Texas
Sanjay Adhia, M.D., MRO
Dr. Adhia is triple-Board-Certified in Forensic Psychiatry, Brain Injury Medicine, and Psychiatry. He assesses emotional distress and mental health injuries as well as brain injury. Triggers considered are personal injury, undue influence, changed competency, medical malpractice, physical and emotional abuse, violence, and criminal behavior.
Joseph Penn, M.D.
Dr. Penn has performed numerous civil, criminal, and other independent psychiatric evaluations of children, adolescents, adults, and has been qualified and testified as an expert witness in state and federal courts. He has served as a consultant regarding correctional and non-correctional mental health care delivery and standards of care. He has presented on law and psychiatry issues, including seclusion and restraint, use of psychotropic medications, access to mental health care in correctional settings, suicide prevention, and prediction of future violence.
Ron Parsons v. Marmarinos, et al.
Ron Parsons awoke at night and thought he saw a burglar outside his door. He slammed the door, got his gun, and called 911. Dispatcher told Ron to put away the gun and connected him with police outside. Ron came out and was told to kneel or lay on the ground. Ron refused. He was tased, kicked and punched. No charges filed except that after he made an open records request, warrant was issued and he was charged with obstructing an officer’s official duties, a misdemeanor. Went to trial and found not guilty.
Pete Hernandez v. City of Austin, Jesus Sanchez, John Sikoski & Robert Escamilla
Mistaken identity of citizen. Police thought he had stolen a car and approached Plaintiff in a Walmart parking lot, ordering him to get on the ground. As Plaintiff was complying with the commands, Jesus Sanchez tackled the Plaintiff, causing a low back injury, necessitating a two level lumbar fusion.
Bennett v. Spencer, et al.
Plaintiff was a mentally ill man whose mother called the police during a psychotic episode. Officers knew of his condition, that he may have a knife, and possibly suicidal. Several minutes passed and the man calmed down, sitting in a chair in the middle of a cul-de-sac. Upon arrival, officers immediately approached him and he stood up, with hands (and knife) down by his side completely still. The officer fired 4 rounds striking him once in the abdomen. P survived. Non-shooting officer lied in sworn statement and shooting officer echoed lie to initial backups.
Livezey v. Fierro
70 y.o.man died of heart attack during aggressive traffic stop, where officer ignored decedent’s pleas of illness; officer later convicted of aggravated assault; bench trial.