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From the record $640,000 jury verdict, with the jury crediting the expert testimony. Hunter v. City of Federal Way, W.D. Wash.
Retention $9,000 flat fee · discovery review and the written report Full case history Washington casework · The deepest state record Florida practice · Based in Naples For Retaining Counsel The Library · Guides for counsel
The practice The team · Three experts, over 110 years Professor Gregory Gilbertson (Ret.) Sheriff Robert Snaza · Independent consultant FBI Special Agent Christopher Holland (Ret.) · Independent consultant Law enforcement expert witness · What the discipline covers
Use of Force · Mental-Health & Crisis Encounters

Mental-Health &
Crisis Encounters

Direct line: (239) 571-1840  ·  GregoryGilbertson@proton.me

Attorney and law-firm inquiries only

When the call itself announces a person in crisis, the standards change before the first officer arrives. The analysis examines what dispatch conveyed, what crisis-intervention training the responding officers had actually received, and whether the tactics used — time, distance, cover, containment, and communication — reflected that training or abandoned it.

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The Scope

What this covers.

Within this engagement

  • Force used in encounters with a person in crisis
  • Crisis-intervention training and whether it was applied
  • De-escalation, time, distance and cover as tactics
  • Dispatch information and pre-arrival threat framing
  • Containment and slowing an encounter down
  • Requests for specialized or co-responder resources
  • Agency crisis-response policy and supervision
How it is analyzed

The 911 call and CAD narrative, radio traffic, body-worn video from first contact forward, crisis-intervention training records for each responding officer, the agency's crisis-response and de-escalation policies, and supervisory decisions on scene. Clinical questions about a person's diagnosis or condition belong to qualified mental-health professionals, and are deferred to them.

Engagement terms and the published fee schedule: For Retaining Counsel →

From the Library

Working references for this practice area.

Guides for retaining counsel, written from the same record this analysis reads.

De-EscalationDe-Escalation Standards: What They RequireRead the guideAsked OftenWhat Is CIT (Crisis Intervention Team) Training?Read the guideForce OptionsForce Options and Decision ModelsRead the guideThe StandardGraham v. Connor, Explained for LitigatorsRead the guideThe LensThe Totality of the Circumstances in Force AnalysisRead the guideThe StopThe Traffic Stop as Practiced: Approach, Commands and ControlRead the guide

The Library, in full

“He engaged with the jury and his testimony was solid. I recommend Professor Gilbertson in any case involving police misconduct.”
Patrick Trudell, Attorney at Law · Kirkland, WA
Questions

Before the record is sent.

Does this opinion diagnose the person in crisis?
No. The opinion addresses police practices — what the officers were told, what they were trained to do, and what they did. Any clinical question about a person's condition or diagnosis is for a qualified mental-health expert, and the report says so on the record.
What does retention cost?
A non-refundable $9,000 flat fee covering discovery review and the written expert report, with a bullet-point outline approved with counsel before writing begins. The full published schedule is on the For Counsel page.
Retain

Send a crisis-encounter record.

Attorney and law-firm inquiries only. Conflicts are checked before anything substantive, and you will hear about a conflict immediately.

Mental-health & crisis encounter inquiry

For counsel with a matter arising from an encounter with a person in crisis.

Inquiry sent.

You will hear back directly. If the matter is urgent, call (239) 571-1840.

(239) 571-1840Direct line, Naples, Florida GregoryGilbertson@proton.meDirect email, prefilled for this matter.
Nationwide practiceRetained in 42 states and D.C. · Based in Naples, FL

Conflicts are checked before any substantive discussion. Please do not send privileged material with a first inquiry; after retention the record is exchanged on physical media. Gregory consults for attorneys and their staff only, and does not provide legal advice or attorney referrals to individuals.

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