EXPERT OPINION, TESTIMONY and CONSULTATION

Mark Braverman, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist and management consultant.  He provides expert opinion in cases involving psychological impairment, injury, and threats and violence in the workplace.  He has provided opinion and testimony for both plaintiff and defendant bar regarding employer liability and issues of causality and responsibility in cases involving psychological injury stemming from accidents or allegedly injurious work environments and in cases related to allegations of violence or threat.  Dr. Braverman provides pre-litigation consultation for claims of psychological injury and alleged workplace violence.  He consults to corporations and to public agencies in matters of policy and employment practice, specializing in workplace stress resulting from organizational change, critical events, management practices, and application of policy.

Representative cases:

• Global Fortune 100 services company (for plaintiff):  Reviewed depositions and records related to charges of longstanding pattern of gender discrimination and overt sexual abuse leading to severe psychological damage brought by three female employee plaintiffs.  Provided written and videotaped testimony that led to successful settlement with claimants receiving monetary damages and defendant agreeing to institute significant personnel, procedural, and policy changes.  Case based on failure of Duty of Care and establishment of causality between psychological injury, specific actions of managers, and direct accountability of upper management.  Advised plaintiff on appropriate requirements for actions to be guaranteed by defendant as part of out-of-court settlement.
• Midsized manufacturing company (for defendant):  Trade Union contested employer’s suspension of employee for pattern of disruptive and threatening behavior and subsequent requirement of anger management treatment as condition of return to work following suspension.  Provided testimony at arbitration supporting employer’s claim that employee’s behavior created an unhealthy and hostile work environment and that discipline and requirement of treatment was reasonable.  Employer prevailed.
• Major newspaper publisher (for defendant):  Sued for wrongful termination by an employee who was suspended for allegedly threatening workplace violence and subsequently terminated for refusing to undergo an independent assessment of dangerousness required by the employer.  Provided expert testimony at arbitration hearing supporting employer’s decision to suspend and duty to require an examination to determine threat posed to the workplace.  Employer prevailed and termination was upheld.
•  Hotel chain (for defendant):  Reviewed depositions in a case involving claim of posttraumatic stress disorder related to alleged entrapment of guest in sauna.  Advised client and client’s counsel to settle.  Case successfully settled.