This is the first book ever written for the defense on how to avoid runaway jury verdicts. I wrote this book because I care about fairness. I believe everyone has the right to a fair trial, not just plaintiff lawyers and their clients. Defendants are entitled to have a jury decide their case without being stirred with passion and bias by creative plaintiff lawyers.
This is the defense “playbook” for justice. You will learn trial techniques to even the playing field for defendants seeking a fair trial. Every aspect of a civil jury trial will be covered, from voir dire to opening statements to witnesses and finally closing arguments. There is a formula for defeating plaintiff attorneys’ deceptive tactics and psychological gamesmanship, and you will learn it.
With full of 30 years of trial victories and personal experiences, this is a “how to” book. How to defend at trial. How to beat plaintiff attorneys at their own game. How to win.
It is time to bring an end to the epidemic of nuclear verdicts across our country. It is time for you to take back justice for all!
“Nuclear Verdicts Defending Justice for All is truly a transformational turning point for insurance professionals, corporate Risk Managers, insurance companies and defense Attorneys. This book should be required for any claims professional who is responsible for the resolution of liability claims, whether for an insurer or corporate client.” Libby Evans Senior Examiner – Broadspire
“… defense attorney Robert Tyson makes his case, rebuts the reptile, and provides a playbook to combat the tactics that are driving up verdicts. Bob’s book, “Nuclear Verdicts Defending Justice For All,” is an invaluable tool for anyone who is interested in the psychology behind these verdicts, and the trial tactics which can be used to minimize them.” Shari E. Belitz, Esq. Chief Executive Officer – Shari Belitz Communications, LLC & Chief Marketing Officer – Blueprint Trial Consulting LLC
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Presented by U.S. Chamber – Institute For Legal Reform
Featured: Bob Tyson
In his groundbreaking book Nuclear Verdicts: Defending Justice for All, seasoned trial attorney and Managing Partner at Tyson & Mendes Bob Tyson examines how to personalize corporate defendants and why personalizing the corporate defendant is essential to avoiding nuclear verdicts. Although many attorneys assume the best time to tell the full corporate story to the jury is during opening statements, attorneys must also develop the corporate story during the pre-trial discovery process. To solidify the corporate story at trial and prevent plaintiffs’ counsels from undermining trial testimony regarding the corporate defendant, defense attorneys must protect the corporate defendant’s reputation for safety before the jury ever sees the client.
Litigation funding, also called litigation finance, is a rapidly growing industry and involves a practice where a third-party funds some, or all, of a plaintiff’s legal expenses in exchange for a portion of the proceeds from litigation or arbitration. The first-ever detailed analysis of the U.S. commercial litigation funding industry was completed in 2019 using data collected directly from litigation funders. This analysis placed the size of the industry at $2.3 billion. In 2020, despite a global pandemic and disruption to the justice system, the commercial litigation funding industry grew by six percent, reaching $2.47 billion.
Imagine owning a trucking company for many years and after much hard work and effort, the trucking company grows to be successful with several hundred fleets across the nation on the road daily. Now imagine after one accident, the company is dragged into a lawsuit and after months of litigation, the jury decides on an unreasonable and extremely high award of damages the company is unable to pay, forcing the company to file for bankruptcy. Unfortunately, this hypothetical example is a reality for many trucking companies across the nation.
Plaintiff counsels are at ease asking a jury for astronomical damages. However, defense counsels do not feel the same level of comfort, therefore perpetuating the trend of “runaway” verdicts. The below case analysis highlights the importance of always giving a defense number, as emphasized by Robert Tyson, author of Nuclear Verdicts: Defending Justice For All, and exhibits what happens when defense counsel fails to do so.
In September 2013, Joshua Patterson was driving his pickup truck on US Highway 259 near Ore City, Texas, when a tractor trailer operated by Bill Acker rear-ended Patterson’s truck. Acker was driving the truck in the course and scope of his employment as a driver for FTS International Manufacturing. Following the accident, Patterson reported no injuries, telling officers at the scene he “was unhurt, felt fine, and he had no cuts, abrasions, or other visible injuries.” Similarly, Patterson’s vehicle had minimal damage, and was still drivable. Immediately after the accident, Patterson drove his truck to a church luncheon, where he was headed prior to the accident.
