Non-pecuniary Damages

Estimating non-pecuniary damages can be difficult as they correspond to losses in utility suffered when irreplacaeable things have been destroyed, such as family portraits or other unique objects. They also include such things as loss of relationship, comfort, love, companionship and other feelings of welfare. Usually these losses are categorized as intangibles and the value of these has been left to a jury to decide or are prescribed by statute.

Since 2004, the Bureau of Labor Statistics is conducting annual American Time Use Surveys (ATUS) detailing in minutia every activity in a household. These hundreds of activities are assigned to occupantional categories and then given dollar values. This allows to provide a real estimate for non-pecuniary damages for specific cases and circumstance.

Net Accumulation to the Estate

Many states require an estimate of lost net accumulation to the estate, or loss of inheritance as a separate element of damages. This allows for recovery claims by individuals who were not directly supported by the deceased, indlucing adult children.

In analyzing these damages, we work closely with clients, gathering necessary data, identifying relevant issues and caculating the actual extent of economic loss.