Consultation and Expert

Having been qualified in a number of areas in the Juvenile and Probate Courts, Tom can provide consultation to attorneys and to parents on a number of issues related to custody, care and protection matters, child in need of services matters, as well as delinquency matters.

Tom has also been used as an expert in service delivery and service planning, and as an expert in a number of fields, including but not limited to child abuse and neglect, sexual abuse, child development, and parenting.

In addition to consultation around Court cases, Tom also provides consultation with regard to working with professionals and state agencies involved in child welfare and mental health.  Tom also acts as an advisor and expert witness in fair hearings and other appeals processes.

Tom’s philosophy in applying his consultation and expert services, however, is based solidly on the premise that, as a good friend of his says, a case “is what it is, it will be what it will be”.  That is, Tom is more than willing to provide an unbiased assessment and opinion about individual issues, but it is up to the attorney and/or the parent to use that advice.  Tom is not a “hired gun” and, in fact, is often employed with the unanimous assent of all parties involved in adversarial proceedings.

Tom has been approved as an expert by the Committee for Public Counsel Services [CPCS] and bills directly to CPCS for expert services under indigent court costs, under the provision set forth by CPCS [see Motions].