Ethics and Risk Management in Behavioral Health
What Every Clinician Needs to Know About Mental Health and the Law

Robert P. Landau, JD, is a shareholder at the law firm of Roberts, Carroll, Feldstein & Peirce, Inc. in Providence and was the co-leader of the firm's Healthcare Group from 2012 through 2016.

Mr. Landau is a seasoned litigator who focuses his practice on defending mental health professionals, hospitals, physicians, nurses, dentists, and other health care providers in professional malpractice lawsuits and disciplinary proceedings. He has extensive experience representing social workers, mental health counselors, psychologists, and other professionals before their licensing boards, frequently obtaining findings of no unprofessional conduct or administratively closing investigations. He has successfully represented clients in the state and federal courts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

Mr. Landau has had numerous jury trials with a significant number of defense verdicts. In addition to trying cases to juries, he handles any appellate issues that arise from his matters. He has appeared regularly before the Rhode Island Supreme Court and has a number of reported decisions. In those instances where a trial is not the best course of action, Mr. Landau has extensive experience in alternative dispute resolution. His presentations to mediators and arbitrators help clients resolve cases on favorable terms.

Mr. Landau is a graduate of Duke University, BS, magna cum laude, and Boston University School of Law, JD, cum laude. He is admitted to practice in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Mr. Landau was selected for inclusion on the 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 Rhode Island Super Lawyer list.

Frederic G. Reamer, PhD, has been a professor in the graduate program of the school of social work, Rhode Island College, Providence, Rhode Island for 40 years. Dr. Reamer received his PhD from the University of Chicago and has served as a social worker in correctional and mental health settings. He chaired the national task force that wrote the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics and served on the task force that added technology standards to the code. Dr. Reamer lectures both nationally and internationally on the subjects of professional ethics, professional malpractice and liability, and documentation. In addition to ethics, his research and teaching have addressed a wide range of human service issues, including mental health, health care, criminal justice, and public welfare. Dr. Reamer has conducted extensive research on professional ethics and has been involved in several national research projects sponsored by The Hastings Center, Carnegie Corporation, Haas Foundation, and Center for Bioethics of the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Reamer has been an expert witness and formal ethics consultant in more than 130 litigation and licensing board cases throughout the United States. He is the author of many books and other publications on ethical standards in behavioral health, risk management, and documentation.