Medical Malpractice Expert Witnesses: 105

Christopher M. Daft, PhD, is an award winning, Oxford Educated scientist whose areas of expertise include medical imaging, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, medical devices, sensors, MEMS, signal processing, and image processing. He holds 23 United States Patents with 20 applications pending, Dr. Daft has diverse industry experience including multi-nationals such as GE, Medtronic, Fujifilm, Samsung, and Siemens as well as several start-ups. 

He has testified at trial 5 times and been deposed 14 times.

Dr. Daft has been an Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Senior Member since 2004. He has three years of experience teaching electrical and computer engineering at the University of Illinois. 

Dr. Daft holds a BA and MA in Physics from Oxford University as well as Doctorate from Oxford in Materials Science.

Litigation Support - Dr. Daft provides litigation support in the areas of Intellectual Property and Medical Devices including Imaging, particularly Medical, Patents, and more. His experience includes a variety of cases in the areas of wearable electronics, imaging systems, and surgical technology. Dr. Daft has extensive deposition and trial testimony experience.

Areas of Expertise:

View Dr. Christopher Daft's Consulting Profile.

• Neurological Injuries (Brain and Spinal Cord Injury)
• Burns
• Orthopedic Injures
• Amputation
• Chronic Pain
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

• Expert Testimony
• Life Care Planning
• Mini/Preliminary Life Care Plan
• Video Services
• Medical Record Review
• RN Independent Medical Exam
• Medicare Set Aside Trust Analysis
• Medical Bill Auditing
• Questions: Deposition Cross Examining

Tobias A. Mattei, MD, is a academic Neurosurgeon specialized in Complex Spine / Deformity Surgery. Dr. Mattei is currently practices as an Assistant Professor of the Division of Neurosurgery of St. Louis University. He has been an active member of the North American Spine Society, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies, as well as many other international societies. 

Dr. Mattei is a member of the editorial board of The Spine Journal and Deputy Editor of the North American Spine Society Journal, the new open access initiative of the North American Spine Society. He is an active reviewer of several other neurosurgical journals including World Neurosurgery, Clinical Neurology & Neurosurgery, Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, Osteoarthritis & Cartilage, Journal of Engineering in Medicine: Part H, British Journal of Neurosurgery and Neurological Sciences.

As a researcher, Dr. Mattei has published more than 130 original research articles, having been cited more than 1400 times. He holds an unrestricted medical license in the states of Ohio, Missouri, New York, and Maine, and has never been submitted to any sanction or disciplinary action by any medical boards.

Litigation Support: Dr. Mattei provides expert witness services in the field of Spinal Injuries, Spine Surgery, Spinal Care, and Neurosurgery. He has provided expert review services for several scientific funding agencies in the U.S. (including the NIH Panel for Clinical Neurophysiology, Devices, Neuroprosthetics, and Biosensors) as well as abroad (including the Innovation and Technology Commission/ Hong Kong SAR Government and The Brain Tumor Charity - New Ideas Award/UK). 

Dr. Mattei's  litigation support services are available to attorneys for plaintiff and defense and include review of hospital records, medical reports, imaging results, operative reports, patient's evolution, depositions, and trial testimony.

Areas of Expertise:

Sanjay Adhia, MD, MRO, is triple-Board-Certified in Psychiatry, Brain Injury Medicine, and Forensic Psychiatry. In addition to forensic/expert witness practice, Dr. Adhia treats patients at renowned TIRR Memorial Hermann Hospital. His forensic practice focuses on the psychiatric impact of personal injury, medical malpractice, Multi-Plaintiff and Toxic Tort cases, testamentary capacity, undue influence and Dementia, TBI Brain injuries, competency, mental illness and complicating medical conditions. 

Dr. Adhia is among one of a select few Forensic Psychiatrists co-Board-Certified in Brain Injury Medicine. 

Dr. Adhia treats and opines about Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in litigation as it can result in psychiatric or neurocognitive impairments. He always assesses for Malingering.

In addition, Dr. Adhia works with Physicians for Human Rights to assess victims of kidnapping and false imprisonment, human trafficking, undue influence, physical and sexual abuse, rape, and fear of imminent death. 

In all populations, he assesses PTSD, Anxiety, Depressive Disorders, risk of suicide, and malingering. 

He is experienced in the treatment and impact of drug and alcohol abuse on decision-making. Dr. Adhia has also treated severe psychosis (Schizophrenia, hallucinations) and psychopathology. He formerly treated patients at a Maximum Security Prison and prison psychiatric hospital. 

Dr. Adhia’s findings consider complicating factors, e.g., emotional distress worsened by active physical and mental conditions, and pre-existing mental and physical illness (e.g. depression, PTSD, Dementia, Alzheimer's, medication.) 

As a physician, Dr. Adhia is uniquely qualified to review and examine and incorporate medical records and doctor reports in his reports. This is especially important in medical-malpractice & standard of care cases in treaters, inpatient, rehab, hospital, government, corrections and psychiatric hospitals. Dr. Adhia is skilled in these med-legal issues. 

He conducts Independent Medical Examinations, review of records, and reports findings to courts and attorneys. He is available to testify in civil, criminal, probate, Federal, Immigration, military, and administrative jurisdictions.

Kerry Mendes, M.D., Child, Adolescent and Adult Forensic Psychiatrist joined Dr. Adhia in 2022.

Anthony Scarcella, MD, JD, FAAEM, FACEP, is a full-time practicing, Board Certified Emergency Medicine Physician who specializes in providing expert testimony and consultation services for plaintiff and defense attorneys involved in medical malpractice lawsuits. As an emergency medicine expert witness, Dr. Scarcella has reviewed hundreds of cases over the last 25 years. He provides an honest, unbiased assessment of emergency medicine issues. As a board certified emergency medicine physician with a law degree, he is uniquely qualified to provide case review and expert witness services in medical malpractice cases. Concentration in all areas of emergency medicine including the following Areas:

• Misdiagnosis of Chest Pain, including Myocardial Infarction and Pulmonary Embolism
• Testicular Torsion
• Missed Meningitis and Fractures
• Leaving against Medical Advice

Dr. Scarcella has also served as a medical consultant to attorneys, assisting them in preparing for deposition and trial cross-examination. He can provide case strategic planning for medical malpractice suits with regard to the examination of medical experts and medical defendants. If needed, Dr. Scarcella will also attend the deposition of the opposing side's expert or defendant physician. Dr. Scarcella speaks both Spanish and English and has full-time privileges as an Attending Physician in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, CA.  He is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine.  He previously served as an expert reviewer for the Florida Board of Medicine and currently is an expert reviewer for the California Board of Medicine.

View Dr. Scarcella's Consulting Profile.

John M. Schuberth, DPM, has extensive experience in Complex Foot and Ankle Surgery. Throughout his 40 year career, he has performed over 25,000 surgical cases and over 1,500 ankle replacements. He has published extensively on a wide variety of subject involving foot and ankle surgery (128 publications) and lectured all over the world on Foot and Ankle surgery. Please refer to his most recent CV for details. 

Litigation Support - Dr. Schuberth provides expert witness services to attorneys representing plaintiff and defense. His services include medical record review, thorough reporting, depositions, and trial testimony as needed. He has been deposed/testified over 20 times since 2020.

Areas of Expertise:

Associations:

• Editor in Chief for the Journal of Foot and Surgery for 7 years and Editor in Chief of Foot and Ankle Specialist for 6 years
• Former Chair of Board- American Academy of Foot and Ankle Osteosynthesis
• Former Course Chair-AO Podiatric Course  
• Past President, American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons 1998-1999
• Board of Directors, ACFAS, 1992-2000
• Past Chair; Outcomes Research Committee, ACFAS
• Past Chair; Clinical Research; Research Fellowships, ACFAS        
• Past Chair, Preferred Practice Guidelines; Hallux Valgus
• Past Chair, Preferred Practice Guidelines; Ankle Sprain, Instability
• Former Member Ankle/Reconstructive Rearfoot Surgery Exam Committee
• American  Board Podiatric Surgery    1992-1996
• Former Chair, ABPS Ankle / Rearfoot Reconstructive Surgery. Exam Committee, 1996-2000
• Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, California College of Podiatric Medicine 1985-2003
• Licensing Commissioner, State of California 1986-1998
• Chief Examination Advisor, Board of Medical Quality Assurance 1986-1993
• Associate Faculty, San Francisco Orthopedic Residency Program
• Former Chair, Foot and Ankle Subgroup, National Product Comm-Kaiser
• Former Chair, Local Product Committee, Kaiser San Francisco
• Former Chair, Education Committee-American Academy Foot Ankle Osteosynthesis, 2013-2019
• Nine time awardee of Attending of the Year from several residency programs
• Board Certified American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery (1985, Current)

• Appropriate Prosthetic / Orthotic Component Selection Recommendation
• Utilization and Failures Due to Improper Manufacturing Processes
• Prescription Appropriateness
• Clinical Applications and Negligence Directly Related to Limb Weakness and Loss
• Spinal Cord Injury and Treatment
• Wrongful Death Investigation and Determination
• Limb Damage and Loss in Diabetics as Related to Footwear
• LifeCare Plan Consultation and Preparation as Related to Orthotics and Prosthetics

• New York University Medical School Orthotics and Prosthetics Certificate Program, Certification as Certified Prosthetist, 1973
• Northwestern University Medical School Orthotics and Prosthetics Certificate Program, Certification as Certified Orthotist, 1973

Shishir V. Shah, DO, is an award-winning Wound Care Physician in active clinical practice. Dr. Shah has 20 years of wound care clinical, safety, and leadership experience in acute care, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, and home health settings. A Certified Wound Specialist (CWS) with additional Board Certifications in Hyperbaric Medicine and Family Practice.

Dr. Shah is a National Key opinion leader, CMO for 9 outpatient wound clinics, and experienced as a Medical Director at several level 1 Hospital Programs. Dr. Shah is on faculty at Midwestern University Medical School where he trains students on skin and soft tissue procedures. He has significant private equity, medical device, startup, and consulting experience (with biomedical, consumer products, and device-related wounds.) He earned his undergraduate degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Litigation Support - Dr. Shah serves as a Hyperbaric Medicine / Wound Care Causation expert witness, with deposition and trial experience. His nationwide services are available to defense attorneys, device companies, physicians hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and for consumer product liability. Dr. Shah is timely, professional, articulate, and accessible.

Areas of Expertise:

Dr. Richard K. Skala, DC, QME, has been a Doctor of Chiropractic since 1976, providing chiropractic manipulation and spinal manipulation, as well as related physiotherapy. Certified in Manipulation Under Anesthesia (MUA), he has been granted Hospital / Surgery Center privileges for MUA and has performed hundreds of MUA cases. He was one of the first chiropractors in California to train for and provide Extracorporeal Shockwave Treatments (EWST). He has post graduate certification in the performance and interpretation of neuro-electrodiagnostics. Consultation and Expert Witness Services for Attorneys regarding

• Personal Injury
• Industrial Medical-Legal Cases
• Standard of Care involving General Chiropractic, Manipulation Under Anesthesia (MUA), Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression, and Extracorporeal Shockwave (EWST)
• Chiropractic Licensure Compliance California
• Workers Compensation

One of the foremost experts in Workers’ Compensation in California, he has taught many doctors on the subject and testified at numerous WCAB trials and hearings. He has been declared an expert witness by the California Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board. He has been a Qualified Medical Evaluator since 1992, an Independent Disability Evaluator since 1992, a certified AMA Impairment rater since 2003, a Fellow of the Academy of Chiropractic Forensic Consultants (AFICC) since 2003, and a consultant to the California Board of Chiropractic Examiners since 2008.

Dr. Skala is a noted author in his field of expertise. He has written numerous published newsletter articles on Chiropractic and other topics related to that field.

Alan MacGill, DPM, FACFAS, CWS, is board certified by The American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery in Foot Surgery as well as Reconstructive Rearfoot and Ankle Surgery and serves as one of their case reviewers. Dr. MacGill is also a Certified Wound Specialist (CWS) by The American Board of Wound Management. He is on the Board of Directors of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS), a professional society of more than 8,000 foot and ankle surgeons.  He is a previous AO Fellow and a current faculty member of AO Trauma North America.

Dr. MacGill is on the Board of Trustees and serves as the Director of the Foot and Ankle Surgery residency program at HCA Florida Northwest Hospital in Margate, FL.  He participates in weekly didactic lectures, surgical grand rounds, journal club meetings, and cadaver lab workshops with the residents and students. He has also published several articles in peer-reviewed journals, given award-winning case presentations at state scientific meetings, presented numerous scientific research posters, and lectured at both state and national conferences.

Among his numerous achievements, Dr. MacGill was named one of the 2017 America’s Most Influential Podiatrists by Podiatry Management Magazine.  In 2020, Becker's ASC Review named him to their list of "38 Foot and Ankle Surgeons To Know".  Becker's Spine Review named him to their 2022 list of "10 Orthopedic Surgeons To Know".  

Litigation Support - Dr. MacGill provides expert witness services to attorneys representing both plaintiff and defendant. His services include medical record review, thorough reporting, depositions, and trial testimony as needed.

Areas of Expertise:

Elliott M. Stein, MD is a Geriatric Psychiatrist with over 45 years of experience caring for the elderly. Dr. Stein is Board Certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in General Psychiatry (October, 1979) and Geriatric Psychiatry (April, 1991; Re-Certified, December, 2001, April, 2011, December 2022). He is licensed in California and Florida. Dr. Stein was the Director of Psychiatry at the Jewish Home of San Francisco from 2010-2020, and the Medical Director of their Geriatric Psychiatry Hospital. He has treated older individuals, typically people who have complex combination of psychiatric and medical problems. Dr. Stein has been a Member of the Task Force on Testamentary Capacity and Undue Influence, for the International PsychoGeriatric Association.

Dr. Stein is a Clinical Professor (Voluntary) in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine. He is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and a Distinguished Fellow of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry and a Life Member of the International PsychoGeriatric Association.

He is available to serve as an Expert Witness, do legal and forensic consultation, record review, and assessments concerning Psychiatric issues in Older Individuals. Dr. Stein offers his services to attorneys for both Plaintiff or Defense.

Areas of Expertise:

• Contested Wills and Trusts
• Testamentary Capacity, Undue Influence, Insane Delusions
• Financial Elder Abuse
• Geriatric Competence/Capacity
• Dementia and Delirium, Alzheimer’s Disease
• Geriatric Psychiatry Evaluation and Treatment, Psychiatric Medication, Psychotherapeutic Issues
• Depression and Anxiety Disorders
• Relationship Problems between the Elderly and their Adult Children
• Aging and Mental Disorders
• Geriatric Psychiatry issues in Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Memory Care, Independent and Assisted Living Facilities
• Medicare Psychiatric Services Coding and Documentation

View Dr. Stein's Consulting Profile.

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.

William B. Stetson, MD is an Orthopedic Surgeon who specializes in Sports Medicine with an expertise in Arthroscopic and Reconstructive Surgery of the shoulder, knee, elbow and ankle. He is an Associate Clinical Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine and the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.

Dr. Stetson spends over 90% of his time in clinical practice and research and has over ten years experience as an expert witness and in reviewing complex medical-legal issues. He is the Team Physician for the USA Men's and Women's Olympic Indoor Volleyball Teams and accompanied both teams to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, England. He is a former athlete himself, a two time All-American volleyball player at the University of Southern California (USC). He is also a recipient of the NCAA's prestigious Silver Anniversary Award, given to former NCAA athletes who have gone on to distinguish themselves after graduation. 

Areas of Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Specialization:

View Dr. Stetson's Consulting Profile.

David A.Sugar, MD, is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon. He has been in practice since 1997. Working as a general Orthopaedic Surgeon, he has treated an extremely wide array of Orthopaedic conditions and injuries.

Dr. Sugar has served as the Managing Partner in a group as large as 11 doctors and worked on the Surgical QI Committee ( currently serves as the Chairman) at the 35th largest hospital in the United States. Dr. Sugar is currently the principal surgeon at Sugar Orthopaedics where they provide surgical and non-surgical treatments for muscular and skeletal problems of all types.

Litigation Support - Dr Sugar has offered expert witness services for attorneys representing plaintiff and defendant for 20 years. His services include independent medical evaluations (IMEs), medical record review, thorough reporting, depositions, and trial testimony. Dr. Sugar's cases have a heavy emphasis on Fractures, Knee, Shoulder, Sports Medicine, and Pediatric Orthopaedics.

Areas of Expertise:

Suzanne Dupée, MD, is a triple board certified Adult, Child, and Adolescent Forensic Psychiatrist specializing in Independent Medical Examinations (IME), Child Custody Evaluations, Fitness for Duty Evaluations, and expert witness for the California Medical, Veterinary, and Dental Boards.

Litigation Support - Dr. Dupée has an active forensic psychiatric practice specializing in family law, criminal law, dependency law, civil litigation and disability.  She has been designated as an expert in Federal Court, Family Court, Criminal Court, Dependency Court, Juvenile Delinquency and Civil Court in California, Arizona, and New York states.  She is an expert for several Los Angeles Superior Court panels:  Criminal, Child Custody Evaluator, Dependency Court and Juvenile Delinquency.  

Dr. Dupée has testified over 150 times in various courtrooms and has been deposed over 80 times.  She has worked on high profile cases and death penalty cases. She specializes in forensic evaluations of families in crisis and has completed 100s of Child Custody Evaluations and all forms of psychiatric evaluations for families in crisis.

Dr. Dupee has been retained in 100s of legal cases in civil, family law, criminal, disability and dependency cases. She has completed over 1,000 evaluations in various courts and for insurance companies and government boards. She has been retained by plaintiffs and defense counsel in civil cases.

Areas of Expertise:

View Dr. Dupée's Consulting Profile.