About Adhia & Associates
Consultant and Expert Witness Forensic Psychiatrists
Attorneys can now access greater breadth and brain power in the psychiatry expert witness realm.
Juggling a complex case? Our boutique team approach makes life easier for the legal team, and our expert conclusions that much richer.
Dr. Adhia continues as the guiding force of our practice.
Dr. Adhia’s medical-legal work is complemented by clinical practice at nationally recognized TIRR Hermann Hospital, focusing on psychiatry and those with injuries or diseases of the brain, Dementia, Alzheimer’s, stroke, traumatic brain injury TBI, Concussion (mTBI), and spinal cord injuries. He is among fewer than 2 dozen Psychiatrists in the US who hold triple Board-Certification in Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry and Brain Injury Medicine.
New associate Kerry, Mendes, M.D. adds another layer: child and adolescent forensic assessment. Dr. Mendes treats adults, children, and adolescents at Houston Clinic Avenue 360. He is Board-Certified in Forensic Psychiatry and Fellowship trained in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. He conducts full evaluations, IMEs, and issues comprehensive reports and testimony.
Adhia & Associates, Principal Sanjay Adhia, MD
Dr. Adhia is founder and principal of Adhia & Associates. He is a Board-Certified Forensic Psychiatrist and Brain Injury Medicine subspecialist. He treats patients at TIRR Hermann and opines and testifies in legal cases nationally.
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Adhia & Associates is growing!
Kerry Mendes, M.D., is a Board-Certified Forensic Psychiatrist with additional training in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. He is a clinical Psychiatrist at Avenue 360. He also performs records review, IMEs, reports of his forensic findings, and testimony.
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KGOU Interview: Uvalde, Texas Elementary School Shooting
Dr. Adhia is a Houston Forensic Psychiatrist who has worked in capital homicide cases. He discusses alarming and alerting “planning behavior” by a mass shooter.
KHOU Houston interviews Dr. Adhia hours after the Uvalde, Texas, Robb Elementary School tragedy. May 25, 2022.
Our Services

Sanjay Adhia, M.D.
Founder and Principal
Topics for Lawyers
Emotional Distress Damages
Emotionally traumatic experiences are absorbed differently. Some are impacted, others “shake it off.” Trauma can result in a psychiatric condition, like PTSD, Depression, or Anxiety.
Brain Injuries and Dementia
TBI, concussion and dementia can be the result of disease or an injury such as a blow to the head.
Symptoms and outcome are viewed through a medical-legal lens in this article.
Medical Malpractice
Dr. Adhia discusses medical malpractice in allegations of breach of the standard of care, medical negligence and failure to follow protocol.
Competency
The legal concept of being “competent” varies. E.g.,
- Testamentary Capacity
- Contractual Competency
- Competency to Stand Trial
A forensic IME can take place after a person dies, e.g. a will contest. It is legally unique.
Drug or Alcohol Factors
Addiction or use of drugs, willing or unwilling, can factor in DUI, Probate and Criminal cases.
Mood Disorder vs. Personality Disorder: Legal Implications
Mood disorders include Depression and Bipolar Disorder.
Crime
Psychiatric culpability in the commission of a crime, CTST and restoration, discussed by an Expert Witness in criminal and corrections cases.
Fitness for Duty & Occupational Health
Emotional health and job performance assessment are discussed from a Forensic Psychiatrist’s perspective and experience.
On This Site
Dementia
Understand how dementia and brain disorders can impact thought processes and the medical-legal implications.
By Sanjay Adhia, MD
Multiple Plaintiff Cases, Mass Tort, Toxic Tort
Multiple plaintiffs may bring suit involving a single causal event, such as a chemical spill or exposure to a carcinogenic substance. Dr. Adhia discusses two recent cases: a toxic tort, and a serial sexual assault case.
By Sanjay Adhia, MD
What Is an IME?
A medico-legal Independent Medical Examination (IME) is different from a clinical exam. It is a structured interview to evaluate an examinee in light of a legal matter. The examinee is usually a plaintiff or defendant.
By Sanjay Adhia, MD
Brain Injuries Explained by a BIM Expert
Dr. Adhia, Board-Certified in Brain Injury Medicine and Forensic Psychiatry, discusses the nature of TBI, concussion and other mTBI injuries and their medicolegal relevance.
By Sanjay Adhia, MD
Consulting Expert: An Attorney’s Secret Weapon
A non-disclosed expert witness and forensic psychiatrist can be an excellent source of insight and information from the outset.
By Sanjay Adhia, MD
Can a Brain Injury Impact Criminal Behavior?
A crime is committed and a brain injury or disease is suspected: Medical-legal considerations and mens rea.
By Sanjay Adhia, MD
Date Rape Drugs: Psychiatry, Pharmacology and Law
Weaponized Chemistry: a Medicine Cabinet of Assault
DFSA is the use of drugs and/or alcohol by a sexual predator to render a victim incapacitated and unable to fight back against a sexual assault. Dr. Adhia discusses the psychopharmacology of these dangerous substances.
By Sanjay Adhia, MD
- Records Review Insider: A Doctor Deconstructs “Records Review”
- Fitness for Duty and Occupational Evaluations by a Psychiatrist
- Drug Testing: Interpretation by a Physician Who Is a Medical Review Officer (MRO)
- What’s the Difference Between a Psychiatrist and a Psychologist? Are They Interchangeable as an Expert Witness?
Jurisdictions, Venues
Occupational