Wrongful Termination Expert Services in New Jersey

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

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

Overview

Wrongful termination cases quantify back pay, front pay, and mitigation efforts, often requiring a vocational evaluation of the claimant's post-termination job search, marketable skills, and comparable-occupation wage data.

Vocational and economic impact

Vocational analysis addresses the claimant's reasonable job search, the availability of comparable positions in the relevant labor market, and the time required to secure comparable or alternative employment.

Damages typically include back pay (from termination to trial), front pay (from trial to expected re-employment), lost benefits, and loss of earning capacity where applicable. Mitigation offsets apply.

New Jersey courts and expert standards

Wrongful Termination 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 termination cases

Other case types in New Jersey

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 'mitigation' mean in wrongful termination cases?

Mitigation refers to the claimant's obligation to make reasonable efforts to obtain comparable alternative employment. A vocational expert can opine on the reasonableness of the job search and the expected time to secure comparable work.

How is front pay calculated?

Front pay projects expected future losses from the date of trial to a reasonable end point - often the expected date of comparable re-employment or a jurisdictionally accepted cutoff. Present value reduction applies.

Are lost retirement contributions compensable?

In many cases, yes. Employer retirement contributions (401(k) match, pension accruals) and projected interest are quantified as part of lost benefits.

References

  1. EEOC Enforcement GuidanceGovernment
  2. BLS Occupational Employment StatisticsGovernment
  3. BLS Current Employment StatisticsGovernment
  4. 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)Government
  5. 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)Government

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

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