Indiana Law Update Blog - Price Waicukauski & Riley Legal Blog

Psychologist Not Qualified to Give Expert Opinion on Causation of a Brain Injury

August 13, 2010

Today, the Indiana Court of Appeals issued an opinion in Bennett v. Richmond, 932 N.E.2d 704 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010), Case No. 20A03-0906-CV-285, which held that a trial court had abused its discretion when it allowed a psychologist to provide an expert opinion on whether a motor vehicle accident caused a brain injury. While stating that testimony of a medical doctor is not strictly necessary, the psychologist had not demonstrated the requisite expertise.

more..

less..
In this case, a man was rear-ended while driving a van. As a result of that collision, Richmond sustained injuries to his neck and back, so he brought suit against the other driver. Pursuant to a referral by his attorney, the plaintiff underwent a neuropsychological evaluation with a psychologist "to determine the presence and possible degree of disability associated with a closed head injury sustained in an automobile accident." The psychologist concluded, inter alia, that "the accident produced the brain injury." The defendant moved to strike the psychologist's testimony because he was not competent to testify regarding medical diagnosis. The trial court denied this motion after a hearing and allowed the psychologist to testify on these issues at trial over objection. The defendant appealed.

On appeal, the Court noted that the medical cause of a brain injury "is generally exclusively within the purview of medical doctors." While the Court refused to hold that a psychologist is per se unqualified to give such testimony, it held that this particular psychologist had not demonstrated that he is qualified to opine on causation in this case.

Dr. McCabe testified only that, in his professional continuing education courses, he has "touched on subjects that relate to evaluation of traumatic brain injuries" and that he has received referrals from two Elkhart neurologists. We hold that the trial court abused its discretion when it permitted Dr. McCabe to testify that Richmond sustained a brain injury as a result of the accident with Bennett. ...

While, generally speaking, Dr. McCabe demonstrated that he would have been qualified to opine that Richmond's test results indicate that he has sustained a brain injury from an unknown cause, absent qualifications in determining the etiology of brain injuries, Dr. McCabe's testimony went too far in identifying the May 2004 accident as the cause of Richmond's alleged brain injury.

The Court then went on hold that the psychologist's testimony had no probative value.

At trial, Dr. McCabe presented a video explaining how even a minor whiplash injury can result in brain damage. But Dr. McCabe did not testify regarding the mechanics of the vehicular accident in this case to demonstrate how the impact might have resulted in Richmond's brain damage. For instance, Dr. McCabe did not describe the speed or force of the impact of the collision between the vehicles.

Instead, Dr. McCabe offered a simple inferential analysis of the cause of Richmond's alleged brain injury based upon Richmond's lack of any history of memory loss, cognitive dysfunction, headaches, or other symptoms prior to the May 2004 accident. Dr. McCabe testified that "[g]iven the absence of any of the symptoms of this condition prior to the accident, either in his report, the medical record, or the observations of his wife, it seems evident that the accident produced the brain injury." His opinion was not based on clinical medical evidence of the alleged injury. Under the circumstances, his opinion is "nothing more than 'subjective belief' and 'unsupported speculation' which is not the proper subject of expert testimony under Daubert[.]"

The first part of this decision will be helpful to members of the bar generally, because it clarifies that an expert who is not a doctor will only be competent to testify regarding the causation of most medical conditions if that expert can show qualifications in determining the etiology of the particular medical condition in question. However, it is the Court's holding that the psychologist's testimony had no probative value that is likely to be affect litigation more. Defendants in personal injury cases will use this case to argue that no expert can testify on issues of causation of an injury unless that person has the requisite medical qualifications and can provide more than an inferential analysis of the cause of the injury. While the opinion gives room for plaintiffs to dispute this argument, it will have an effect on the value of any particular personal injury claim going forward.

Lessons:

An expert must have qualifications in determining the etiology of an injury in order to provide an opinion on the causation of that injury.
An expert must base an opinion on the causation of a physical injury on more than an inferential analysis.

Brad A. Catlin
Price Waicukauski & Riley, LLC
Learn more about Brad and contact us
Download a copy of this article here

TAG IN Court of Appeals, Medical Causation

Trackback Address :: http://www.indianalawupdate.com/trackback/48

Tracked from the real l word DELETE
Subject: the real l word
real housewives of orange county <a href="http://www.johannzarco.com/nlreal-housewives-of-orange-county.html">real housewives of orange county</a> biology <a href="http://home-basedbusiness-online.com/ccbiology/">biology</a>

Tracked from mila kunis DELETE
Subject: mila kunis
mila kunis http://hunkythumbs.com/thumbs/page.php?k=mila-kunis mila kunis

Tracked from mark jackson DELETE
Subject: mark jackson
bobby fischer http://benderbot.net/jgbobby-fischer.html bobby fischer

Tracked from bubba starling DELETE
Subject: bubba starling
ernest hemingway <a href="http://blog.cottinghamchalk.net/gsernest-hemingway">ernest hemingway</a> steve jobs health <a href="http://smarmycow.com/rdsteve-jobs-health">steve jobs health</a>

Tracked from emily maynard DELETE
Subject: emily maynard
george stephanopoulos <a href="http://kokweiliang.com/mwgeorge-stephanopoulos">george stephanopoulos</a> mark jackson <a href="http://creativno.net/svmark-jackson/">mark jackson</a>

Tracked from ernest hemingway DELETE
Subject: ernest hemingway
rep weiner <a href="http://koghi.com/qlrep-weiner">rep weiner</a> katie couric <a href="http://www.johannzarco.com/nlkatie-couric.html">katie couric</a>

Tracked from emily maynard DELETE
Subject: emily maynard
horton <a href="http://organicmarketpages.com/jfhorton.html">horton</a> icloud <a href="http://ibuyitunesyoutubeyahoomyspaceisfacebookgooglemelive.com/zmicloud.html">icloud</a>

Tracked from bubba starling DELETE
Subject: bubba starling
steve jobs health <a href="http://democraticconventionboston.com/sqsteve-jobs-health.html">steve jobs health</a> paul revere <a href="http://symbiosisdev.com/phpaul-revere">paul revere</a>

Tracked from rep weiner DELETE
Subject: rep weiner
ernest hemingway <a href="http://manosmriti.net/qcernest-hemingway">ernest hemingway</a> bobby fischer <a href="http://mov.eecssh.com/rxbobby-fischer.html">bobby fischer</a>

Tracked from bioshock infinite DELETE
Subject: bioshock infinite
mark jackson <a href="http://jsiegal.com/szmark-jackson">mark jackson</a> paul revere <a href="http://manosmriti.net/qcpaul-revere">paul revere</a>

Tracked from bioshock infinite DELETE
Subject: bioshock infinite
sign language <a href="http://lolcartoons.com/vgsign-language">sign language</a> horton <a href="http://buysalviasmoke.com/wchorton.html">horton</a>

Tracked from steve jobs health DELETE
Subject: steve jobs health
katie couric <a href="http://kokweiliang.com/mwkatie-couric">katie couric</a> bobby fischer <a href="http://partnerchurches.com/ktbobby-fischer.html">bobby fischer</a>

Tracked from emily maynard DELETE
Subject: emily maynard
discovery channel <a href="http://kokweiliang.com/mwdiscovery-channel">discovery channel</a> congressman weiner <a href="http://debbi.vandfam.net/vqcongressman-weiner/">congressman weiner</a>

Tracked from sign language DELETE
Subject: sign language
horton <a href="http://www.nedvishimost.de/kbhorton/">horton</a> paul revere <a href="http://www.findingmacedonia.com/ndpaul-revere/">paul revere</a> lenny dykstra <a href="http://www.dikkebueno.com/rrlenny-dykstra/">lenny dykstra</a>

Tracked from discovery channel DELETE
Subject: discovery channel
nintendo 3ds <a href="http://www.foodchaincollective.com/wrnintendo-3ds/">nintendo 3ds</a> sign language <a href="http://www.wavesandwoods.com/ddsign-language/">sign language</a> nintendo 3ds <a href="http://marylandweightlosssurgery.com/wbnintendo-3ds/..

Tracked from sign language DELETE
Subject: sign language
mark jackson <a href="http://blog.mobida2.com/vmmark-jackson/">mark jackson</a> katie couric <a href="http://www.liamandnish.co.uk/mbkatie-couric/">katie couric</a> discovery channel <a href="http://www.natural-allergy-relief.net/fldiscovery-channel/">d..

Tracked from andrew breitbart DELETE
Subject: andrew breitbart
paul revere <a href="http://conceptcloud.net/dcpaul-revere/">paul revere</a> icloud <a href="http://www.kirbanu.com/website/wp-content/page.php?k=icloud">icloud</a> horton <a href="http://eyesiteinteractive.com/hphorton/">horton</a>

Tracked from discovery channel DELETE
Subject: discovery channel
bobby fischer <a href="http://cinderellassecret.com/wmbobby-fischer/">bobby fischer</a> horton <a href="http://www.foodchaincollective.com/wrhorton/">horton</a> mark jackson <a href="http://www.bungeeoptions.com/BinaryoptionsGuide/joomla/page.php?k=mark..

Tracked from literature DELETE
Subject: literature
mark jackson <a href="http://pixieplasma.com/qxmark-jackson.html">mark jackson</a> technology <a href="http://backtoschoolbeliefs.com/pwtechnology.html">technology</a>

Tracked from literature DELETE
Subject: literature
mlb draft <a href="http://brog.btox.net/pjmlb-draft">mlb draft</a> lauryn hill <a href="http://www.dangary.com/fplauryn-hill.html">lauryn hill</a>

Tracked from entrepreneur DELETE
Subject: entrepreneur
mark jackson <a href="http://buysalviasmoke.com/wcmark-jackson.html">mark jackson</a> circulatory system <a href="http://home-basedbusiness-online.com/cccirculatory-system/">circulatory system</a>

Tracked from literature DELETE
Subject: literature
mark jackson <a href="http://benderbot.net/jgmark-jackson.html">mark jackson</a> scientific method <a href="http://swing-golfer.com/btscientific-method/">scientific method</a>

Tracked from technology DELETE
Subject: technology
entrepreneur <a href="http://kokweiliang.com/mwentrepreneur">entrepreneur</a> health <a href="http://rwman.com/tchealth.html">health</a>

Tracked from circulatory system DELETE
Subject: circulatory system
apple cloud <a href="http://democraticconventionboston.com/sqapple-cloud.html">apple cloud</a> economics <a href="http://buysalviasmoke.com/wceconomics.html">economics</a>

Tracked from history DELETE
Subject: history
human centipede <a href="http://buyingsalviadivinorum.com/xqhuman-centipede/">human centipede</a> apple cloud <a href="http://kokweiliang.com/mwapple-cloud">apple cloud</a>

Tracked from mlb draft DELETE
Subject: mlb draft
psychology <a href="http://home-basedbusiness-online.com/ccpsychology/">psychology</a> circulatory system <a href="http://letschangetheworld.info/jccirculatory-system.html">circulatory system</a>

Tracked from os x lion DELETE
Subject: os x lion
entrepreneur <a href="http://ibuyitunesyoutubeyahoomyspaceisfacebookgooglemelive.com/zmentrepreneur.html">entrepreneur</a> psychology <a href="http://blog.brandhomework.com/blpsychology.html">psychology</a>

Tracked from circulatory system DELETE
Subject: circulatory system
scientific method <a href="http://awaoawa.com/wtscientific-method">scientific method</a> technology <a href="http://www.weddingspeechesandmore.com/fktechnology">technology</a>

Tracked from wesley snipes DELETE
Subject: wesley snipes
scientific method <a href="http://www.laking.net/phscientific-method/">scientific method</a> scientific method <a href="http://www.ecommerceshare.com/rjscientific-method/">scientific method</a> circulatory system <a href="http://www.tigercrossing.com/hn..

Tracked from entrepreneur DELETE
Subject: entrepreneur
scientific method <a href="http://mikeofthethomas.com/tbscientific-method/">scientific method</a> apple cloud <a href="http://cxc.devise.it/gpapple-cloud/">apple cloud</a> circulatory system <a href="http://www.gilatravel.info/plcirculatory-system/">cir..

Tracked from scientific method DELETE
Subject: scientific method
mark jackson <a href="http://www.spendingless.org/wp-content/themes/page.php?k=mark-jackson">mark jackson</a> circulatory system <a href="http://www.baggingrights.com/rkcirculatory-system/">circulatory system</a> scientific method <a href="http://ericno..

Tracked from psychology DELETE
Subject: psychology
circulatory system <a href="http://www.skitaonica.com/nscirculatory-system/">circulatory system</a> os x lion <a href="http://www.elizenijenhuis.com/dbos-x-lion/">os x lion</a> circulatory system <a href="http://dumbpeeps.com/vzcirculatory-system/">circ..

Tracked from justin timberlake and mila kunis DELETE
Subject: justin timberlake and mila kunis
science <a href="http://www.elizenijenhuis.com/dbscience/">science</a> psychology <a href="http://2x1mastermind.com/cjpsychology/">psychology</a> economics <a href="http://www.houseandgardensma.com/xqeconomics/">economics</a>

Tracked from piper perabo DELETE
Subject: piper perabo
human centipede <a href="http://bearded-dragon.info/xdhuman-centipede/">human centipede</a> science <a href="http://rockmasoul.com/wordpress/wp-content/page.php?k=science">science</a> human centipede <a href="http://www.dikkebueno.com/rrhuman-centipede/..

Tracked from piper perabo DELETE
Subject: piper perabo
health <a href="http://www.semanticscoaching.com/kwhealth/">health</a> scientific method <a href="http://rockmasoul.com/wordpress/wp-content/page.php?k=scientific-method">scientific method</a> apple cloud <a href="http://www.elizenijenhuis.com/dbapple-c..

Tracked from entrepreneur DELETE
Subject: entrepreneur
justin timberlake and mila kunis <a href="http://www.greek-pc.com/gfjustin-timberlake-and-mila-kunis/">justin timberlake and mila kunis</a> lenny dykstra <a href="http://notnecessarilynews.com/kzlenny-dykstra/">lenny dykstra</a> entrepreneur <a href="ht..

Tracked from economics DELETE
Subject: economics
science <a href="http://www.nedvishimost.de/kbscience/">science</a> wesley snipes <a href="http://www.burillominielli.com/twwesley-snipes/">wesley snipes</a> shavuot <a href="http://games.stressphobia.com/thshavuot/">shavuot</a>

Tracked from circulatory system DELETE
Subject: circulatory system
wesley snipes <a href="http://www.punkrocktoday.com/C:\xampp\htdocs\punkrocktoday.com/wp-content/page.php?k=wesley-snipes">wesley snipes</a> wesley snipes <a href="http://jamesrabe.com/fkwesley-snipes/">wesley snipes</a> shavuot <a href="http://katrinhi..

Tracked from printable dog clip art DELETE
Subject: printable dog clip art
free printable hand signing sheets <a href="http://rexva.net.ua/lib/adodb_lite/page.php?k=free-printable-hand-signing-sheets">free printable hand signing sheets</a> free printable mini books kindergarten <a href="http://quickwebsetup.com/jqfree-printabl..

Tracked from printable biome word search DELETE
Subject: printable biome word search
printable bible activities 8th grade <a href="http://www.en1176.org/pkprintable-bible-activities-8th-grade/">printable bible activities 8th grade</a> free holiday printable word searches <a href="http://svoy-dom-za-10000.ru/csfree-holiday-printable-word..

Tracked from transformers invitations birthday printable DELETE
Subject: transformers invitations birthday printable
printable blank grade pages <a href="http://www.eventforschung.com/rkprintable-blank-grade-pages/">printable blank grade pages</a> june 2008 printable calendar <a href="http://plush-mir.ru/brjune-2008-printable-calendar/">june 2008 printable calendar</a>

Tracked from free printable medicine wheel DELETE
Subject: free printable medicine wheel
quick book report printable <a href="http://www.bwl-handball.de/ctquick-book-report-printable/">quick book report printable</a> carol christmas music printable sheet <a href="http://www.heavenathome.biz/vccarol-christmas-music-printable-sheet/">carol ch..

Tracked from k-2 human body printables DELETE
Subject: k-2 human body printables
printable computer test for kids <a href="http://www.fojavi.com/blprintable-computer-test-for-kids/">printable computer test for kids</a> palmer's cocoa butter printable coupons <a href="http://kleidermarkt.zarpen.de/tmp/templates_c/page.php?k=palmer's-..

Tracked from transformers printable coloring book pages DELETE
Subject: transformers printable coloring book pages
online printable lease agreements <a href="http://peterhowe.com/uploads/NCleanBlue/page.php?k=online-printable-lease-agreements">online printable lease agreements</a> black and white easter printables <a href="http://tafeweb.com/fsblack-and-white-easter..

Tracked from free printable dog breed pages DELETE
Subject: free printable dog breed pages
printable celtic knot graph paper <a href="http://tafeweb.com/fsprintable-celtic-knot-graph-paper/">printable celtic knot graph paper</a> palmer's cocoa butter printable coupons <a href="http://toptelecom.org/wlpalmer's-cocoa-butter-printable-coupons/">..

Tracked from free printable del monte coupons DELETE
Subject: free printable del monte coupons
tricia rennea printable calendar <a href="http://www.etmedia.org/bqtricia-rennea-printable-calendar/">tricia rennea printable calendar</a> free printable elementary reading passages <a href="http://petrasekjan.eu/htfree-printable-elementary-reading-pass..

Tracked from handwriting practice free printables DELETE
Subject: handwriting practice free printables
birthday free gift printable tag <a href="http://www.poljskidom.hr/tgbirthday-free-gift-printable-tag/">birthday free gift printable tag</a> detective theme unit free printable <a href="http://www.akop.biz/tmp/templates_c/wp-page.php?k=detective-theme-u..

Tracked from printable basketball clip art DELETE
Subject: printable basketball clip art
toddler cut and paste printables <a href="http://www.winkelpand.net/tmp/configs/wp-page.php?k=toddler-cut-and-paste-printables">toddler cut and paste printables</a> chinese printable theme packet elementary <a href="http://www.cmsms.kluvers.net/xzchines..

Tracked from decorative exterior shutters wood DELETE
Subject: decorative exterior shutters wood
michelle mone pictures

Tracked from father of the bride 2 nursery room DELETE
Subject: father of the bride 2 nursery room
hosting plans comparison

Tracked from iphone sms icon png DELETE
Subject: iphone sms icon png
homemade valentine's cards with candy

Tracked from choice fm jenny francis DELETE
Subject: choice fm jenny francis
grey's anatomy wallpaper season 5

Tracked from human anatomy diagram organs DELETE
Subject: human anatomy diagram organs
alan jackson 2012 concert schedule

Tracked from recall outlook email message DELETE
Subject: recall outlook email message
beats by dre solo hd blue

Tracked from physical education equipment for kids DELETE
Subject: physical education equipment for kids
list of guest houses in islamabad

◀ PREV : [1] : .. [301] : [302] : [303] : [304] : [305] : [306] : [307] : [308] : [309] : .. [352] : NEXT ▶

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29	30	31

Psychologist Not Qualified to Give Expert Opinion on Causation of a Brain Injury

Subject: the real l word

Subject: mila kunis

Subject: mark jackson

Subject: bubba starling

Subject: emily maynard

Subject: ernest hemingway

Subject: emily maynard

Subject: bubba starling

Subject: rep weiner

Subject: bioshock infinite

Subject: bioshock infinite

Subject: steve jobs health

Subject: emily maynard

Subject: sign language

Subject: discovery channel

Subject: sign language

Subject: andrew breitbart

Subject: discovery channel

Subject: literature

Subject: literature

Subject: entrepreneur

Subject: literature

Subject: technology

Subject: circulatory system

Subject: history

Subject: mlb draft

Subject: os x lion

Subject: circulatory system

Subject: wesley snipes

Subject: entrepreneur

Subject: scientific method

Subject: psychology

Subject: justin timberlake and mila kunis

Subject: piper perabo

Subject: piper perabo

Subject: entrepreneur

Subject: economics

Subject: circulatory system

Subject: printable dog clip art

Subject: printable biome word search

Subject: transformers invitations birthday printable

Subject: free printable medicine wheel

Subject: k-2 human body printables

Subject: transformers printable coloring book pages

Subject: free printable dog breed pages

Subject: free printable del monte coupons

Subject: handwriting practice free printables

Subject: printable basketball clip art

Subject: decorative exterior shutters wood

Subject: father of the bride 2 nursery room

Subject: iphone sms icon png

Subject: choice fm jenny francis

Subject: human anatomy diagram organs

Subject: recall outlook email message

Subject: physical education equipment for kids

Indiana Law Update

Recent posts

Archive

Calender