Forensic Economist Qualifications for South Carolina Damages Cases

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

South Carolina courts ask whether the economist is qualified by training and experience, whether the opinion rests on a reliable basis, and whether it will assist the fact finder, under a reliability inquiry of the state's own that does not adopt the federal test. An economic damages report meets that inquiry by showing the published basis for each assumption and its application to the record. 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 South Carolina

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

South Carolina courts and venues

Economic damages experts testify in South Carolina'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 South Carolina. Federal venues: D.S.C. Court system: sccourts.org.

Forensic economists for South Carolina matters

KW Economics provides forensic economists for South Carolina 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 South Carolina

Frequently asked: qualifying a forensic economist in South Carolina

How do South Carolina courts qualify a forensic economist?

South Carolina courts ask whether the economist is qualified by training and experience, whether the opinion rests on a reliable basis, and whether it will assist the fact finder, under a reliability inquiry of the state's own that does not adopt the federal test. An economic damages report meets that inquiry by showing the published basis for each assumption and its application to the record. 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 South Carolina damages matters or call (201) 343-0700. Plaintiff and defense counsel.