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?
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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:
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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.