Mr. John R Puls, LCSW, MCAP
Boca Raton, FL 33431
Office: 708-655-1863
John Puls is a licensed psychotherapist, master's certified addiction professional, and qualified expert witness located in Florida. Mr. Puls specializes in substance abuse, mental health, addiction treatment centers, and mental health facilities. Mr. Puls has experience working in all levels of care in substance abuse treatment facilities, mental health facilities, and crisis stabilization units. Additionally, Mr. Puls has created new programming within addiction treatment and mental health facilities that model best practice and standard of care.
Mr. Puls has served as an expert witness for marchman act cases for both the respondent and the petitioner in the state of Florida. Furthermore, Mr. Puls is well versed in ASAM (American Society for Addiction Medicine) criteria for determining levels of care in addiction treatment centers. ASAM is considered best practice when determining appropriateness for admission and discharge to specific levels of care in addiction treatment facilities.
Mr. Puls has served as an expert witness for both the plaintiff and defense counsel in medical malpractice cases, wrongful death, personal injury, family law, baker act, dram shop, and marchman act cases. This includes cases involving addiction treatment facilities in all levels of care, mental health facilities, baker act receiving facilities, and cases involving individual mental health practitioners. With nearly a decade of combined experience working in addiction/mental health, in all levels of care, Mr. Puls possess the expertise to determine if the standard of care was breached in addiction and mental health cases. This includes cases where the result was a suicide or a drug overdose death. Mr. Puls has extensive experience with suicide cases, suicide prevention, and best practice when working with suicidal patients.
Mr. Puls has been retained as an expert on alcoholism by both plaintiffs and defendants in Florida dram shop cases, leveraging his extensive knowledge of addiction science and alcoholism. Florida’s dram shop law is unique in that it generally provides broad protection to alcohol vendors, shielding them from liability for injuries caused by intoxicated patrons. However, there are two key exceptions: vendors can be held liable if they knowingly serve alcohol to a minor or if they knowingly serve a person who is habitually addicted to alcohol. This second exception is particularly complex, requiring expert testimony to establish whether an individual met the legal threshold of habitual addiction and whether the vendor had sufficient knowledge of their condition. Mr. Puls’ expertise is critical in clarifying these issues, helping courts understand the nuances of addiction and its role in dram shop liability cases.
Finally, Mr. Puls has served as a mitigation specialist, advocating for reduced sentencing on cases involving substance use and mental health disorders for criminal defendants and their attorneys.
- Alcohol Abuse
- Community Mental Health
- Compulsive Gambling
- Drug Abuse
- Emotional Trauma
- Stress
- Suicide
- Q: Please list your professional accreditations, degrees, licenses, and certificates granted:
- A: Master of Social Work (MSW), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Master's Certified Addiction Professional (MCAP)
- Q: Please list your affiliations or memberships in any professional and/or industry organizations:
- A: NASW
- Q: Please list any teaching or speaking experience you have had, including subject matter:
- A: Adjunct professor at the School of Social Work at Florida Atlantic University. Primary focus on substance abuse, substance abuse treatment, and general social work practice.
Puls, J., Et al. (2020, January 21). Spanish River High School Panel Discussion - Substance Use Issues. Panel discussion for Spanish River High School Parents in coordination with Jewish Family Services.
Puls, J. (2021, March 10). Integrating Families Into the Treatment Process. Community training for local professionals in coordination with Guardardian Recovery Network.
Puls, J. (2021, June 11). The Power of Language in Substance Use. Webinar continuing education presentation for TPN Health.
Puls, J., Et al. (2022, January 25). Fentanyl Awareness and Harm Reduction. Webinar panel discussion for families in coordination with B’Nai Torah Congregation and Jewish Family Services.
Puls, J. (2022, April 22). Cannabis Induced Psychosis: Current Research. Recovery Strategies. Webinar Presentation for the Mental Health Counselors Association of Palm Beach.
Puls, J. Et al. (2022, November 8). The Marchman Act: Planning for Individuals and Families Struggling with Substance Use. Webinar panel discussion for Florida Atlantic University School of Social Work
Puls, J. (2023, June 17). Cannabis Induced Psychosis: Recent Trends in Cannabis Use. Workshop presented for the National Association of Social Workers Florida 2023 conference.
Puls, J. (2023, September 15). Cannabis Induced Psychosis: Recent Trends in Cannabis Use. Webinar presented for the South Florida Christian Counselors Association.
Puls, J. (2023, October 20). Cannabis Induced Psychosis: Recent Trends in Cannabis Use. Webinar presented for the Suncoast Mental Health Counselors Association.
Puls, J. (2023, October 30). Understanding the Opioid Crisis and Harm Reduction. Workshop for Lynn University Psychology Students.
Puls, J., Et al. (2023, November 3). Client Acquisition From a Business and Clinical Perspective. Panel Discussion for the East Coast Symposium on Addictive Disorders.
Puls, J. (2023, November 17). Assertive Community Treatment: A Paradigm Shift in Treating Severe Mental Illness. Workshop presentation for the Mental Health Counselors Association of Palm Beach.
Puls, J. (2023, December 8). Cannabis Induced Psychosis: Recent Trends in Cannabis Use. Webinar presentation for the National Board of Forensic Evaluators.
Puls, J. (2024, March 22). Cannabis Induced Psychosis: Recent Trends in Cannabis Use. Workshop presented for the Palm Beach Florida Psychological Association.
Puls, J. Et al. (2024, May 31). Cannabis Induced Psychosis and Clinical Strategies. Panel discussion for the South Florida Professional Liaison Association.
Puls, J. (2024, June 19). Navigating the Opioid Crisis: A Comprehensive Review of Harm Reduction Psychotherapy. Workshop presentation for the National Association of Social Workers Florida Conference.
Puls, J. (2024, June 20). Assertive Community Treatment: A Paradigm Shift in Treating Severe Mental Illness. Workshop presentation for the National Association of Social Workers Florida Conference.
Puls, J. (2024, July 30). Cannabis Induced Psychosis: Recent Trends in Cannabis Use. Workshop presentation for CE You! Summer Conference.
Puls, J. (2024, August 2). Cannabis Induced Psychosis: Recent Trends in Cannabis Use. NAMI Palm Beach County general meeting presentation.
Puls, J. (2024, September 14). Assertive Community Treatment: A Paradigm Shift in Treating Severe Mental Illness. Virtual CE training for the 2024 Global Exchange Conference
Puls, J. (2024, September 20). Cannabis Induced Psychosis: Implications for Crisis Intervention. Workshop for the Wisconsin Crisis Intervention Conference
Puls, J. (2024, October 1). Cannabis Induced Psychosis: Recent Trends in Cannabis Use. Webinar for the Florida Mental Health Advocacy Coalition.
Puls, J. (2025, January 25). Assertive Community Treatment: A Paradigm Shift in Treating Severe Mental Illness. CE training for the Broward County Mental Health Counselors Association
Puls, J. (2025, January 31). Navigating the Baker Act: History, Ethics, and Practical Insights. CE training for the Florida Mental Health Counselors Association annual conference
Puls, J. (2025, February 21). Cannabis Induced Psychosis: Recent Trends in Cannabis Use. CE training at Futures Recovery Healthcare - Q: Have any of your accreditations ever been investigated, suspended or removed? (if yes, explain)
- A: No
- Q: On how many occasions have you been retained as an expert?
- A: 30
- Q: For what area(s) of expertise have you been retained as an expert?
- A: Substance abuse, substance abuse treatment facilities, mental health facilities, suicide, marchman act, licensed clinical social worker standard of care, individual mental health practitioners, baker act, Florida dram shop, and family law cases.
- Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the plaintiff?
- A: 60%
- Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the defendant?
- A: 40%
- Q: On how many occasions have you had your deposition taken?
- A: 7
- Q: When was the last time you had your deposition taken?
- A: 08/2024
- Q: On how many occasions have you been qualified by a court to give expert testimony?
- A: 20
- Q: On how many occasions have you testified as an expert in court or before an arbitrator?
- A: 20
- Q: For how many years have you worked with the legal industry as an expert?
- A: 5
- Q: What services do you offer? (E.g.: consulting, testing, reports, site inspections etc.)
- A: Consulting, case review for merit, expert witness assessments, written reports, expert witness deposition, and court testimony.
- Q: What is your hourly rate to consult with an attorney?
- A: $400
- Q: What is your hourly rate to review documents?
- A: $400
- Q: What is your hourly rate to provide deposition testimony?
- A: $400
- Q: What is your hourly rate to provide testimony at trial?
- A: $400
- Q: Please list any fees other than those stated above (E.g.: travel expenses, copy fees, etc.)
- A: Reason travel expenses such as flights, hotels, and meals will need to be reimbursed.
Available upon request.