Joseph H. Torres is a Vocational Expert/ Consultant, who has testified about a person's ability to work for the Social Security Administration, Office of Disability Adjudication and Review, State Superior Courts, and Workers’ Compensation Appeals Boards.
He is a designated a Vocational Expert by the Social Security Administration, Office of Disability Adjudication and Review, a Certied Vocational Expert by the American Board of Vocational Experts and California State University of Long Beach.
He is a designated Independent Vocational Evaluator for the Division of Industrial Accidents, Office of Benefit Determination, Rehabilitation Unit of the State of California.
He is a Mediator certified by the Institute for Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine Law School.
Mr. Torres is bilingual and bicultural in English and Spanish.
Physical Address:
2230 W. Chapman Avenue, Suite 209,
Orange, CA 92868
Background
Q: Please list your professional accreditations, degrees, licenses, and certificates granted:A: ACCREDITATIONS:
2005 Vocational Expert, Social Security
Administration, Office of Disability
Adjudication and Review.
2004 Certified Vocational Expert, American
Board of Vocational Experts.
2002 Certified Vocational Expert, California
State University Long Beach, Long Beach,
California.
1995 Certified Mediator, Institute for Dispute
Resolution, Pepperdine Law School,
Malibu, California.
1990 Independent Vocational Evaluator,
Division of Industrial Accidents, Office
of Benefit Determination, Rehabilitation
Unit, State of California.
EDUCATION:
1996-1997 2 years of Law School Trinity
University College of Law, Santa
Ana, California.
1981 Master of Arts Degree in Education
California State University
Sacramento, Sacramento, California.
1973 Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology
California State University Fullerton
Fullerton, California.
1971 Associate of Arts Degree in Sociology
Cerritos Community College,
Norwalk, California
COMMUNITY COLLEGE CREDENTIALS
* Supervisor – Valid for Life
* Student Personnel – Valid for Life
* Professional Education – Valid for Life
* Instructor in Business and Industrial
Management, Foods, Food Services and Related
Technologies; Psychology – Valid for Life
Q: Please list your affiliations or memberships in any professional and/or industry organizations:
A: PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS:
* American Board of Vocational Experts
* International Association of Rehabilitation
Professionals
* California Association of Rehabilitation and
Reemployment Professionals
* Southern California Rehabilitation Exchange
* Organization of Bilingual Rehabilitation
Associations
* St. Thomas More Society of Orange County
Q: Please list any teaching or speaking experience you have had, including subject matter:
A: March 2006 Presenter
Seminar “Money and Family
Law” Orange County Barristers,
Chapman University, Orange California
Oct. 2005 Speaker
Seminar, “Workers’Compensation Future
Diminished Earning Capacity
Assessments” Powertek Learning
Center, Anaheim, California
2005 Presenter
Presentation Defense Law Firm “Le
Boeuf Assessments” Law Offices of
Corral, Parish, Arnett & Halas,
Corral & Parish, Orange, California
2004 Presenter
Seminar, “Vocational Evaluation
Process and Life Care Plan
Development” University of California
Riverside, Riverside, California
Feb. 2003 Presenter
Seminar, “Employability and Pre and
Post Earning Capacity Assessments”
Association of Graphoanalysts,
Anaheim, California
Q: Have any of your accreditations ever been investigated, suspended or removed? (if yes, explain)
A: NO, NEVER
Q: On how many occasions have you been retained as an expert?
A: On approximately 250 occasions
Q: For what area(s) of expertise have you been retained as an expert?
A: Personal Injury, Family Law, Workers' Compensation and Social Security Administration.
Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the plaintiff?
A: I have been retained by the plaintiff in approximately 60% of the cases.
Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the defendant?
A: I have been retained by the defendant in approximately 40% of the cases.
Q: On how many occasions have you had your deposition taken?
A: I have had my deposition taken approximately 15 times.
Q: When was the last time you had your deposition taken?
A: My last deposition taken was on November 22, 2005.
Q: On how many occasions have you been qualified by a court to give expert testimony?
A: Including Social Security, Workers' Compensation Appeals Board and State Superior Court on approximately 250 occasions.
Q: On how many occasions have you testified as an expert in court or before an arbitrator?
A: Including Social Security, Workers' Compensation Appeals Board and State Superior Court approximately 250 occasions.
Not yet before an arbitrator.
Q: For how many years have you worked with the legal industry as an expert?
A: I have worked with the legal industry as an Expert for the past 10 years.
However, my expertise encompasses an additional 15 years in the Workers' Compensation field and on some occasions, testifying at the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board.
Q: What services do you offer? (E.g.: consulting, testing, reports, site inspections etc.)
A: * Vocational Expert Witness/Consulting,
* Employability Assessments,
* Diminished Earning Capacity Assessments,
* Le Boeuf Hearings,
* On-site Job Analysis Preparation,
* Administration and Scoring of Vocational,
Aptitude and Interest Testing,
* Mexico Labor Market Assessments,
* Mexico Medical Management Coordination.
Services can be provided in English and Spanish.
Q: What is your hourly rate to consult with an attorney?
A: 30-minute consultation, at no charge.
Q: What is your hourly rate to review documents?
A: $195.00 per hour
Q: What is your hourly rate to provide deposition testimony?
A: $195.00 per hour
Q: What is your hourly rate to provide testimony at trial?
A: $195.00 per hour
Q: Please list any fees other than those stated above (E.g.: travel expenses, copy fees, etc.)
A: Travel at one half of the hourly rate.
All other expenses at actual cost.
References
Lon E. Peek II, Esq.Law Offices of Lon E. Peek
18837 Brookhurst St., Suite 207
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
Ted McCabe, Esq.
Leviton, Diaz & Ginocchio, Inc.
200 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Suite 600
Santa Ana, CA 92701
