In July of 2021, Veronica York started working as my assistant with the hope and expectation this would lead to a professional partnership. The first time we met in person was for my testimony in a difficult Texas case. The court recognized the enormous harm caused by the abusive father, the children’s lives were saved, and they never had to be exposed to their abuser again. This successful case was the start of a successful relationship that has provided great benefits to clients, children, and our movement.
In addition to conducting expert witness work along with Barry Goldstein, Veronica York is a Certified High Conflict Divorce Coach and advocate for reform in the family court system. After a 20-year career in Sales and Marketing within the Television Industry, she was driven by personal experience to help others navigate the challenges of custody disputes involving domestic violence and child abuse. As a survivor herself, Veronica understands the deep flaws within the system—where father's rights often outweigh child safety. She holds advanced training in Family Law Mediation and frequently speaks and writes about: the current scientific research in the context of Domestic Violence and Child Custody, the misuse of Parental Alienation in family court, and Post-Separation Abuse. Her mission is to create a family court system that prioritizes the safety, well-being, and voices of survivors and their children.
Thilanka Dissanayake is a certified victim's advocate, specializing in intervention, response, and justice, as well as an empowerment coach, consultant, advisor, and a dedicated supporter of women’s rights and victims’ rights. Her career began as a successful Chemical Engineer, but her own experience and her witness to the injustices to numerous victims by the institutions meant to protect them ignited her passion for advocacy and the desire to strengthen women’s confidence. She is on a mission to bring awareness to systemic injustices and contribute to policy changes on violence against women, provide empathetic support and guidance to victims and survivors, and guide women to strengthen and rebuild their identities. Thilanka sees her efforts as her life's work and a way of making the world a better place for her children and future generations. Thilanka enjoys reading, writing, painting, meditating, and spending time with her children.
Serving as Expert Witness and Consultant in Domestic Violence Cases
Serving as Expert Witness and Consultant in Domestic Violence Cases
The Saunders’ study found that there is now a substantial body of current scientific research about domestic violence. This research would strongly support protective mothers’ cases and encourage reform of practices that work poorly for children. The problem is that the often unqualified “experts” and other professionals relied on in domestic violence cases are rarely familiar with current scientific research and so substitute their personal beliefs and biases instead. In our new book, Representing the Domestic Violence Survivor, we encourage attorneys, particularly at the start of a case to inform the court that there is now substantial research that could help courts make decisions that better protect children and ask the court to be open to hearing this information. The attorney will then need to present a genuine expert who understands domestic violence dynamics and is familiar with current research. We hope to train advocates and others to serve in this role but in the meantime, there are few people available with this needed expertise. Accordingly, Barry Goldstein and Veronica York have decided to make themselves available as expert witnesses and consultants in domestic violence cases. We wish we could afford to do this without charge but the best we can do is keep the costs reasonable.
DV is about control, including financial control. Since most of our work is with protective mothers, we use flat fee packages to reduce the cost and allow our clients and their attorneys to speak with us without the meter running.
The packages include our guidance, consulting, writings, and testimony. Clients may use all or some of the package, and all packages are non-refundable.
Please note our new pricing for packages and travel fees are Effective November 1, 2025:
*If travel is needed for testimony, there is an additional $1000 fee per trip + travel costs (airfare, hotel, and transportation).
Free: Brief consultation by email in which Barry and Veronica will point the client to useful research and strategies.
$100: One hour consultation by phone or zoom with client and/or attorney during which Barry and/or Veronica will make suggestions for strategies and research that can help the client. They also may follow-up by providing links to specific articles and information to support the case.
$2000: (plus travel costs*): Barry or Veronica will review a summary of the case (not more than 1000 words), have one trial preparation meeting with client and/or attorney, provide sample questions, and testify for one day. Our testimony will include our qualifications, the research in general, and hypothetical questions based on the research.
$3500: (plus travel costs*): As part of this package, Barry or Veronica will review a reasonable size summary of the case, conduct meetings with the client, attorney, and other professionals in the case. We will help the client prepare the pattern of abuse and write an expert report or an affidavit needed to qualify as an expert. We will be available by zoom, phone, or email to consult with the attorney to help prepare the case and provide any needed research, questions, and trial preparation. We will testify for one day.
$6,000: (plus travel costs*): This package covers everything included in the $3500 package plus any additional writings, testimony, or other assistance needed through the end of the trial. Barry or Veronica will consult with the attorney and the client as needed including challenging any opposing “experts.”
$10,000: (plus travel costs*) This package includes assistance needed as described in the $6000 package, and covers any assistance needed for appeals and any future court proceedings for modifications or violations. In other words, this covers everything for the life of the case.
Alternative Hourly Rates: As an alternative to the packages listed above, a client may choose to pay based on an hourly rate of $300 per hour for non-court work and $400 per hour for court testimony including waiting time. Depositions would be charged to the other party at $400 per hour.
Other combinations of services can also be arranged.