personal injury – Forensic MED Group

Michel F. Brones, M.D.

Aryiel Caro — Thu, 23 Aug 2018 08:25:17 +0000

Michel F. Brones, M.D., a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and a member of the American Burn Association has served as an Expert Witness since 1981 conducting more than a thousand IMEs, 300 depositions and 40 trial appearances evenly for both plaintiff and defense. Burn injuries represent 90% of his cases, but he has been involved in plastic reconstructive and cosmetic cases as well. Most of Dr. Brones’ Expert work is in the areas of personal injuries, product liabilities, medical malpractice, civil and criminal.

Dr. Brones was a staff surgeon at the Grossman Burn Center in Sherman Oaks, California for eighteen years and was Chief Resident of Plastic surgery at the UCLA Medical Center. He received his medical degree from the University of Buenos Aires Medical School and served his residency in general surgery at Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.

He has published several articles in The Journal of Burn Care and Rehabilitation and The Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. As well as making many presentations to medical groups in California, Dr. Brones has also presented papers on burn injury treatment internationally in New Delhi, India, Seoul, South Korea, Geneva, Switzerland and Stockholm, Sweden.

*For Curriculum Vitae, please contact our main office:

Phone: (626) 415-0032 Email: info@forensicmedgroup.com

Barbara J. Justice, M.D.

Aryiel Caro — Wed, 22 Aug 2018 10:36:06 +0000

Dr. Barbara J. Justice, Board Certified Forensic Psychiatrist, began her career in medicine as a surgeon in New York City in 1982. After several years as a practicing surgeon, she decided to enter the field of Forensic Psychiatry. She received training in all aspects of psychiatry as well as the law, during her Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship at UCLA.

Dr. Justice has broad experience testifying in criminal and civil cases and has been deposed extensively, more than 300 times. She has also testified frequently as mental health expert witness for the State of California. Her unique background in physical medicine, trauma, psychopharmacology and surgery, combined with her psychiatric expertise, gives her an in-depth understanding of the multitude of factors at issue in civil litigation cases.

Dr. Justice is currently Attending Forensic Psychiatrist and Director of Psychiatric Training at the Metropolitan State Hospital in Norwalk California and a Psychiatrist at the Psychopharmacology Center for Behavioral Medicine in Whittier, California.

Dr. Justice received her Medical Doctorate and completed her Surgical Internship and Residency at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, Department of Surgery, College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University, Harlem, where she was appointed Chief Resident. She returned to the same school to intern in adult psychiatry. Dr. Justice earned fellowships for Cultural Research in Psychiatry from the American Psychiatric Association, in Psychodynamic and Psychotherapy from New York University Psychodynamic Institute and in Forensic Psychiatry from the Department of Psychiatry at UCLA

*For Curriculum Vitae, please contact our main office:

Phone: (626) 415-0032 Email: info@forensicmedgroup.com

Cheri Adrian, Ph.D., QME

Aryiel Caro — Wed, 22 Aug 2018 10:50:41 +0000

Dr. Cheri Adrian received her Ph.D. from UCLA and has gone on to amass over 25 years of experience in forensic psychology, specializing in assessing psychological injury and credibility in allegations of psychological injury. Dr. Adrian has been named Expert in over fifty civil cases, including cases of wrongful termination, medical malpractice, sexual harassment, sexual abuse, and other matters involving allegations of psychological stress and trauma.

Dr. Adrian has served for the 12 years as an expert for licensing boards in California including the Board of Psychology and Board of Behavioral Sciences. She was previously an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA for 10 years, and the Co-Director of the Psychodiagnostic Assessment Service at UCLA’s Neuropsychiatric Institute and Hospital for five years.

Dr. Adrian is also a California Workers’ Compensation Qualified Medical Evaluator who has regularly conducted both Agreed and Qualified Medical-Legal Evaluations. She has conducted over 150 medical-legal evaluations over the past six years. As a clinician and evaluator, Dr. Adrian has special expertise in evaluating and treating depressive and anxiety disorders, including post-traumatic stress. In the Workers’ Compensation system, she evaluates psychological sequelae of work stress and physical work injuries. She is available to conduct Agreed and Qualified Medical Examinations in Psychology in locations throughout Southern California.

Dr. Adrian has authored articles published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, the American Journal of Psychiatry, the British Journal of Clinical Psychology, the Journal of Abnormal Psychology and the American Journal of Psychiatry.

She recently (2019) gave an invited panel address at the National Association of Women Lawyers mid-year meeting on the subject of managing ethical conflicts in forensic practice.

*For Curriculum Vitae, please contact our main office:

Phone: (626) 415-0032 Email: info@forensicmedgroup.com

Email: info@forensicmedgroup.com

Whittier, CA 90601
Long Beach, CA 90804
Woodland Hills, CA 91367
Glendale, CA 91203
Panorama City, CA 91402
Culver City, CA 90230
Torrance, CA 90503
Westlake Village, CA 91361
Santa Clarita, CA 91381
Santa Monica, CA 90404

Arthur E. Lipper, M.D.

Aryiel Caro — Thu, 23 Aug 2018 08:36:00 +0000

Arthur E. Lipper, M.D. is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and has participated as an Independent Medical Examiner and Expert Witness for both the plaintiff and the defense in many civil cases throughout the years. He is also a State of California Qualified Medical Evaluator in the Workers’ Compensation system.

Dr. Lipper received his medical degree from Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in 1981 and served his residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where he is currently a member of the attending staff. Dr. Lipper is presently an assistant clinical professor in Internal Medicine at the UCLA Medical Center and has an active private practice in Beverly Hills, California.

*Please contact our main office for Curriculum Vitae

Phone: (626) 415-0032; Email: info@forensicmedgroup.com

Joseph Ghitis, M.D

Aryiel Caro — Mon, 12 Aug 2019 00:30:16 +0000

Dr. Joseph Ghitis, M.D. is Board Certified in Diagnostic Radiology by the American Board of Radiology, from which he also received a Certificate of Added Qualification in Neuroradiology. Through his training and experience working at several Level I Trauma centers, he has gained considerable skill assessing and diagnosing complex cases, which he has carried over to his work as an expert witness, providing comprehensive and well-reasoned imaging interpretation and analysis as well as clear and concise expert testimony.

Dr. Ghitis completed his undergraduate work at the University of Pennsylvania, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Basis of Behavior. He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. He went on to successfully complete his Radiology Residency at the Medical College of Virginia, followed by a Neuroradiology Fellowship at the University of Miami Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Ghitis has been in private practice for nine years and currently maintains a practice as an independent radiologist reading for multiple imaging centers. He is licensed in Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Texas and Virginia.

*Please contact our main office for Curriculum Vitae

Phone: (626) 415-0032; Email: info@forensicmedgroup.com

Specialties: spine imaging, brain imaging, head/neck imaging, traumatic brain injury imaging, pediatric imaging, and dementia imaging for cases of medical malpractice, personal injury, child abuse, and other civil litigations.

Payam Khalepari, D.M.D.

Brian Bailey — Thu, 24 Oct 2019 18:05:36 +0000

Payam Khalepari, D.M.D. graduated from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts in 2004. He earned his B.S. degree in Biological Sciences from the California State University at Northridge, California. He is certified for the CEREC CAD/CAM system for ceramic restorations and has a Branemark certificate in Implant Dentistry.

Dr. Khalepari runs his own dental practice in Calabasas, California providing cosmetic and family dentistry. Prior to his own practice, he was a senior associate at Thousand Oaks Dental Group, where he was efficient as an Endodontist and Periodontist in addition to preforming Oral Surgery and Restoration. Dr. Khalepari has worked with lasers and is skilled with Rotary Endodontics and has taught Organic Chemistry, Physiology and Anatomy classes.

*For Curriculum Vitae, please contact our main office:

Phone: (626) 415-0032 Email: info@forensicmedgroup.com

Gary Brazina, M.D.

Aryiel Caro — Wed, 22 Aug 2018 11:51:02 +0000

Gary Brazina, M.D., FACS. Is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon specializing in arthroscopic surgery, sports medicine, and industrial medicine. He is a Fellow in the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery; the Arthroscopy Board of North America and the American College of Surgeons.

Dr. Brazina received his medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine, where he also completed his Internship in General Surgery. He served his Residency in Orthopaedic Surgery at Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. He is currently licensed in California and Colorado. Dr. Brazina was affiliated with the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center from 1980 through 2014.

Dr. Brazina “The Jock Doc”, has treated some of the world’s top professional athletes. He has served as a medical consultant to the U.S. Olympic Committee, Red Bull Athletes, Cirque du Soleil, the Joffrey Ballet, Dancing with the Stars, The Southern California Cheetahs Track Club and Second Opinion for the NFL Players Association. He has also served as team physician for the L.A. Heat Football Team and the Los Angeles Blades.

Dr. Brazina writes and lectures for those within the medical community as well as for the public. He is an editorial consultant and contributor to Max Fitness Magazine, Women’s Fitness Magazine and has been featured in articles published in Redbook, Shape Magazine, Sports Illustrated and Elle. He has appeared on CNN, Entertainment Tonight, LA Today, Skling America and other TV shows.

*For Curriculum Vitae, please contact our main office:

Phone: (626) 415-0032 Email: info@forensicmedgroup.com

Allan L. Bernstein, D.P.M.

Aryiel Caro — Thu, 23 Aug 2018 08:39:59 +0000

Dr. Allan Bernstein, D.P.M., is a Board Certified Doctor of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. He was awarded his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree Magna Cum Laude by the New York College of Podiatric Medicine. He then completed surgical residencies at Cherry Hill Hospital in New Jersey and at Lindell Hospital in St. Louis, with special training in biomechanics.

Dr. Bernstein was affiliated with the UC Irvine Medical Center from 1991 through 2003 and also earned a Healthcare Executive M.B.A. from UC Irvine. Dr. Bernstein has participated as an expert witness for both the defense and plaintiff in over fifty cases during the last ten years, which included extensive trial testimony. He also provides independent physician review services for over fifteen review organizations and is a Qualified Medical Evaluator for the State of California.

*For Curriculum Vitae, please contact our main office:

Phone: (626) 415-0032 Email: info@forensicmedgroup.com

David Zakin, Ph.D., QME

Aryiel Caro — Wed, 22 Aug 2018 11:04:51 +0000

Dr. David Zakin, Clincal Psychologist, has a clinical specialtization in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. He has taught workshops and conducted training sessions on the diagnosis and treatment of this condition. He is also a Diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Medicine.

Dr. Zakin served for many years, as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute, Adjunct Associate Professor of Psychology at the California School of Professional Psychology and Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychology at the Fuller Theological Seminary. He received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Michigan in 1986. He finished a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in 1987.

Dr. Zakin has evaluated claimants in the workers’ compensation arena for over 20 years both as a QME and as a treating physician. He most recently provided plaintiff: testimony in the case of a world class violinist who suffered physical injury and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder following a bicycle–automobile collision. On April 21, 2016 the plaintiff was awarded 6.1 million dollars by a Los Angeles Superior Court Jury.

Dr. Zakin has lectured in regards to the diagnosis and treatment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder at Industrial Indemnity, California Compensation Insurance Company, Hartford Insurance, Maryland Casualty Company, Keenan and Associates and the Verdugo Community Mental Health Center.

Serving the following locations:

Long Beach, CA 90806
Ontario, CA 91761
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
San Pedro, CA 90731
License #: PSY10427

*For Curriculum Vitae, please contact our main office:

Phone: (626) 435-9500 Email: support@forensicmedgroup.com

Scott Kopoian, Ph.D.

Aryiel Caro — Wed, 22 Aug 2018 10:56:48 +0000

Dr. Scott Kopoian has provided expert witness testimony in both the Federal and Superior Courts and has testified in over 60 office depositions. He specializes in psychological assessments as in Independent Medical Examiner for personal injury and labor law cases, including discrimination and immigration waivers.

His primary psychological clinical experience includes the evaluation and treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorders and substance abuse and dependency. During a five-year period, Dr. Kopoian evaluated individuals convicted of a criminal offense and found Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity, for the purpose of determining their current mental status, violence potential and likelihood of substance abuse relapse.

Dr. Kopoian is licensed in the states of California and Oregon and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Examiners. He received his education at Arizona State University Tempe, Western Illinois University and his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology, Fresno California campus.

*For Curriculum Vitae, please contact our main office:

Phone: (626) 415-0032 Email: info@forensicmedgroup.com