INDIVIDUAL VALUATIONS
In the case of an economic damages report of an individual rendered for a plaintiff or defense attorney, the methodology employed is straightforward, hence no introductory interview is needed. Your first step is to collect accurate information regarding your client’s loss. One must acknowledge that unique events particular to your client’s situation make each valuation distinct; however, you may use these questionnaires in cases where a valuation is needed due to a death, job termination or injury.
wrongful death summary
job termination summary
personal injury summary
Complete these form to initiate a case summary for your client. A copy of your submission will be returned to you, via email, for your files. In addition to this information, you should be collecting additional information such as:
- relevant deposition transcripts
- tax returns for your client, with the most exhaustive collection spanning a ten year period
- employer handbooks detailing paid benefits
- reports of doctors, rehabilitation specialists or vocational analysts
and any other information that details compensation and benefits, such as annual compensation reports, check stubs or retirement account statements
POLICY VALUATIONS
In economic reports that require the development of a unique methodology, it is best to begin by scheduling a phone or office interview with me. For such atypical projects, our interview will serve as a starting point where a determination can be made if my approach as an economist would be useful to your objectives and provide you with worthwhile information. Examples of such projects include:
MUNDAY DCOM / KNOX COUNTY HOSPITAL
Munday, Texas was faced with the closure of a 60-bed nursing facility that had operated as for-profit venture in their community since 1973. The facility employed 36 jobs and represented a significant number of jobs in a county where employment is 2,100.
The Development Corporation of Munday (DCOM) employed me to execute an economic impact study of the facility’s closure on the community and county. RIMS II multipliers for Knox County from the Bureau of Economic Analysis from were used to assess the impact on closure and its effects due to job loss and secondary effects experienced by the schools, retail and local utility sales.
The results of this analysis were presented at a county forum with representation from the Knox County hospital board, DCOM and the Knox County commissioners. It served as a starting point for a community dialogue that resulted in a collaborative solution devised by DCOM, the hospital district, the City of Munday, and the Knox County commissioners to keep the Munday Nursing Center open through public ownership.
ABILENE DCOA / AYSA
I was approached by a group of local businesspersons to conduct an independent study of the proposed Abilene Youth Sports Authority (AYSA) sports venue. The report is entitled The Efficiency of Economic Development Expenditures: Returns to Primary Job Creation Under the Stewardship of the Development Corporation of Abilene. A full text copy of my report is available online with citations. I have archived this study on this site as a pfd document if you’d like to review it.
This commissioning group included Grady Barr, Tucker Bridwell, Ken Burgess, Joe Canon, Ray Ferguson and Bill Senter and, as members of the business community and community volunteers, they recognized the merits of the AYSA, but were curious about how the Development Corporation of Abilene(DCOA) performed in contrast to this proposed youth sports venue.
The methodology employed makes comparable the returns of the proposed AYSC to DCOA returns from job creation. In my investigation, I discovered that:
- The track record of the DCOA outperforms the proposed AYSC $6 to $1.
- Based on their success over the past 17 years, the DCOA has the potential to create over $1 billion in incomes and tax revenues over the next 30 years with the same $15 million under consideration on the May referendum.
- Based on our demographics and AYSC fees, this venue appeals to a select population, not the community as a whole.
- The AYSC has an planned annual shortfall of $429,600 which could cost us with additional taxes or reduced city programming if this venue’s deficit become the responsibility of the City of Abilene.
- Tourist venues are easy to replicate; successful and diverse economics are not.
This report was used to successfully defeat the AYSA referendum. When the votes on this referendum were tallyed, the AYSA referendum was defeated by 74% of voters. Additionally, I presented these results at the Southern Economic Association conference in Washington DC at their annual meetings in 2008.
CREZ / WINDS OF PROSPERITY
The Perryman Group performed a comprehensive review of wind energy’s impact on the Texas economy. This work is entitled Winds of Prosperity. The purpose of this estimation was to demonstrate that wind energy has myriad benefits to Texas and that electric infrastructure is crucial if the Texas economy is to realize these benefits.
As an economist, I was asked to perform an independent appraisal of this study to determine if it was methodologically sound and correct in its conclusions. I was one of several Texas economists who performed independent reviews of this study. In my review of this report, I offered my unqualified support of the The Perryman Group’s estimations and assertions regarding the benefits of wind energy to the Texas state economy.