Questions?

Economics in Orange, CA

I am an employee benefits attorney who is an expert witness in a wrongful termination case. My task is to quantify the benefits losses when our client moved from a big company with great benefits to a small company with so-so benefits. After the loss was calculated for most of the benefits, I used FV calculations to project out 10 years until retirement and then PV calculations to bring it back to taday's money. I did them in Excel. I have absolutely no background in economics and am highly math-challenged! I need to defend the discount rate I chose. I chose it because it seemed fair to me as a lay person. The courts don't mandate a specific approach to choosing a discount rate. You just have to be reasonable in your choice. I don't know if I made a logical choice, but even if I didn't, a solid agument needs to be constructed for my choice. This may take some tapdancing but welcome to the world of litigation. This is my first trial. the opposing expert is an economist with many trials under his belt. I need just enough economic theory to beat him at his own game. I already did the deposition and the discount rate issue did not come up but will definitely be part of the cross-examination at the trial. Can you help me? Please answer as honestly as you can because my career is on the line here. I am the sle support for two kids in college and want to pursue this line of work full-time. But if I am an idiot on the stand, forget it. This is the only hole in my story. Time is of the essence so I would want to meet towards the middle of next week at my home in Orange. Please respond as soon as you can. Thanks. S.

Sent by Susan on 4/28/13