Expert Survives Daubert—Allowed to Testify as to Lost Business Value
The case dealt with two motions to preclude testimony of an expert witness as to the loss in value of the plaintiff’s business. The plaintiff was an environmental consulting firm allegedly injured as a result of the actions of certain employees including breach of their fiduciary duty. The court concluded that the witness may testify because his report was based on sufficient facts and data and he applied reliable principles to the facts of this case.
White Buffalo Env’t, Inc. v. Hungry Horse, LLC
The case dealt with two motions to preclude testimony of an expert witness as to the loss in value of the plaintiff’s business. The plaintiff was an environmental consulting firm allegedly injured as a result of the actions of certain employees including breach of their fiduciary duty. The court concluded that the witness may testify because his report was based on sufficient facts and data and he applied reliable principles to the facts of this case.
Global BVU News and Trends October 2020
Business valuation news from a global perspective.
Excelling in Litigation and Dispute-Related Valuations: How to Not Get Caught Bringing a Knife to a Gunfight
Preparing a valuation analysis can be difficult enough, let alone defending it against an opposing party questioning your every move. It is important for valuation experts to know how their valuations may be challenged by other experts and work to effectively address these issues pre-emptively. Presenters Sean Saari and Bob Ranallo discuss how to prepare yourself, and your valuation report, when you know your work will be subject to review and critique in a litigation ...
D&P’s de Gray releases new financial damages guide for lost value calculations
Neil de Gray, a director in the Toronto office of Duff & Phelps, makes a strong argument for the use of business valuation professionals in any calculation of damages in his new guide The Financial Damages Model for Loss of Value, published late last month by Lexology.
Lost profits claims fail to meet New York’s strict standard
Establishing lost profits under New York law can be difficult.
IceMOS Tech. Corp. v. Omron Corp.
In contract dispute, court denies defendant’s Daubert motions, finding plaintiff’s experts are qualified based on extensive experience in relevant industry; experts could provide testimony relevant to surviving lost development support costs claim and their testimony is not unreliable as of now.
Plaintiff’s Projections Fail to Meet New York Test for Lost Profits or Lost Business Value
A breach of contract case in which the plaintiff asked for various types of economic damages is noteworthy for the court s extended discussion of what the plaintiff must show under New York law to make a case for lost profits. The court explained that the hurdle was particularly high for a new business or a business trying to break into a new market considering the company s lack of a financial track record. Damages must be ...
IceMOS Tech. Corp. v. Omron Corp.
In contract dispute, court says claims for lost profits and lost business value fail because, for both, plaintiff is unable to determine damages with reasonable certainty; relying solely on projections of future performance, without any proof of profit, is not enough under New York law.
Plaintiff’s Projections Fail to Meet New York Test for Lost Profits or Lost Business Value
A breach of contract case in which the plaintiff asked for various types of economic damages is noteworthy for the court s extended discussion of what the plaintiff must show under New York law to make a case for lost profits. The court explained that the hurdle was particularly high for a new business or a business trying to break into a new market considering the company s lack of a financial track record. Damages must be ...
Cargotec Corp. v. Logan Industries
Appeals court majority strikes down lost profits and diminished business value awards, finding plaintiff failed to show causation and its damages expert based his calculations on management’s business plan without substantiating the plan’s underlying (unreasonable) gross profit goals.
Court’s Majority Says Expert’s Reliance on Management Projections Was Unreasonable
Appeals court majority strikes down lost profits and diminished business value awards, finding plaintiff failed to show causation and its damages expert based his calculations on management’s business plan without substantiating the plan’s underlying (unreasonable) gross profit goals.
Court Favors Lost Profits Over Lost Value Damages for Surviving Business
In business tort case, court says damages to compensate plaintiff for loss of goodwill should take the form of lost profits, not total loss of value damages, where defendant employees were not subject to noncompetes and plaintiff was not completely destro ...
Loss of Value Damages Do Not Require Showing of Complete Destruction
In tortious interference with business relations case, 8th Circuit says district court did not err when it allowed plaintiff’s expert to testify to total loss of value where company was not completely destroyed but harmed; damages award was not excessive.
Loss of Value Damages Do Not Require Showing of Complete Destruction
In tortious interference with business relations case, 8th Circuit says district court did not err when it allowed plaintiff’s expert to testify to total loss of value where company was not completely destroyed but harmed; damages award was not excessive.
2nd Circuit Affirms Nixing of Award Due to Bad Yardstick Analysis
Appeals court validates nixing of future lost profits award where expert calculated damages for a startup company based on revenues of market leader; court finds expert failed to use reasonable comparator, making his yardstick analysis legally unsound.
Washington v. Kellwood Co. (IV)
Appeals court validates nixing of future lost profits award where expert calculated damages for a startup company based on revenues of market leader; court finds expert failed to use reasonable comparator, making his yardstick analysis legally unsound.
Court Favors Lost Profits Over Lost Value Damages for Surviving Business
In business tort case, court says damages to compensate plaintiff for loss of goodwill should take the form of lost profits, not total loss of value damages, where defendant employees were not subject to noncompetes and plaintiff was not completely destro ...
Mifflinburg Telegraph, Inc. v. Criswell, Inc.
In business tort case, court says damages to compensate plaintiff for loss of goodwill should take the form of lost profits, not total loss of value damages, where defendant employees were not subject to noncompetes and plaintiff was not completely destro ...
Loss of Value Damages Does Not Require Showing of Complete Destruction
In tortious interference with business relations case, 8th Circuit says district court did not err when it allowed plaintiff’s expert to testify to total loss of value where company was not completely destroyed but harmed; damages award was not excessive.
West Plains, LLC v. Retzlaff Grain Co. (II)
In tortious interference with business relations case, 8th Circuit says district court did not err when it allowed plaintiff’s expert to testify to total loss of value where company was not completely destroyed but harmed; damages award was not excessive.
Majority Says EBITDA Valuations Buttress Damages Award
In business tort case involving unprofitable entity trying to market a trade secret, court upholds damages award; experts’ EBITDA valuations were based on commonly used method and numerous data sources, and experts linked data to conclusions, court says.
Pike v. Tex. EMC Mgmt., LLC
In business tort case involving unprofitable entity trying to market a trade secret, court upholds damages award; experts’ EBITDA valuations were based on commonly used method and numerous data sources, and experts linked data to conclusions, court says.
Court Sets Aside Big Lost Profits Award Based on Bad Yardstick Analysis
Court strikes down multimillion-dollar lost profits award, finding it was based on expert testimony that was “sheer surmise and conjecture”; using yardstick method, expert claimed upstart company would have achieved 50% of sales of market leader.
Court Sets Aside Big Lost Profits Award Based on Bad Yardstick Analysis
Court reconsiders earlier order for retrial on lost value damages, finding plaintiffs “had no intention of pursuing a realistic damages award” and lack admissible evidence supporting multimillion-dollar value claims; instead, court awards one dollar.