Forensic Economist Qualifications for Alabama Damages Cases

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

Alabama applies a reliability inquiry to scientific evidence and asks of other expert testimony whether the witness is qualified by training and experience and whether the opinion will assist the jury, so an economic damages opinion is tested mainly on its inputs: whether each rate, table, and assumption traces to the record and to a published source. The forensic economist qualification is what that inquiry examines: graduate training in economics, finance, or business, a published damages method applied to the record, and a record of reports and testimony.

Recognition and qualification in Alabama

State recognition: Recognized nationally; no state licensure applies. There is no state license for forensic economists to check, so counsel verify the credential with its issuer and review the economist's testimony record directly.

For a matter venued in Alabama, counsel verify the qualification the same way in every venue, because no state licenses forensic economists and there is no Alabama register to check. The elements are the economist's graduate training, the published method behind each component of the report, and the testimony record, and each can be examined directly: the CV, the report's stated sources, and the transcripts of prior depositions. In Alabama, the same elements are what the court weighs when the opinion is challenged, so a report that ties every input to the record and names its data sources answers the qualification question before it is asked.

KW Economics economists apply nationally recognized methods while accounting for Alabama's wage levels, venue, and damages rules.

Alabama courts and venues

Economic damages experts testify in Alabama's courts, where qualification is decided case by case on education, method, and experience rather than on any single credential.

Highest court: Supreme Court of Alabama. Federal venues: N.D. Ala., M.D. Ala., S.D. Ala. Court system: alacourt.gov.

Forensic economists for Alabama matters

KW Economics provides forensic economists for Alabama damages matters, including remote consultation, report preparation, and deposition or trial testimony where the case is venued. Contact us to discuss availability for your matter.

Other credentials in Alabama

Frequently asked: qualifying a forensic economist in Alabama

How do Alabama courts qualify a forensic economist?

Alabama applies a reliability inquiry to scientific evidence and asks of other expert testimony whether the witness is qualified by training and experience and whether the opinion will assist the jury, so an economic damages opinion is tested mainly on its inputs: whether each rate, table, and assumption traces to the record and to a published source. Recognized nationally; no state licensure applies. There is no state license for forensic economists to check, so counsel verify the credential with its issuer and review the economist's testimony record directly.

More questions about this credential

References

Request a consultation on Alabama damages matters or call (201) 343-0700. Plaintiff and defense counsel.