Wrongful Death Expert Services in Pennsylvania
KWVRS provides wrongful death vocational, life care planning, and forensic economic analysis for attorneys handling cases in Pennsylvania.
Wrongful Death matters in Pennsylvania: where they are heard
A wrongful death action in Pennsylvania is brought in the Court of Common Pleas of the county with venue, the trial court of that county's judicial district, and it is tried there to a jury when one is demanded. A federal filing goes to one of three districts, the Eastern District of Pennsylvania from Philadelphia, the Middle District of Pennsylvania from Harrisburg and the Western District of Pennsylvania from Pittsburgh, each of which lists further seats on its page. The Superior Court of Pennsylvania hears the appeal, and the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is the highest court in the Commonwealth.
The economic report in a Pennsylvania wrongful death case projects the decedent's earnings, benefits and household services over the years the survivors would have received them. Attorneys confirm the governing rule for their case. KWVRS prepares that report, with the vocational analysis of the decedent's work history behind it, to the disclosure requirements of the forum, and the expert disclosure page for Pennsylvania matters describes them.
Sources: Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, Courts of Common Pleas: the trial courts of Pennsylvania, organized into judicial districts; major civil and criminal cases (reviewed 2026-09-14); Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, How the Courts Operate: jury trials primarily in the Courts of Common Pleas; either party may appeal a civil decision to the appellate courts, and an appeal from a conviction goes to the Superior Court and, if unsuccessful, to the Supreme Court (reviewed 2026-09-14); Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, Superior Court: one of two statewide intermediate appellate courts (reviewed 2026-09-14); Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, Supreme Court: the highest court in the Commonwealth (reviewed 2026-09-14); United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, court locations: the James A. Byrne U.S. Courthouse, Philadelphia; Allentown; Reading; Easton (reviewed 2026-09-14); United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, court locations: Scranton, Harrisburg, Williamsport and Wilkes-Barre (reviewed 2026-09-14); United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, court locations: the Joseph F. Weis, Jr. U.S. Courthouse, Pittsburgh; Erie; Johnstown (reviewed 2026-09-14)
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.
Pennsylvania courts and expert standards
Wrongful Death matters in Pennsylvania are litigated in the state's trial courts, with vocational, life care planning, and economic testimony evaluated under Pennsylvania's expert evidence standard. KWVRS prepares reports and testimony that account for these requirements.
Where these cases are heard
- Court of Common Pleas - General jurisdiction; 60 judicial districts; civil, criminal, family, and orphans' court divisions
- Magisterial District Court - Civil cases up to $12,000, summary offenses, traffic, landlord-tenant
- Philadelphia Municipal Court - Civil cases up to $12,000 in Philadelphia; traffic and misdemeanors
Highest court: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Federal venues: E.D. Pa., M.D. Pa., W.D. Pa..
Attorney guides for wrongful death cases
Other case types in Pennsylvania
Frequently Asked Questions
In which Pennsylvania court is a wrongful death claim heard?
The damages action is heard by the Court of Common Pleas of the county with venue. A federal filing goes to whichever of the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Pennsylvania has venue.
What does the economic expert disclose in a Pennsylvania wrongful death case?
A report documenting the decedent's earnings history, the worklife and life expectancy tables applied, the fringe benefits and household services valued, the personal consumption deduction and the discount rate, prepared to the requirements of the court and exchanged on the schedule it sets.
References
Ready to Get Started on wrongful death cases in Pennsylvania?
Contact KWVRS to discuss scope, timing, and the deliverables appropriate to the matter. Plaintiff and defense.