A Dane County jury granted $1 million to Dr. Charles and Karen Johnson, who claimed mental health care providers led their daughter to falsely accuse her parents of sexual and physical abuse Sunday.
In 1991, Charlotte Johnson, who opposed the lawsuit, confronted her parents about memories of sexual and physical abuse.
Recovered memory therapy is said to be a controversial approach that therapists use to help patients recover alleged repressed memories.
In 1996, the Johnsons sued Roger Memorial Hospital in Oconomowoc and Heartland Counseling Services in Madison. The couple also sued Madison therapist Kay Phillips, Oconomowoc therapists Jeff Hollowell and Tim Reisenauer and the therapists' insurers, according to court records.
The Johnsons claimed their daughter's treatment was negligent, caused emotional distress and breached a contract to provide appropriate care.
The jury found Hollowell and Phillips negligent, but Reisenauer was found not negligent. The lawsuit against Rogers Memorial Hospital was settled out of court prior to the verdict.
Johnson's attorney, William Smoler, of Hausmann-McNally S.C., has argued five cases before the Wisconsin Supreme Court in the past 10 years. These cases have resulted in new laws and rights for people who were the victims of practitioners implanting false memories of childhood abuse, according to Hausmann-McNally's website.
The verdict came after a two-week trial and 10 hours of deliberation. The case was brought before the Wisconsin Supreme Court twice.
Dr. Charles Johnson is a former Madison physician and Karen Johnson is a former nurse. They currently live in St. Louis.
—Maggie DeGroot
