Pharmacy / Pharmacology / Pharmaceuticals Expert Witnesses

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.

Dr. John P. Bederka, PhD, has over 30 years of experience as a Toxicologist with specialized knowledge of Chemistry, Pharmacology, and Neuropharmacology. Dr. Bederka served as Section Head of Toxicology and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring for the Abraham Lincoln School of Medicine at the University of Illinois Medical Center. His practice covers Occupational Exposure, Residential Exposure, Adverse Health Effects, and Chemical Substances of Abuse.

Dr. Bederka is frequently called upon to provide Expert Testimony in Forensic Pathology and Toxicology in traffic accidents, medical malpractice, worker's compensation, and other diverse matters. As an independent contractor, Dr. Bederka has been retained for his services over 100 times in 25 states across the nation and Guam. Noted for his case-work on the Exxon Valdez matter, his recent work involves chemicals in Hydrofracking Fluids in Shale Gas extraction.

Areas of Expertise:

General Toxicology Prescription Drugs Alcohol Solvents / Vapors Metals Insecticides

Wood Preservatives Contaminants PCBs Chemical Spill Incidents Smoke Inhalation - Carbon Monoxide Asbestos

View Dr. Bederka's Consulting Profile.

Mohan Nair, MD, trained at the University of California (Irvine) and Harvard and is board certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties 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 use of the most up to date technology available in the field. Litigation Support - Dr. Nair has provided extensive trial testimony in defense and plaintiffs cases. With cases primarily involving Traumatic Brain Injury and PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, he provides and coordinates medical, psychological, neuropsychological, toxicological, and imaging experts for complex civil litigation.

Dr. Nair is familiar with the milieu of the courtroom and its adversarial nature that can be intimidating for non-forensic scientists. He will provide timely and jargon free IME reports when needed and prepare for and withstand forceful cross examinations. He provides the full spectrum expert witness services for personal injury/civil litigation, criminal cases, private disability, medical board investigations, and employment litigation, including confidential consultations, record reviews, litigation support for IME, depositions, witness preparation, and trial testimony.

EDUCATION:

• 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

LICENSES:

• Board Certified: Brain Injury Medicine, Psychiatry, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry, Addiction Medicine, Behavioral Neurology & Neuropsychiatry, Clinical Psychopharmacology, Pain Medicine
• Board Certification: United Counsel for Neurologic Subspecialties, Behavioral Neurology & Neuropsychiatry
• American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology

Justina E. Ogbuokiri, BSc, RPh, PharmD, FASCP, is currently an associate professor of Clinical Pharmacy at Xavier College of Pharmacy and the Consultant Clinical Pharmacist at the HIV Outpatient Clinic of the Medical Center of Louisiana in New Orleans. She has over 30 years of experience in her field of expertise.

Dr. Ogbuokiri serves as a researcher and consultant to the World Health Organization Tropical Diseases Research Programme in Onchocerciasis, a clinical pharmacy specialist and consultant to the HIV Outpatient Program, and Co-principal investigator to the National Minority AIDS Education and Training Center. She also offers technical support and consultant to the HIV / AIDS pharmaceutical industry and Health Resources Service Administration (HRSA) in the area of HIV / AIDS, mental disorders, and other co-morbidities.

Dr. Ogbuokiri has provided medication management services in HIV / AIDS to the HIV Outpatient Program (HOP) in New Orleans, with a patient load of 3,000-plus registered patients, the largest HIV ambulatory care clinic in the Southeastern Region of the United States. She has served as a reviewer to the Annals of Pharmacotherapy for over 2o years and technical consultant to the HIV / AIDS Bureau of the HRSA.

Litigation Support - Dr. Ogbuokiri offers technical defense and support for litigation and serves as an expert witness in major trials when necessary. She served as the expert witness for the Dow Breast Implant Case of 1997 where she offered technical advice on the role of the medications that the patient (clients) who had received the implants were prescribed. Her services are available to attorneys representing both Plaintiff and Defense.

Areas of Litigation Expertise:

Pharmacy / Medication Outcome Medication Personal Injury Medical Malpractice

Drugs in Pregnancy Drug Interactions HIV / AIDS Drugs

View Dr. Ogbuokiri's 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

James Patrick Murphy, MD, MMM, FASAM, is a fellowship trained (Mayo Clinic) board certified Anesthesiologist with subspecialty board certifications in Pain Medicine and Addiction Medicine. Dr. Murphy has a Master of Medical Management degree (MMM) from the University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business.

Background Experience:  Dr. Murphy is the president and founder of a private practice in the specialties of Pain Medicine (since 1998) and Addiction Medicine (since 2004), and serves on the faculty in the Anesthesiology Department of the University of Louisville School of Medicine. He has served as a United States Naval Flight Surgeon, Anesthesiologist, Medical School faculty (Mayo Clinic and University of Louisville), Pain Medicine specialist (interventional pain procedures and medication management), and Addiction Medicine Specialist.

Dr. Murphy is a past president of the Greater Louisville Medical Society and is president elect of the Kentucky Society of Addiction Medicine. He currently serves as the American Society of Addiction Medicine's representative on the American Medical Association's Pain Care Task Force. Dr. Murphy is also on the board of the Kentucky Harm Reduction Coalition (i.e. Narcan distribution and training) and serves as a task force work group member of the Kentucky Department for Public Health's Displaced Opioid Patient Workgroup.

Litigation Support: Dr. Murphy provides expert witness services to attorneys representing both plaintiff and defendant. He is particularly adept at defining "legitimate medical purpose in the usual course of professional practice." His services include medical records review, thorough reporting, depositions, and trial testimony as needed.

Areas of Medicolegal Expertise: 

Anesthesiology Pain Management Interventional Pain Management / Epidurals Addiction Medicine Chronic Pain Pain Medicine Medication Assisted Treatment Opioids

Medical Standard of Care Substance Abuse Suboxone Negligent Prescription DEA MAT Controlled Substances Medical Board Regulations

View Dr. Murphy's Consulting Profile.

MRK Medical Consultants provides Medical-Legal Evaluations to help legal and insurance professionals reach appropriate conclusions about their client's situations. MRK provides a wide array of medical experts that offer objective review and analysis of personal injuries. Each stage of the process—research to review, analysis to opinion—is addressed in a comprehensive manner in order to help legal and insurance professionals reach appropriate conclusions about their client’s situations. MRK has over forty board certified physician specialists and many with subspecialty certifications. MRK provides physician experts to the entire State of California, the Reno/Lake Tahoe area and Las Vegas, and we travel to many areas of the United States. Physical therapy, registered nurses, physician assistant and billing review consultants are available services MRK provides. Oncall MD's in office daily to discuss your needs if you are unsure of what expert you need.

Edward W. Younger, III, M.D., Medical Director of MRK Medical Consultants, specializes in Orthopedic Surgery. He has extensive experience in total joint replacement, as well as reconstructive surgery of the knee, hip and shoulder. He was instrumental in bringing computer navigation technology to his hospital. He has served on the orthopedic trauma staff at Mercy San Juan Medical Center and serves on the Medical Executive Committee at Mercy San Juan. He is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha National Honor Society and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, a member of the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and the California Orthopedic Association.


Dr. Michael R. Klein, Jr., M.D., specializes in Orthopedic Surgery and is a founding member and the first Medical Director of Northern California Orthopedic Centers. He is a senior member of the medical staff at Mercy San Juan Medical Center and was involved with the development of the orthopedic section of the Level II Trauma Center.

Dr. Klein is a clinical instructor at University of California, Davis, Medical Center, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and a member of the American Medical Association and the California Medical Association.

MRK's Areas of Expertise:

Orthopedics Neurosurgery / Neurology Rheumatology General surgery / trauma Emergency Medicine Internal Medicine Cardiology Geriatrics Sports Medicine RN Physical Therapy Chiropractic Orthopedics

Neuropsychology Podiatry Vascular Surgery Family Practice Anesthesiology Ophthalmology Optometry Urology Gastroenterology Infectious Disease Pulmonary Medicine Critical care Otolaryngology

Howard S. Robin, MD, has over 40 years of experience in the field of Pathology. He is Board Certified in Anatomic, Clinical, and Immunopathology.

Dr. Robin has been the Medical Director of hospital, commercial, and specialty laboratories for over 4 decades. He has performed over 1,500 forensic autopsies for coroner systems. Dr. Robin has served as a Medical Director of continuing medical education for integrated health systems for 25 years, as well as blood bank Medical Director for 30 years.

Consulting - Dr. Robin helps biotechnology companies commercialize research assays as laboratory developed tests (LDTs) through the CLIA approval process. As a member of the College of American Pathologists and an inspector for the CAP, he is well versed in the preparation steps required for CAP accreditation.

Litigation Support - Dr. Robin has extensive experience as an Expert Pathologist in medical legal, product liability, medical group billing, laboratory medicine, and drug overdose cases. He has testified over 30 times in the last several years. Dr. Robin's services are available to attorneys representing both Plaintiff and Defendant and include autopsy interpretation and review, deposition, and trial testimony.

Areas of Expertise:

Pathology Autopsy Toxicology Immunology Laboratory Medicine Pharmacology - Drugs of Abuse DUI Alcohol / Intoxicants

Opiates / Opioids  Cancer Diagnosis / Prognosis Predictive Laboratory Testing Transfusion Medicine Blood Banking Issues Adverse Drug Reactions Liver and Kidney Pathology

David Clay Griffin, RPh, has over 30 years of experience in Retail and Community Pharmacies and still actively working as a pharmacist and pharmacy manager. Well-versed in practice standards and pharmacy operations, including controlled substance laws and policies, as well as financials, inventory, sales.

Throughout his Pharmacy Management career, Mr. Griffin also served as a pharmacist for the United States Department of Health and Human Services in Dallas, Texas (2002/2017). He worked with the Texas 4 Disaster Medical Assistance Team and was the Pharmacy Unit Leader with NDMS over several missions.

Mr. Griffin consults and serves as a pharmacy expert witness for attorneys representing both plaintiff and defense. His services include medical record review, thorough reports, depositions, and trial testimony.

Areas of Expertise:

Pharmacy Practice Standards Retail Pharmacies Community / Independent Pharmacies Drug / Medication Errors Pharmacy Drug Interactions Medication Overdose and Under-dose Medication Interaction / Drug Utilization Review

Pharmaceuticals Adverse Reactions Pharmacy Safety and Counseling Pharmacist Duty to Warn Pharmacy Operation Staff Supervision and Training Controlled Substance Laws and Policies DUI / DWI

Dr. Matthew Lee, MD, RPh, MS. is a Physician, Pharmacist, Pharmacologist and Toxicologist who also practices as an Expert Witness and Legal Strategy Consultant. Specific Benefits Include:

• Increased quality and integrity of written expert reports, based on an expanded knowledge base
• Time savings by only having to coordinate and discuss a case with one expert as opposed to two or more
• Since there is so much overlap between fields in the medical profession it is often hard to determine where one scope ends and another begins. This ambiguity is dramatically decreased , and scope increased by combining physician, pharmacist, and pharmacologist into one
• Communication skills of a pharmacist and experience dealing directly with the lay-public, in addition to the knowledge and background of a physician is extremely beneficial describing technical details to a jury
• Practicing in different realms within the healthcare field has allowed Dr. Lee to integrate the multiple facets giving him a unique and distinct perspective that no other expert has.

Case Experience Includes:

Criminal and Civil Cases Anaphylactic Reactions Overdosel Wrongful Death Cardiac Arrest Respiratory Arrest Fentanyl Overdose Dilaudid Overdose Pharmacist Mis-Fills Pharmacist Dispensing Errors

Pharmacy Standard of Care Medication Adverse Effects Falls Related to Medications (in and out of hospital) Toxicology/Toxic Reactions Medical Marijuana Positive Drug Screens in the Workplace Workplace Safety Fit for Duty Testing

Richard Stripp, PhD, is a nationally recognized expert in Toxicology providing services in all aspects of a Clinical and Forensic Toxicology. He has served as an expert consultant in 100’s of cases in the field of toxicology and pharmacology for attorneys, investigators, and physicians involved in forensic and clinical toxicological evaluations associated with ethanol, drugs of abuse, prescription medications and chemical exposure.

Dr. Stripp provides unbiased expert case reviews involving drug effect on human performance, toxicity of iatrogenic/ therapeutic agents, lead and other toxic metals, carbon monoxide and environmental/occupational hazards. These services include, impartial evaluations involving drug impairment, overdose, toxic chemical exposure, medical issues associated with drug therapy, poisoning, and the role of drugs, alcohol, or chemical exposure in civil and criminal litigation. This covers a full breath of forensic medical-legal cases including:

• Analytical Toxicology and Laboratory Operations
• Review and Interpretation of Toxicology Reports
• Assessment of Impairment and the Role of Drugs/Alcohol in fatalities, accidental injury, overdose, MVA / DWI / DUI, criminal and civil litigation
• Insurance Claims
• To Serve as an Expert Witness: Experienced in Depositions and Court testimony
  • Forensic Toxicology Case Reviews
  • Litigation Support
  • Workers' Compensation
  • DUI/DWI
  • Drug and Alcohol Effects
  • Pharmacology Evaluations
  • Environmental/Occupational Chemicals & Toxic Chemical Exposure
  • Interpretation of Analytical Results and Drug Testing Cases
  • Continuing Education and Lectures
  • Chemical and Product Safety