Forensic Economist Qualifications for District of Columbia Damages Cases

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

District of Columbia courts ask the trial judge to act as gatekeeper for expert testimony, examining whether the witness is qualified by training and experience, whether the method is reliable and accepted in the profession, and whether it was applied reliably to the facts. An economic damages report meets that inquiry by tying each input to the record and naming its published sources. 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 the District of Columbia

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 the District of Columbia, counsel verify the qualification the same way in every venue, because no state licenses forensic economists and there is no District of Columbia 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 the District of Columbia, 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 the District of Columbia's wage levels, venue, and damages rules.

District of Columbia courts and venues

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

Highest court: District of Columbia Court of Appeals. Federal venues: D.D.C. Court system: dccourts.gov.

Forensic economists for District of Columbia matters

KW Economics provides forensic economists for District of Columbia 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 the District of Columbia

Frequently asked: qualifying a forensic economist in the District of Columbia

How do District of Columbia courts qualify a forensic economist?

District of Columbia courts ask the trial judge to act as gatekeeper for expert testimony, examining whether the witness is qualified by training and experience, whether the method is reliable and accepted in the profession, and whether it was applied reliably to the facts. An economic damages report meets that inquiry by tying each input to the record and naming its published sources. 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 District of Columbia damages matters or call (201) 343-0700. Plaintiff and defense counsel.