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FORENSICS

Dr. Chidekel serves as an expert witness for attorneys across a variety of legal settings. She is retained by Plaintiff and Defense in approximate equal proportions. 

Her training in clinical psychology allows her to make an objective assessment of a Litigant’s psychological status. She interviews the Litigant and sometimes interviews collateral sources such as spouses, children, parents, or co-workers; reviews relevant records; and administers objective, standardized psychological tests.

Dr. Chidekel’s specialty training in neuropsychology allows her to understand brain structure and function as these relate to specific cognitive and psychological processes and a wide range of human behavior. Her training as a neuropsychologist allows her to make an objective assessment of the psychological and behavioral effects of brain disorders and brain abnormalities. She is able to understand the consequences of developmental and degenerative problems that impact brain function and the effects of brain injuries that are acquired through injuries or medical events. 

A systematic analysis of the information she collects enables her to clarify a Litigant’s diagnosis, his or her credibility, the cause(s) of the presenting symptoms, the treatment(s) warranted, prognosis, and damages associated with claims.

FORENSIC SERVICES:

  • Psychological and Neuropsychological Assessment
  • Assessment of credibility (symptom validity, effort, malingering)
  • Determination of 
    • Diagnosis
    • Causation
    • Necessary treatment
    • Prognosis
    • Damages
  • Record review and analysis
  • Analysis of opposition experts’ methods and opinions

PERSONAL INJURY CASES
HAVE INVOLVED:

  • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
  • TBI in people with pre-existing intellectual disability, learning disorder, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Dementia 
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Psychiatric and Personality Disorders
  • Premature birth
  • Birth Injury (Stroke, Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy)
  • Hyperbilirubinemia
  • Near drowning
  • Wrongful death
  • Congenital heart defects
  • Chronic Pain/Somatoform Disorders/Fibromyalgia
  • Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD)
  • Post-surgical complications of ECMO
  • Developmental and intellectual disability
  • Physical and emotional abuse
  • Periventricular Leukomalacia
  • Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy

EMPLOYMENT CASES HAVE INVOLVED:

  • Racial Discrimination
  • Wrongful Termination
  • Hostile Work Environment
  • Psychological Disability
  • Sexual Harassment
  • Disability Discrimination
  • Gender Discrimination

FAMILY LAW CASES HAVE INVOLVED:

  • Needs of children with neurodevelopmental disorders
  • Needs of adults with neurodevelopmental disorders
  • Capacity to marry

ELDER LAW & PROBATE CASES HAVE INVOLVED:

  • Undue Influence in living testators and post-death
  • Testamentary and contractual capacity in living testators and post-death
  • Conservatorship of person
  • Conservatorship of estate
  • Dementia
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder in adults
  • Psychiatric and Personality Disorders in Elders

EDUCATIONAL LAW CASES HAVE INVOLVED:

  • Assistive Technology
  • Program Placement
  • Learning Disabilities
  • Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
  • Selective Mutism
  • Intermittent Explosive Disorder
  • Oppositional Defiant Disorder
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
  • Child Abuse
  • Necessary academic accommodations and services
  • Genetic disorders (Williams Syndrome, Turner’s Syndrome, Fragile X,
    Trisomy 13, Angelman Syndrome)

In my profession where it is not easy to sort out the lies from the truth and it often feels like getting to the truth is all but impossible, it was amazing to be able to rely on someone I knew would tell the truth and would make recommendations that were always in the best interest of the child.” 

– Paula Glickstein, Esq 
Certified Family Law Specialist

Dr. Chidekel has been an agreed-upon evaluator selected to perform Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs) by more than 30 different school districts in California. She participates in Individual Education Plans (IEPs), and she testifies in Due Process Hearings. 

Here are DECISIONS from several Due Process Hearings in which she has testified: