BEWARE OF PAT MEDEL!!!!
Do not be taken by her motherly appearance, compliant demeanor and child activist rhetoric. Pat made visits with my alienated children unbearable....
1. She refused to recuse herself after admitting in writing that she is not qualified to handle high conflict cases that involve parent alienation. It was next to impossible trying to replace her because she befriended my ex who insisted on having Pat as a court ordered monitor. This was an obvious 'quid pro quo' where Pat was to continue making money monitoring my visits and in exchange write reports to the court favoring my ex. And that's exactly what she did. I finally got rid of her but it took three court hearing and involvement of the police department.
2. Pat indiscriminately violates California Rules and Court Standards 5.20 of Family Law Section 3200. She refused to provide her driver license and car insurance information while driving my children during visits.
3. Pat takes sides even though it's her professional duty to be unbiased. She requested in writing that I submit my payments for her services to my ex. That's an odd request hardly showing impartiality.
4. She lies on her reports to the court and police.
5. She has no clue about Parent Alienation Syndrome and how to deal with alienated children although she says that she does. Monitors that promote themselves as high conflict experts must have appropriate training and experience. Pat does not.
6. She arbitrarily raises her rates if she knows she can get away with it.
7. Her attitude is often inappropriate and out of professional scope. She told me that I should sell my jewelry if I can't pay her rate increases.
8. She told me to shave for my visits knowing that having a beard is very much appropriate and acceptable in my culture and religion. Based on this observation she wrote in her report to the court that I present negative image to my children.
9. I asked Pat to fill out a W-9 form at the end of the year so that I can provide a 1099 for her. She refused in writing knowing full well that this is what the law requires.
Pat tried to make me look as negatively as possible in her reports to the court knowing full well that I could lose visitation rights to see my children as a result. But justice always prevails. Also, I never leave matters unfinished.
She swore in writing that she will never quit this gig. Money makes the world go round. Well, she did quit when the police I called to the scene, since she was in violation of a court order, started questioning her. I never thought she could run so fast. What a short fall from macha to la cucaracha.
Incidentally, in her subsequent report to the court Pat stated that she was the one who called the police. When I showed police report to the judge that clearly stated I was the one who called the police, he tossed her report aside and never read it again.
Monitors deal with very unfortunate cases that require training and some 24 hour course does not cut it when you are involved with mentally abused children. Also, monitors must care.
Pat Medel lacks both.
If you have questions or want more info about my experience with Pat please let me know at alienatedfather@hotmail.com.