Registered Forensic Vocational Expert
The role of the vocational rehabilitation consultant and expert is to assist the trier of fact to understand evidence, to help determine facts at issue and ultimately to assist in determining economic loss damages. The vocational rehabilitation evaluator is an experienced and credentialed vocational rehabilitation professional who bridges the claimant's functional limitations, as determined by the medical team, with the financial analysis of the economist.
In the forensic arena, "vocational evaluation" is a process of gathering data and personal information that are synthesized into a profile of a person that can be used both to describe current functioning and to determine potential for working in specific jobs.
"Brad Coffey has achieved excellent results for our clients as a
vocational rehabilitation consultant in several claims. He is personable
and punctional in every step of the process. I would recommend him
for vocational rehabilitation and expert consulting services."
—
September 2009
Vocational expert service had its beginnings within the Social Security Disability Insurance system in 1962. Until that time, disability determinations were made on broad bases by citations to industry and government studies. These were challenged in courts as theoretical and speculative. Vocational experts met these challenges by studying each case and then testifying to a claimant's employability, on a case-by-case basis. In the 1980s, responding to rising medical costs, workers' compensation systems began to use vocational case managers to assist with suitable re-employment of injured workers. Vocational case managers would also assist in benefit hearings to explain issues and clarify facts. This expertise has since grown and divested into many other arenas including long term disability, personal injury, product liability, medical malpractice, family law, discrimination and wrongful termination.
R. Brad Coffey, M.Ed., M.B.A., has provided both consulting expert and testifying expert services in the following venues: state workers' compensation benefit hearings, federal workers' compensation (DOL) hearings, and in personal injury cases. Since 2001, Mr. Coffey has testified in hundreds of Social Security disability hearings, assisting administrative law judges with the 5-step sequential disability determination process.
From careful examination of petinent file records, from thorough diagnostic interview with the claimant, and from selective vocational testing, Mr. Coffey establishes an integrated vocational profile. He applies peer-reviewed methodologies, considering career development factors. He evaluates fundamental components of vocational impairment. A comprehensive verbal or written report accounts for critical case aspects, and degree of diminished earnings capacity.
National certifications and registration:
Vocational Evaluation Specialist (CVE)
Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC)
Disability Management Specialist (CDMS)
Case Manager (CCM)
U.S. Department of Labor designated, Office of Workers Compensation
Programs (OWCP)
Registered Forensic Vocational Expert (FVE)
Affiliations:
American Board of Vocational Experts
Vocational Evaluation and Career Assessment Professionals
International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals
American Rehabilitation Economics Association (Registered Forensic
Vocational Expert)
National Employment Counseling Association
Texas Counseling Association