Clinical Neuropsychologist | South Florida
Defensible Cognitive Evaluations for Miami-Dade Litigation
Dr. Larry Brooks provides forensic neuropsychological evaluations and expert witness testimony for personal injury, workers' compensation, disability, capacity, and competency cases throughout Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties. The practice serves plaintiff attorneys, defense counsel, and individual claimants who require objective cognitive findings that hold up under cross-examination.
Forensic neuropsychology operates under a different standard than clinical assessment. Reports must withstand opposing-expert review, deposition, and trial. Findings must be supported by validity testing that detects exaggeration, minimization, and effort failure. Dr. Brooks' ABPP-CN board certification, cross-setting clinical background, and forensic experience produce evaluations that meet that standard.
In personal injury cases involving traumatic brain injury, defense counsel routinely argues that a normal MRI means no injury occurred. Comprehensive neuropsychological testing challenges that argument with data: objective cognitive scores compared against normative samples, validity findings, and a written report that names the diagnostic picture and quantifies the impairment.
Expert Witness Testimony
Dr. Brooks provides deposition and trial testimony in state and federal court. Reports are prepared with admissibility in mind: clear methodology, validated instruments, normative comparisons, and conclusions tied directly to the data. CV and prior testimony lists available on request.
Validity Testing Rigor
Every forensic evaluation includes embedded performance validity and symptom validity measures. These detect effort failure, exaggeration, and inconsistent responding. Without them, neuropsychological findings carry significantly less weight in court. Validity testing is a non-negotiable component of every report.
Plaintiff and Defense Work
Dr. Brooks accepts referrals from both plaintiff and defense counsel and conducts Independent Medical Examinations (IMEs) for insurance carriers and defense firms. The evaluation methodology is the same regardless of who refers the case: objective data, validity-tested findings, defensible conclusions.
Frequently asked questions
Does Dr. Brooks work with plaintiff or defense counsel?
Both. The practice accepts referrals from plaintiff attorneys, defense counsel, insurance carriers, and government agencies. Methodology and reporting standards are identical regardless of the referring party.
Will Dr. Brooks testify at deposition or trial?
Yes. Dr. Brooks regularly provides expert witness testimony in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties, in both state and federal court. Scheduling for deposition and trial is coordinated through the referring attorney's office.
How is forensic neuropsychological testing different from clinical testing?
The cognitive instruments are largely the same, but the validity-testing rigor, documentation standards, and report structure are different. Forensic evaluations are prepared with the assumption that they will be reviewed by an opposing expert and challenged in deposition or trial. Clinical reports are written for treatment teams; forensic reports are written for the legal record.
What is an IME, and does Dr. Brooks conduct them?
An Independent Medical Examination (IME) is an evaluation conducted at the request of an insurance carrier, employer, or defense firm to obtain an objective second opinion on an injured party's condition. Dr. Brooks conducts neuropsychological IMEs for personal injury, workers' compensation, and disability cases.
How long does a forensic evaluation take?
The in-person testing typically spans six to eight hours across one or two appointments. The written report is delivered within two to four weeks of the final testing session, depending on case complexity and the volume of records to review.
What types of cases does Dr. Brooks evaluate?
Personal injury involving traumatic brain injury or post-concussion syndrome, workers' compensation cases with cognitive components, long-term disability claims, capacity evaluations, criminal competency assessments, civil capacity questions, and cases involving claimed cognitive sequelae from accidents, falls, exposures, or medical events.
Can Dr. Brooks evaluate cases for Miami attorneys if the practice is located in Hollywood?
Yes. The practice serves Miami-Dade attorneys regularly. Most evaluations occur at the Hollywood office, which is fifteen to forty minutes from Miami. For cases requiring on-site evaluation in Miami, arrangements can be discussed during initial intake.
How is billing handled for forensic work?
Forensic evaluations are billed at a forensic rate that reflects the additional documentation, validity-testing rigor, records review, and court availability required. Fee structures, retainers, and deposition/trial rates are provided in writing at the time of engagement.