Emotional Damages Episode 8 Recap: The Truth Is in the Testing: Forensic Psychologist Dr. Howard Friedman on Assessing the Mind in Litigation

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Psychological and neuropsychological testing can play a pivotal role in civil, criminal, and testamentary litigation—but many attorneys still lack clarity on how these tools work and why they matter. In this episode of Emotional Damages, Dr. Ambarin Faizi interviews Dr. Howard Friedman, a board-certified neuropsychologist and clinical psychologist with over 12,000 forensic evaluations to his name. Together, they explore the complex (but crucial) world of psychological and neuropsychological assessments: how tests are selected, what validity measures reveal about credibility, and how the findings inform legal claims. From cognitive impairment to malingering to testamentary capacity, this episode offers an unparalleled look into the science and strategy behind expert evaluations.

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Emotional Damages Episode 7 Recap: Understanding PTSD in the Courtroom: Insights from Forensic Psychiatrist Dr. James Armontrout

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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is one of the most commonly cited psychiatric diagnoses in emotional damages litigation—but evaluating trauma in a forensic context requires far more than a diagnosis. In this episode of Emotional Damages, Dr. Ambarin Faizi speaks with forensic psychiatrist Dr. James Armontrout, program director of the Stanford Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship and trauma specialist at fpamed. Drawing on years of experience treating veterans at the VA Palo Alto Trauma Recovery Program and evaluating claimants in multi-plaintiff cases, Dr. Armontrout discusses what attorneys need to know when working on PTSD-related claims. From assessing symptom validity to understanding treatment trajectories, this episode is a masterclass in trauma-informed forensic evaluation.

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Emotional Damages Episode 6 Recap: Expert Witness Standards, Psychopathy and Cultural Psychiatry with Dr. Ayesha Ashai

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Forensic psychiatry plays a crucial role in both criminal and civil litigation, yet its distinctions from clinical psychiatry are often misunderstood. In this episode of Emotional Damages, forensic psychiatrist Dr. Ambarin Faizi sits down with Dr. Ayesha Ashai, a board-certified forensic psychiatrist, to explore how forensic evaluations influence legal cases, from competency assessments to criminal responsibility determinations and emotional damages claims. Dr. Ashai, a highly sought-after expert witness, has testified in high-profile criminal cases and has been featured in true crime media, including Pathological: The Lies of Joran Van der Sloot on Peacock. She shares her expertise on competency to stand trial, the insanity defense, psychopathy, and the ethics of expert witness testimony.

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Emotional Damages Episode 5 Recap: Testamentary Capacity & Undue Influence: The Role of Forensic Psychiatry in Estate Litigation

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Disputes over wills and trusts can quickly turn into complex legal battles, especially when questions arise about whether the testator had the mental capacity to make sound decisions or whether they were coerced into changing their estate plan. In these cases, forensic psychiatric evaluations play a key role in determining testamentary capacity and undue influence—two of the most contested issues in estate litigation. In this episode of Emotional Damages, host Dr. Ambarin Faizi sits down with forensic psychiatrist Dr. Mark Levy and estate litigation attorney Dewey Harpainter to explore how courts assess mental competence and how forensic experts evaluate undue influence claims. Together, they break down the legal and psychiatric criteria for capacity, the red flags attorneys should look for, and the importance of retrospective forensic evaluations when a testator has already passed away.

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Emotional Damages Episode 4 Recap: Understanding ASD in Civil and Criminal Proceedings with Dr. Bryna Siegel

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Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is increasingly relevant in civil and criminal litigation, but misconceptions about the condition often complicate legal proceedings. In this episode of Emotional Damages, forensic psychiatrist Dr. Ambarin Faizi sits down with autism expert Dr. Bryna Siegel to explore how ASD is assessed in forensic cases and what attorneys need to know when handling autism-related claims.

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Emotional Damages Episode 3 Recap: Addressing Trauma from Childhood Sexual Abuse with Dr. Saldanha & Attorney Jon Daggett

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The third episode of Emotional Damages: Practical Insights into Forensic Psychiatry for Litigating Attorneys tackles one of the most challenging topics in forensic psychiatry and the law: addressing adult cases of childhood sexual abuse. Forensic psychiatrist and host Dr. Ambarin Faizi leads a compelling discussion with Dr. Charles Saldanha, Co-Medical Director of fpamed, and Attorney Jon Daggett, Managing Partner at Hiroshima & Daggett Law Firm.

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Emotional Damages Episode 2 Recap: Improving Mental Health Care in Jails: Dr. Charles Saldanha on Compassion, Collaboration, and Standards of Care

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The latest episode of Emotional Damages offers a compelling dive into the challenges and advancements in correctional psychiatry. Host Dr. Ambarin Faizi is joined by Dr. Charles Saldanha, Co-Medical Director of fpamed and a forensic psychiatrist with extensive experience in providing care within jails and correctional facilities. Listen to Episode 2 now and subscribe to Emotional Damages on your favorite podcast platform.

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Emotional Damages Episode 1 Recap: Insights from Dr. Mark Levy on Forensic Psychiatry in Law

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Episode 1 of Emotional Damages: Practical Insights into Forensic Psychiatry for Litigating Attorneys sets the stage for what promises to be a vital resource for attorneys navigating the intersection of forensic psychiatry and the law. Hosted by Dr. Ambarin Faizi and featuring the distinguished Dr. Mark Levy, this pilot episode dives deep into the role forensic psychiatrists play in the legal system, blending decades of expertise with actionable insights. Dr. Levy, Founder and Medical Director of fpamed, brings a wealth of knowledge, having been retained in over 500 civil and criminal cases and testified in state and federal courts more than 60 times. Reflecting on his career, Dr. Levy shares a pivotal observation: “The mission of the independent forensic psychiatric expert is to determine what is objectively true, and that’s difficult.” He likens this pursuit to the precision of a geneticist analyzing DNA, emphasizing that while behavioral medicine may not offer the same level of certainty, forensic psychiatrists strive for objectivity by meticulously reviewing all available information.

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