Addiction Medicine Expert Witnesses: 14

Dr. John G. Looney is Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at Duke Medical Center. He is Board Certified in General Psychiatry, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Addiction Psychiatry, and Forensic Psychiatry. He has more than 30 years of experience in psychiatric treatment of Adults, Children & Adolescents. He is experienced in Hospital Psychiatry and Residential Treatment of patients with psychiatric and addictive disease. He is designated a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.

Through the American Psychiatric Association, he has published about treatment methods for children and adolescents. He describes methods of treating children and adolescents who have suffered serious and longstanding problems in his edited book, Chronic Mental Illness in Children and Adolescents.

Specialties:

• General Psychiatry for Adults
• General Psychiatry for Children
• Addiction Psychiatry
• Forensic Psychiatry
• Organizational Consultation for Schools and Universities

Bankole A. Johnson, DSc, MD, MBChB, MPhil, FRCPsych, DFAPA, Dip-ABAM, Dip-ABDA, FACFEI, is a leading Neuroscientist and respected global authority in both Psychiatry and Neuroscience. His considerable education and expertise dates to the 1970s, when he received his first general studies diplomas.

Dr. Johnson earned his Medicinae Baccalaureum et Chirurgiae Baccalaureum (an M.D. equivalent) from the University of Glasgow in Scotland. He also received his UK Board Certification in Psychiatry from the Royal College of Psychiatrists, his Master of Philosophy in Neuropsychiatry at the University of London, his Doctorate in Medicine from the University of Glasgow (coursework at the University of Oxford). He also received a Doctor of Science from the University of Glasgow, the highest doctoral degree that can be awarded by a British university.

In addition to these qualifications, Dr. Johnson has also received United States certifications from both the American College of Forensic Examiners Institute, the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and the American Board of Addiction Medicine.

Today, Bankole Johnson is a board-certified psychiatrist and physician throughout both Europe and the United States. He serves as a respected collegiate authority in his field at a leading university in the United States. Dr. Johnson is a leading authority on the effects of abused drugs including alcohol on the brain and how this affects behavior, especially that related to the commission of a crime. He is a national expert on the treatment of opioid addiction as well as on assessing medical malpractice and insurance claims. Dr. Johnson also is a national expert on the effects of diseases of the brain, mental illness, mental disorder, and aberrant behaviors on testamentary capacity. He also is a national expert on assessing disability as a result of mental disorder, mental illness, and alcohol and drug abuse.

Along the way, Bankole Johnson has also been the recipient of numerous high-profile awards in his fields and industries of specialty. In 2001, he received the Dan Anderson Research Award for his research contributions focused on “the scientific knowledge of addiction recovery.” He won the 2002 Distinguished Senior Scholar of Distinction Award from the National Medical Association and a 2006 Distinguished Lecturer Award from the American Psychiatric Association. In 2008, Dr. Johnson became a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. From 2010, he has been a Fellow of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology. Dr. Johnson won the prestigious NIH Jellinek Award in 2013 for his scientific advances and discoveries in the field of addiction medicine. He is also the Editor of one of the largest and most comprehensive textbooks in the field: Addiction Medicine: Science and Practice, published by Springer.

Litigation Support - Dr. Johnson provides expert witness services for cases involving all aspects of Addiction Medicine (e.g. alcohol, cocaine, heroin and other opioid and substance abuse) as well as diseases of the brain and brain disorders that affect mental capacity. He is experienced as an expert witness not only for medical malpractice but also for capital cases and major crimes. Dr. Johnson's services are available to attorneys for plaintiff and defendant and include medical record review, written reports, depositions, and trial testimony when needed.

Areas of Expertise:

Addiction Medicine Alcohol Brain Injury Disability Health Insurance

Medical Insurance Disability Insurance Medical Insurance Medical Malpractice Psychiatry

Joel L. Kent, MD, has been quadruple-board certified in Family Medicine, Anesthesiology, Palliative Care, and Pain Management over the arc of his career.

Background: Much of Dr. Kent’s expertise is an artifact of both the clinical and educational leadership roles he has held over the course of his career. He has served as Division Head of Pain Medicine at medical schools between 1997 - 2017; originally at the University of Maryland and subsequently at the University of Rochester. In addition to this clinical leadership role, he also lead the pain medicine educational missions at these institutions from 1997 to 2015. Dr. Kent served as Director of the Pain Medicine Fellowship Training Programs at the University of Maryland form 1997 to 2007 and at the University of Rochester from 2007 - 2015. Both these programs are accredited through the Accreditation Counsel for Graduate Medical Education.

Over the course of his career, Dr. Kent has developed particular expertise surrounding the use of Opioid Analgesics. He has provided over 50 lectures to other physicians regarding the safe and proper use of opioid. He has served as an expert case reviewer for both the state of Maryland and the state of New York. The vast majority of these case reviews involved resolving concerns regarding the appropriateness of controlled substance prescriptions. In 2014, he provided a series lectures on behalf of the New York State Department of Health which were presented across New York State to educate physicians about the safe use of opioid analgesics in both cancer and non-cancer related pain conditions.

Since July 2017, Dr. Kent has been serving as a content expert on the Opioid Abuse Prevention and Pain Management Advisory Group to the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS). All these accomplishments attest to Dr. Kent’s high level of expertise in the complex and evolving realm of opioid therapy for the management of chronic pain problems.

Litigation Support: Dr. Kent has served as a medical expert witness for nearly 20 years. He has served as an expert witness and case reviewer for the states of both Maryland and New York's Departments of Health. He has provided expert case review and litigation support to health insurance carriers seeking restitution for fraudulent expenses related to opioid therapy. Dr. Kent provides litigation support and expert testimony in plaintiff and defense cases.

Expertise: Dr. Kent has expertise in all areas of Pain Medicine and has focused expertise in the prescribing and oversight of opioid analgesics. His specialties include acute and chronic pain management, opioid analgesics, interventional pain management therapies, RSD/CRPS and low back pain.

Specialties & Experience

General Specialties: Psychiatry, Telepsychiatry, TeleHealth, Correctional Healthcare

Specialty Focus: Prisons & Jails, Wrongful Death, Suicide, Deliberate Indifference, Medical Malpractice, Gross Negligence, Addiction, Nursing Homes, Geriatric Psychiatry, Violence,  Telepsychiatry, Overdose, Involuntary Hospitalization

Education: MD, Northwestern University; Residency, Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati; Fellowship, Child/Adolescent, University of Cincinnati

Years in Practice: 30+

Additional Information:

• Board Certified actively practicing psychiatrist.  Northwestern Educated 
• Vast experience in disability and file review.
• Special interest in Telepsychiatry.  
• 30+ years of diverse clinical experience including telepsychiatry, locum tenens, private practice (treated over 20,000 outpatients and admitted over 10,000 patients to hospitals), correctional healthcare (Folsom and Pelican Bay State Prisons) and nursing homes.  
• Served as a psychiatric consultant to over 40 nursing homes.
• Experienced expert witness case reviewer.
• Experienced Independent Medical Examiner.
• President and Founder - MasteringTeleHealth.com (online training for clinicians and therapists)
• Licensed in California & Illinois  

View Dr. Fred Moss' Consulting Profile.

Dr. James C. Norris, Ph.D., DABT, EURT is an Expert Witness in Toxicology and Pharmacology. He has Litigation and Arbitration experience in the United States, United Kingdom and Hong Kong. Dr. Norris has given testimony to government agencies, has acted as a consultant for the media (BBC) and is an Industrial Site Crisis Team Member. He is avaliable for both Plaintiff and Defense.

Areas Of Expertise:

• Carcinogenicity and Chemicals
• Combustion or Fire Toxicolog
• General and Inhalation Toxicology
• Pesticides, and Pharmaceuticals (pharmacology)

Professional Affiliations:

• American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists
• British Toxicology Society
• Society of Toxicology
• Editorial Boards of Inhalation Toxicology and Journal of Fire Sciences

David E. Saintsing, MD, is a board certified, residency trained, highly experienced Emergency Medicine Physician. Serving as chief resident during residency, he has been a leader for years - including in his current practice. 

For 20 years, Dr. Saintsing has also been an educator of medical students, physician assistants, and residents. He currently serves on the physician assistant education faculty in a group of 200 ER doctors.  This has helped hone his skills as a concise and clear communicator - critical ingredients to enhancing efficiency and knowledge of the legal team.  Serving on his practice's professional peer review committee furthers Dr. Saintsing's exposure to standard of care conversations and enhances his insight as an expert witness. Additionally, he is on the board of directors of his large multi-specialty physician owned corporation. 

Litigation Support - Dr. Saintsing offers expert witness services to attorneys representing plaintiff and defendant. He has reviewed approximately 20 cases and has been deposed 3 times.  

Areas of Expertise:

Emergency Medicine Trauma Head Trauma Myocardial Infarction Heart Attack Stroke Pulmonary Embolism

Ectopic Pregnancy Sepsis Myocardial Infarction Appendicitis Hypothermia Altitude Medicine Opiate Related Death

Services include:

Medical Chart Review & Analysis Provide Opinion Regarding Breach of Standard of Care Provide Opinion Regarding Injury & Causation Survey of Case for Merit

Preparation of Medical Summary Report and/or Affidavit Aid Legal Team in Preparing for Expert Deposition or Trial Attorney Liaison to Treating Physicians & Family Members Medical Literature Search

Kele Sewell, MD, PharmD, is Board Certified in Family Medicine with concentrations in Primary Care and Pharmacology. Dr. Sewell has over 25 years of experience as a practicing physician. Having attended Pharmacy school prior to medical school at Mercer University School of Medicine (1995), Dr. Sewell has added expertise in Pharmacology. He excels at the treatment of Hypertension, Diabetes, and Opioid Addiction, creating custom recovery plans for each patient. Litigation Support - Dr. Sewell provides expert witness services to attorneys in cases involving Primary Care and Pharmacology Medical Malpractice. He is currently consulting on 10 cases in litigation with a 60-40 ratio of plaintiff to defense representation. Dr. Sewell provides independent medical examinations, thorough reports, depositions, and trial testimony as needed.

Mohan Nair, MD, trained at the University of California (Irvine) and Harvard and is board certified in:

Brain Injury Medicine Psychiatry Child Psychiatry Forensic Psychiatry

Addiction Medicine Pain Medicine Psychopharmacology Behavioral Neurology / Neuropsychiatry

Dr. Nair brings his extensive training, clinical experience, and formal board certifications to provide in-depth and nuanced medico-legal analysis of cases for both adults and children involving brain injury, frequently and tragically combined with chronic pain and severe psychological trauma (PTSD). He is committed to comprehensive and accurate forensic examinations, quality neuropsychological assessment, and the use of the most up-to-date technology available in the field.

Dr. Nair has provided extensive trial testimony in defense and plaintiffs' cases. He provides and coordinates medical, psychological, neuropsychological, toxicological, and imaging experts for complex civil litigation. Dr. Nair has been on cases involving:

• TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY: TBI, Mild TBI, CTE, Concussions, Chronic Pain
• SCHOOL DISTRICT CASES: Discrimination, Personal Injury, Willful Misconduct, Sexual Misconduct, and other abuse
• ADULT-ADOLESCENT-CHILD PSYCHIATRY: Neurocognitive Assessment, Neuropsychological Testing, Anxiety Disorders, Depressive Disorders, Malingering, Police Violence, Psychosomatic Disorders, Trauma Evaluations, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
• ELDER MATTERS: Abuse, Dementia, Testamentary Capacity, Undue Influence
• MEDICAL TOXICOLOGY: Lead Exposure, Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, Mold
• STANDARD OF CARE: Psychiatric/Psychological / Psychotherapeutic Malpractice, Wrongful Death from Prescribing Psychiatric Medication

EDUCATION/TRAINING:

• 1970-75 Doctor of Medicine, University of Bombay
• 1981-83 Clinical Fellow in Child Psychiatry, Harvard University; McLean Hospital / Massachusetts General Hospital
• 1978-81 University of California at Irvine: Residency in Psychiatry

CERTIFICATIONS/LICENSES:

Dr. Nair is board certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties in Brain Injury Medicine, Psychiatry, Child Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry, and Addiction Medicine. Additionally, he is board-certified in Pain Medicine, Psychopharmacology, and Behavioral Neurology / Neuropsychiatry. He currently holds medical licenses in California and Hawaii.

Stephen M. Raffle, M.D. is double Board-Certified in Psychiatry and Forensic Psychiatry. Dr. Raffle has over 49 years as a clinical and forensic psychiatrist offering his expert opinion in Federal and State jurisdictions nationwide. In addition to serving as an expert witness, Dr. Raffle consults to attorneys, judges, insurers, and to employers regarding Fitness for Duty and Risk of Violence (Threat) Assessment:

• 5000+ psychiatric assessments
• Expert testimony in 700 depositions and trials
• Successful clinical practice

The job of an expert witness is to educate a jury, judge, attorney, and trier of fact about the forensic psychiatrist's conclusions and how those opinions were derived in a manner well-reasoned, skillful, and easily understood by every person, not only another forensic psychiatrist. In short, an educator. Dr. Raffle’s experience as an educator extends well beyond a forensic venue, yet underpins the key to his ability to explain his opinions.

• Prof. of Psychiatry, UCSF Medical School, 20 years
• U.C. Hastings College of the Law postgraduate course "Trial and Appellate Advocacy" instructing seasoned attorneys about the direct and cross-examination of expert witnesses, with special focus on mental health experts and licensed medical professionals, Psychiatrists (MDs), Psychologists (LCSWs / MFTs), and physicians in other medical specialties, 11 years

Stephen M. Raffle, M.D. & Associates' expertise is well-established in forensic assessment in the areas of:

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Dementia and Competency
• Testamentary Capacity
• Undue Influence
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Malingering
• Emotional Distress: Intentional & Unintentional infliction
• Emotional Distress: Forensic Evaluation to render medical-legal opinion
• Diagnosis and Need for Treatment
• Fitness For Duty
• Risk/Threat Workplace Violence Assessment
• Wrongful Termination
• Discrimination (ADA, Title VII, EEOC)
• Harassment
• Employment Litigation
• Medical Malpractice
• Catastrophic Injury
• Temporary and Permanent Disability
• Medical Records Review
• Assist in Preparation for Direct and Cross-examination of Expert Witnesses and Deposition of expert witnesses

Licensed in California.

Manonmani Antony, MD, DABA, DABIPP, is triple board-certified in Anesthesiology (ABA), Pain Medicine (ABA), and Interventional Pain Medicine (ABIPP).

Dr. Antony completed medical school at University of Peradeniya and later finished her residency at Texas Tech University, where she was awarded the Outstanding Resident Award. Dr. Antony was trained to perform advanced pain procedures utilizing cutting-edge technology during her Pain Management Fellowship at the University of Maryland. She currently lectures on Opioid Risk Management for the Medical Society of Delaware and the Delaware State Medical Board.

Dr. Antony's personal philosophy as a physician motivates her to explore every treatment option possible in order to avoid invasive surgeries and Opioid drug abuse in chronic pain patients. With great success, she uses Interventional Spinal / Joint Procedures along with Physical Therapy as alternative pain-management therapies to supplement patients' pharmacological regimens.

Litigation Support - Dr. Antony provides expert witness services for cases involving Interventional Pain Management and Opioid Risk Management. She has performed numerous Independent Medical Reviews (IMEs) and has testified in court approximately 25 times. Dr. Antony's services are available to counsel representing plaintiff and defendant and include Workers Compensation Review, Auto injury Review, Depositions, Narrative Reports, and Peer Reviews.

Areas of Expertise:

Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection Cervical Facet Joint Injection Cervical Medial Branch Block Cervical Medial Branch Neurotomy Diagnostic Ultrasound Fluoroscopic-Guided Hip Injection Fluroscopically-Guided Spinal Injection Ganglion Impar Block Implantable Peripheral Neurostimulator Intercostal Nerve Block Lumbar Discography Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection Lumbar Facet Joint Injection Lumbar Selective Nerve Root Block

Lumbar Sympathetic Block Lumbar Transforaminal Injection Myofascial Trigger Point Injection Neuromodulation Neurostimulation Peripheral Nerve Block Piriformis Injection Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection (PRP) Sacroiliac Joint Injection Spinal Cord Stimulation Stellate Ganglion Block Thoracic Epidural Steroid Injection Thoracic Facet Joint Injection Total Disc Replacement

Dr. Roger D. Vazquez, PhD, LPC, LCDC, HS-BCP, CART, is a Behavioral Health and Substance Abuse Expert. He is the CEO of Texas Behavioral Health Associates and is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor, Certified Prevention Specialist Intern, and is Board Certified in Human Services. 

Dr. Vazquez received his bachelors in psychology from The University of Texas, his masters in clinical psychology from Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, and his Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision from Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi. He has worked in a variety of behavioral health settings, including psychiatric hospitals, inpatient substance abuse treatment facilities, university counseling centers, non-profit organizations, crisis hotlines, and community mental health centers.

Dr. Vazquez has served as a professional consultant regarding mental health and substance abuse for various clients, including attorneys and healthcare companies. He has served as a policy advisor to a US congressman, where he prepared briefs and provided consultation on policy and public relation

Litigation Support: Dr. Vazquez has served as an expert witness for plaintiffs and defendants in both state and federal courts and in both civil and criminal cases. He has experience in general litigation consultation, psychological assessment and evaluation, expert witness report writing (including Rule 26 reports), and courtroom testimony.

Areas of Expertise:

Behavioral Health Alcohol Abuse Drug Abuse Emotional Trauma Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Psychology Sexual Abuse Sexual Addiction Stress Suicide

A grandson of tobacco company founder R.J. Reynolds, Patrick Reynolds first spoke out publicly at a 1986 Congressional hearing in favor of a ban on all cigarette advertising. Since then, his advocacy work and appearances in the national press have made him a well known champion of a Smokefree Society. 

Mr. Reynolds' advocacy work and motivational talks to youth and adults have made him a well-known and respected champion of a smokefree society. He has helped remind many thousands of people of the dangers of smoking. Mr. Reynolds is a frequent guest speaker at universities and health conferences, and also middle and high schools. His talks are often sponsored by health departments and hospitals, as a bridge builder to local communities. He is frequently invited to debate on Fox News Channel, CNBC, CNN and other networks, and has been profiled by most of the world's major newspapers and US TV networks

Mr. Reynolds serves as Executive Director of the Tobaccofree Earth, a nonprofit group he founded in 1989. Its mission is to motivate youth around the world to stay tobacco-free, and empower smokers to quit successfully. In 2019 the San Francisco Chronicle published an editorial Reynolds wrote against Vaping Products. It congratulated voters for approving the first citywide ban of the sale of all vaping and flavored tobacco products, except menthol and tobacco. New York City passed a similar ban later that year.

Mr. Reynolds was a strong advocate for the Federal tobacco tax hike of 62 cents, signed into law by Obama in 2009 on his 17th day in office. USA Today published an editorial by Reynolds making a compelling case for higher tobacco taxes. He was also a proponent of the Congressional bill for FDA regulation of tobacco. In March, 2009, he met in Washington DC with Rep. Henry Waxman, co-sponsor of the bill, to offer his support. In June the same year, the bill was passed by Congress and signed by President Obama.

In September 2015, the White House and President Obama presented him with the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

William Santoro, MD is Board Certified in Addiction Medicine and Family Medicine. In addition to being the Chief of the Section of Addiciotn Medicine at Tower Health and Medical Director at the Reading Hospital & Medical Center detoxification/rehabilitation program, Dr. Santoro is also the Medical Director at New Directions, Methadone Treatment center where he is responsible for all admission physical exams and for prescribing methadone to approximately 950 opiate dependant patients. Dr. Santoro is the Addictionist on staff at The Reading Hospital & Medical Center within the Department of Psychiatry. He is consulted by hospitalists to care for patients admitted to the hospital with addiction complicating their condition. Dr. Santoro runs a Medication Assisted Recovery Clinic, an outpatient program treating over 200 patients with buprenorphine (Suboxone) or Vivitrol maintenance. With an interest in Sports Medicine in 2001, he served as a volunteer physician for the U.S. Olympic Training Team in Lake Placid, New York. Dr. Santoro has been deposed more than a dozen times in the past several years. He has testified in court numerous times on behalf of the plaintiff as well as for the defense. He has testified in Federal Court and been involved in cases concerning the pharmacuetical industry. 

Areas of Expertise:

• All aspects of Addiction Medicine
• Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)
  • Buprenorphine
  • Naltrexone
  • Methadone
• Dual Diagnosis Pain/Addiction

View Dr. Santoro's Consulting Profile.

Tracy L. Skaer, PharmD, FASHP, FASCP is a Professor Emeritus of Pharmacotherapy with over 30 years of pharmaceutical experience; 5 years as an expert witness. She is a licensed pharmacist in California, Idaho, and Washington. Dr. Skaer is a Fellow of the American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists, the American Society of Consultant Pharmacist, and a Member of the American College of Clinical Pharmacist's (ACCP) Pain and Palliative Care Practice and Research Network (PRN).

Dr. Skaer's research interests include chronic pain, comorbid mental illness in chronic disease, depression, anxiety disorders, insomnia, mindfulness, complementary and alternative medicine, and pharamcoeconomics and pharmacoepidemiology. Her research has been supported by over $3.2 million in grants from foundations and pharmaceutical industry.

Litigation Support - Dr. Skaer has completed several expert cases across the United States. Her services are available to attorneys representing plaintiff and defendant and include record review, written reports, deposition, and trial testimony. Dr. Skaer's cases involve:

Chronic Pain Narcotic Use Opioid Pill Mills Illicit Substance Abuse Opioid Overdose Wrongful Death

Urine Drug Testing Medication-Related Suicide Medication Reactions and Interactions FDA Controlled Substances Act Opioid Prescribing Opioid Dispensing Regulations

View Dr. Skaer's Consulting Profile.