Commercial Contract Dispute Economic Damages Expert in Hawaii

By Christopher Skerritt, M.Ed., MBA, Chief of Economic Services · Published · Reviewed

KW Economics prepares economic damages analyses for commercial contract dispute cases venued in Hawaii: the components the loss claim consists of, the records that drive them, and a present value built to Hawaii's damages rules and venues. Plaintiff and defense.

A commercial contract damages claim measures the profits a business lost, or the costs it incurred, because the other party did not perform, as the difference between the performed-contract path and what the business actually earned or could have earned by mitigating. Read the full commercial contract dispute analysis guide.

Hawaii courts and expert standards

Hawaii courts ask whether an expert opinion is relevant and reliable and whether it will help the jury, treating the reliability factors the federal courts use as helpful rather than required and not insisting on general acceptance; the witness is qualified by training and experience. An economic damages report is examined on whether its assumptions have a published basis and fit the record.

Where these cases are heard

Highest court: Hawaii Supreme Court. Federal venues: D. Haw. Court system: courts.state.hi.us.

Damages framework

Hawaii reduces a negligence-based award by the plaintiff's share of fault and bars recovery once that share exceeds the combined fault of the defendants. Prejudgment interest is discretionary, so the report separates past from future amounts and supplies the schedule the court would need to award it. Economic damages are not subject to a general statutory limit outside specific statutory claims.

How the analysis is built

The same four steps apply to a commercial contract dispute case venued in Hawaii; the damages framework above decides which components enter the total.

  1. Establish the but-for revenue from the contract terms, the pre-dispute projections, and the business's own history.
  2. Identify the incremental costs that would have been incurred to earn that revenue so that only the lost margin is claimed.
  3. Analyze actual results after the breach to separate the effect of the breach from market conditions and other causes, and credit mitigation revenue.
  4. Bring past lost profits forward and discount future lost profits at a stated rate that reflects the risk of the earnings stream.

Attorney guides for commercial contract dispute cases

Other case types in Hawaii

Frequently asked: commercial contract dispute cases in Hawaii

Which Hawaii courts hear commercial contract dispute cases?

Commercial Contract Dispute cases venued in Hawaii are heard in the Circuit Court (General jurisdiction; larger civil cases, felonies, family court division). Final appeals run to the Hawaii Supreme Court. Matters within federal jurisdiction proceed in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii.

How does Hawaii's damages framework shape the economic analysis?

Hawaii reduces a negligence-based award by the plaintiff's share of fault and bars recovery once that share exceeds the combined fault of the defendants. Prejudgment interest is discretionary, so the report separates past from future amounts and supplies the schedule the court would need to award it. Economic damages are not subject to a general statutory limit outside specific statutory claims. Hawaii courts ask whether an expert opinion is relevant and reliable and whether it will help the jury, treating the reliability factors the federal courts use as helpful rather than required and not insisting on general acceptance; the witness is qualified by training and experience. An economic damages report is examined on whether its assumptions have a published basis and fit the record.

More questions about commercial contract dispute analysis

References

Request a consultation on commercial contract dispute cases in Hawaii or call (201) 343-0700. Plaintiff and defense counsel.