Psychiatric Expert Was Allowed to Opine on Occupational Experiences

Mamnoon Khan (“Khan” or “Plaintiff”) brought this action against Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Inc. (“Sedgwick”), Kim Hottel (“Hottel”), and Colleen Van Tuyl (“Van Tuyl”) (together, “Defendants”), alleging workplace maltreatment and racial discrimination.

Dr. Joshua Kriegel is a board-certified psychiatrist that has been treating Plaintiff since August of 2023.

Defendants Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Inc. (“Sedgwick”), Colleen Van Tuyl and Kimberly Hottel filed a motion to disqualify Kriegel from testifying at trial as Plaintiff’s designated expert witness.

Psychiatry Expert Witness

Joshua Kriegel, M.D. is a board certified psychiatrist licensed in Massachusetts and faculty member at UMass Chan Medical School.

He completed his medical degree at Boston University School of Medicine and his adult psychiatry residency at the UMass Chan Medical School.

Want to know more about the challenges Joshua Kriegel has faced? Get the full details with our Challenge Study report.  

Discussion by the Court

On the record before the Court, Kriegel appears only to have drawn the conclusion that Plaintiff suffers from PTSD related to cumulative experiences over ten years in the workplace, including, at least in part, an incident with a coworker that involved a knife.

Kriegel’s specialized training and knowledge, his role as Plaintiff’s treating psychiatrist, and the evidence he received through his treatment of Plaintiff together appear adequate to support his expert opinion. Even if those experiences predated Plaintiff’s employment at Sedgwick, they are relevant for purposes of damages.

On the other hand, the fact that he is Plaintiff’s treating psychiatrist did not free him of the requirements of Rule 702 of the Federal Rules of Evidence, which will govern his testimony assuming that he is admitted as an expert.

Held

The Court denied the Defendants’ motion to disqualify Dr. Joshua Kriegel as Plaintiff’s expert.

Key Takeaway:

Kriegel’s testimony is relevant and helpful to the jury. As Plaintiff’s treating physician, he is uniquely situated to provide testimony regarding Plaintiff’s symptoms and their causes.

Case Details:

Case Caption:	Khan V. Sedgwick Claims Management, Inc.
Docket Number:	1:22cv11893
Court Name:	United States District Court, Massachusetts
Order Date:	November 17, 2025