLE TO THE SYSTEM.  I again was outraged. 

I spoke at length with Dr. Martinez and he told me many troubling things;  chief amongst them was his opinion that these destructive Child Evaluators (like Kieffer) should be prosecuted . . . by the State of Colorado because so many of these misplaced children harm themselves physically and even commit suicide as a result of being placed with a predator-parent by Kieffer and his ilk.  My daughter has suffered enormously while living with her mentally ill mother.  What Kieffer did to my daughter is UNFORGIVABLE; no parent should ever forgive and forget the person(s) responsible for their child's destruction.  I certainly won't.