Legal Services
Expert witness work in veterinary behavior medicine.
I am board-certified in veterinary behavior medicine (DACVB) and provide independent, evidence based opinions for attorneys, insurers, municipalities, and courts. Cases commonly involve dog bites, aggression, standard of care, and animal welfare.
Retained by plaintiff and defense. Every engagement begins with a conflict check and an honest assessment of whether the record supports an opinion.
Case types
Matters I am retained on.
Dog bite and aggression litigation
Behavioral assessment of the animal, precipitating factors, warning signs, provocation, and foreseeability.
Standard of care and negligence
Whether behavioral assessment, handling, housing, or treatment met accepted veterinary standards.
Dangerous dog and breed determination hearings
Independent evaluation of risk, manageability, and humane alternatives to euthanasia orders.
Handling, boarding, grooming, and daycare incidents
Whether facility practices and staff handling were appropriate for the animal's behavioral presentation.
Housing, service, and assistance animal disputes
Behavioral suitability, temperament, and documentation questions in housing or access matters.
Cruelty, neglect, and welfare cases
Behavioral indicators of chronic fear, distress, deprivation, or mistreatment.
Scope of work
How the engagement works.
Case screening
A short, no obligation call to assess whether the questions in your case fall within behavior medicine.
Record and evidence review
Veterinary records, incident reports, animal control files, photographs, video or behavior assessments.
Written opinion and reports
Expert reports with clearly stated bases and literature support.
Deposition and trial testimony
Trial testimony experience. Also available for rebuttal review.
Fees are hourly, with separate rates for review, report preparation, deposition, and trial. A retainer is required before work begins. Rates and a current CV are available on request.
Qualifications
Credentials on the record.
Board certification by the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists is held by roughly one hundred veterinarians worldwide, which is often decisive when qualifying an expert on animal behavior questions.
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
- Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (DACVB)
- IAABC Certified Animal Behavior Consultant (CABC)
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- 19 years of clinical experience in veterinary behavior medicine in the field of veterinary psychiatry and behavior.
- Author of published original research, peer reviewed articles and book chapters on companion animal behavior.
Discuss a case.
Send a brief summary of the matter, jurisdiction, key dates, and the parties involved. I'll run a conflict check and respond with availability, rates, and next steps.
Contact for expert witness inquiries