Forensic Psychiatry Consultation and Expert Witness Services
Complex matters involving undue influence, mental and testamentary capacity, elder financial exploitation, coercion, consent, and vulnerability to manipulation.
Board-certified in psychiatry and fellowship-trained in forensic psychiatry and geriatric psychiatry, Dr. Blum has worked on more than 1,000 forensic matters in the United States and internationally.
Bennett Blum, MD helps attorneys identify the psychiatric questions that matter, determine what the evidence can support, locate missing records and witnesses, test case theories and alternative explanations, and evaluate opposing expert opinions.
Depending on the needs of the matter, his role may include confidential consultation, record review, discovery and deposition preparation, a written expert report, deposition testimony, or trial testimony.
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Undue Influence and Coercion
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Mental Capacity and Testamentary Capacity
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Geriatric Forensic Psychiatrist for Attorneys
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Litigation Consulting
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Elder Financial Exploitation and Undue Influence article
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Business, Financial, and Professional‑Misconduct Matters
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Prenuptial agreements and blended-family disputes
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Selected International and High‑Stakes Matters
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Articles and Resources
Why Bennett Blum, MD
Board-certified in psychiatry.
Fellowship-trained in forensic psychiatry and geriatric psychiatry.
More than 1,000 forensic matters.
U.S. Senate and international tribunal experience.
More than three decades involving capacity, undue influence, exploitation, coercion, and complex decision-making.
What is “Undue Influence” in Litigation?
Undue influence is a legal conclusion that may arise when excessive persuasion, coercion, deception, dependency, misuse of trust, or control of the decision environment compromises independent decision-making under the governing law. It is distinct from mental incapacity, although cognitive, psychiatric, medical, or functional impairment may increase vulnerability.
Dr. Bennett Blum specializes in identifying and explaining how undue influence develops, how it affects victims, and how it can be proven or disproven in legal settings.
Selected Testimonials
"He has developed an innovative and useful model to identify cases of undue influence.”
— Candace Heisler, Esq.
“Following an 8 day trial, the San Diego Superior Court judge ruled in our favor on all critical points, and he cited the testimony of Dr. Blum as being key to his decision.”
— D. Brian Reider, Esq.
More of Dr. Blum’s background may be found on the biography and testimonials pages.
Attorney Case Inquiries
Dr. Blum accepts a limited number of selected matters. Priority is given to cases that are complex, high-stakes, or likely to clarify important issues for a court, institution, family, or vulnerable population.
Attorneys may submit a non-confidential case inquiry through the Contact page. Do not send confidential materials, protected information, records, pleadings, discovery, or documents until conflicts have been checked and a written engagement agreement is in place.
Submitting an inquiry does not retain Dr. Blum, does not create a physician-patient relationship, does not create an expert-consultant relationship, and does not preclude Dr. Blum from being retained by another party unless and until a written engagement agreement is signed.