[jQuery Validate plugin] dependency-expression with custom method

[jQuery Validate plugin] dependency-expression with custom method

Hi,

I have added a new method as shown below, that makes sure that a valid value is selected in the combobox.
  1. jQuery.validator.addMethod("cb_required", function(value, element, param) {
  2.     return this.optional(element) || value != "Select One";
  3. },
  4.     "This is required"
  5. );

This works fine  for simple use cases where I set rule as follows
  1. cb_required: true

But if I use a dependency expression, it ignores the function. Basically I want a valid value to be selected only if status is not new. 
  1.  cb_required: function(element) {
  2.                                          var statusCombo = $find("<%=cbStatus.ClientID %>");     
  3.                                          var status = statusCombo.get_value();
  4.                                          return (status != "New")
  5.                                     }   

Thanks