Opinion ID: 1701809
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Dr Enrique Suarez

Text: Dr. Enrique Suarez, a specialist in neuropsychology, was the State's only expert. Dr. Suarez holds a Ph.D. in psychology and has conducted over 3000 forensic psychiatric evaluations. Dr. Suarez defined the criteria for mental retardation as significantly subnormal intellectual functioning, concurrent and present impairments in adaptive functioning in at least two areas, [9] and onset before age 18. To assess Phillips's intellectual functioning, Dr. Suarez administered the Test of Nonverbal Intelligence-III (TONI-III). He did not utilize the WAIS-III test because Phillips had previously been administered the WAIS and Dr. Suarez was concerned that Phillips had become familiar with the format. Phillips scored an IQ of 86 on the TONI-III, which is in the low average range. [10] To determine whether Phillips was malingering, Dr. Suarez also administered various validity tests. Based on the inconsistent scores obtained, Dr. Suarez opined that Phillips was not putting forth sufficient effort or was actively attempting to provide incorrect information. Dr. Suarez suggested that Phillips malingered on these tests because to do otherwise could have dire negative effects on the examinee's life. Dr. Suarez was the only expert to conduct validity testing on Phillips. He opined that if you do a cognitive or neurocognitive evaluation and you don't do validity testing, you've done an incomplete assessment. The other doctors disagreed and did not believe that validity testing was necessary. Based on his evaluations, Dr. Suarez opined that although Phillips is functioning at a low average level of intelligence, he is not mentally retarded. Phillips has neither the requisite IQ to classify him as mentally retarded nor the necessary concurrent deficits in adaptive functioning. Dr. Suarez also noted that [t]he information that's available prior to my evaluating him in and of itself would suggest that he's not mentally retarded, and that a lot of the results that have been obtained by previous evaluators [have] been obtained without the benefit of concurrent validity testing, which eliminates the ability to specify whether those instances reflected good efforts and an intention to do the best one can on these tests. After hearing the testimony and reviewing the evidence, the trial court concluded that Phillips did not prove mental retardation by clear and convincing evidence. Phillips appeals that decision, raising the issues discussed below.