The attorney who landed a $700,000 award for a man who developed back pain after driving away from a low-speed, minimal damage car crash said he went into trial prepared for a defense verdict.

“I thought it was 85 percent that we were going to get a defense verdict,” said James Rice Jr., particularly given that his client had previously injured his back—a fact he withheld from his treating physicians—and that he told the jury he was “95 percent better.”

“That actually helped his credibility,” said Rice. “And his credibility needed a lot of help.”