Certified Life Care Planner Expert Witness Services for Attorneys
When a case involves catastrophic injury, chronic disability, or long-term medical needs, the quality of your life care plan expert witness can make or break the outcome. Rehabilitation Care Coordination (RCC) has provided certified life care planning expert witness testimony for plaintiff and defense attorneys across the United States for over 30 years.
We are not a referral network. Every life care plan is developed and testified to by our own certified professionals — delivering the credibility, consistency, and courtroom experience that high-stakes cases demand.
What Is a Life Care Planner Expert Witness?
A life care planner expert witness is a certified professional who evaluates an injured or disabled individual’s current and future medical, rehabilitation, and support needs — and assigns defensible costs to each. That plan is then presented as expert testimony in litigation, arbitration, mediation, or settlement negotiations.
Life care plans are used in cases involving:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Spinal cord injury and paralysis
- Amputations and severe burns
- Chronic illness and long-term disability
- Pediatric injuries
- Medical malpractice with ongoing care needs
- Workers’ compensation and personal injury claims
The plan quantifies economic damages — providing attorneys, insurers, and courts with a clear, evidence-based picture of lifetime care costs.
Who We Work With
RCC works directly with legal professionals at every stage of a case, from initial evaluation through trial. Our clients include:
- Plaintiff attorneys building damages cases for injured clients
- Settlement companies seeking a fair and equitable solution to a contentious case
- Defense attorneys evaluating or countering opposing life care plans
- Insurance companies and adjusters assessing claim exposure
- Fiduciaries managing long-term structured settlements
- Workers’ compensation carriers and legal teams
Whether you need a complete life care plan prepared from scratch, a review and critique of an opposing plan, or expert deposition and trial testimony, RCC has the credentials and track record to deliver.
Why Attorneys Choose RCC as Their Life Care Planning Expert
30+ Years of Certified Expert Testimony
RCC has been a trusted expert witness resource for attorneys nationwide since the early 1990s. Our lead planner, Doreen Casuto RN, brings decades of clinical and expert witness experience across hundreds of cases in California and beyond.
Nationally Recognized Credentials
Our life care planners hold the Certified Life Care Planner (CLCP) designation through the International Commission on Health Care Certification (ICHCC) — the gold standard in the field. That credential matters when opposing counsel challenges qualifications.
- AANLCP (American Association of Nurse Life Care Planners)
- AALNC (American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants)
Defensible, Methodology-Driven Plans
Every plan we produce follows established clinical practice guidelines and published standards of practice. We base projections on peer-reviewed research, regional cost data, and independent medical evaluations — not estimates. That rigor holds up in deposition and trial.
Nationwide Reach, California Depth
While RCC is headquartered in San Diego and serves the full California market — including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and the surrounding regions — we provide life care planning expert witness services across the United States and its territories.
Responsive, Attorney-Friendly Communication
Attorneys tell us the same thing: RCC responds fast, communicates clearly, and delivers on deadline. When a case is moving, you cannot afford to wait. We operate with the urgency that litigation requires.
How the Expert Witness Process Works
Engaging RCC as your life care planning expert witness is straightforward:
- Initial Case Review — We assess whether the case is appropriate for life care planning and discuss scope, timeline, and fees.
- Records Review and Independent Assessment — Our planner reviews all relevant medical records and, where appropriate, conducts an independent examination of the client.
- Life Care Plan Development — We build a comprehensive, itemized plan covering all current and future medical, rehabilitation, and support needs with associated costs.
- Expert Report Delivery — You receive a fully documented, litigation-ready life care plan that meets admissibility standards.
- Deposition and Trial Testimony — Our expert is available for deposition, arbitration, mediation, and trial testimony as needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a life care planning expert witness cost?
Fees vary based on the complexity of the case, the extent of records reviewed, and whether deposition or trial testimony is required. The life care planning process itself typically ranges from $5,000 to $30,000 depending on scope. Contact RCC directly for a case-specific estimate.
Can RCC review and challenge an opposing life care plan?
Yes. In addition to developing original plans, RCC provides expert review and rebuttal of opposing life care plans. We identify methodological gaps, unsupported cost projections, and departures from clinical practice guidelines that can be leveraged in deposition or at trial.
How does a life care plan hold up in court?
Admissibility depends on the credentials of the preparer, the methodology used, and the quality of supporting documentation. RCC plans are prepared by certified life care planners, grounded in published standards, and supported by regional cost data and peer-reviewed literature — all factors that strengthen admissibility and withstand cross-examination.
Does RCC serve attorneys outside of California?
Yes. While we are based in San Diego, RCC provides life care planning expert witness services nationwide, including all U.S. territories.
How long does it take to produce a life care plan?
Timeline depends on the volume of records and complexity of the case. Most plans are completed within 4 to 8 weeks of receiving complete case materials. Rush timelines may be available — contact us to discuss your deadline.
Get an Experienced Life Care Planning Expert Witness on Your Case
RCC has supported attorneys in catastrophic injury and disability cases for more than three decades. Our plans are built for litigation — detailed, defensible, and backed by certified expertise.
Call us at (619) 299-9922, email info@rehabcarecoord.com, or use the contact form to request a case consultation.
