Wrongful Death Expert Services in New Jersey

Responsible experts: Christopher Skerritt, M.Ed., MBA (Chief of Economic Services); Matthew R. Putts, Ph.D. (Chief of Vocational Services)

KWVRS provides wrongful death vocational, life care planning, and forensic economic analysis for attorneys handling cases in New Jersey.

Overview

Wrongful death cases quantify the economic loss to survivors and the estate resulting from a decedent's death, most commonly as lost earnings, lost fringe benefits, lost household services, and lost personal services or guidance. The vocational component reconstructs the decedent's pre-death earning capacity; the economic component reduces projected losses to present value net of personal consumption.

Vocational and economic impact

For a decedent, the vocational component reconstructs earning capacity at the time of death using education, training, work history, industry trajectories, and labor market data. In some jurisdictions, a claimant spouse's earning capacity is also evaluated where household services or income contributions are at issue.

Damages typically include lost earnings and earning capacity across the decedent's worklife, lost fringe benefits, lost household services, and in some jurisdictions loss of personal consortium, care, guidance, and advice. Projections are reduced to present value using appropriate discount rates and net of personal consumption.

New Jersey courts and expert standards

Wrongful Death matters in New Jersey are litigated in the state's trial courts, with vocational, life care planning, and economic testimony evaluated under New Jersey's expert evidence standard. KWVRS prepares reports and testimony that account for these requirements.

Where these cases are heard

Superior Court, Law Division - General civil matters over $20,000 and criminal matters; jury trials. Its Special Civil Part hears civil claims up to $20,000, including small claims up to $5,000
Superior Court, Chancery Division - Equity matters, family court, probate
Superior Court, Family Division - Domestic relations, juvenile, and family matters

Highest court: Supreme Court of New Jersey. Federal venues: D.N.J..

Sources: New Jersey Courts, Self-Help Center: lawsuits $20,000 or less (Special Civil), over $20,000 (Civil), $5,000 or less (Small Claims) (reviewed 2026-09-05); New Jersey Courts, Notice to the Bar of May 11, 2022: Special Civil Part and Small Claims monetary limits raised effective July 1, 2022 (reviewed 2026-09-05)

Attorney guides for wrongful death cases

Other case types in New Jersey

Frequently Asked Questions

What is personal consumption and why is it deducted?

Personal consumption is the portion of the decedent's earnings that would have been spent on the decedent's own maintenance rather than provided to survivors. It is deducted so that damages reflect the net economic loss to the survivors, consistent with standard forensic economic practice.

How is lost earning capacity projected for a decedent who had not yet entered the workforce?

For young decedents or those with limited earnings history, economists use education-based and demographic-based earnings tables from Census/CPS data, applied to an expected career path consistent with the decedent's documented abilities and plans.

Are lost household services compensable in wrongful death cases?

In most jurisdictions, yes. Lost household services are valued using time-use survey data and local market wage rates for equivalent services such as childcare, home maintenance, meal preparation, and transportation.

What discount rate is applied to wrongful death damages?

Forensic economists apply discount rates drawn from Treasury yields matched to the projection horizon, often in a net discount rate framework that also accounts for expected wage growth. Jurisdiction-specific rules may apply.

References

Ready to Get Started on wrongful death cases in New Jersey?

Contact KWVRS to discuss scope, timing, and the deliverables appropriate to the matter. Plaintiff and defense.

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