METHODOLOGY: The Top 100 Verdicts report is compiled by NLJ affiliate VerdictSearch, which strives to report as many jury verdicts, decisions and settlements as possible. Although a great many cases are submitted by attorneys, the publication also relies on assignment editors who scour docket lists, cultivate relationships with law firms and search the internet and news sources, including ALM Media’s family of legal publications.
Verdicts are ranked by gross award calculated by the jury. They do not reflect reductions for comparative negligence or assignment of fault to settling defendants or nonparties; additurs, remittiturs or reversals; or attorney fees and costs, unless awarded by the jury. In situations in which awards are automatically trebled or doubled by statute, the increased amount determines rank. VerdictSearch does not consider cases in which the jury only determined per-plaintiff or per-year damages that a judge later used to calculate the gross award, nor cases in which the jury’s instructions permitted it to determine damages against a party that it had already deemed not liable.
