When to Retain a Forensic Economist

The Core Question: Does Your Case Turn on Future Economic Loss?

Forensic economists quantify dollar damages—future earnings, earning capacity, fringe benefits, and present value. Retain an economist when damages extend beyond simple special damages (past medical bills and lost wages to date) and when credible quantification requires documented methodology that withstands FRE 702 and Daubert scrutiny.

If opposing counsel has retained an economist, you likely need one too—either to build a parallel model on the plaintiff side or to rebut on the defense side. Settlement negotiations often track the midpoint between economist reports.

Case Types That Typically Require an Economist

• Permanent injury preventing return to prior occupation
• Wrongful death of a wage earner or primary household contributor
• Wrongful termination with front pay or long back pay periods
• Medical malpractice with lifelong disability, especially pediatric cases
• Disputed mitigation or post-injury earnings in high-wage cases
• Any case where present value or fringe benefits are contested

Economist vs. Vocational Expert

Vocational experts opine on employability, transferable skills, and suitable occupations. Forensic economists assign dollar values to earnings and capacity using tax records, BLS/OEWS data, and work-life expectancy. Many cases require both experts working in sequence: vocational first, then economist.

Future Earnings Expert connects counsel with economists who routinely coordinate with vocational specialists. Neither expert replaces the other.

Timing: Earlier Is Better

Early retention—before discovery closes—allows the economist to shape document requests for tax returns, employer records, and vocational reports. Late retention limits rebuttal options and may rush reports that invite methodological challenge.

A preliminary consultation (often at no charge through our network intake) confirms case fit, records needed, and estimated timeline without committing to a full engagement.

Plaintiff and Defense Retentions

Plaintiff counsel retains to establish full economic loss. Defense counsel retains to test assumptions, credit mitigation, and rebut inflated projections. Network experts serve both sides subject to conflicts screening. Methodology follows evidence—not a predetermined outcome.