Forensic Psychiatry Expert Witness in Indiana

A forensic psychiatry expert witness is a psychiatrist who evaluates a person's mental state for a legal question and explains the findings to a court in a written report and testimony. Dr. Sanya Virani is a triple board-certified forensic and addiction psychiatrist in Indianapolis who serves plaintiff and defense attorneys, prosecutors, courts and licensing boards in Indiana and in other states.

Why attorneys retain Dr. Virani

  • Triple board certification (ABPN): general, forensic and addiction psychiatry. Few experts hold all three, which matters in the many cases where alcohol or drug use is central.
  • Forensic fellowship at Brown University and addiction fellowship at Yale.
  • Court-appointed forensic evaluator for criminal cases in Marion County Superior Court.
  • Academic standing: Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Indiana University School of Medicine, member of the APA Council on Psychiatry and Law, and Vice Chair of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law (AAPL) Early Career Psychiatrists Committee.
  • Teaching on testimony itself: grand rounds on psychiatric malpractice and expert witness testimony, and mock-trial training for forensic fellows.

Civil matters

  • Emotional distress and psychiatric injury (personal injury)
  • Psychiatric malpractice and standard-of-care review
  • Psychiatric disability and workers' compensation
  • Fitness for duty and professional conduct review
  • Testamentary capacity and undue influence
  • Guardianship and capacity to make decisions
  • Immigration and asylum evaluations
  • Human trafficking and sexual harassment evaluations

Criminal matters

  • Competency to stand trial
  • Criminal responsibility (insanity defense)
  • Sentencing mitigation, including the role of addiction
  • Risk and recidivism assessment
  • Juvenile evaluations
  • Intoxication, withdrawal and substance-induced psychosis at the time of an offense

How an engagement works

  1. Conflict check and intro call. A free 15-minute call to confirm fit, scope and deadlines.
  2. Retention. Engagement letter and retainer; hourly rate of $475.
  3. Records review. Medical, psychiatric, treatment, legal and collateral records.
  4. Evaluation. In-person or video interview, structured instruments and collateral interviews as needed.
  5. Opinion. Verbal findings first, then a written report if requested.
  6. Testimony. Deposition and trial testimony, in person or remote.

What a strong forensic report includes

A useful report answers the legal question that was asked, in plain language a judge or jury can follow. Dr. Virani's reports state the referral questions, list every source of information reviewed, describe the examination and any testing, explain the diagnosis using current DSM criteria, and then connect the clinical findings to the legal standard that applies. Limitations, such as missing records or an examinee who declined to participate, are stated openly rather than buried.

Addiction questions in litigation

Alcohol and drug use comes up in a large share of civil and criminal cases: impaired professionals, intoxication at the time of an offense, overdose deaths, malpractice involving controlled substances, and claims that a workplace event caused relapse. Board certification in addiction psychiatry lets Dr. Virani address toxicology, tolerance, withdrawal, substance-induced psychiatric symptoms and prognosis without a second expert.

About Dr. Virani

Dr. Sanya Virani, MD, MPH, FAPA, is triple board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in general psychiatry, forensic psychiatry and addiction psychiatry. She completed her forensic psychiatry fellowship at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and her addiction psychiatry fellowship at Yale School of Medicine, and is Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Indiana University School of Medicine. Full credentials.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a forensic psychiatry expert witness cost?

Dr. Virani bills $475 per hour for records review, evaluation, report writing and testimony. Total cost depends on the volume of records and the scope of the questions; an estimate is given after the intro call.

Do you work for both plaintiffs and defendants?

Yes. Dr. Virani accepts retention from plaintiff and defense counsel, prosecutors and courts. Her opinion follows the evidence regardless of who retains her.

Can you testify in states other than Indiana?

Yes. She has practiced in New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Washington and Indiana, and provides expert opinions in cases across the country. Licensure requirements for examinations vary by state and are confirmed at intake.

Do you handle cases involving drugs or alcohol?

Yes. As a board-certified addiction psychiatrist she regularly addresses intoxication, withdrawal, substance-induced psychosis, impairment at work and the role of addiction in sentencing.

How quickly can you give an opinion?

Timelines depend on records and scheduling. Expedited reviews are possible for detention hearings and court deadlines; raise the deadline during the intro call.

Request an evaluation

Attorneys, courts, employers and licensing boards can call (463) 282-7235, email sv@forensicsandaddiction.com, or book a free 15-minute intro call. Expert witness time is billed at $475 per hour. Evaluations are available in person in Indianapolis and Lakewood, WA, and by secure video where the jurisdiction allows.

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