Forensic Economist Qualifications for North Dakota Damages Cases

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

North Dakota admits expert testimony liberally: the court asks whether the economist is qualified by training and experience and whether the opinion will help the fact finder, and leaves the weight of the testimony to cross-examination rather than screening its methodology in advance. An economic damages report is therefore tested on its inputs at deposition and trial, which is why it states each assumption and its 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 North Dakota

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

North Dakota courts and venues

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

Highest court: North Dakota Supreme Court. Federal venues: D.N.D. Court system: ndcourts.gov.

Forensic economists for North Dakota matters

KW Economics provides forensic economists for North Dakota 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 North Dakota

Frequently asked: qualifying a forensic economist in North Dakota

How do North Dakota courts qualify a forensic economist?

North Dakota admits expert testimony liberally: the court asks whether the economist is qualified by training and experience and whether the opinion will help the fact finder, and leaves the weight of the testimony to cross-examination rather than screening its methodology in advance. An economic damages report is therefore tested on its inputs at deposition and trial, which is why it states each assumption and its 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 North Dakota damages matters or call (201) 343-0700. Plaintiff and defense counsel.