June 9, 2026
Opposing counsel has filed a motion to exclude your damages expert under the Daubert standard. The testimony is solid. The opinions are supported and your expert has years of experience on the stand. But if the underlying methodology isn’t documented, hasn’t been peer-reviewed, and can’t withstand a challenge on each of the five Daubert factors, […]
May 27, 2026
Journal of Forensic Vocational Analysis, Vol. 24 Winter Printed in the U.S.A. All rights reserved. ©2024 American Board of Vocational Experts Ronald T. Smolarski M.A., IPEC, CRC, LPC, CRV/D, CCM, ABVE/D, ABMPP/D, Certified Life Care Planner, Forensic Economist CEA, Certified Functional Capacity Evaluator, Vocational Expert This essay provides an in-depth understanding of the most comprehensive […]
January 19, 2024
When a worker experiences an accident that results in an injury, questions about their work loss/ wage capacity are a main concern. Understanding the capabilities of an individual requires a thorough vocational evaluation of their work history, medical history, physical capacities, aptitudes, educational development, environmental tolerances, and personal concerns. As a full evaluation is complicated, […]
December 6, 2023
By Ron Smolarski, MA, CLCP, CEA, CRC, IPEC, LPC, CCM, CVE, CRV, CDEII. As appears in The Journal of Forensic Vocational Analysis, Volume 23, Number 1, Summer 2023. Since its inception, the functional capacity evaluation (FCE) has been a very suitable evaluation model for the rehabilitation community, specifically vocational rehabilitation counselors and vocational rehabilitation […]
November 28, 2022
You have a case that requires a damage expert. What would be the decisions an attorney needs to make about who to hire? First, you need someone with the academic training and certification to measure objectively your client’s/claimant’s physical aptitude, achievement, temperament, interests, and personality traits. This professional will need to compare your client’s preinjury […]
August 25, 2022
One of the most important references in any personal injury or accident case will be a life care plan. These are critical for establishing real world costs associated with continued life following a tragic incident that may affect mobility, function, and other aspects of daily life. When you’re handling a personal injury case, it’s critical […]
March 31, 2022
When looking at future medical expenses, there are many ways to estimate and project your actual, real-world costs. However, the nature of these projections can vary greatly. For mediation or settlement, the process isn’t as extensive as cases that will require deposition and trial. Therefore, it’s important to understand the differences between a medical cost […]
January 21, 2022
Quality personal injury Vocational testing and evaluation involves test instruments that measure the following: reasoning, math, language, spatial perception, form perception, clerical perception, finger dexterity, manual dexterity, eye/hand/foot coordination, color discrimination, strength, climbing/ balancing, stoop/kneeling, reaching / handling, talking/hearing, seeing, work location, extreme cold, extreme heat, wetness/ humidity, noise/vibration, hazards, dusts/ fumes. These are the […]
