Addiction Treatment Center and Suicide Expert

Specialties & Experience of this Expert Witness

Additional Information

John Puls is a licensed psychotherapist, Master's Certified Addiction Professional (MCAP), clinical social worker, and qualified expert witness based in Florida. He brings over a decade of direct clinical, administrative, and support staff experience across all levels of care in substance abuse and mental health treatment. This includes detoxification units, residential inpatient programs, partial hospitalization programs, outpatient services, crisis stabilization units, and Baker Act receiving facilities. Mr. Puls is recognized for his deep understanding of clinical best practices and standards of care in both mental health and addiction treatment settings. He has designed and implemented evidence-based programming for treatment centers, with a focus on aligning services with state and national standards, including the ASAM Criteria (American Society of Addiction Medicine) for determining appropriate levels of care in addiction treatment. He has been retained as an expert witness in a wide range of civil and criminal matters, including: - Cases involving suicide, overdose, and alleged breaches of the standard of care in addiction and mental health treatment facilities - Cases involving alleged sexual assault in addiction and mental health treatment programs - Standard of care cases involving LCSW (licensed clinical social workers - Marchman Act proceedings (both petitioner and respondent) - Baker Act matters involving involuntary psychiatric evaluations - Dram shop liability cases involving the complex “habitual addiction” exception under Florida law - Personal injury claims involving mental health or substance use - Family law cases with addiction or psychiatric considerations In dram shop litigation, Mr. Puls provides critical insight into the clinical realities of alcohol dependence, including whether a defendant met the legal criteria of “habitual addiction” and whether a vendor’s actions constituted knowing service under Florida law. Mr. Puls has also served as an expert in sexual assault cases occurring within addiction treatment and mental health facilities, providing critical analysis of facility protocols, supervision practices, staff training, and institutional responsibilities related to patient safety and vulnerability. His evaluations consider both regulatory standards and industry best practices, helping courts assess whether appropriate safeguards were in place to protect patients. His insight is especially valuable in determining whether systemic failures contributed to the occurrence or mishandling of sexual abuse within clinical settings. With extensive experience in both treatment and legal contexts, Mr. Puls offers clear, objective, and authoritative expert analysis in complex cases where mental health or addiction is at issue.