NERA economists have consulted on a variety of product liability matters, ranging from providing expert testimony in a high-profile, multi-billion dollar bankruptcy hearing, to providing a quick assessment of potential exposure prior to an acquisition, to projecting the path by which a current trickle of claims might escalate. We bring together the required disciplines -- including economics, statistics, epidemiological modeling, computer programming, accounting and insurance allocation -- to address the most complex valuation problems that arise.

Often retained by manufacturers targeted by large class action lawsuits, we have provided consulting services and expert testimony across a variety of industries and product lines, including:

Asbestos

Silica

Manganese

Beryllium chemicals

Building products

Mixed dust

Mold

Automobiles

Tobacco

Pharmaceuticals

Firearms

Medical devices

From this extensive experience, which includes analyzing the asbestos claims of more than 60 defendants, we have developed valuable proprietary resources, including claim databases that provide information on average settlement values by disease, state and plaintiffs' law firm, as well as the results of medical and product identification screens. We have also compiled historical information on labor statistics and turnover in numerous occupations that allow us to rigorously estimate the potentially affected population.

Our work is used in a variety of contexts, including:

Assessing Reserve Adequacy

Optimizing Litigation Strategy

Preparing Financial Reports

Informing Merger Due Diligence

Sizing Bankruptcy Trusts

Appraising Proposed Tort Reforms

Negotiating Insurance Buy-Backs

Identifying Unimpaired Claimants/Unfounded Claims

Tracking Litigation Trends

Developing Claims Databases

Evaluating Fraudulent Conveyance Allegations

Predicting Insurance Exhaustion

Valuing Contingent Liability