Psychological Evaluation of Children in Personal Injury Lawsuits

A guide to evaluating minors in personal injury cases that describes the relevant legal framework, applicable psychological principles, and pertinent methodology.

This clear, comprehensive, and accessible resource provides readers with the essential knowledge and skills they need to become effective personal injury evaluators for cases involving minors. With a lens on the legal landscape, including tort law, legal issues particular to minors, general standards and rules, Jemour Maddux examines psychological principles that are foundational to minor evaluations including developmental psychology, child and adolescent psychopathology, malingering, and psychological responses to pain. Practical chapters offer procedural instructions concerning preparing for the evaluation, determining exam accommodations, conducting the assessment process, integrating culturally sensitive data into analyses, writing reports, and avoiding common ethical pitfalls. Injuries subsequent to child abuse, traumatic brain injury, and other medical injuries are highlighted.

Preface

Acknoweldgments

• Chapter 1. Introduction

Part I. Legal Framework

• Chapter 2. Legal Standards and Rules for Forensic Psychologists
• Chapter 3. Tort Law
• Chapter 4. Child Injury Law

Part II. Principles

• Chapter 5. Developmental Psychology for Litigated Harm
• Chapter 6. Child and Adolescent Mental Health
• Chapter 7. Injured Children and Malingering

Part III. Methods

• Chapter 8. Preparation
• Chapter 9. Assessment
• Chapter 10. Data Integration, Analysis, and Conclusions

References

About the Author

Jemour Maddux, PsyD, ABPP, is former chair of the APA Committee on Professional Practice and Standards. He co-developed APA guidelines for child custody evaluations and child protection evaluations, and he chaired development of APSAC's guidelines for evaluations regarding child maltreatment. A board-certified forensic psychologist, fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Psychology, and of APA, Maddux combines national policy authorship with courtroom experience, ABFP examination faculty service, and editorial leadership in forensic psychology. He trains, consults, and testifies nationwide across diverse legal contexts such as child protection, delinquency, (re-)sentencing, disputed confessions, matrimonial, and high-stakes civil litigation matters.

Psychological Evaluation of Children in Personal Injury Lawsuits fills a striking gap in the forensic literature by spelling out what competent child personal injury assessments actually require. Clinicians, attorneys, and courts alike will benefit from its thoughtful analysis of legal standards and its practical guidance for structuring evaluations that are rigorous, transparent, and useful.
—Eric G. Mart, PhD, ABPP (Forensic), private practice, Portsmouth, NH