Professional – Objective – Accurate – Racial Trauma Expert Witnesses

RTCA has worked on a range of issues related to racial discrimination, hostile work environments, and racial harassment, specializing in race-based traumatic stress. Below please find a partial list of the cases and training as well speaking engagement we have done over the years.

Expert Witness

March 4, 2022 – March 30^th, 2022 – Houston TX.

Retained as an expert witness in workplace racial discrimination and hostile work environment mediation proceedings by national firms, the case involves a multinational corporation in which plaintiffs allege various violations of their legal rights as well as intentional infliction of emotional distress. I was retained to provide a research-based situational preliminary report on race and racial discrimination and its effects as well as to conduct initial assessments of a subset of plaintiffs’ for race-based traumatic stress injury.

May, 12, 2021 – July 30^th, 2021 – Pasadena, CA.

Retained as an expert witness in a claim of consumer racial profiling by a large retail outlet and to plaintiffs allege various violations of their rights as well as intentional infliction of emotional distress, the basis of the claims is centered on racial discrimination and racial harassment. I was retained to provide a research-based situational analyses report as well as to assess for race-based traumatic stress injury.

March, 29, 2021 – present – San Fransico, CA.

Retained as an expert witness – to prepare a declaration on behalf of a defendant. I will submit a research-based social history and psychosocial assessment which integrates race and racism, among others, as mitigating factors.

Consulting

CUNY School of Professional Studies, Academy for Community Behavioral Health (March-June 2020). Contracted to provide learning programs that equip NYC CBOs with an understanding of racism and racial discrimination impact psychological health and the tools to begin to implement helpful practices and skills in their work. Conducted a series of foundational courses, followed by applied skills workshops.

PAPERS AND PRESENTATIONS AT PROFESSIONAL MEETINGS

Carter, R.T., (August. 2022) Invited presentation race-based traumatic stress and its implications for mitigation, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Conference, New Orleans, LA.

Carter, R.T., (Feb. 24, 2022) Invited presentation on racial Harassment and race-based traumatic stress in the workplace, Georgia Capital Defenders Office.

Carter, R.T., (June 23, 2021) Invited presentation on racial Harassment and race-based traumatic stress in the workplace, part of a panel at the National Employment Lawyers Association.

PUBLICATIONS: JOURNAL ARTICLE

Pieterse, A.L, Roberson, K.L., Garcia, R. & Carter, R.T., (in press). Racial discrimination and trauma symptoms: Further support for the race-based traumatic stress symptom scale. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology..

Roberson, K, & Carter, R.T., (2021)  The relationship between race-based traumatic stress and the trauma symptom checklist: Does racial trauma differ in symptom presentation? Traumatology (On-line February 2021)

Carter, R.T., & Kirkinis, K., (2021) Differences in emotional responses to race-based trauma among Black and White Americans. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma. 30 (7), 889-906.

Anderson, R.E., Metzger, I., Applewhite, K., Sawyer, B., Jackson, W., Flores, S., McKenny. M.C. & Carter, R.T., (2020). Hands’ Up, Now what? Black families reactions to racial socialization. Journal of Youth Development, 15(5), 93-109.

Carter, R.T., Kirkinis, K., & Johnson, V., (2020). Race-Based traumatic stress and general trauma symptoms, Traumatology, 26 (1),11-18.

Case Synopsis

March 2021 Equal Justice Society and Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein LLP – Dallas  

Added as a signatory as a scholar on race and racism – to Amicus Brief submitted to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, on behalf of  social scientists, scholars, and civil rights organizations in support of a former hospital worker’s racial bias suit the matter of Collier v. Dallas County Hospital District, to former hospital worker’s racial bias suit  |

MAY 2021 – JULY 2021 | PASADENA, CALIFORNIA  |

A claim of consumer racial profiling by a large retail outlet and to plaintiff’s allege various violation of their rights as well as intentional infliction of emotional distress, the basis of the claims is centered on racial discrimination and racial harassment. I am retained to provide an research-based situational analysis report as well as to assess for race-based traumatic stress injury  |

SEPTEMBER, 2019 – FEBRUARY, 2020
DETROIT, MICHIGAN

Retained as an expert witness on racial discrimination litigation. In particular whether the defendant experienced racial stress or trauma as a factor her care of a patient who asked that she be removed from caring for her. A research-based situational analysis and assessment interview was conducted to determine whether the plaintiff experienced race-based traumatic stress.

JANUARY, 2018 – MAY, 2018
TACOMA, WASHINGTON

Retained by the U.S. Army, Judge Advocate Office, as an expert witness on race and related issues. In particular whether the defendant experienced racial stress or trauma as a factor in his court martial for attempted murder and to offer a research-based social framework for his race-related experience and to assess whether the defendant had experienced race-based traumatic stress. Certified as an expert witness in the military court. Expert report survived Daubert challenge and I testified at trial regarding race-based issues the affected the criminal case.

OCTOBER 2014 – JANUARY 2015
FAIR LAWN, N.J

Retained as expert witness regarding whether plaintiff experienced a racially hostile work environment and to offer a research based social framework of potential race-related injury. I was retained to provide an opinion as to whether the plaintiffs had experienced race-based traumatic stress injury.

JUNE 2012 – MAY 2013
MT. VERNON, ILLINOIS

Retained as expert witness regarding whether plaintiff experienced a racially hostile work environment and to offer a social framework and research evidence of potential race-related injury. In particular I was asked to provide an opinion as to whether the plaintiff had experienced race-based traumatic stress injury.

AUGUST 2011 – SEPTEMBER 2012
MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY

Retained as expert witness regarding whether 10 plaintiffs experienced a racially hostile work environment and to offer a social framework and research evidence of potential race-related psychological injury. I was asked to provide an opinion as to whether the plaintiffs had experienced race-based traumatic stress injury.

SEPTEMBER 2009 – FEBRUARY 2010
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI

Retained by the United States Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division to provide an expert rebuttal report regarding whether the aggrieved persons (19-41) where harmed by a racially hostile housing environment and to offer research evidence about the situation and its frequency.

APRIL 2006 – AUGUST, 2007
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

Retained as expert witness regarding a racially hostile work environment and consumer racial profiling. Issues associated with race and racism in society and psychological harm to plaintiffs. Certified as an expert witness in federal court. My report survived Daubert challenge and I testified at jury trial regarding race-based traumatic stress injury experienced by plaintiffs.

JULY, 2000 – NOVEMBER, 2001
SAN FRANCISCO, CA

Retained to provide testimony as expert witness regarding a hostile racial environment at a school and sporting event. My report addressed issues associated with race and culture in society and possible psychological harm to plaintiffs.

1996-1998
BATON ROUGE, LA

Retained in 40-year-old desegregation case by school board. Asked to advise the school board and superintendent regarding modification of desegregation plan as to its psychological and emotional impact. To insure that the plan accounted for various view points of community people and equity resource allocations. I also helped develop a diversity training program for the district and provided testimony and evidence about the validity of one race schools.

1994-1995
STATE SUPREME COURT, NEW YORK, NY

Retained and testified about the racial elements of a child custody case. The child was bi-racial and the parents where White and Black, parents racial identity statuses were evaluated and presented to the court.
Expert Witness

Trainings & Presentations

FEBRUARY 22, 2021
Invited presentation, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, Irving Medical Center, New York State Psychiatric Institute: Measuring and Confronting Racism: Documenting Race-based Traumatic Stress Injury.

OCTOBER 24, 2020
Invited panelist, 20th Diversity Challenge Virtual Conference: Measuring and Confronting Racism: Documenting Racial Trauma.

AUGUST 5, 2020
Invited panelist, The New Reddit Journal of Science; Discussion Series on Black mental health, racial identity, and race-based trauma.

AUGUST, 2020
Invited speaker, Measuring and Confronting Racism: Documenting Racial Trauma. Annual Virtual Convention of the American Psychological Association.

JUNE 25, 2020
GRAND PRAIRIE, TX
Panelist part of Webinar, on the topic of Dismantling Racial Trauma: A Call to Action for Leaders, Organizations an Communities, Alliance for Greater Works.

AUGUST, 2018
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
Validation study of the race-based traumatic stress symptom scale. Poster presentation.

DECEMBER, 2017
NEW ORLEANS, LA
Invited talk Race-Based Traumatic Stress as Racial Trauma, Institute of Traumatology, Tulane University, School of Social Work.

OCTOBER, 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Invited talk on Race-Based Traumatic Stress, Hillcrest Community Centers.

OCTOBER, 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Half-day Mental health Training Workshop on Race-Based Trauma, Hillcrest Community Center.

APRIL 2017
AUSTIN, TX
Hands Up Now What?: New Clinical and Community Interventions to Reduce Racial Stress and Trauma across the Developmental Lifespan Symposium

OCTOBER 2016
WASHINGTON DC
Hillcrest Children’s & Family Center

Speaking Engagements and Interviews:

6/23/2021 – Trauma Informed Advocacy 
NELA’s 2021 Annual Convention – via video
Raising The Bar For Worker’s Rights
Moderator/Speaker: Allegra L. Fishel
Speakers: Dr. Robert T. Carter & Sunu P. Chandy

How can lawyers, even well-seasoned ones, become more sensitized to the needs of clients who have experienced trauma, recognizing that trauma & emotional suffering that may impact the litigation? This panel will examine the strategies necessary to effectively advocate for clients who have suffered traumatic experiences, including racial trauma.

5/5/2021 -Racism & Trauma

WBAI King Downey Talk Show Radio/talk (6am – @ 5:50 minute mark)  https://wbai.org/archive/

5/14/2021 – Skindeep –

Panel Discussion Audio/Video
Audio – What Is Race-Based Traumatic Stress? EmpowHer