The American Polygraph Association (APA) will not consider my ethics complaint against Louis I. Rovner of Los Angeles. APA General Counsel Gordon L. Vaughan, in a letter dated 20 November 2007, writes that the APA has "declined to institute an investigation" of my
well-documented complaint that Rovner, during the course of a polygraph examination that he videorecorded for evidentiary purposes, "1) deliberately conveyed the false notion to his examinee that I am a fugitive from justice who fled the United States to avoid criminal prosecution, and 2) falsely claimed that I sent him a computer virus (a federal crime)."
The American Polygraph Association's unwillingness to consider this ethics complaint is reminiscent of its
refusal last year to investigate an
ethics complaint against APA past president Ed Gelb for falsely holding himself out to the public as a Ph.D. in marketing his services.
The full text of the APA's reply to my complaint against Lou Rovner follows (the
original PDF letter is also attached):
Quote:November 20, 2007
VIA E-MAIL ONLY To:
maschke@antipolygraph.org
George W. Maschke
Van Trigtstraat 53
2597 VX The Hague
The Netherlands
re: American Polygraph Association
Dear Mr. Maschke:
As you may recall from our prior correspondence, I am General Counsel for the American Polygraph Association ("APA). I have been provided a copy of your October 25, 2007, letter requesting a disciplinary investigation regarding APA member Louis Rovner. Therein, you allege that Louis Rovner made defamatory statements about you during the course of a polygraph examination.
The APA does not, of course, condone communications which may constitute the tort of defamation. The question of whether such a tort has been committed is, however, one better left to detailed fact-finding and application of the law that is available through civil courts. As such, the Chairman of the APA's Grievance and Ethics Committee has advised me that he has declined to institute an investigation of this matter. I concur in the Chairman's conclusion.
Although not a controlling factor in the determination that your complaint is better addressed by civil courts, it is worth noting that your motivation in addressing this complaint regarding Louis Rovner to the APA is suspect. It is my personal opinion that you have brought this complaint, not for purposes of enhancing the polygraph profession, but rather as an attempt to discredit persons who take a view regarding polygraph that is contrary to your own. Indeed, that this is your motivation is supported by the post-script of your October 25, 2007, letter, in which you announce that the complaint would be posted on your antipolygraph.org website.
Sincerely,
VAUGHAN & DeMURO
Gordon L. Vaughan
GLV/kmm
The APA website
declares: "The Ethics and Grievance Committee receives and expeditiously, fairly and impartially investigates all allegations of misconduct against members of this Association." Apparently, this does not apply when the complainant is a critic of polygraphy.