Nuclear verdict—two words that, when combined, make many plaintiff lawyers cringe.

Coined by Robert Tyson, a trial lawyer-turned-strategic managing partner at Tyson & Mendes in San Diego, nuclear verdicts have been defined as "an exceptionally high jury award that surpasses what should be a reasonable or rational amount" by some, including CaseGlide.com. Others, like Institute for Legal Reform president Harold Kim, have defined the damages designation as "any verdict in excess of $10 million," according to Travelers Insurance.