Experts

  • Mark I. Levy, MD, DLFAPA
    Medical Director, Forensic Psychiatrist, Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (Psychiatry) with Added Qualifications in Forensic Psychiatry, Distinguished Life Fellow American Psychiatric Association
  • Sarah A. Hall, PhD
    Adult, Child & Adolescent Forensic Neuropsychologist
  • David Y. Kan, MD
    Forensic Psychiatrist, Addiction Medicine & Substance Abuse Specialist, Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (Psychiatry) with Added Qualifications in Forensic Psychiatry
  • Anlee Kuo, MD, JD
    Child and Adolescent Forensic Psychiatrist, Diplomate American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology (Psychiatry), Board Eligible for Child, Adolescent and Forensic Psychiatry
  • Ronald Roberts, PhD
    Board Certified in Forensic Psychology, American Board of Professional Psychology, American College of Law and Psychology
  • Charles Saldanha, MD
    Forensic Psychiatrist, Acute Care and Emergency Psychiatry, Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (Psychiatry) with Added Qualifications in Forensic Psychiatry

Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology
-- What We Do

Our primary skill is explaining complex medical and behavioral information in a readily understood and accurate manner. In the legal arena, as in our clinical practices, teaching, and scholarship, clear communication is our central goal.

We reach our opinions and offer testimony based on evidence, not simply our authority. Integrating the data from medical records, legal documents, psychological testing and interviews, we answer questions at the interface of law and mental health based on solid science and clinical experience.

Our consultation, reports and testimony aim to illuminate the mental health issues in legal matters. We consult in both civil and criminal matters and to both sides of the bar.

We find our work engaging and demonstrate our enthusiasm, curiosity, and care to the attorneys who retain us and the lawyers, judges and juries who hear our testimony.

Meet our team of experts...

Forensic Psychiatric Topics

A Paradox About Duty to Refer

from Cyberounds: Health Law and Bioethics Maxwell J. Mehlman, J.D. Educational Objectives Upon completion of this Cyberounds(R), the participant should be able to: * Discuss the paradox of the duty to refer * Discuss how this paradox can confuse judges...
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Admissability of Scientific Evidence - Daubert v. Merrell Dow (1993)

The U.S. Supreme Court's opinion in Daubert v. Merrell Dow (1993) rejected the Frye test and Frye-plus tests for the admissibility of certain scientific evidence (see admissibility tests lecture). Instead of "general acceptance" in the scientific community, the Daubert test...
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All in the Office 'Family'

Los Angeles Times 5/18/98 CAREERS / ADVERSITY AND CONFLICT Employees and bosses sometimes reenact childhood family dynamics on the job. Is your workplace dysfunctional? Read up on these relating styles and find out. By: SUSAN VAUGHN - SPECIAL TO THE...
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Assessing the Truth: How Forensic Psychiatrists & Psychologists Evaluate Litigants

Forensic psychiatrist Mark Levy MD and forensic neuropsychologist Ronald Roberts, PhD co-authored an article for San Francisco Attorney Magazine, Spring, May 2008. In it, they explain the process and methods used by forensic behavioral experts when conducting an evaluation of...
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Deposing Mental Health Experts on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Chapter 716, Lawyers' Guide to Medical Proof, Volume 4 edited by Marshall Houts, J.D., LexisNexis Mathew Bender 2002 Mark I. Levy MD co-author Download Deposing_MH_Experts.pdf
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Determining Mental Disabilities and Obligations of Employers Under the ADA and FEHA

Mark I. Levy, M.D., Jonathan Mook, Esq., and Saul Rosenberg, Ph.D. Special to Law.com November 29, 2001 Although federal and state laws prohibit employment discrimination against individuals with physical and mental disabilities and require an employer to make reasonable accommodations...
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Expert Discovery Provisions in Rule 26, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure

The following is the text of the parts of Rule 26, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, which deal directly with expert discovery, in civil actions: Rule 26. General Provisions Governing Discovery; Duty of Disclosure (a) Required Disclosures; Methods to Discover...
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Experts & Confidentiality - Pettus v. Cole - Cal Ct. Appeal 1996

In California Psychiatric Experts Are Under the Same Privilege/Confidentiality Obligations as are Treating Psychiatrists California Appellate Decision Regarding Privilege/Confidentiality Duties of Non-Treating, Psychiatric Experts: see PETTUS V. COLE, 57 Cal.Rptr.2d 46 (1996) Court of Appeal, First District, Division 2, California...
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Forensic Psychiatric Landmark Cases

American Academy of Psychiatry & Law selected Landmark Cases which it thinks especially important and significant for forensic psychiatry. Download Forensic Psychiatric Landmark Cases.pdf
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Frye v. The United States

No. 3968 Court of Appeals of District of Columbia 293 F. 1013; 1923 U.S. App. LEXIS 1712; 54 App. D.C. 46; 34 A.L.R. 145 December 3, 1923, Decided PRIOR HISTORY: [**1] Appeal from the Supreme Court of the District of...
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Liability for the Psychiatrist Expert Witness

Download Liability For Expert Witness (pdf)
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Moms Who Kill: When Depression Turns Deadly

by Mark I. Levy, MD, Deborah Michelle Sanders, Esq. and Stacy Sabraw Psychology Today December 2002 reprinted with permission Summary: Postpartum mood disorders are more common than we realize: Up to 80 percent of new mothers experience mild depression within...
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On Wearing Two Hats: Role Conflict in Serving as Both Psychotherapist and Expert Witness

Article by: Larry H. Strasburger, M.D., Thomas G. Gutheil, M.D., and Archie Brodsky, B.A. Should psychotherapists serve as expert witnesses for their patients? Psychotherapists of all disciplines need to confront the potential clinical, legal, and ethical problems involved in combining...
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Overcoming Obstacles to the Independent Examination of Emotional Damages Defense

Comment Spring 2004 by Saul Rosenberg, PhD & Mark Levy, MD Download OvercomingObstacles.pdf
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Psychiatric "Fitness for Duty" Evaluations

Fitness for Duty Evaluation can provide concrete information about an employee’s level of functioning and appropriateness for their work environment. By requesting a Fitness for Duty Evaluation, an employer demonstrates good faith in attempting to resolve potentially contentious and litigious...
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Sexual Relationships with Patients

Maxwell J. Mehlman, J.D. Sexual relationships with patients are problematic, not only because they may be unethical and may compromise patient care, but because they may lead to civil actions for damages, criminal actions, and disciplinary proceedings by state medical...
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Sexual Relationships with Patients

Maxwell J. Mehlman, J.D. Sexual relationships with patients are problematic, not only because they may be unethical and may compromise patient care, but because they may lead to civil actions for damages, criminal actions, and disciplinary proceedings by state medical...
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Shrink in the Courtroom: Forensic Psychiatry and Law

by Mark Levy, M.D. This is the first in a series of articles about forensic psychiatry as it is utilized in civil litigation. In this article, I will describe how a forensic psychiatrist can be useful to trial attorneys in...
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Shrink on the Couch: Deposing Mental Health Experts - PowerPoint

This was a talk presented by Mark Levy MD and Ronald Roberts PhD at Bar Association of San Francisco in September 12, 2007. Download "Deposing Mental Health Experts" powerpoint.pdf
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Supreme Court Ruling: Jaffee v. Redmond, 1996

This article is a reprint of the one which first appeared in the San Francisco Recorder on 07/24/96 Though recently protected from disclosure in the federal courts, therapists' records remain under siege by insurance companies By: Mark Levy, M.D. Confidentiality...
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The "Eggshell Plaintiff" Revisited: Causation of Mental Damages in Civil Litigation

The Commission on Mental and Physical Disability Law Reporter by Mark I. Levy, MD, FAPA and Saul E. Rosenberg, PhD Download EggshellPlaintiff.pdf
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The Assessment of Malingering in Civil Litigation

The Assessment of Malingering in Civil Litigation by Sarah A. Hall, PhD The assessment of the likelihood that a plaintiff or claimant may be exaggerating, feigning, or malingering cognitive and/or emotional impairment is of paramount importance in a variety of...
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The Stigma of Mental Illness in the United States

By Mark I. Levy, M.D. America today is plagued with a pandemic prejudice against those suffering with mental illness that is crippling our nation. Our society equates mental illness with moral weakness, causing individuals to deny their mental suffering out...
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Vexatious Litigant - example

Woman who sues at drop of hat may get hers Ken Garcia Tuesday, June 6, 2000 ©2000 San Francisco Chronicle SAN FRANCISCO -- The legal establishment may never completely catch up with Patricia A. McColm, but the karmic circle is...
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Vexatious Litigants - Litigants Who Won't Accept "No" (or "Yes") for an Answer

By Mark I. Levy MD, DLFAPA Vexatious litigants[1] are individuals who burden the judicial process by repeatedly filing causes of action that are ultimately found to be without merit. Despite the considerable cost to the judicial system (and ultimately to...
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What is Forensic Psychiatry?

Forensic psychiatry is the sub specialty of psychiatry dealing with the interface between psychiatry and the law. Forensic psychiatrists serve as consultants and expert witnesses for civil and criminal attorneys, the judiciary, government and non-government agencies, and corporations. Some are...
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What Is Forensic Psychology

Forensic Psychology is the application of the science of psychology to legal issues. The word "forensic" comes from the Latin word "forensis", meaning “of the forum” and relates the Forum in ancient Rome where the earliest courts were held. The...
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What is Neuropsychology?

Neuropsychologist measure aspects of voluntary cognitive, or brain functioning through the use of a variety of objective standardized tests. The use of such tests makes it possible to compare the individual's functioning in specific areas statistically to that of other...
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What Psychological Factors Drive Civil Litigation?

What Drives Litigation? How Forensic Psychiatrists and Psychologists Assess Motivation by Mark Levy, M.D., Forensic psychiatry and psychology is the application of psychiatric and psychological clinical knowledge and research to the practice of law where plaintiff’s (or criminal defendant’s) mental...
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When is a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Claim Legitimate...and When Is It Not?

When is a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Claim Legitimate...and When Is It Not? by Mark I. Levy, M.D. Asst. Clinical Professor Psychiatry University of California San Francisco School of Medicine (expanded version of article published in For the Defense, November...
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