Areas Of Practice

Expert Witness Testimony and Evaluations

Shanlis doctors are available to conduct evaluations and testify for the prosecution and the defense in Florida, New York and Vermont.

The experts of Shanlis, Inc. have extensive experience in all aspects of criminal law, and have testified for both the prosecution and the defense in felony and misdemeanor cases for both adults and juveniles.

The doctors of Shanlis are also routinely called on to testify in civil litigation cases, such as family law, personal injury law, immigration law, and employment discrimination.

All evaluation reports that are presented by the Shanlis, Inc. Psychologists begin with a full biographical profile of the individual. The biographical history is enhanced by a complete battery of psychological and neuropsychological tests (when applicable) to attempt to demonstrate who the client is as a person and the forces that have shaped his or her life. Upon reaching the conclusion of the evaluation report, all referral questions will be addressed and recommendations, as appropriate, will be provided.

Criminal Law

Our forensic experts offer services to both criminal defense attorneys and prosecutors in many areas of Criminal Law:

– Criminal Mitigation Evaluations

The major element in the sentencing phase of a criminal case is the presentation of mitigation (a human life in all of its complexity). Some criminal cases are so extreme and the issue of guilt so clear that the only thing left for the criminal lawyer to do is to present mitigating circumstances for downward departure consideration. Mitigation circumstances must be considered by the trier of fact (the Judge) during the sentencing phase.

– Expert Witness Testimony in Criminal Cases

In addition to expert psychological/forensic diagnostic evaluations, the doctors of Shanlis, Inc. serve as expert witnesses in criminal cases. Shanlis doctors have extensive experience in working collaboratively with attorneys on a wide range of issues in criminal law.

Employment Law

Shanlis’ Forensic experts are retained by both plaintiffs and defense attorneys in all areas of Employment Law:

Immigration Law

Shanlis, Inc. forensic experts have experience in the area of Immigration Law:

Civil Law and Negligence Law

Shanlis forensic psychological experts have extensive experience in civil matters and negligence cases:

Expert Services in Personal Injury and Negligence Cases

In addition to performing expert psychological diagnostic examinations and evaluations, the doctors at Shanlis Inc. serve as expert witnesses in personal injury, medical malpractice, defective products, and negligence cases. Professional, confident, and always prepared, they are able to make complex diagnoses understandable. They give expert witness evidence in terms that the jury can understand, and can easily relate to. Shanis Inc. experts are familiar with the many tactics of opposing counsel. They are experienced in answering difficult questions truthfully and carefully in both deposition and cross-examination testimony.

The experts of the Shanlis Inc. practice assist both plaintiffs and defense attorneys in a wide range of issues involved in personal injury cases, intentional harm, or negligent acts, including:

– IME’s, Psychological, and Psychiatric Evaluations

Where traumatic brain injury or other physical trauma may be involved, our clinical psychologists evaluate claims of mental, emotional, and behavioral injuries. Through psychodiagnostic and neuropsychological testing, the experts of Shanlis Inc. assess the plaintiff’s claimed injuries to his or her intellectual ability, emotional reactivity, and behavioral regulation and control.

Our expert evaluations and reports aid in determining whether or not damages exist. If it is determined that an injurious event did exist, the forensic expert will be able to assess the level and severity of distress or disability as a result of an injury.

– Forensic Specialties and Expertise

Commonly reported psychological reactions to injuries may include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety disorders, as well as somatic complaints (such as migraines, gastrointestinal problems, nausea, vomiting, colitis, and skin disorders) and cognitive impairments. In survivors of electrical and high voltage injuries, immediate manifestations may include altered consciousness, confusion, disorientation, and amnesia.

Our experts have extensive experience in assessing and evaluating the full range of symptoms resulting from personal injuries, including claims of chronic pain, personality changes, flashbacks, and memory deficits as well as malingering and deception.

Neuropsychological Assessment

Shanlis neuropsychological services address changes in personality, emotional changes, changes in motor functioning, thinking, planning, organizing, perception, comprehension, reasoning, problem-solving, decision-making, memory, attention, visual-spatial functions, changes in speech and/or language, motor skill changes and other executive functioning concerns.

Areas where a Neuropsychological Assessment can be helpful:

Social investigation (Child Custody Examination)

If parents are unable to agree on a parenting plan, the court may order or request the parties to obtain a social investigation conducted by a qualified mental health professional. A social investigation is a comprehensive study of all pertinent details relating to the child(ren) and each parent with the primary goal being to recommend a time-sharing plan that is in the best interests of the child(ren). The person conducting the social investigation will furnish the court and all parties of record in the proceeding a written report containing recommendations concerning timesharing, decision-making, residence, or other family law matters, as ordered by the court. [fyi-No one does a social investigation without a court order appointing him/her. If the parties want something other than what is in the order, they need to go back to the Judge and have it added to the order or it will not be addressed.

The report will include a written statement of the facts on which the recommendations are based. The social investigator will prepare a recommended parenting plan that addresses the parents’ decision making authority and contains specific time-sharing schedules for the court’s consideration.

The doctors at Shanlis have extensive training and experience as well as time in court testifying in this area of family law.

Well-Researched and Documented Reports

The reports produced by members of the Shanlis, Inc. practice are written clearly, simply, in down to earth, jargon-free language so that the judge will have a better understanding of the defendant as an individual. Shanlis’ well- researched and documented mitigation reports may help to reduce prison sentencing time. In some cases, they help the judge to choose a therapeutic and rehabilitative program for the defendant instead of prison.

Our experienced experts translate complex psychological information so that lawyers can easily use it to strengthen their cases.