FMSF 2011 False Memory Syndrom

They said it couldn't be done, a third-party lawsuit against therapists.[1] But Karen and Charles Johnson proved the naysayers wrong. At 12:30 a.m. on January 23, 2011 in

1 9 5 5 L o c u s t S t r e e t , P h i l a d e l p h i a , PA 1 9 1 0 3 - 5 7 6 6 , 2 1 5 - 9 4 0 - 1 0 4 0 , F a x 2 1 5 - 9 4 0 - 1 0 4 2 , w w w. F M S F o n l i n e . o r g against a loved child and being unable to defend oneself is equally disquieting. As one mother whose daughter eventually r

fighting back against false accusations. On page 12, there is a story about an Oregon man whose family fell into the clutches of a "Christian therapist" with the bizarre belief that just about everyone has been sodomized. The accused man has initiated a lawsuit. On page 4 is a story about a

probably been sexually abused as a child. Disposition: In March 1994, Judge James Zagel granted defendant therapist summary judgment as to Count II and III (Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress and Negligence) and denied Counts I, IV and V

University which awarded Roediger an honorary doctor of letters in recognition of his many contributions to the field of psychology. Authors were given a simple charge: Choose your own topic, but place your work in historical context. Roediger is fascinated

several stories about Fairlie's case. Fairlie, a former government leader under Gordon Wilson from 1981 to 1985, sued the National Health Service and social services who had treated his

was going to print. It will be further described in the next newsletter issue. Two Newsletter readers contacted

the Foundation recently to tell us that psychiatrist Bennett G. Braun, MD, is currently practicing in Butte, Montana. The information that they felt was newsworthy was the fact that a search

information about the Burgus and FMS Foundation Newsletter WINTER 2011 Vol. 20 No. 1

Smoler appealed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court noting that he was "not worried about being able to prove even without medical records that these

WI App 166, Reported at: 238 Wis. 2d 227, 616 N.W.2d 903. Opinion filed After the Wisconsin Supreme

227, 616 N.W.2d 903. Opinion filed After the Wisconsin Supreme Court allowed the Johnson case to continue, Smoler filed a request to obtain

I have always hoped that someday I would be writing to you to announce the return of my daughter. That event After fifteen years her brother, sister, and I began the process of catching

On October 28, 2010 Frank Kane appeared on the Diane Rehm Show with Meredith Maran, author of My Lie: A True Story of False Memory, Also interviewed were psychologists

For the past 20 years in each newsletter issue, we have tried to show through the various articles what people believe about the reality of "recovered repressed memories." Are people leaning toward acceptance or toward skepticism? When we began in 1992, there was a solid wall of

examples of the current climate. On page 3 we note that FMSF Scientific Advisory Board member Elizabeth Loftus has received another important award. In February, 2010, the American Association for the Advancement of Science

1 9 5 5 L o c u s t S t r e e t , P h i l a d e l p h i a , PA 1 9 1 0 3 - 5 7 6 6 , 2 1 5 - 9 4 0 - 1 0 4 0 , F a x 2 1 5 - 9 4 0 - 1 0 4 2 , w w w. F M S F o n l i n e . o r g "memory wars" dragging on. On the other hand, the very fact that people attack the

and the inadequacy of our legal system for dealing with anyone who many have been wrongfully convicted for murder. Ryan Ferguson, convicted when he was 19-years-old is now 26-years-old and he is still in prison even though there was never any physical evidence found and the only two witnesses to tes

and our friendship began. Over the years we wrote lengthy letters discussing the profession of psychology and what he called psychogists' "cognitive delusions of omniscience." He spoke in a reserved manner, but with a

of an extraordinary man, Charles Curry. His life came to an end at his winter home in Key Largo, Florida on December 13, 2010. He was 92. This quiet and modest man had an enormous impact on many people and institutions including The False Memory

for a description.) Skotko has now published his story in a book: A Heart Held Ransomed that is available on the web. It is truly a cautionary tale.

State vs. Ferguson No 165368-01, Boone County, MO Circuit Ct Ryan Ferguson was 19 when he was convicted of the murder of a reporter for the Columbia Daily Tribune. The 2006 conviction was based solely on the evidence of his

of the recordings of all of the hypnotic regressions that Dr. Jacobs conducted with me showed that he engaged in extensive leading and suggestion, which I was not fully aware of at the time. It is probable that many of my hypnotically retrieved memories were

The Trauma Myth: The Truth About the Sexual Abuse of Children and Its Aftermath

If ever a newsletter showed that the problem of false memories is still with us, this issue does. We deliberately chose to focus on existing problems. Why that bias? There

memories is still with us, this issue does. We deliberately chose to focus on existing problems. Why that bias? There are two reasons: one is to contrast the current problems with the situation in 1992 when the Foundation started; the other is to help explain why the newsletter will cease at the end

1 9 5 5 L o c u s t S t r e e t , P h i l a d e l p h i a , PA 1 9 1 0 3 - 5 7 6 6 , 2 1 5 - 9 4 0 - 1 0 4 0 , F a x 2 1 5 - 9 4 0 - 1 0 4 2 , w w w. F M S F o n l i n e . o r g "To demonstrate dissociative amnesia: Investigators should interview and follow-up people

offices now are. One can telephone or send electronic messages from almost anyplace on Earth. The changes in the next year should not make any difference to members of the FMSF. We can reach people who are members of the Foundation and you will be able reach us.

contained an article about Stephen Skotko's lawsuit against Marion Knox. Skotko claims that Knox was responsible for his wife and children coming to hold bizarre beliefs and that he had abused them. Last month, we received

case written by her attorney. Readers may be surprised that any of the people involved in that case could have continued to practice their strange brand of therapy after that lawsuit and its

(3), May-June 2004, Psychologist, Spiritual Counselor and "Soul Surgeon" Settle Case with Lackey v. DePaoli, Earl and NW Family

that his research had uncovered the fact that Mengele was the "father of MPD in America," (where he came after WWII and not to Argentina). DePaoli convinced Diane Lackey that

church counseling. That got my attention. I was pulled into the bizarre world of false memories through church counseling, and I am willing to do most anything to stop it from happening to others. I am angered that some churches think that they can do whatever they want because they are "spiritual c

Marion Knox to the State Board of Psychologist Examiners in 2006, but the families were told that the Board could do nothing about him. The Board concluded that his actions did not rise

by Paul Simpson, a Christian therapist. The book is out of print but the Foundation has 7 copies that families have donated so that new families might read it. FMSF Newsletter 2006

founder of Reform Sex Offender Laws of Virginia, said the supporters 'were all about money and less about justice. In cases of alleged sexual abuse, the burden of proof generally falls on the

handled a child sexual assault case, had no training in autism, and had never heard of facilitated communication. Prosecutors initially stated that the charges were supported by physical evidence, but that was not true.

Twenty years! We mailed the first FMSF Newsletter in March 1992 and it is now almost 2012. What has changed?

In 1992, families were desperate for anything that could help to explain what was happening to their children. Now, abundant information is at our fingertips. Not only have books, documentaries, scholarly articles, legal precedents

not be surprised that investigative journalist Debbie Nathan's work showed that unlike the romantic notions in the book and movies about Sybil, she was the heart of a "corporation" formed by author Schreiber, psychiatrist Wilbur and patient Shirley Mason. (p. 3) Sybil Exposed is

electronic news bulletins, and for those without access to computers, we will collect and mail them three or four times There are so many people to thank who have made this

familiar with the role that Sybil played in popularizing the notions of recovered repressed memories and multiple personality disorder. Over the years, there have been numerous articles in this newsletter showing that Shirley

contained an article about Oprah Winfrey's promotion of Kim Noble, an aspiring British artist who claimed at that time that she had 20 personalities.[1] On her show, Oprah has promoted multiple personality disorder (MPD) for many years and, indeed, her

"The court concluded …it [Betrayal researched and established to any degree with respect to adult domestic

also stated that he is serving a life sentence. Cheit writes in his blog about Billy Banks that "He was convicted on the basis of the testimony of his daughter and niece, now adults." That was what was also written in the FMSF news article. The FMSF article additionally mentioned a defense argument

admitted. . . that his "false memory" defense was a ruse? "Mentioned favorably"? Below, in its entirety, is the only Newsletter mention of the case. Cheit in his question gives the answer: the case turned out to have nothing to do with FMS.

State of New Hampshire v Sargent, 1999 WL 547885 (N.H.) The New Hampshire Supreme Court ruled that expert testimony

5. Will you acknowledge that memories recovered in therapy led to the conviction of Calvin Huss,

since its start is that some memories are true, some memories are false and some memories are a mixture of truth and fantasy - whether those memories are continuous or recovered after a