About
John Puls is a licensed psychotherapist, Master's Certified Addiction Professional (MCAP), and qualified expert witness based in Florida. He brings nearly a decade of direct clinical and administrative experience across all levels of care in substance abuse and mental health treatment, including detoxification units, residential 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.
He has been retained as an expert witness in a wide range of civil and criminal matters, including but not limited to:
- Marchman Act proceedings (both petitioner and respondent)
- Wrongful death litigation
- Dram shop liability cases, including those 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
- Baker Act matters involving involuntary psychiatric evaluations
- Cases involving suicide, overdose, and alleged breaches of the standard of care in treatment facilities or by individual providers
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. His expertise often proves pivotal in educating the court on the medical and psychological dimensions of substance use disorders.
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.