In this special bonus episode of Emotional Damages, Dr. Ambarin Faizi brings together lessons from two powerhouse experts—Dr. Shafi Lodhi, forensic psychiatrist and neurologist, and Dr. Howard Friedman, board-certified forensic neuropsychologist—to break down the complexities of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in litigation.

Key topics discussed include:

• How TBI affects cognition, mood, and behavior
• Why testing and imaging don’t always align
• How experts assess malingering in brain injury claims
• The intersection of neurology and psychology in forensic evaluations
• Red flags attorneys should watch for in TBI reports

Have a topic you would like covered on the pod?
📧 Email us: podcast@fpamed.com

🔗 Connect with fpamed:
🌐 Visit our website.
👋 Follow us on LinkedIn.

In this episode of Emotional Damages, Dr. Ambarin Faizi welcomes Dr. Howard Friedman, board-certified neuropsychologist and clinical psychologist with over 12,000 evaluations to his name. Together, they explore the role of psychological and neuropsychological testing in litigation, from emotional injuries to cognitive impairments.

Key topics discussed include:

• The difference between psychological and neuropsychological assessments
• How malingering and effort are objectively detected
• The Rorschach’s value (and controversy) in forensic cases
• Common tools like the MMPI, PAI, and WMS-IV
• How to evaluate testamentary capacity and undue influence
• Why test security matters—and what’s at stake in California law

Dr. Howard Friedman is a board-certified neuropsychologist and clinical psychologist with fpamed. He has completed over 12,000 psychological and neuropsychological evaluations in civil, criminal, and testamentary matters. A past president of the Northern California Neuropsychology Forum, Dr. Friedman has also held numerous leadership roles in local and state psychological associations.

Have a topic you would like covered on the pod?
📧 Email us: podcast@fpamed.com

🔗 Connect with fpamed:
🌐 Visit our website.
👋 Follow us on LinkedIn.

In this episode of Emotional Damages, Dr. Ambarin Faizi speaks with Dr. James Armontrout, forensic psychiatrist and Program Director of the Stanford Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship. Drawing on his extensive experience treating veterans with PTSD and conducting over hundreds of forensic evaluations, Dr. Armontrout offers attorneys an in-depth look at how trauma unfolds, how PTSD is diagnosed, and what distinguishes reliable psychiatric assessments in litigation.

Key topics discussed include:

• What separates acute trauma from chronic PTSD in legal claims
• How forensic psychiatrists distinguish genuine symptoms from exaggeration
• What modern PTSD treatment really looks like—and why it's relevant to litigation
• The roles of psychological testing and interview structure in reliable assessments
• How multi-plaintiff cases benefit from expert coordination and team-based evaluation

Whether you're handling a single plaintiff or a complex multi-plaintiff case, this episode will help you better understand how PTSD fits into the legal landscape.

Dr. James Armontrout is a forensic psychiatrist at fpamed and the Program Director of the Stanford Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship. He previously served as a staff psychiatrist at the VA Palo Alto Trauma Recovery Program, where he treated veterans with PTSD and substance use disorders. He specializes in trauma-related and substance use disorders.

Have a topic you would like covered on the pod?
📧 Email us: podcast@fpamed.com

🔗 Connect with fpamed:
🌐 Visit our website.
👋 Follow us on LinkedIn.

In this episode of Emotional Damages, Dr. Ambarin Faizi is joined by Dr. Ayesha Ashai, a board-certified forensic psychiatrist, as she shares personal experiences that led her to the field, her encounters with criminal and civil forensic evaluations, including a memorable insanity defense case. She addresses the complexities of psychopathy, cultural psychiatry, and the disparities in mental health care, particularly within correctional settings.

Dr. Ashai also talks about the expanding role of telepsychiatry post-COVID, her upcoming projects, including a potential presentation on the Menendez brothers, and offers practical advice for attorneys engaging with forensic psychiatrists.

Key topics include:

• How forensic psychiatrists evaluate criminal intent and mental illness
• The challenges of evaluating psychopathy and the myths surrounding the disorder
• Cultural psychiatry in criminal cases—why understanding background and belief systems matter
• The role of forensic psychiatrists in building or challenging a legal defense
• How attorneys can leverage forensic psychiatry for trial strategy

Dr. Ashai has been featured in true crime media, including Pathological: The Lies of Joran Van der Sloot on Peacock. If you’re an attorney looking to strengthen your approach to forensic evaluations or simply fascinated by the intersection of psychiatry and law, this episode is a must-listen.

Have a topic you would like covered on the pod?
📧 Email us: podcast@fpamed.com

🔗 Connect with fpamed:
🌐 Visit our website.
👋 Follow us on LinkedIn.

How do courts determine whether someone had the mental capacity to sign a will or whether they were manipulated into making estate decisions? 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 the complexities of testamentary capacity and undue influence in estate disputes.

Key topics discussed include:

• The legal and psychiatric criteria for testamentary capacity
• How undue influence is identified and proven in court
• The role of forensic psychiatry in evaluating estate and trust disputes
• Why retrospective capacity evaluations are challenging but critical in litigation
• Key considerations for attorneys handling will contests and trust disputes

For attorneys navigating estate litigation, elder law, or capacity-related claims, this episode provides essential insights into the intersection of law, mental health, and forensic psychiatry.

Have a topic you would like covered on the pod?
📧 Email us: podcast@fpamed.com

🔗 Connect with fpamed:
🌐 Visit our website.
👋 Follow us on LinkedIn.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) presents unique challenges in both clinical and forensic settings. In this episode, host Dr. Ambarin Faizi sits down with Dr. Bryna Siegel, an autism expert, researcher, and forensic consultant, to break down the complexities in legal cases involving ASD.

Key topics discussed include:

• The evolution of autism diagnoses and the impact of the DSM changes
• The intersection of autism and forensic psychiatry in civil and criminal litigation
• Misconceptions about autism, including the role of IQ, memory, and social understanding
• The challenges of assessing ASD in forensic evaluations, including self-diagnosis trends
• How attorneys can better understand autism-related claims and work effectively with experts

Have a topic you would like covered on the pod?
📧 Email us: podcast@fpamed.com

🔗 Connect with fpamed:
🌐 Visit our website.
👋 Follow us on LinkedIn.

Dr. Ambarin Faizi is joined by two esteemed guests: Dr. Charles Saldanha, Co-Medical Director of fpamed and a forensic psychiatrist with over 20 years of experience, and Attorney Jon Daggett, Managing Partner at Hiroshima & Daggett Law Firm. Together, they explore the complex intersection of psychiatry and law in cases involving adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

Key topics discussed include:

• The potential psychological impacts of childhood trauma, including PTSD and depression.
• Legal challenges in evaluating trauma decades after the events occurred.
• Changes in statutes of limitations and their implications for litigation.
• The critical role of forensic psychiatrists in providing evidence-based assessments to assist the legal system.

Have a topic you would like covered on the pod?
📧 Email us: podcast@fpamed.com

🔗 Connect with fpamed:
🌐 Visit our website.
👋 Follow us on LinkedIn.

In this episode of Emotional Damages: Practical Insights into Forensic Psychiatry for Litigating Attorneys, Dr. Ambarin Faizi speaks with Dr. Charles Saldanha, fpamed Co-Medical Director and a seasoned forensic psychiatrist, about the unique challenges and rewards of delivering psychiatric care within the correctional system.

Key topics discussed:

• The complexities of providing care in jails, from addressing acute mental health needs to ensuring continuity of care.
• The interplay between healthcare teams and custody staff in promoting safety and therapeutic outcomes.
• The evolving standards of care for incarcerated individuals, shaped by landmark legal cases and consent decrees.

Have a topic you would like covered on the pod?
📧 Email us: podcast@fpamed.com

🔗 Connect with fpamed:
🌐 Visit our website.
👋 Follow us on LinkedIn.