Wrongful Death Economic Damages Expert in Wyoming

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

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

A wrongful death economic claim measures what the decedent would have contributed to the household over an expected life: earnings and benefits net of personal consumption, household services, and support to each dependent, reduced to present value under the framework counsel identifies. Read the full wrongful death analysis guide.

Wyoming courts and expert standards

Wyoming trial courts act as gatekeepers for expert testimony and ask whether the economist is qualified by training and experience, whether the method is reliable and accepted in the profession, and whether it fits the facts of the case. A damages report meets that inquiry by tying each input to the record and naming the published source behind every assumption.

Where these cases are heard

Highest court: Wyoming Supreme Court. Federal venues: D. Wyo. Court system: courts.state.wy.us.

Outside the civil courts, wage-loss disputes in workers' compensation matters proceed before the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, Workers' Compensation Division.

Damages framework

Wyoming's wrongful death action is brought by a representative for the beneficiaries' losses, including pecuniary loss and loss of care, comfort, and society, alongside a survival action for the estate, and the state constitution bars any legislative limit on damages for injury or death. Recovery is barred once the plaintiff's fault exceeds the combined fault of the defendants, the common-law collateral source rule applies, and prejudgment interest is generally limited to liquidated sums.

How the analysis is built

The same four steps apply to a wrongful death case venued in Wyoming; the damages framework above decides which components enter the total.

  1. Establish the decedent's earnings and fringe benefit base from the tax, wage, and benefit records.
  2. Project the base over a worklife expectancy with a stated wage growth rate.
  3. Deduct personal consumption from published household expenditure data and add household services and support to each dependent over its period.
  4. Discount every future stream to present value at a stated rate and show the sensitivity of the total to the contested assumptions.

Attorney guides for wrongful death cases

Other case types in Wyoming

Frequently asked: wrongful death cases in Wyoming

Which Wyoming courts hear wrongful death cases?

Wrongful Death cases venued in Wyoming are heard in the District Court (General jurisdiction; 9 judicial districts across 23 counties). Final appeals run to the Wyoming Supreme Court. Matters within federal jurisdiction proceed in the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming.

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

Wyoming's wrongful death action is brought by a representative for the beneficiaries' losses, including pecuniary loss and loss of care, comfort, and society, alongside a survival action for the estate, and the state constitution bars any legislative limit on damages for injury or death. Recovery is barred once the plaintiff's fault exceeds the combined fault of the defendants, the common-law collateral source rule applies, and prejudgment interest is generally limited to liquidated sums. Wyoming trial courts act as gatekeepers for expert testimony and ask whether the economist is qualified by training and experience, whether the method is reliable and accepted in the profession, and whether it fits the facts of the case. A damages report meets that inquiry by tying each input to the record and naming the published source behind every assumption.

More questions about wrongful death analysis

References

Request a consultation on wrongful death cases in Wyoming or call (201) 343-0700. Plaintiff and defense counsel.