Test the medicine before it’s tested in court.
Defense counsel and their investigators retain NAAG to review, re-examine and explain the medical evidence in homicide, child-death and abuse cases, from the first look through trial and post-conviction.
Medically reviewed by Evan W. Matshes, MD, FRCPC, D-ABP, Medical Director and Chief Forensic Pathologist · Updated
Public defenders · private defense counsel · post-conviction and innocence counsel · defense investigators
What NAAG does for the defense.
Case review & second opinion
ConsultationIndependent review of the autopsy, records, photographs, imaging and histology by the subspecialist your question requires.
The Deep Dive
Pediatric deaths · alleged abuseA full secondary laboratory investigation of the retained biological evidence, often the most powerful step in a child-death case.
Neuropathology & osteology
Head injury · fracturesRe-examination of brain, eye, spinal cord and bone evidence by board-certified subspecialists.
Evidence access
Recuts · stains · slidesRecuts and stains prepared in NAAG’s laboratory, and unstained slides for further testing, for parties with legal standing.
Open door on NAAG cases
With the coroner’s permissionDiscuss NAAG’s own findings with the physician who made them, on the same terms as the prosecution.
Testimony
Trial · admissibility · post-convictionTestimony on our review and opinions, including Rule 702, Daubert and Frye hearings.
How to engage NAAG.
Contact us
Call 1-800-985-5346 or submit a consultation request. Don’t send records until the matter is opened.
Conflict check
We confirm NAAG has no conflict and identify the right subspecialists.
Engagement
We agree the scope, materials and retainer in writing.
Review & opinion
Our physicians review, report and testify as needed.
Plain answers.
Will NAAG release original histology blocks?
NAAG objects to releasing original blocks on chain-of-custody grounds. Instead we offer recuts cut by NAAG’s laboratory at the requester’s expense, stains prepared in our laboratory, and unstained slides for stains we don’t offer.
Can NAAG review a case it originally examined for a county?
NAAG’s own physicians will discuss their findings with defense counsel, with the coroner’s knowledge and permission, on the same terms offered to the prosecution.
Will NAAG give me the opinion my client needs?
NAAG gives the opinion the evidence supports. That independence is what makes our opinions credible to judges and juries.
Expert consultation
Five products. Three areas of practice. One standard.
Attorneys, agencies and familiesIIThe Deep Dive
Specialist re-examination of the evidence that was kept.
Prosecutors, defense and civil counselVForensic neuropathology
Brain, dura and spinal cord, examined by a subspecialist.
Medical examiners, coroners and agencies nationwideVIForensic anthropology & osteology
Bone, read by the people who specialize in it.
Medical examiners, coroners and agencies nationwideVIIIMolecular autopsy & genetic testing
Answers that matter to the living.
Families, attorneys and agenciesIXReference histology laboratory
Every slide cut, stained and checked to a forensic standard.
Pathologists, agencies and counselStart with a conversation.
Tell us who you are and, in general terms, what you need. The right member of our team will respond.
San Diego, CA 92121
Please don't email case records or images. The case request form collects what we need to open your matter; we'll arrange secure transfer of records after that.