Litigation-Related Consultations
Dr. Warshak receives many inquiries regarding his availability as a consultant, evaluator, trial consultant, and expert witness in matters relating to child custody, childhood trauma, and personal injury. To spend more time on research, writing, and pro bono work, Dr. Warshak limits the number of cases he accepts each year. In most instances, Dr. Warshak restricts his services to consulting to attorneys without serving as an expert witness.
As a consultant to an attorney, Dr. Warshak can review the case file, provide feedback about managing a case that raises issues related to children’s best interests (including but not limited to parenting time plans, parental alienation, and relocation) as well as assist in dealing with mental health evidence and testimony (e.g., critique a custody evaluation, assist in preparing questions for deposition and cross examination, help to organize evidence for presentation to a custody evaluator and in court, give impressions about how to manage issues such as children’s alienation). Consulting on a case allows Dr. Warshak’s recommendations of expert witnesses to be better informed and likely a better match for the case.
Dr. Warshak’s review of investigations, evaluations, and social studies conducted by mental health professionals includes critiques of the procedures, findings, and conclusions of the evaluations in question. In many cases he identifies significant weaknesses in each area. 1) The procedures contain significant flaws or omissions that weaken the validity of the findings. 2) The findings rest on inaccurate interpretation of the data (including psychological test results) or the data may suggest alternative possibilities. 3) The conclusions and recommendations are not warranted by the findings and may reveal subtle biases on the part of the examiner or reliance on unproven theories. When such problems are discovered, Dr. Warshak assists the attorney in preparing for depositions and court testimony.
Dr. Warshak has more than 40 years of experience as a clinical, consulting, and research psychologist. His groundbreaking studies appear in 18 books and more than 90 articles in eighteen languages, including a consensus report on parenting plans for young children that was endorsed by 110 researchers and practitioners and published by the American Psychological Association. Dr. Warshak’s work on relocation has influenced decisions in two Supreme Courts and his studies are cited in international caselaw and legislation. Dr. Warshak has consulted on many cases throughout the world, including some that resulted in precedent-setting judicial decisions.
Dr. Warshak’s book, Divorce Poison: How To Protect Your Family from Bad-mouthing and Brainwashing, is widely regarded as a classic. His video, Welcome Back, Pluto: Understanding, Preventing, and Overcoming Parental Alienation, is used in every state in the U.S. and 32 foreign countries.
E-mail Dr. Warshak to request further information regarding consultation policies and fees. Please give the names of the litigants and case, and the names of all attorneys and mental health professionals involved in the case so that Dr. Warshak can check for potential conflicts. Other than these names, do not provide case-specific information until Dr. Warshak has done a conflict check and has been retained for a consultation. This helps Dr. Warshak avoid conflicts of interest if another party or counsel in the case has consulted with him..
