Forensic Economist Qualifications for Louisiana Damages Cases

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

Louisiana courts ask the trial judge to act as gatekeeper for expert testimony, examining whether the economist is qualified, whether the method is reliable and accepted in the profession, and whether it was applied reliably to the facts of the case. An economic damages report answers those questions by tying each input to the record and citing 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 Louisiana

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

Louisiana courts and venues

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

Highest court: Louisiana Supreme Court. Federal venues: E.D. La., M.D. La., W.D. La. Court system: lasc.org.

Forensic economists for Louisiana matters

KW Economics provides forensic economists for Louisiana 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 Louisiana

Frequently asked: qualifying a forensic economist in Louisiana

How do Louisiana courts qualify a forensic economist?

Louisiana courts ask the trial judge to act as gatekeeper for expert testimony, examining whether the economist is qualified, whether the method is reliable and accepted in the profession, and whether it was applied reliably to the facts of the case. An economic damages report answers those questions by tying each input to the record and citing 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 Louisiana damages matters or call (201) 343-0700. Plaintiff and defense counsel.