'They Have the Audacity to Blame Jurors': Do 'Bad' Lawyers Lead to Nuclear Verdicts?
"Jurors award a lot of money when there are significant injuries, usually permanent, combined with defendants, their lawyers, and their insurance companies taking unreasonable positions," said Atlanta plaintiff attorney Mike Rafi.
April 27, 2023 at 12:54 PM
5 minute read
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.
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