Steven H. Berger, MD
Forensic Psychiatry
Inquires are welcome only from Attorneys, Courts, Employers, or Insurance Companies.
All work can be done virtually or in person anywhere.
In order to contract for services, the following Service Agreement is used. After the blanks are filled in by Dr. Berger, it is sent to the retaining party for a signature.
Steven H. Berger, M.D.
1080 Cypress Parkway PMB # 150A, Kissimmee FL 34759-3328
Phone 765-414-1827
Answering Service 407-350-3268
Email SHBergerMD@Yahoo.Com
Website BergerForensic.ComService Agreement for Attorneys, Insurance Companies, and Employers
&Attorney's name and address goes here
Date: &
Re: &Case name goes here
Dear Attorney &Attorney's name goes here.
Thank you for referring your questions regarding the above named case to me for forensic psychiatry evaluation. I will be glad to render my professional services regarding this case.
Before I reserve time for this case, I ask that you send the signed service agreement signature page along with the retainer prepayment for the anticipated time to be devoted to this case. This retainer is not full payment. Instead, it is an escrow deposit to be applied to my bill. In the event that time devoted to this case exceeds the initial retainer amount, you will be invoiced for additional prepayment. Payment will be expected upon such invoicing. My intention is not to distrust you. My intention is to be paid for my time.
(Insurance companies may send payment after services are rendered, in response to my monthly invoice, but only if payment is guaranteed by a letter or the contract below. The letter or contract must be signed by an insurance company employee, or attorney, who has the authority to bind the insurance company.)
My fee is $500.00 per 60 minute hour for reviewing records, performing examinations, preparing reports, conferring with attorneys, travel time, testifying time, waiting time, or time spent in any other way on this specific case. Depositions and court appearances are scheduled for a half day (5 hours) or full day (10 hours). Overnight travel is billed at 12 hours per day flat rate.
Prepayment is expected 2 weeks before any scheduled event. If the prepayment is not received when expected, the appointment will be automatically cancelled. Full payment will be charged for appointments not kept, or not cancelled 48 hours in advance. The prepayment covering the first 2 hours of service is not refundable. After you notify me that the case is closed, I will promptly refund to you any remaining prepayment amount.
It is your responsibility to send me all relevant medical reports, depositions, investigation reports, photographs, and other helpful information prior to my examination of the examinee. For efficient use of my time, I recommend that you send all such records at least 2 weeks prior to a scheduled examination. For out-of-state evaluations or testimony, it is your responsibility to insure in advance that any licensing problems or conflicts about expert functions in that state have been satisfactorily resolved.
Please sign the attached service agreement for my services on this case and return it along with the initial prepayment amount. By signing this agreement, you agree to be responsible for payment for my time for all depositions and court time on this case. You also agree to promptly pay my invoices to you regardless of who the ultimate payer is. If the signed service contract and prepayment are not returned 2 weeks from the date of this letter, then my involvement in this case will stop, and my name may not be listed by you as a witness.
Thank you for allowing me to contract with you in this way. Please contact me any time you have questions or further information.
Respectfully submitted,
Steven H. Berger, M.D.
Board Certified in General Psychiatry and Forensic Psychiatry
Clinical Professor, Department Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University
of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine
Professor of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida
Last updated 1-15-24
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Steven H. Berger, M.D.
1080 Cypress Parkway PMB # 150A, Kissimmee FL 34759-3328
Phone 765-414-1827
Answering Service 407-350-3268
Email SHBergerMD@Yahoo.Com
Website BergerForensic.ComService Agreement for Attorneys, Insurance Companies, and Employers
& (Attorney’s name and address goes here)
Date &goes here
Re: &Case Name goes here .
Dear Attorney &’s name goes here:
As per your request, time has been reserved regarding the above-named case for:
__&____Review of records, estimated ___&___ hours.
__&____Evaluation of examinee scheduled for___&___.
__&____Preparation of report, estimated ___&___ hours.
__&____Deposition, estimated ___&___ hours.
scheduled for __________________________________
location _______________________________________
_______Court appearance on ____________________________
__&___Conference with attorney by phone or in person, travel time, or other time devoted specifically to this case, estimated __&____ hours.
__&___Other:___________________________________________
Please sign below, indicating your acceptance of this service agreement and the contractual provisions contained in this accompanying cover letter. Please keep a photocopy of this service agreement for your records. Please return these 2 pages to me with your retainer prepayment of:
$_&_____.
Thank you contracting for my services in this way.
Respectfully submitted,
Steven H. Berger, M.D.
Board Certified in General Psychiatry and Forensic Psychiatry
Clinical Professor, Department Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University
of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine
Contract accepted by:
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
Date:___________________________
Last updated 1-15-24
Service Agreement for Courts and Government Agencies
Steven H. Berger, M.D.
1080 Cypress Parkway PMB # 150A, Kissimmee FL 34759-3328
Phone 765-414-1827
Answering Service 407-350-3268
Email SHBergerMD@Yahoo.Com
Website BergerForensic.Com&Attorney's name and address goes here
Date: &
Re: &Case name goes here
Dear Attorney &Attorney's name goes here.
Thank you for referring your questions regarding the above named case to me for forensic psychiatry evaluation. I will be glad to render my professional services regarding this case.
Courts and governments may send payment after services are rendered, in response to my monthly invoice, but only if payment is guaranteed by (1) a court order that specifies the hourly rate, (2) the attached contract signed by a person who has the authority to bind the government, or (3) a letter agreeing to the terms of this service agreement, signed by a person who has the authority to bind the government. Payment will be expected upon such invoicing.
My fee is $500.00 per 60 minute hour for reviewing records, performing examinations, preparing reports, conferring with governments, travel time, testifying time, waiting time, or time spent in any other way on this specific case. Depositions and court appearances are scheduled for a half day (5 hours) or full day (10 hours). Full payment will be charged for appointments not kept, or not cancelled 48 hours in advance. Overnight travel is billed at 12 hours per day flat rate.
It is your responsibility to send me all relevant medical reports, depositions, investigation reports, photographs, and other helpful information prior to my examination of the examinee. For efficient use of my time, I recommend that you send all such records at least 2 weeks prior to a scheduled examination. For out-of-state evaluations or testimony, it is your responsibility to insure in advance that any licensing problems or conflicts about expert functions in that state have been satisfactorily resolved.
Please sign the attached service agreement for my services on this case. Please return it to me by email attachment or US mail. By signing this agreement, you obligate your agency to be responsible for payment for my time spent on this case. You also agree that your agency will promptly pay my invoices regardless of who the ultimate payer is. If the signed service agreement is not returned 2 weeks from the date of this letter, then my involvement in this case will stop, and my name may not be listed by you as a witness.
Thank you for allowing me to contract with you in this way. Please contact me any time you have questions or further information.
Respectfully submitted,
Steven H. Berger, M.D.
Board Certified in General Psychiatry and Forensic Psychiatry
Clinical Professor, Department Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University
of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine
Last updated 1-15-24
Steven H. Berger, M.D.
1080 Cypress Parkway PMB # 150A, Kissimmee FL 34759-3328
Phone 765-414-1827
Answering Service 407-350-3268
Email SHBergerMD@Yahoo.Com
Website BergerForensic.ComService Agreement for Courts and Government Agencies
&(Attorney’s name and address goes here)
Date &goes here
Re: &Case Name goes here
Dear Attorney &’s name goes here:
As per your request, time has been reserved regarding the above-named case for:
__&____Review of records, estimated ___&___ hours.
__&____Evaluation of examinee scheduled for___&___.
__&____Preparation of report, estimated ___&___ hours.
__&____Deposition, estimated ___&___ hours.
scheduled for __________________________________
location _______________________________________
_______Court appearance on ____________________________
__&___Conference with attorney by phone or in person, travel time, or other time devoted specifically to this case, estimated __&____ hours.
__&___Other:___________________________________________
Please sign below, indicating your acceptance of this service agreement and the contractual provisions contained in this accompanying cover letter. Please keep a photocopy of this service agreement for your records. Please return these 2 pages to me with your retainer prepayment of:
$_&_____.
Thank you contracting for my services in this way.
Respectfully submitted,
Steven H. Berger, M.D.
Board Certified in General Psychiatry and Forensic Psychiatry
Clinical Professor, Department Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University
of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine
Contract accepted by:
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
Date:___________________________
Last updated 1-15-24