FORENSICS & EXPERT WITNESS
FORENSICS & EXPERT WITNESS
Forensic work is one of the most important areas of my contributions to social justice and to people’s rights to equality. I provide objective, evidence-based opinions for attorneys, firms, and courts in civil and criminal law cases. I collaborate with defense, plaintive, and prosecution attorneys to provide accurate, comprehensive, and timely neuropsychological, cognitive, and psychological assessments. I also provide Independent Medical Exam (IME) or Agreed IME (both sides agree on an independent exam). I stay updated on forensic and clinical practices by actively engaging in research, teaching, or publishing in scientific journals and books.
First Step
To start, the first step is to request a free consultation so me and/or my team can learn about the case, learn your approach, clarify the referral question, and determine the type of evaluation that is best for your case (see below for a list of civil and criminal evaluations), and identify potential trial/deposition dates. Next, you will receive an agreement form with a fee schedule to sign and return. A time to conduct the evaluation will be scheduled. Meanwhile, sending the following records is helpful: medical, psychiatric, neurological, brain imaging (e.g., Brain MRI, DTI, MRS, CT, EEG, PET, SPECT), school, other forensic evaluators, police, audio-video media, and incident records.
Expert Witness, Forensics, and Court Appointed Engagements
- United States Department of Justice, Los Angeles
- San Francisco Superior Court
- Personal Injury, Employee Law, and Family-Aging Law
- Public Defender and District Attorney’s Office
- San Quentin Prison
- Superior Court of Sacramento
- Superior Court of Butte County
- Placer County Superior Court
- Tehama County Superior Court
- Tulare County Superior Court
- Del Norte Superior Court
- Solano County Superior Court
- Alameda County Superior Court
- San Joaquin Superior Court
- Private Civil and Criminal Law Agency
Services Available
Civil Law Evaluations
- Personal Injury, Emotional or Cognitive Damage
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- Evaluate for psychological and cognitive factors that are related to an injury (e.g., vehicle accident, physical injury, electric or toxic exposure, or fire).
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- Fitness for Duty
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- Evaluate for psychological and cognitive factors that may interfere with ability to carry out work related demands and functions.
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- Focused Forensic Evaluation
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- Evaluate of Concussion or Brain Injury, Dementia, Cognitive Impairment, PTSD, Psychosis, Mood, or Somatic Symptoms (e.g., pain, psychogenic physical problem).
- Damages of Sexual Abuse, Employment Misconduct, and Ethnicity / Racial Trauma
- Financial Capacity, Guardianship, and Conservatorship (e.g., Financial Capacity Undue Influence)
- Fitness for Duty or Return to Work
- Employee Evaluation
- Credibility, Confabulation, Malingering and Somatization
- Toxic, Electrical, Chemical, or Fire Exposure
- Disability Determination
- ADA and Reasonable Accommodations
- Discrimination or Harassment
- Head Injury or Traumatic Brain Injury
- Post-Concussive Syndrome
- Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)
- Neurotoxic Syndrome
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Criminal Law Evaluations
- Pre-trial Capacity
- Evaluate psychological and cognitive factors of competency to stand trial, waive Miranda, plead guilty, confess, or participate in the legal system or with counsel.
- Responsibility-Insanity Defense
- Evaluate psychological and cognitive ability to form specific intent and elements of diminished actuality, diminished capacity, or responsibility.
- Post-trial Sentencing- Mitigating Factors
- Evaluate psychological and cognitive factors for the court to consider in sentencing, and in recommending probation or parole
- Focused Forensic Evaluation
- Mitigation Evaluation: Identifying mitigating circumstances in Sentencing. Predisposition to criminal acts may arise from neurodevelopmental, congenital, intellectual, educational, socioeconomic, psychological, and cognitive limitations or injuries
- Mental Health Diversion Evaluation: Including the 6 criteria and considering Penal Code PEN § 1001.36, which allows mental health treatment in lieu of prosecution and jail
- Capital Murder Cases, Unusual or Bizarre Homicide, and Serial Killer (3 or More Homicides)
- Review of Other’s Forensic or Clinical Opinions and Professionals (e.g., Diagnosis, Reports, Mental Health Professionals, and Neuropsychologists)
- Criminal Competency, Penal Code PEN § 1368 and 1369
- Criminal Responsibility or Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity, Penal Code PEN § 1026 and 1027
- Transfer Hearing Evaluation: 707 W&I code, should a minor be transferred to adult/criminal court, or should an adult have been tried as a minor in juvenile court.
- Franklin Hearing Evaluation (Youth Offender Hearing for individuals who are under the age of 25). Including Miller’s 5 factors: Youth’s brain/mental immaturity and risk; Dysfunctional family patterns/coping; Influence of peers, or circumstance of legal incident and mental health; Youth’s capability and protective factors; Potential for rehabilitation
- Assess whether or not any of the following neurological or psychiatric factors played a role in the legal incident: Brain Development, Intellectual, Neurodevelopmental, Neurocognitive, Trauma, Personality, Adverse Childhood Experiences, Family/Sociocultural Environment, PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury, Concussion, Toxic Exposure, Chronic Medical Conditions, or Alcohol, Opioid, and Substance Abuse
- Suicide by Cop
- Case Reviews and Consultation
- Private Consultations to Plan Strategy
- Credibility, Confabulation, Malingering, and Somatization
