HOFFMAN & HOFFMAN

A lTORNEYS AT LAW

112 West Seventh Gardell SUIte Topeka. Kansas 66603

Donald R. Hoffman Jason P. Hoffman

Telephone: i78."i1233·58X7 Facsimile: r78:;) DJ-217J

March 1.2006

HAND DELIVER

The Honorable Joseph Johnson District Court Judge - Division 4 Shawnee County Courthouse 200 S.E 7th Street

Topeka, Kansas 66603

RE: B.a:l-R-i.rdsuuv, Chmdin~ Dombrowski

~ "'. '

... Case No.-96-D 21"1 . '

Dear Judge Johnson:

Pursuant to your instructions, we have conducted the interview of the school counselor, Stacy Mickens, I am enclosing my rough notes of that conversation. along with the original of the Home Study conducted by Paula Clanton, LSCSW.

I believe that this concludes the specific requirements that the Court directed of me at our last hearing. I would appreciate the Court advising how YOLI wish to have these materials dissimilated to the other parties. I would be happy to mail (I copy to Jill Dykes. the Guardian Ad Litem.

DONALD R. HOFFMAN

DRHlsh Ene.

cc: Bethany Roberts Jill Dykes

BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL ASSESSMENT (Individual Interviews and Home Visit) Re: Case No. 96D 000217 Richardson vs. Dombrowski

~ JUDICIAL D:sTRIC

I. CHIEF COMPLAINT-PRESENTING PROBLEM

This case was referred to me by Mr. Don Hoffman who is the attorney for Mr. Hal Richardson Jr. This writer conducted an individual interview with Mr. Richardson Jr. and a home visit with Mr. Richardson, Ms.Julie Miller (who lives in the home with Mr. Richardson and is his significant partner), Rikki Dombrowski (DOB: 12/12/94), whom is Mr. Richardson's daughter, Dani (DOB: 09/24/92) and Chris (DOB: 11128/90) who are the children of Ms. Miller. All individuals presented with very mild symptoms of anxiety related to the potential ofRikki being removed from her home. She voiced this concern herself and stated that she did not want to "leave her dad".

She further stated that she thought my role was to assess her living situation and to decide whether or not she should live with her mother or see her without anyone else. She strongly voiced her concerns about this and stated that she is "fearful of her mother". Rikki reports being tired of "safe visit" but is nervous and fearful of Mom without anyone else present. Her history reveals she has been afraid of her mother's actions even in the presence of an adult (i. e., school personnel).

II. PSYCHIATRIC HISTORY

Upon questioning, Mr. Richarson and Ms. Miller do not present with symptoms that would warrant a DSM IV diagnosis. Rikki presents with some symptoms of anxiety (apprehension and quietness) which she describes as related to my interview. She stated "I'm afraid ofleaving dad". I began to talk with Rikki about her relationship with her mother. I asked her how she felt her visits with her mother were going at the Safe Visit Program. Rikki stated that she is "is burned out on safe visits but is ~afraid of seeing my mom alone." She further stated that she is "afraid that mom will take me and leave." She also states that "mom is a liar". When I asked her why she thought her mom was a liar Rikki stated that she "dressed up in a wig and came to my troop meeting and scared me." Rikki described that during a scout meeting her mother came to her meeting dressed in a wig and Rikki was ushered into the rest room by the scout leader whereby her mom then proceeded to try to talk with her. Rikki claims she was "screaming and very afraid by this and is scared Mom will do crazy things again". She further stated that she "does not trust my mom".

Per Mr. Richardson's report, Ms. Claudine Dombrowski has threatened him. He further states that she has violated court orders by seeing Rikki in disguise as in referenced to the abovementioned episode. I have not had the opportunity to meet with Ms. Dombrowski and am only going on information I have available to me. Based on the information available to me, I would recommend that Ms. Dombrowski undergo a thorough psychiatric evaluation.

Both Mr. Richardson and Ms. Miller deny psychiatric problems or history.

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III. SUBSTANCE ABUSEIDEPENDENCE

Upon the information available to me, I am not aware of any substance abuse problems with Mr. Richardson and Ms. Miller. They both deny tobacco use.

IV. MARITAL HISTORY

Both Mr. Richardson and Ms. Miller have been married previously and have children from those marriages. The current living situation is such that Ms. Miller's two minor children, Dani and Chris, live in the home. On observation, the children including Rikki, Dani, and Chris all interacted appropriately with one another and with Mr. Richardson and Ms. Miller. Ms. Miller states that her relationship with her ex-husband is going well in terms of functioning what is in the best interest of their children. Mr. Richardson and Ms. Miller have been in their current relationship since 1996 This relationship appears healthy and Ms. Miller has always been an active part ofRikki's life. Mr. Richardson has had custody ofRikki since 2000.

V. SOCIAL HISTORY

Rikki appears to be a well-adjusted fifth grader who is involved in different activities. She is a member of her scout troop and had formerly participated in Karate. When asked how come she did not participate in Karate any longer, Rikki reported that it was because her instructor had moved. Rikki also reports liking time with Julie Miller and her stepsister Dani and often times they will go and have a "girls' day". They will go shopping and out to lunch and do a variety of activities together. Again, by observation in the family home, everyone acted appropriately and interacted well. There were several pictures displayed on the wall of the family and the house was clean and well maintained. Dani and Rikki share a roomwhich was appropriately maintained. Rikki also showed me many of her collections and her scouting badges.

VI. VOCATIONAL HISTORY

Mr. Richardson reports he has been self-employed owning two businesses for approximately August of 1989. Ms. Miller has been at her current job for 2Y1 years. She works at J ayhawk Area Agency on Aging.

VII. SCHOOL PERFORMANCE

This writer had contact with Ms. Stacy Mickens, Rikki's high school counselor. Ms. Mickens reports that Rikki is a well-adjusted fifth grader and has had some visits with her since she has been attending Tecumseh North Elementary School. Her school performance is good and she is well liked by her peers. Ms. Mickens reports that there was an incident on school grounds when Rikki was afraid to go out at recess because her mother had come and stood by the side of the fence by the playground. Ms. Mickens worked with Rikki on problem solving approaches if mom should appear by the fence which included going to the on duty teacher and standing next to the on duty teacher at recess time. Ms. Mickens reports that over the last several years Rikki has been relatively well-adjusted and less fearful although on occasion will say she is afraid her mother will show up and take her.

CLINICAL CONCLUSIONS

This writer would assess that this is a well-adjusted child and that Rikki is functioning well at this present time. This writer would be concerned with any unsupervised visitation by Ms. Dombrowski with Rikki due to the information described above as well as Rikki stating directly that she is afraid of her mother and that her mother will take her away. She interacts appropriately with her father and has a good relationship with him. Mr. Richardson has had residential custody of Rikki for the last six years and has taken good care of her according to consultation with the school counselor, Ms. Stacy Mickens, as well as Rikki's guardian ad litem, Jill Dykes, and my interview with the family and Rikki. Rikki describes her father, Ms. Miller, Dani and Chris as "her family."

Respectfully submitted,

Paula 1. Clanton, LSCSW 5847 SW 29th Street Topeka, KS 66614

Date signed: _ ___.:::::..')._-_=:#~~_-_O~· <'0..::-.=--- __

PC/da

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SUBJECT:

Conversation with school counselor, Stacy Mickens ~ -...__'!5::~

(School Counselor- Tecumseh North School) ="'--0--

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Hal Richardson/Claudine Dombrowski

Date:

RE:

I had a conversation with Ms. Mickens relative to her contact with Rikki Dombrowski. She indicated that she had some direct contact with Rikki, one-an-one. Additionally, she had worked with Rikki for a time in a program at school known as "Banana Splits". This is a program for children who are in family of divorced or divorcing parents. She described that Rikki was a good student and seemed well adjusted. Rikki always appeared at school bright, fresh and ready to learn. Her clothing and personal hygiene were well groomed. She has a good attendance record and is not tardy to school.

The counselor indicated that she was familiar with the family and the child of Hal Richardson's "significant other". These children have attended classes at the school.

One of the concerns that Rikki expressed, from time to time, was the somewhat competitive nature of her relationship with the daughter of Hal's "significant other". Ms. Mickens indicated that she believed that any controversy that existed between Rikki and the daughter was normal interaction and adolescent behavior.

Rikki has expressed, from time to time, a fair amount of fear of being alone with her mother and has expressed this in the past. She has felt threaten, i.e., the particular event is when the mother appeared in disguise at school. These events resulted in somewhat of a wrestling match between Rikki, her mother and other adults who may have been knowing in concert with Ms. Dombrowski. Rikki is very concerned about her mother obeying rules that are established for their visits and contact.

Rikki has never expressed anything of a similar nature about her father, Hal Richardson. She has expressed an embarrassment about her mother's actions, including a period of time when Ms. Dombrowski made frequent lunch time appearances at school. The actions of her mother separated her from her classmates and friends and was an interference with her socialization .

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