Forensic Clinical Toxicologist Expert Witness

Education

2010, Certificate in Forensic Toxicology, University of Florida, Gainsville, Florida

1983, Completed courses in Toxicology, University of California

1982, Completed one year of graduate courses in Chemistry. Teaching assistant for two semesters. University of San Francisco

1976, B.A. Chemistry, Indiana University, South Bend, South Bend, IN

Licenses

2001, Forensic Alcohol Supervisor, State of California, Dept. of Health Services

2000, Forensic Alcohol Analyst, State of California, Dept. of Health Services

1981, California Toxicologist Scientist License

2020    Nevada State Specialty Technologist-Chemistry/Toxicologist

Board Certifications

2022    ASCP Technologist in Chemistry

2002    National Registry of Certified Chemists (certified as a Toxicological Chemist)

Testimony Experience

Qualified as an expert witness in regard to forensic blood alcohol analysis and interpretation. Also have testified on drugs of abuse and prescription drugs in blood and urine. Have testified over 132 times in Municipal and Superior Courts in Los Angeles, Orange County, Imperial, Alameda, San Diego, San Bernardino, and Ventura Counties in California, and in Clark County Nevada. Testified also in DMV hearings for DUI cases in California.

Specialized Training

2021 Interpretation of Forensic Toxicology Results Around the Globe and Into the Future
2021 JAT Article: Smoked Cannabis Psychomotor and Neurocognitive Effects in Occasional and Frequent Smokers
2021 Investigation & Certification of Drug Toxicity Deaths in Todays Drug Environment Module II
2021 Investigation & Certification of Drug Toxicity Deaths in Todays Drug Environment Module I
2020 SOFTember Workshop 2:Cannabis Impaired Driving
2020 SOFTember Workshop 3: GC-MS and LC-MS/MS Method Development
2018 November Bi-Annual Meeting and “Interpretation ,Identification, and Improvement Workshop
2017 November CAT Meeting Day 1&2 Full House of Tox
2017 May CAT Meeting Day 2 CAT General Session
2017 May CAT Meeting Day 1 Future Looks Green
2016 November CAT Meeting Day 2 Current Challenges in Toxicology
2016 November CAT Meeting Day 1 Current Challenges in Toxicology
2014 November CAT Meeting Day 1 Alcohol Workshop
2014 November CAT Meeting Day 2 Alcohol and Other Drugs
2012 May CAT Semi Quarterly Meeting and All Things Cannabis Workshop
2011 May CAT Semi Quarterly Meeting and the Future of Drug Abuse/Designer Drugs Workshop
2011 November CAT Semi Quarterly Meeting and Forensic Alcohol Workshop 2010 May CAT Semi-Quarterly Meeting and Sleep and DUI Workshop
2010 November CAT Quarterly Meeting Under the Influence of Drug(s), Says Who?
2009 The Zzzz Drugs-From Analysis to Interpretation, RTI, online course
2009 Fundamentals of LC/MS/MS-RTI online courses
2008 National Traffic Highway Safety Administration(NHSTA)/IACP Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Practitioner Course, Walden Platt&Associates, Dallas, Texas
2008 National Traffic Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA)/International Chiefs of Police (IACP) Drug Evaluation and Classification program (DECP) Course Overview, Walden Platt&Associates, Austin Texas
2008 California Association of Toxicologists, Workshop: Field Sobriety Testing, Prescription Drugs, and DUI, Los Angeles, California
2008 Society of Forensic Toxicologists Workshop on Critical Flicker Fusion Confusion, Phoenix, Arizona
2008 Society of Forensic Toxicologists Workshop on Phamacogenomics For Dummies, Phoenix, Arizona
2007 The International Association of Toxicologists (TIAFT), Symposium VI: Legal Blood Concentration Limits for Driving Under the Influence of Non-Alcohol Drugs.
2007 Society of Forensic Toxicologists on Beyond Herbals: The Toxicology of Plants, Raleigh, North Carolina
2007 Society of Forensic Toxicologists on Toxicological Analysis of Drug-Facilitated Crimes for Dummies and Smarties, Too, Raleigh, North Carolina
2007 Training on Alco Sensor IV/RBT with printer, Intoximeters, Spokane Washington, (Received B.A.T. Breath Alcohol Technician Certificate)
2006 Society of Forensic Toxicologists Workshop on Standardized Field Sobriety Tests- Principles and Practice.
2006 Robert Borkenstein Course on the Effects of Drugs on Human Performance and Behavior, Bloomington Campus, Bloomington, In
2005 Society of Forensic Toxicologists Workshop on Case Studies in DUID (Numbers, Signs, Symptoms and Beyond) two day workshop, Nashville, Tennessee
2004 Robert F. Borkenstein Course on Alcohol and Highway Safety: Testing, Research and Litigation, Indiana University, Bloomington Campus, Bloomington, IN
2004 FBI Laboratory Symposium on Forensic Toxicology in Washington, D.C. (SOFT conference)
2003 Hosted California Association of Toxicologists Quarterly Meeting in November on Drugs and Driving
2001 Society of Forensic Toxicologists Workshop Urine testing and Human Performance, New Orleans, Louisiana
2001 Society of Forensic Toxicologists Workshop, Voodoo, Does This Practice use Toxins?
2001 Society of Forensic Toxicologists Workshop on The Impact of Daubert Joiner, Kumho on Testifying as a Forensic Toxicologist, New Orleans, Louisiana
2000 Forensic Alcohol Supervisor Course, California Criminalistics Institute. Five-day course including a drinking study covering areas of forensic alcohol involving Title 17 laws, pharmacokinetics, absorption, distribution, and tolerance. Hands-on experience using breath alcohol instruments.
2000 Forensic Toxicology Extension Course, California State University Fullerton. Two-day course covering questions a forensic toxicologist can answer, demonstrations of drug kits for testing saliva and sweat, and an overview of forensic toxicology. Hands-on experience in calculations of alcohol and drugs in blood, and performing case reviews for forensic alcohols and drugs of abuse.

•Calculation of Drug or Alcohol dose in the body
•Alcohol Effects On Driving
•Clinical Toxicology
•Drugs and Driving
•Forensic Toxicology(Post-mortem, human performance ,DUI, murder, sexual assault, workplace drug testing)
•Toxicology laboratory testing and interpretation of prescription drugs and drugs of abuse
•Zolpidem(Ambien) and Driving Standardized Field Sobriety Tests

Workplace Drug testing regulations by SAMHSA
Methamphetamine, Cocaine, PCP ,Marijuana, Opiates, Prescription Drugs On Driving Performance Enhancing Drugs (reviewing lab reports and instrument data, chain of custody,and observation of B sample at Olympic Drug testing laboratory)

Professional Experience

3/95-present Toxicology Supervisor
Clinical Toxicology/Special Chemistry Dept., Quest Diagnostics, Inc., West Hills, CA Supervise the swing and graveyard shifts. Responsible for production, employees, and other administrative duties. Also perform validations for new instruments such as Olympus 640 and 680.
Perform analysis of drugs and metabolites in biological fluids utilizing GC/MS, GC,ICPMS, and immunoassay including ElA.

2006- present Private Company & Associates LLC, Porter Ranch, California

• I perform consulting and expert witness duties in Forensic toxicology for attorneys.
• Experienced in alcohol, drugs of abuse, and prescription drugs to determine the effects on human performance and behaviors in cases involving drugs in DUI, custody(family law),wrongful death, sexual assault, and employment cases.
• I provide an assessment of each civil or criminal case after reviewing the case materials in order to enable clients (attorneys) to make informed decisions about their case.

12/08-07/21/18 Pacific Toxicology Laboratories, Chatsworth, CA
Certifying Scientist and Forensic Toxicologist. Analyze forensic blood alcohols and solid dose narcotic drugs. Also certify drugs results for pain management. Perform hair collection from patients with interpretation of the reports.

12/99-3/2000 Pacific Toxicology Laboratories, Chatsworth, CA Certifying Scientist
Certified positive and negative drug screen results in a SAMSHA laboratory.

3/2000-5/05 Supervisor of Forensic Toxicology (a division of Pacific Toxicology Laboratories) Forensic Toxicology Associates, Chatsworth, CA
Supervised and performed forensic toxicological analyses: forensic blood alcohols, under Title 17 regulations, and narcotics analyses, (qualitative and quantitative). Current Forensic Alcohol Supervisor under Title 17 Regulations by the California Department of Health. Performed urine screening for drugs by immunoassay using the HITACHI 717 and confirmation by GC/MS. Performed screening of drugs in the blood. Maintained GC, GC/MS instruments. Assisted in supervision of laboratory assistants. Analyzed pills, powders, unknown liquids, and many other items for traces of drugs. Assisted lawyers in preparing for cases. Testified in court for alcohols and narcotics. Performed reweighs of drugs at crime laboratories and Forensic Toxicology Associates.

4/95-6/95 Toxicologist
Special Chemistry Department, Specialty Laboratories, Santa Monica, CA Trained on the ICPMS, and analyzed trace and heavy metals including selenium, arsenic, lead, cadmium, copper, and zinc in blood samples.

12/91-12/01 Toxicologist
Kaiser Permanente Regional Lab, North Hollywood, CA
Performed analysis of drugs and metabolites in biological fluids, utilizing GC, GC/MS, HPLC, spectrophotometry, and immunoassay. Used turbochrom software for GC and HPLC. Maintained and troubleshot analytical instrumentation used. Worked as a team member with other sections and functioned as the nighttime Safety Officer.
10/94-3/95 Consultant
ANSYS Inc., Laguna Hills, CA
Involved with training and technical support for clients. Maintained client business and research and development in thin layer chromatography and solid phase extraction

9/90-9/94 Supervisor of Clinical and Forensic Toxicology Damon Reference Laboratory, Newbury Park, CA
Responsible for maintenance of all laboratory equipment within the department and supervision of 30 employees in the forensic and clinical toxicology laboratory. Served on the Quality Assurance Committee. Wrote Standard Operation Procedures (more than 50). Prepared all assay validations for all new procedures. Acquired many computer skills related to new instrumentation software. Worked closely with the technical manager of chemistry and toxicology and was involved with in-service training of employees. Performed research and setup procedures in GC/MS, GC, HPLC, and immunoassay. Prepared monthly reports on quality control and assurance, resolved problems, prepared departmental budgets, and provided information for contract associations. Testified in court as required. Analyzed solid dose narcotics.

9/85-9/90 Supervisor of Clinical and Forensic Toxicology MetWest/BPL Toxicology Laboratories, Tarzana, CA
Responsible for supervision of 20 employees in the forensic and clinical laboratory. Performed research and setup procedures in GC, GC/MS, HPLC, RIA, and immunoassay. Wrote all Standard Operating Procedures and prepared all assay validations. Responsible for maintaining and troubleshooting all HPLC’s, GC/MS, GC, spectrophotometers, and immunoassay equipment. Demonstrated strong problem solving abilities. Acquired laboratory automation experience. Maintained all required documentation for compliance with regulation for State and Federal codes. Acted as Safety Officer and implemented all training and instructions for safe disposal of waste. Resolved technical problems and prepared departmental budgets. Performed forensic analyses on unknown samples, powders, blood and urine alcohols, and some tissues. Testified in court as required. Analyzed solid dose narcotics.

3/81-3/85 Toxicologist
Smith Kline-Bio Science, Woodland Hills, CA
Performed clinical analyses on emergency drug screens and therapeutic drug monitoring in biological fluids, utilizing GC, HPLC, immunoassay, RIA, and TLC.

3/78-3/81 Forensic Toxicologist
County Coroners Laboratory, Associates in Lab Medicine, Tucson, AZ
Responsibilities included analysis of biological fluids and tissues for drugs using GC, TLC, UV- VIS, and RIA. Received one year of company training in postmortem toxicology and 2 years clinical training. Held forensic alcohol license and testified in court.

Professional Memberships

2000 – Present, Society of Forensic Toxicologists

1981 – Present, California Association of Toxicologists