Can expert testimony be used to determine pecuniary loss?
Yes. Plaintiffs are permitted to submit economist testimony to estimate the financial value of the decedent. For example, when the decedent is a housewife who did not earn wages outside the home, the financial impact on the survivors will not involve a loss of income, but increased expenditures to continue the services she was providing. Because the jury may not be knowledgeable regarding the monetary value of a housewife’s services, experts may contribute approximate figures for this evaluation.
