Contributors to the Journal of Forensic Economics are compiling a state-by-state series of papers on how economic damages are assessed in personal injury and wrongful death cases. This paper discusses rules of the court, the court system, and case law for the State of New Jersey. Overall, New Jersey is both different and the same as many other states. The court requires experts to discount to present value, use gender-neutral life expectancy tables, and subtract personal income taxes when estimating earnings losses. New Jersey also accepts expert testimony regarding the value of lost companionship services and advice and counsel services in death cases. This paper discusses these issues and others, with a goal of familiarizing forensic economists with the relevant court rules and rulings and standard practices when performing economic damage appraisals in the State of New Jersey.Abstract
Contributor Notes
*Tinari is Professor Emeritus, Seton Hall University, and Principal Economist, Tinari Economics Group. Kucsma is Economist, Tinari Economics Group. An earlier version of this paper was presented at a session sponsored by the National Association of Forensic Economics at the Allied Social Sciences Association Annual Conference, Boston, January 7, 2006. Helpful comments from participants as well as suggestions from special editors James D. Rodgers and Robert A. Male were incorporated in the present paper. Any remaining errors are solely the responsibility of the authors.