Forensic Neuropsychological Evaluations

Our Neuropsychologists can serve as a neuropsychological or psychological expert witness for civil and criminal cases, particularly personal injury cases. We have some of very few board-certified neuropsychologists in the state of Pennsylvania. All our examinations include objective measurement of response performance and symptom validity. Our data analyses are based on objective, scientific information. We work with both plaintiff and defense attorneys. Our background in brain functioning and psychiatric disorders qualify us to assist in a variety of medico-legal consultations

Neuropsychological & psychological evaluation reports assist the legal system, employers and educators answer several questions including:

  • Civil Litigation
  • Criminal Litigation
  • Employment Law & Fitness for Duty
  • Educational Law & Support Services Planning for School
  • Criminal responsibility (e.g., to assess the validity of claims of amnesia during alleged offense)
  • Trial competence (e.g., to determine IQ and/or assess for dementia as either may relate to competence and/or restorability)
  • Atkins evaluations
  • Risk assessment
  • Pre-trial and pre-sentencing mitigation evaluations
  • Evaluations for tort claims (e.g., negligent infliction of emotional harm, psychological injuries, malpractice)
  • Independent Medical/Psychological Examinations (e.g., to determine the validity, and/or extent, of reported cognitive and/or psychological deficits, to provide a timeline of events and explore potential causal reasons for a client’s condition).
  • Disability evaluations
  • Capacity evaluations
  • Guardianship/conservatorship

We can assess for the presence and severity of brain pathology in people with known or suspected brain injury, quantify the extent of real-life deficits, discuss potential reasons for the difficulties, review the impact that such an injury may have on competence or daily functioning, and note potential prognoses. All of evaluations usually include record review, testing, interviews, observations, a comprehensive report, and verbal review, as well as potential testimony about the rendered opinions.  Forensic neuropsychological evaluations specifically involve assessment of brain & personality functioning as they may relate to one’s legal proceedings. These evaluations should be conducted by a neuropsychologist trained to address relationships between the possible cognitive condition and pertinent psycholegal questions.