The Rising Threat
of Nuclear Verdicts™
What Are Nuclear Verdicts™?
Nuclear Verdicts are jury awards that surpass $10 million. These excessive verdicts are driven by juror anger at defendants and typically include a noneconomic damages award that is grossly disproportionate to the economic damages awarded in the case. Nuclear Verdicts seek to “make an example” of the defendant. Fueled by the “Reptile Theory,” jurors use excessive damages awards to punish defendants and ostensibly “send a message” with the intent of preventing the type of harm in the case from recurring. Unfortunately, this does not result in justice…for anyone!
The Nuclear Verdicts™ Tracker
Tyson & Mendes tracks cases that resulted in Nuclear Verdicts. Through these cases, we examine the increasing disconnection between liability claims and damages awarded by juries. The Nuclear Verdicts Tracker is a representative sample of cases across a variety of legal practices which show how deeply pervasive the trend is for delivering a nuclear verdict. Each of the cases in the Nuclear Verdicts Tracker was defended by another law firm; none of them used the Tyson & Mendes methods for defending against Nuclear Verdicts; and all of them resulted in a verdict of more than $10 million. These Nuclear Verdicts could have been stopped!
December 7, 2021
Plaintiff and his father were pulled over on the side of the highway. Plaintiff was in the back of the truck. When a semitractor struck him, he was thrown from the truck. Plaintiff suffered severe injuries, particularly to his brain. Jurors awarded $18.15 million - $3.2 million in economic damages and almost $15 million in noneconomic damages.
December 2, 2021
Plaintiff was walking in a Walmart when she stepped on a rusty nail. After an infection, she had to have multiple amputations. Jurors awarded $10M.
November 23, 2021
Decedent was driving a tractor-trailer and headed one direction on the road. Defendant, who was driving the other way, swerved into decedent’s lane. He crashed into decedent. Decedent passed away, and his son, plaintiff, sued for wrongful death. The jury awarded plaintiff $30 million.
November 23, 2021
Decedent was driving. A convoy was escorting a 197,000-pound submarine propeller loaded onto a tractor-trailer. The propeller tore through the roof of decedent’s car, killing her. A jury awarded $250 million in punitive damages and $480 million compensatory damages.
November 21, 2021
While ziplining in Mexico, plaintiff was injured. Plaintiff was a member of a global service meant to provide medical treatment to members wherever they were. The service promised to transport members to a different location if adequate treatment was not available at the place of injury. However, they refused to transport plaintiff to the United States, claiming the hospital met their standards despite evidence to the contrary. A jury awarded $27.8 million, including $14.8 million for past and future harm, $10 million punitive, and $3 million for breach of the contract between plaintiff and the service.
Defending Justice for All
Defendants are entitled to have a jury decide their case without being riled with anger and bias by creative plaintiff lawyers, which is why Tyson & Mendes is dedicated to changing the way Nuclear Verdicts cases are defended. Through decades of trial wins, we have honed the Tyson & Mendes Methods for defending cases, and we broadly share our methods in interviews, podcasts, articles, and at conferences with the purpose of teaching the defense bar how to stop Nuclear Verdicts.
Presented by Courtroom Sciences, Inc. (CSI)
Featured: Bob Tyson
Presented U.S. Chamber Institute For Legal Reform
Featured: Bob Tyson
Senior Examiner - Broodspire
“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.”
Senior Examiner - Broodspire
“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.”
Learn From Our Insights
Midsize Firm Tyson & Mendes Unveils High-Stakes Trial Subsidiary
Law.com The Recorder – July 21, 2021 San Diego-based midsize firm Tyson & Mendes has launched a new high-stakes trial business based out of the firm's offices. The newly created subsidiary, called TM HALO, is targeting the increasing threat and reality of nuclear verdicts—Jury verdicts in excess of $10 million—for its insurance clients.
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The Elite Legal Team
Ready to Face Nuclear Verdicts
Named after paratroopers that enter enemy territory and parachute into low altitude. This approach is adapted into our case handling, especially for the Nuclear Verdicts that you need to resolve urgently through the use of seasoned attorneys.
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