Insights

To the consternation of corporate defendants and defense counsel, the upward trend of damages in jury verdicts continues. Clients continually ask us, “Why are the damages awards so large? Where did that number come from? What’s going on with jurors these days?” These are questions that the Fillichio & Hastings team continually assess.

by Susan G. Fillichio, Esq. and Steve Son, Ph.D.

Since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, Americans have been challenged to both co-exist with and understand the cause of COVID-19. While civil jury trials in most states were stopped for weeks or months, the civil justice system nationwide has now adapted. Jurors across the country are returning to courthouses, albeit in courtrooms that may not look the same as they did before.

by Susan G. Fillichio, Esq.

On Friday, March 13, 2020, when communities across the nation were preparing to go into lockdown because of the pandemic, our team finished up a jury research study in Los Angeles. We were scheduled to assist with jury selection the following Monday. Our clients dashed to LAX to avoid getting stuck here and we were ready to hunker down and take advantage of some breathing room, thinking maybe the trial would begin a few weeks later.

by Susan G. Fillichio, Esq.