Professional Malpractice (General) Expert Witnesses: 117

Charles H. Heller, PhD, is a Forensic Psychology Expert with over 35 years of experience in his field. Dr. Heller is currently on staff at Rutgers University Biomedical Health Service, specializing in criminal behavior and risk assessment. He also serves as a forensic psychologist consultant for the Rockland County (NY) court evaluation service, where he has performed hundreds of child custody, as well as criminal competency and child abuse/neglect evaluations.

Litigation Support - Dr. Heller specializes in conducting custody evaluations, providing the review and analysis of potentially mitigating circumstances in connection with criminal behavior, and providing consultation to attorneys regarding civil litigation. He has extensive court experience in Civil, Criminal, and Family Court cases. Dr. Heller is a fully vetted and approved forensic psychologist for the NJ Office of the Public Defender as well as other Public Defender offices. (Federal Public Defender, Legal Aid in Manhattan, Bronx, Kings, and the NYC assigned counsel program). He often travels throughout the US as a forensic consultant in important court cases including military Court Martials, death row assessment, sexual abuse, assault, and multiple homicides. He is well-known and respected among his colleagues as a clinician and as a forensic psychologist/expert witness.

Civil Litigation - (Emotional and Mental Injury) - Dr. Heller is retained by both plaintiff and defense counsel to assess plaintiffs for emotional and mental injury. He takes an unbiased, ethical approach to assessments and is not "a hired gun." He is an expert in objective evaluations that assess the probability the plaintiff is suffering PTSD, other emotional injuries, or if there is an exaggeration of symptoms based upon psychological testing and other data. He has expertise in cases that involve group home / residential schools, provider negligence, and assaults.

Criminal Litigation - Dr. Heller is experienced in providing successful rebuttal testimony explaining the scientific issues related to the problems of validity, reliability, and usefulness of "Syndrome evidence" such as "Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation Syndrome" and "Rape Trauma Syndrome." He testifies in child sexual abuse cases and explains research related to false allegations, recantations, memory, suggestibility, child testimony, interview protocols, and "Believed-In Imaginings" in children and adults. He has expertise in domestic violence and has assessed women who have been victims of intimate partner violence and "Battered Women Syndrome" that contributed to homicides, assaults, and other felonies by the victims of abuse.

Manhattan: (Mailing Address) Two Park Avenue, 20th Floor New York, NY 10016 Phone: 212-880-3789 Alt. Phone: 845-354-0535 Fax: 845-354-1287

New Jersey: (Alternate Mailing Address 140 East Ridgewood Avenue South Tower, Suite 415 Paramus, NJ 07652 Phone: 201-262-0331 Fax: 845-354-1287

View Dr. Heller's Consulting Profile.

Hayden Burrus, FCAS, MAAA, is an accomplished Casualty Actuary with over 30 years of leadership experience in the Insurance Industry. Former President of Casualty Actuaries of the Southeast, Chief Actuary of publicly traded workers' compensation insurance company, actuarial experience at multiple insurance rating organizations (National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) and Insurance Services Office (ISO)), Mr. Burrus is experienced with all sides of the insurance industry. 

Litigation Support - Mr. Burrus is highly skilled at taking complex insurance and actuarial calculations and decisions and making them easy to understand. For 10 years, he has been offering expert witness services to public and private entities, and attorneys representing plaintiff and defense. Services include thorough reporting, depositions, and trial testimony as needed.

Areas of Expertise:

Actuarial Malpractice Rate Filing Submissions / Form Filing Submissions Regulatory Support for Insurance Companies Self-Insurance Captive Insurance Insurer Insolvency Insurance Ratemaking

Uninsured Motorists Automobile Liability  Workers Compensation Rating Plan Loss Reserving Prepaid Legal Services Homeowners' Insurance

Past Consulting Experience:

• Opining actuary and Loss Reserve Specialist for a captive reinsurer domiciled in Bermuda.
• Numerous engagements for self – insurers. Clients include governmental and private companies.
• Lines of business include workers’ compensation, general liability and other liability. Jurisdictions include US and Bermuda.
• Deposition regarding the rates and stacking practices of Uninsured Motorist / Auto Liability coverage for a large multistate auto insurer.
• Actuarial valuations of commissions due from an insurance company.
• Retained Chief Actuary services for a growing publicly traded workers’ compensation insurer; charged with building actuarial expertise from the ground up.
• Expert preparation for appeal of NCCI rulings on experience rating modification factor process.
• Opinion Letter to Ohio Department of Insurance on a Regulatory Settlement Agreement.
• Actuarial Expert for Insurer in Receivership.
• Negotiations and sworn statements with Florida Office of Insurance Regulation over excess profits statutes.
• Expert opinion and deposition related to the filed policy forms with a state insurance department.
• Expert Report concerning the cause of the insolvency of a captive insurer.
• Workers’ compensation premium calculations for a premium dispute between insurer and insured.

Brian T. Hart, DDS, is a board-certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon actively practicing in the state of Washington. With over 30 years of private practice experience in all aspects of oral surgery.  He has been a clinical instructor in oral and maxillofacial surgery at both Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and the University of Washington School of Dentistry. 

Dr. Hart is the co-founder of the Greater Seattle Multidisciplinary Study Club and has been published in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.  He is a consultant and participant in IME, panel, and peer reviews across the country.

Litigation Support:  Dr. Hart provides expert witness services to attorneys for both defense and plaintiffs, offering medical records review, second opinions and is experienced in both deposition and trial testimony.

Areas of Expertise:

Nerve Injuries Dental Implants Bone Grafting / Sinus Lifts Dental and Facial Infections TMJ

Wisdom Teeth and Difficult Extractions Orthognathic / Jaw Repositioning Surgery Oral Pathology General Anesthesia and Sedation  Oral Trauma

Harry I. Aronowitz, DMD, is a Board Certified Orthodontist who has been in private practice in Beverly Hills,and West Hollywood California for over 30 years. He is Clinical Professor of Orthodontics at the University of Southern California in the Graduate Department of Orthodontics where he helps train future orthodontists. Licensed in California and New York, Dr. Aronowitz has experience as a Former Chief of Dental, Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery Section at the Beverly Hills Medical Center and served as Chairman of the Orthodontic Peer-Review for the Los Angeles Dental Society. Dr. Aronowitz is a Diplomate The American Board of Orthodontics anda current member of Orthodontic Peer Review for the Los Angeles Dental Society. He is a member of the American Dental Association, The California Dental Association, The Los Angeles Dental Society, as well as The American Association of Orthodontists. 

Litigation Support - Dr. Aronowitz serves as an Independent Medical Examiner for The State Board of Dental Examiners in California. He provides expert witness services to attorneys for both defense and plaintiff, including medical record review, second opinions, depositions, mediation, and trial testimony as needed. 

Areas of Expertise:

Orthodontics Malpractice Braces / Invisalign /Occlusion Root Resorption

Scott S. Margraves, CIC, has over 32 years of Commercial Property and Casualty Insurance experience. He is the Principal Consultant and Founder of Gulf Coast Risk Management, LLC (GCRM). GCRM provides research, analysis and advice to commerce, industry, government and individuals. 

GCRM operates COIs R Us, a certificate of insurance (COI) compliance and tracking company. COIs R Us compares the contractual obligations of a lease agreement with the COI. COIs R Us processes thousands of COIs for landlords and general contractors for compliance annually.

Litigation Support - Mr. Margraves has been designated as an expert witness in 19 case assignments: 16 State cases and 3 Federal cases. Case assignments are divided between 10 for Defense and 9 for Plaintiff, including Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, New Mexico and Texas. Services include standard of care review, deposition question preparation, document review, and trial testimony as needed.

Areas of Expertise:

Property & Casualty Insurance Certificate of Insurance (COI) Tracking and Compliance Insurance Claims Bad Faith Agency Bonds

Cyber Surety Marine Insurance Safety Programs HR Coordination Contract Integration

Background Experience - GCRM provides consulting services to attorneys, property managers, and general contractors regarding insurance placement, interpretation, and recommended contractual insurance requirements while explaining the relationship and alignment with indemnity and insurance provisions.

Mr. Margraves is well-versed in the placement of insurance policies from an insured's perspective. As a front-line producer, he weathered forty three (five major) hurricanes, three “five-hundred-year" floods and multiple catastrophic fire claims. Agency roles include insurance broker, claims supervisor, agency partner, and risk manager. He is Past President of the Independent Insurance Agents of Houston, Past Vice chairman of IIAT IMPACT Region 10, Member of Insurance Academy, and Lifetime Committeemen for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Mr. Margraves started his second career as a full-time consultant in 2020. He is an insurance industry expert that brings extensive experience in all aspects of property casualty insurance interpretation, policy forms, claims, safety programs, HR coordination and contract integration.

View GCRM's Consulting Profile.

Gregory P. Brown, MD, is a is a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and specializes in the fields of adult Psychiatry and Forensic Psychiatry. His private office is dedicated to the practice of Forensic Psychiatry, and includes evaluations for matters in civil court, criminal court, family court, and independent psychiatric evaluations.

Dr. Brown is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry, and the Residency Training Program Director, at the University of Nevada Las Vegas School of Medicine. He founded the Psychiatry Residency Training Program, and has been the Residency Training Director since the time of the first entering class in 2004, under the UNRSOM.

Litigation Support - Dr. Brown has extensive experience in medico-legal work. As a Board Certified Forensic Psychiatrist, he has worked in diverse areas of this subspecialty of psychiatry. Dr. Brown offers litigations support services to attorneys for Plaintiff and Defendant.

Services include Disability Evaluations, Estate Planning Capacity Evaluations, Independent Psychiatric Evaluations, Medical Board Evaluations, Fitness for Duty Evaluations, Department of Energy Fitness Evaluations, Social Security Appeals Record Reviews, and Independent File Reviews for Medical Necessity and for Disability Claims.

Forensic Experience Includes:

• Criminal Court Evaluations - Competence to Stand Trial, Assessment of Criminal Responsibility, NGRI Assessments
• Civil Court Evaluations - Personal Injury with Psychiatric symptoms, Brain Injury with Psychiatric symptoms, Malpractice related questions
• Family Court Evaluations - Involuntary Commitment, Guardianship, Testamentary Capacity, Undue Influence, Contractual Capacity, Fitness to Parent, Child Custody
• Third Party Forensic Evaluations - Fitness for Duty, Return to Work, Disability, ADA Accommodations, Medical Necessity, Independent Psychiatric Evaluations

Wayne H. Grant, PharmD, is a Clinical Pharmacist with over 30 years of pharmacy experience working in or within various practice settings—retail, long-term care, home infusion, sterile products, corrections, hospice, specialty, and hospitals.  

Dr. Grant has prepared and delivered educational programs to physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals based on his extensive experience in multiple disease states. Programs include topics such as Pain Management, COPD, and Motor Neuron Diseases.

Serving as an integral member of multiple pharmacy and therapeutics committees, he has promoted evidence-based interventions while driving quality initiatives and building a highly collaborative consortium among healthcare professionals.  

Earning his Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Florida, his Master of Business Administration for Kent State University, and his Bachelor of Science from Ohio Northern University highlights Dr. Grant's drive for education, understanding, and application of pharmacy services.  

Dr. Wayne Grant on Consulting with Attorneys

Litigation Support - Dr. Grant is an expert in pharmacy practice. His expertise in long-term, institutional, infusion, and retail practice allow for an extensive understanding of the various pharmacy sectors. He is responsible for pharmacotherapeutic management, medication safety and efficacy and drug information all which follow federal, state, and local laws. He has provided a variety of expert witness services on behalf of legal professionals, including attorney consultation, case review, case opinion, and written case opinion. 

Areas of Medication Expertise:

Adverse Drug Reactions Chronic Pain Drugs and Narcotics Geriatrics Hospice / Palliative Care Hospital Pharmacy Infusion Pharmacy

Long Term Care Medical-Legal Issues Nursing Homes Overdosages Pain Management Pharmaceutical Care Pharmacology Acute Rehab Hospital

View Dr. Grant's Consulting Profile.

Gloria Kardong, MD, DLFAPA, DABPN is a Board Certified Psychiatrist who has been in full time private practice in Palo Alto, CA for over 35 years, Licensed in 10 states. She is an Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University Medical Center and a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. 

Dr. Kardong offers Forensic Psychiatric litigation support services in civil and criminal cases to attorneys for Plaintiff and Defense. Her services include General Psychiatric Issues, Women's OB/GYN Issues, and Trauma/PTSD. Dr. Kardong has served as a Psychiatric Consultant and Expert Witness for Stanford University Schools of Law and Medicine, the California Medical Board, and private attorneys nationwide.

Areas of Expertise: 

Forensic Psychiatry, General Psychiatry, women's health care, OB-GYN related psychiatric issues, eg postpartum depression, sexual abuse, sexual, physical and psychological trauma, PTSD, adoption. Personal injury. Medical malpractice. Discrimination. Psychological autopsy. Medical case review. Trial consultant.

Women's Health Care Specialist - Psychiatry / OB-GYN Interface:

Pregnancy-Related Psychiatric Problems Psychiatric Medications in Pregnancy and Postpartum Postpartum Depression / Psychosis Infertility Gynecologic Oncology

Menopause Hormonal Issues Childhood Sexual / Other Abuse Adult Consequences of abuse Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Sexual Assault

Impaired Professionals:

• Physicians
• Mental Health Providers
• Attorneys
• Executives / Professionals
• Organizations

Consultation Services for Businesses and Organizations:

Standard of Care Hospital and Medical Ethics Healthcare Practices and Records Discrimination Harassment Disabilities	Human Factors Human Resources Alternative Dispute Resolution Psychological Consequences of Workplace Injuries Wrongful Termination Product Liability Executive Coaching

View Dr. Kardong's Consulting Profile.

I am a board-certified emergency medicine physician. I have been called upon to express opinions in the areas of medical malpractice, personal injury, negligence, standard of care, and causation. I am involved in both plaintiff and defense cases.

My qualifications include: 

• Award-winning emergency physician in active practice with 30 years clinical experience
• Former Associate Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine (Volunteer) at University of California San Francisco School of Medicine
• Current VP of company that staffs 500 emergency departments, overseeing more than 5000 ER providers in risk management and quality assurance issues 
• Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians (FACEP) 
• Past President of the California Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians 
• Medical Director of California Highway Patrol 
• Extensive publication and speaking experience in the area of emergency medicine

Garson M. Caruso, MD, MPH, PA, is a board certified Occupational Physician in private consulting practice with extensive clinical and administrative experience in emergency and occupational medicine, including:

• Case Review, Analysis, and Management
• Impairment Determination and Disability Rating
• Medical Direction
• Industrial Illness and Injury Care
• Medical Review Officer functions

Dr. Caruso has performed occupational health services and consulting for organizations including Lockheed Martin, Bechtel Aberdeen, PepsiCo, Dean Foods, The New York Transit Authority, and multiple Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. He has very broad and in-depth case management and file review experience involving complex disability and workers’ compensation claims. 

Dr. Caruso is a Fellow of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) and International Academy of Independent Medical Evaluators (IAIME); a Certified Independent Medical Examiner (CIME; 2009-2014); and a Certified Medical Review Officer. He has also held numerous leadership roles in ACOEM, and both published and presented at national, state, and local conferences in his areas of expertise. Dr. Caruso's primary professional interests are worker disability prevention and management, with a particular focus on the psychosocial aspects of occupational medicine and workers compensation, and prevention or minimization of unnecessary work disability. 

Litigation Support - Dr. Caruso's expertise is available to counsel representing both plaintiff and defendant. His services include Independent Medical Evaluations, written reports, depositions, and trial testimony as needed. Dr. Caruso is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania, Florida, Maryland, New York, Virginia, Louisiana, and North Carolina. 

Areas of Expertise:

Occupational Medicine Causation Analysis Disability Prevention and Evaluation Workers Compensation Impairment Evaluation and Rating

Fitness for Duty Return to Work Drug Testing Work Capacity Work Life Expectancy

View Dr. Caruso's Consulting Profile.

One of the industry's leading law firm services experts, Michael J. Garibaldi, CPA, ABV, CFF, CGMA, has a strong background providing efficient and affordable solutions to the many complex issues facing the legal profession today.

A Certified Public Accountant licensed by the State of New York, Mr. Garibaldi is Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV), and Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF) by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). He is recognized as a Chartered Global Management Accountant by the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants.

Mr. Garibaldi works closely with law firms and other professional service firms, manufacturing, wholesale/retail, medical, technology, restaurant/hospitality, artists and galleries, construction, and real estate clients where he is responsible for providing accounting, tax planning management consulting services, and financial reporting.

Mr. Garibaldi provides valuation and litigation support services, assisting attorneys and their clients with the financial aspects of a case throughout the litigation process, from contemplation of action through expert witness testimony. He brings an in-depth understanding of the business and technical aspects of valuation, finance and accounting that is required in complex litigation and arbitration cases.

Mr. Garibaldi qualifies as an expert in valuation matters in the Supreme Courts of New York, Nassau, Suffolk, Kings, Richmond, Monmouth, Orange, and Westchester Counties, and has been called upon by the courts to serve as a neutral Expert. As an instructor of the AICPA Certificate of Educational Achievement Program in Business Valuation, Mr. Garibaldi teaches his specialty to other professionals.

Michael Garibaldi is a Candidate Member of the American Society of Appraisers (ASA), Member of the Institute of Business Appraisers (IBA), the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, the American Society of Appraisers (ASA), the AICPA and the NYSSCPA. He is a past President and former member of the Board of Directors of the NYSSCPA Nassau Chapter, and has held a variety of positions on the Litigation Support Committee of the Nassau County and State Chapters of the NYSSCPA. Mr. Garibaldi has also held a number of positions on other committees and sub-committees within these organizations.

Areas of Expertise:

Auditing Bankruptcy Business Business Law Business Valuation Lost Profits Mergers & Acquisitions Finance

Forensic Accounting Fraud Investigation, Embezzlement Personal Property Valuation Real Estate Valuation Trusts & Estates White Collar Crime Dissolutions Wrongful Death, Termination

View Michael J. Garibaldi's Consulting Profile.

Michael G. Kaplan has nearly 50 years of experience in the areas of Forensic Accounting, Business Valuation, and Litigation Consulting. Mr. Kaplan is a Forensic Certified Public Accountant who is regularly called upon to testify as a qualified expert witness in federal and state courts. He has participated in approximately 300 trials. Mr. Kaplan has also served as a court appointed expert accounting referee.

Mr. Kaplan has served as a university professor for approximately 24 years (including 18 years at the University of Southern California). He created and taught courses for the National Judicial College, American College of Business Court Judges, National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts, and presented sessions for various Bar Associations, various CPA societies, and other professional organizations. His professional affiliations have included local, regional and national CPA/Advisory firms.

Areas of Expertise:

Forensic Accounting Business Valuation Lost Profits Business Interruption Business Damages Employment Damages Matrimonial Litigation

Personal Injury Damages Intellectual Property Damages Professional Standards Professional Malpractice Fraud - Embezzlement - Misappropriation Partner and Shareholder Disputes

Awards and Honors:

• Circle of Light Award (1998) - National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (first recipient of this award presented annually recognizing one's contributions and performance as an instructor; highest award bestowed upon an instructor in NACVA's educational programs for Business Valuation and Financial Forensics experts.) 
• Magna Cum Laude Award - National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (2017) - Recognizes one's contributions to the fields of Business Valuation and Financial Forensics.

Frederick J. Fisher, JD, is the President of Fisher Consulting Group, Inc., a Professional Liability firm. Since his career began, Mr. Fisher focused on one vision: providing financial security to the client. The result was a successful 40 year career in Specialty Lines Insurance.

Mr. Fisher provides Expert Witness services and Litigation Strategies to attorneys representing Plaintiff and Defense. He testifies regularly as an expert witness in cases dealing with:

• Insurance Broker Standards of Care
• Real Estate Broker Standards of Care
• Third Party Administrator Standards (TPA)
• Claims Handling and Bad Faith
• Wholesale Broker Policies with "gotchya's"

Background Experience:

• For almost 20 years, Mr. Fisher was the Founder of E.L.M. Insurance Brokers, a Wholesale & MGA facility specializing in Professional Liability and Specialty Line Risks. In 1995, he formed what is now known as ELM insurance Brokers, a firm that has acted as an MGA and Wholesale Broker of Professional Liability Insurance and Specialty Lines. From nothing, the firm grew rapidly to a $30 Million dollar facility when sold in 2008
• Mr. Fisher began his career on the service side, as an Independent E&O claims adjuster. In 1982, he bought the Company. In only 4 years, the annual billings increased by 400%
• In 1989, Mr. Fisher became a Founding Member of the Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS), and was elected to the PLUS Board of Trustees in 1993. After serving in all Officer capacities, he was elected President in 1997. He remains a Special Materials Expert for several RPLU courses and is the Senior Technical Advisor for The Professional Liability Manual, first published by the International Risk Management Institute in 1990

For more information on his Litigation Support Services, Email Frederick Fisher at: fjfisher@fishercg.com

View Frederick Fisher's Consulting Profile.

Dave Bano has 40 years of hands-on experience across all aspects of Property Casualty Insurance Operations. He is a cross-functional and seasoned senior executive who has led Sales, Claims and Underwriting operations. Mr. Bano possesses a deep understanding of P & C customs, practices, standards and the duty of care. As a retired Chief Claims Officer, a Business Unit President/COO, as well as a Regional/State Executive at Nationwide, he has very broad multi-discipline knowledge and experience.

Litigation Support - Mr. Bano managed all aspects, and coverage lines, within Nationwide Claims including their bad faith/extra-contractual litigation. He also testifies relative to Sales and Agency operations, as well as Underwriting practices. He is a true general manager and expert across the P&C spectrum. 

Areas of Expertise:

Insurance Customs / Standards / Practices Insurance Claims / Sales / Underwriting / Agency Property / Casualty Operations Insurance Bad Faith Insurance Coverage Insurance Exclusions Insurance Denials Extracontractual Automotive Insurance Errors and Omissions (E&O)

Unemployment Insurance (UI) Uninsured Motorist (UIM) Class Actions Homeowner Insurance Commercial Insurance Catastrophe / Disaster Flood Insurance Excess Surplus Insurance Insurance Fraud Insurance Investigation

Background Experience - Mr. Bano began his career as an adjuster trainee and worked through every operating level within Claims, eventually becoming Nationwide's first company-wide Chief Claims Officer. As a hands-on leader with strong experience in P/C general management (sales, agency operations, underwriting) as well as claims, he offers current expertise across any aspect of Property & Casualty insurance. 

As Chief Claims Officer, he was responsible for 8000 employees, all claims operations, across all lines of coverage. He partnered closely with his legal teams and held decision-making authority over all claims-related litigation, including extracontractual and bad faith situations. He led Automobile, Homeowners, Commercial, Agribusiness, Excess & Surplus [Scottsdale Insurance], Environmental, Pet & Veterinary, as well as the National Catastrophe group and the Special Investigations anti-fraud teams.  

As a general manager, Mr. Bano led the hundreds of agents, underwriters and claims staff within the State of Michigan and earlier, within the five-county Philadelphia, PA market. 

Elliot D. Felman, MD, is Board Certified in Family Practice. In practice for more than 32 years. Experienced in both plaintiff and defense review, deposition and testimony for evaluation of medical malpractice. Available for evaluation of Standard of Care for Family Practice, General Practice and Internal Medicine. Clinical Faculty - UCLA School of Medicine.  Expert Reviewer - State Medical Board of California.

Areas of Expertise:

Family Practice General Practice Internal Medicine Hospital Records

Medical Malpractice Medical Records Medical Review Standard of Care