ALWAYS KNOW WHAT LIES AHEAD
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILES BY COUNTY 2021-2022
PREPARED BY THE MEMBER FIRMS OF
®
®
USLAW NETWORK
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
USLAW is your home field advantage. The home field advantage comes from knowing and understanding the venue in a way that allows a competitive advantage – a truism in both sports and business. Jurisdictional awareness is a key ingredient to successfully operating throughout the United States and abroad. Knowing the local rules, the judge, and the local business and legal environment provides our firms’ clients this advantage. USLAW NETWORK bring this advantage to its member firms’ clients with the strength and power of a national presence combined with the understanding of a respected local firm. In order to best serve clients, USLAW NETWORK biennially updates its countyby-county jurisdictional profile, including key court decisions and results that change the legal landscape in various states. The document is supported by the common consensus of member firm lawyers whose understanding of each jurisdiction is based on personal experience and opinion. Please remember that the state county-by-county comparisons are in-state comparisons and not comparisons between states. There are a multitude of factors that go into such subjective observations that can only be developed over years of experience and participation. We are pleased on behalf of USLAW NETWORK to provide you with this jurisdictional snapshot. The information here is a great starter for discussion with the local USLAW member firm on how you can succeed in any jurisdiction. This conversation supplements the snapshot because as we all know as with many things in life, jurisdictions can change quickly. Please use this document as a way to begin exploring the benefits of an ongoing relationship with USLAW.
USLAW NETWORK, Inc. • 11555 Heron Bay Blvd., Suite 200 • Coral Springs, FL 33076 (800) 231-9110 • www.uslaw.org
USLAW NETWORK
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
Table of Contents Alabama.................................... page 1
Montana...................................page 26
Alaska....................................... page 2
Nebraska..................................page 27
Arizona...................................... page 3
Nevada.....................................page 28
Arkansas.................................... page 4
New Hampshire..........................page 29
California................................... page 5
New Jersey...............................page 30
Colorado.................................... page 6
New Mexico..............................page 31
Connecticut................................ page 7
New York..................................page 32
Delaware................................... page 8
North Carolina............................page 33
Florida....................................... page 9
North Dakota..............................page 34
Georgia.....................................page 10
Ohio.........................................page 35
Hawaii......................................page 11
Oklahoma..................................page 36
Idaho........................................page 12
Oregon......................................page 37
Illinois......................................page 13
Pennsylvania.............................page 38
Indiana.....................................page 14
Rhode Island..............................page 39
Iowa.........................................page 15
South Carolina...........................page 40
Kansas......................................page 16
South Dakota.............................page 41
Kentucky...................................page 17
Tennessee.................................page 42
Louisiana..................................page 18
Texas.......................................page 43
Maine.......................................page 19
Utah.........................................page 44
Maryland...................................page 20
Vermont....................................page 45
Massachusetts...........................page 21
Virginia.....................................page 46
Michigan...................................page 22
Washington...............................page 47
Minnesota.................................page 23
West Virginia.............................page 48
Mississippi................................page 24
Wisconsin.................................page 49
Missouri...................................page 25
Wyoming...................................page 50
USLAW NETWORK
AL
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
LAUDERDALE LIMESTONE
JACKSON
MADISON
COLBERT LAWRENCE
FRANKLIN
.. . . . . . MARION
FAYETTE
LAMAR
MARSHALL
CULLMAN
WINSTON
BLOUNT WALKER
GREENE
CLEBURNE
JEFFERSON
TALLADEGA
SHELBY
BIBB
PERRY AUTAUGA
DALLAS
MARENGO
CHOCTAW
LOWNDES
WILCOX
BUTLER CLARKE
RANDOLPH
CLAY
COOSA
CHILTON
HALE
SUMTER
. . . . ... CALHOUN
ST. CLAIR
TUSCALOOSA
PICKENS
CHEROKEE
ETOWAH
..
Tuscaloosa County, home of the University of Alabama and previously thought of as a conservative county, recently entered a $30 million judgment in a wrongful death medical malpractice case. This is the largest medical malpractice award in the history of the state.
DE KALB
MORGAN
CHAMBERS
TALLAPOOSA
ELMORE
$16 million verdict in truck accident case was tried as a products case so that standard defenses in auto negligence cases were no longer available, which is a new tact taken by sophisticated plaintiffs’ counsel.
LEE
..
MACON
RUSSELL
MONTGOMERY
BULLOCK
PIKE
BARBOUR
CRENSHAW
MONROE HENRY WASHINGTON
CONECUH
COFFEE
DALE
COVINGTON ESCAMBIA
GENEVA
HOUSTON
MOBILE
BALDWIN
CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE
While medical malpractice cases traditionally resulted in defense verdicts or minimal awards in Alabama, there has been a significant increase in the potential value of these cases throughout the entire state.
1
ALABAMA
USLAW NETWORK
AK
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
NORTH SLOPE
NORTHWEST ARCTIC YUKON-KOYUKUK
NOME
FAIRBANKS NORTH STAR DENALI
SOUTHEAST FAIRBANKS
MATANUSKA-SUSITNA
WADE HAMPTON
VALDEZ-CORDOVA
BETHEL
ANCHORAGE KENAI PENINSULA
LAKE AND DILLINGHAM PENINSULA
YAKUTAT
HAINES
SKAGWAY-HOONAH-ANGOON HAINES
BRISTOL BAY
JUNEAU
SKAGWAY-HOONAH-ANGOON
SKAGWAY-HOONAH-ANGOON
SITKA WRANGELL-PETERSBURG KODIAK ISLAND
ALEUTIANS EAST
PRINCE OF WALESOUTER KETCHIKAN
PRINCE OF WALESOUTER KETCHIKAN KETCHIKAN GATEWAY
ALEUTIANS WEST
CONSERVATIVE
ALASKA
LIBERAL MODERATE
2
USLAW NETWORK
AZ
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
COCONINO
MOHAVE NAVAJO APACHE
YAVAPAI
LA PAZ
GILA MARICOPA
GREENLEE
GRAHAM
PINAL YUMA
PIMA COCHISE
SANTA CRUZ
CONSERVATIVE
ARIZONA
LIBERAL MODERATE
3
USLAW NETWORK
AR
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
BENTON
FULTON
CARROLL
CLAY
RANDOLPH
BAXTER
BOONE MARION
IZARD WASHINGTON
GREENE
SHARP
LAWRENCE
MADISON NEWTON
SEARCY
STONE
CRAIGHEAD
INDEPENDENCE JOHNSON
CRAWFORD
VAN BUREN
FRANKLIN
CONWAY
YELL
PERRY
SCOTT
SALINE MONTGOMERY
GARLAND
HOT SPRING
GRANT
...
LONOKE
PULASKI
POLK
JEFFERSON
PIKE SEVIER
HOWARD
CLARK DALLAS
CLEVELAND
...
...
WHITE
FAULKNER
POINSETT
JACKSON
POPE
LOGAN
SEBASTIAN
CLEBURNE
CROSS
WOODRUFF
PRAIRIE
LINCOLN
HEMPSTEAD
NEVADA
OUACHITA
DREW
CALHOUN BRADLEY
CRITTENDEN
ST. FRANCIS
LEE
MONROE
PHILLIPS
ARKANSAS
The Arkansas Supreme Court concluded a Lonoke County jury’s award of $42M in punitive damages did not “shock the conscience” in a case where the jury found only $5.9 million in actual damages.
DESHA LITTLE RIVER
MISSISSIPPI
MILLER
CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE
UNION
ASHLEY
CHICOT
... . . . .
LAFAYETTE
..
COLUMBIA
A jury awarded $46.5 million in damages in a medical malpractice case in Union County after the defense relied on the ability to apply a lower standard of care than national standards.
4
ARKANSAS
USLAW NETWORK
SISKIYOU
MODOC
SHASTA
LASSEN
TRINITY
TEHAMA
PLUMAS BUTTE
GLENN
SIERRA
MENDOCINO
NEVADA YUBA COLUSA SUTTER
EL DORADO
YOLO NAPA
SONOMA
SACRAMENTO AMADOR
...
SOLANO
...
TUOLUMNE
CONTRA COSTA SAN JOAQUIN
ALAMEDA SAN MATEOSANTA CLARA
STANISLAUS
MONO
MARIPOSA
MERCED
MADERA
SANTA CRUZ
SAN BENITO
MONTEREY
FRESNO INYO TULARE KINGS
KERN
SAN LUIS OBISPO
SANTA BARBARA
VENTURA
CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE
LOS ANGELES
ORANGE
RIVERSIDE
.. . . . .
As a monolith, Los Angeles County is viewed as liberal. However, analysis of the sub-venue is require for a more accurate assessment. For example, sub-venues such as downtown Los Angeles and Compton have liberal juries, whereas sub-venues such as Long Beach and Santa Monica are relatively moderate, and sub-venues such as Chatsworth, Alhambra, Torrance, Van Nuys and Norwalk can even tilt conservative.
SAN BERNARDINO
...
...
An appellate court considering a Contra Costa County case found that defendants could present evidence of benefits under the Affordable Care Act to argue for a reduction in the costs of future medical care. The case is the latest in the line of cases establishing that plaintiff can only seek medical specials based on what was or will be paid rather than grossly billed by medical providers.
ALPINE
CALAVERAS
MARIN
SAN FRANCISCO
PLACER
...
LAKE
...
HUMBOLDT
...
DEL NORTE
CA
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
While Orange County has been a rock-ribbed conservative venue, the changing political and cultural landscape is being reflected in the jury pools. Juries in Orange County may now consist of many Asian-American and Hispanic-American jurors. Relatively, it is still a good place to try a California case as a defendant, as the changing landscape seems more socially liberal while remaining economically conservative. For example, a USLAW member attorney recently obtained a defense verdict in a seven-figure slip-and-fall case despite arguing to a jury consisting of two registered Republicans and ten registered Democrats or Independents.
5
SAN DIEGO
IMPERIAL
CALIFORNIA
USLAW NETWORK
CO
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
In Nieto v. Clark’s Market, Inc., __ P.3d __, 2021 CO 48 (Colo. 2021), the Colorado Supreme Court unanimously held that under the Colorado Wage Claim Act, all earned and determinable vacation pay must be paid out to an employee when she leaves her job. This ruling means that employers cannot require employees to forfeit unused vacation pay at the end of their employment. This decision could have potentially significant impacts for Colorado employers who do not already adhere to this practice.
The Colorado General Assembly passed House Bill 21-1188, which allows a plaintiff to bring direct negligence claims against an employer even if the employer admits liability for the tortious actions of its employee. This bill explicitly overrules Ferrer v. Okbamicael, 390 P.3d 836 (Colo. 2017), which previously allowed employers to dismiss direct negligence claims if they admitted their employee was acting within the course and scope of their employment when they committed the alleged tort. This increases potential exposure for employers.
SEDGWICK MOFFAT
WELD
LARIMER
JACKSON
LOGAN PHILLIPS
ROUTT MORGAN GRAND
BOULDER
RIO BLANCO
BROOMFIELD
GILPIN EAGLE
SUMMIT
GARFIELD
PITKIN
DENVER CLEAR CREEK JEFFERSON
ARAPAHOE
ELBERT
DOUGLAS LAKE
KIT CARSON
PARK
MESA
TELLER DELTA GUNNISON
LINCOLN
EL PASO
CHAFFEE
CHEYENNE
FREMONT
KIOWA
MONTROSE
CROWLEY OURAY
PUEBLO
CUSTER
SAGUACHE
SAN MIGUEL
BENT HINSDALE
DOLORES
SAN JUAN
LA PLATA
PROWERS
OTERO MINERAL
HUERFANO RIO GRANDE
MONTEZUMA
YUMA
WASHINGTON
ADAMS
ALAMOSA
LAS ANIMAS ARCHULETA
CONEJOS
BACA
COSTILLA
CONSERVATIVE
COLORADO
LIBERAL MODERATE
6
USLAW NETWORK
CT
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
TOLLAND
HARTFORD
WINDHAM
LITCHFIELD
...
...
...
FAIRFIELD
NEW LONDON MIDDLESEX
NEW HAVEN
Past is prologue: Fairfield Judicial District, based on its proximity to New York City, continues to lead the field in producing Connecticut’s most generous jury pool. On May 22, 2019, after five and a half days of deliberations, a jury in Stamford Superior Court awarded $14.2 million to a plaintiff who suffered back and neck injuries after a tractor-trailer rear-ended his car on an interstate highway. In addition to that verdict, the jury also awarded his wife $727,562.50 in past and future loss of consortium. This is believed to be one of the largest vehicular verdicts in Connecticut’s history.
CONSERVATIVE
CONNECTICUT
LIBERAL MODERATE
7
USLAW NETWORK
DE
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
NEW CASTLE
• The Delaware Supreme Court concluded that registering to do business as a foreign corporation in Delaware will no longer serve as a basis for Delaware to exercise personal jurisdiction over a foreign corporation for a cause of action unrelated to the foreign corporation’s activities in Delaware. Genuine Parts Co. v. Cepec, No. 528, 2015 (Del. Supr. April 18, 2016). • Recently, a Delaware jury awarded $40.6 million in compensatory damages and $1 million in punitive damages in an asbestos case against Ford. That case is currently on appeal.
KENT
SUSSEX
CONSERVATIVE
DELAWARE
LIBERAL MODERATE
8
USLAW NETWORK
FL
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
HOLMES JACKSON OKALOOSA SANTA ROSA WASHINGTON WALTON
ESCAMBIA
BAY
CALHOUN
GADSDEN
NASSAU
JEFFERSON
LEON
HAMILTON
MADISON
LIBERTY WAKULLA TAYLOR GULF FRANKLIN
DUVAL
COLUMBIA BAKER SUWANNEE
UNION CLAY BRADFORD ST. JOHNS
LAFAYETTE DIXIE
GILCHRIST ALACHUA
PUTNAM FLAGLER
LEVY MARION VOLUSIA
The Florida Supreme Court, according to its exclusive rulemaking authority pursuant to article V, section 2(a) of the Florida Constitution, adopted chapter 2013-107, sections 1 and 2, Laws of Florida (Daubert amendments), which amended sections 90.702 (Testimony by experts) and 90.704 (Basis of opinion testimony by experts), Florida Statutes, of the Florida Evidence Code to replace the Frye standard for admitting certain expert testimony with the Daubert standard, the standard for expert testimony found in Federal Rule of Evidence 702
CITRUS
LAKE SUMTER HERNANDO
SEMINOLE ORANGE
PASCO PINELLAS
HILLSBOROUGH
OSCEOLA BREVARD
POLK
INDIAN RIVER MANATEE
HARDEE
OKEECHOBEE ST. LUCIE
HIGHLANDS SARASOTADE SOTO
... ...
LIBERAL MODERATE
9
... ...
CONSERVATIVE
$21,585,148 verdict to breast cancer patient whose physicians failed to diagnose inflammatory breast cancer for several months. Due to the aggressive type of cancer plaintiff had, an earlier diagnosis would not have improved her prognosis, and therefore the delay ultimately did not negatively affect her survival chances. The Miami jury awarded her over $21 million anyway, highlighting plaintiff-friendly nature of venue.
CHARLOTTE LEE
MARTIN
GLADES
... ...
Pregnant woman was killed when a drunk driver drove into a hotel cabana 15 feet from the road. The woman’s family sued the hotel and the driver. The South Florida jury found both parties liable and awarded damages of $24,057,283. The appellate court reversed and entered a directed verdict for the hotel, stating the position of the hotel relative to the road was not a dangerous condition, the hotel had acted reasonably, and the accident was attributable to “an improbable freak accident” and not to the negligence of the hotel. This is a surprising reversal from a typically liberal South Florida appellate Court.
HENDRY
PALM BEACH
BROWARD
COLLIER
MONROE
DADE
FLORIDA
USLAW NETWORK
. . . . . ..
..
CATOOSA
DADE
GA
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
In May 2019, a Whitfield County Superior Court jury needed less than two hours to return a $21.6 million verdict against a trucking company in an accident that resulted in a below-the-knee amputation of the plaintiff’s left leg. This is a very high award for a historically conservative county. TOWNS
FANNIN
RABUN
UNION
MURRAY
WHITFIELD WALKER
GILMER
LUMPKIN
GORDON
CHATTOOGA
STEPHENS
PICKENS DAWSON
BANKS FRANKLIN
HALL
JACKSON POLK
COBB
PAULDING HARALSON
BARROW
GWINNETT
FAYETTE
GREENE TALIAFERRO
MORGAN
PIKE
LAMAR
..
... . . . . HOUSTON
LAURENS
BLECKLEY
TREUTLEN
PULASKI DODGE
WILCOX
WORTH
MILLER
MITCHELL
WHEELER
EVANS
TOOMBS
JEFF DAVIS
BEN HILL IRWIN
BRYAN CHATHAM
COFFEE
LIBERTY LONG
APPLING
BACON
WAYNE
MCINTOSH
TIFT PIERCE
BAKER
EARLY
EFFINGHAM
TELFAIR
LEE
DOUGHERTY
BULLOCH
TATTNALL
TURNER
CALHOUN
CANDLER
MONTGOMERY
CRISP
CLAY
SCREVEN
EMANUEL
SUMTER
RANDOLPH
JENKINS JOHNSON
TWIGGS
DOOLY
TERRELL
BURKE
WILKINSON
PEACH
TAYLOR
MACON MARION CHATAHOOCHEE SCHLEY
QUITMAN
JEFFERSON WASHINGTON
CRAWFORD
WEBSTER
RICHMOND
GLASCOCK
BALDWIN
JONES
BIBB
TALBOT
STEWART
COLUMBIA MCDUFFIE
PUTNAM HANCOCK
MONROE
MUSCOGEE
LINCOLN
WARREN
UPSON
In August 2019, a Muscogee County State Court jury needed 45 minutes to return a $280 million verdict against a trucking company whose driver crossed the center line and killed five members of a family traveling together.
OGLETHORPE WILKES
JASPER
BUTTS
SPALDING
HARRIS
CLARKE
HENRY
COWETA
MERIWETHER
ELBERT
WALTON
CLAYTON ROCKDALE NEWTON
CARROLL
TROUP
MADISON
OCONEE
DEKALB DOUGLAS FULTON
HEARD
HART
CHEROKEE FORSYTH
BARTOW
FLOYD
HABERSHAM
WHITE
BERRIEN
ATKINSON
COLQUITT
GLYNN WARE
COOK
BRANTLEY
LANIER
SEMINOLE DECATUR
GRADY
THOMAS
BROOKS
LOWNDES
CLINCH CHARLTON
CAMDEN
ECHOLS
CONSERVATIVE
GEORGIA
LIBERAL MODERATE
10
USLAW NETWORK
HI
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
A May 2019 decision from the Hawaii Supreme Court in Nationstar Mortgage continues the Court’s recent trend of applying ordinary litigation rules very strictly to foreclosure actions, including the standing requirement and the business records exception to the hearsay rule. Nationstar Mortgage LLC v. Kanahele, 2019 WL 1931703 (Haw. May 1, 2019). In Nationstar, the court concluded that discrepancies in Nationstar’s records indicated that the records were not trustworthy under the business records exception and additional affirmative steps would have to be taken to address the discrepancies on remand.
KAUAI
HONOLULU
KALAWAO
MAUI
HAWAII
CONSERVATIVE
HAWAII
LIBERAL MODERATE
11
USLAW NETWORK
ID
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
BOUNDARY
Hawes v. Western Pacific Timber, LLC, 167 Idaho 896, 477 P. 3d 950 (2020). In December of 2020, the Idaho Supreme Court affirmed a $2.2 million judgment against Western Pacific Timber, LLC for breach of contract. Western Pacific Timber, LLC offered a private attorney an in-house general counsel position, which included a severance package of up to $500,000 to leave the attorney’s firm. The severance was not paid, and the in-house counsel position was later eliminated at the company. The jury awarded plaintiff $500,000, which was trebled by the district court because it was a claim for unpaid wages and $573,904.38 was awarded in attorneys fees.
BONNER
KOOTENAI
SHOSHONE
BENEWAH
LATAH CLEARWATER NEZ PERCE LEWIS
ADAMS
LEMHI
VALLEY
WASHINGTON
GEM
BOISE
CANYON
ADA
JEFFERSON
BUTTE
ELMORE
CAMAS
FREMONT
MADISON TETON
..
PAYETTE
CLARK
CUSTER
..
Brauner v. AHC of Boise, LLC, 166 Idaho 398, 459 P.3d 1246 (2020) In February of 2020, the Idaho Supreme Court affirmed a judgment awarding plaintiff $2,265,204 in damages in a medical malpractice case. The judgment was awarded against AHC of Boise, LLC due to AHC’s delay in care, which was a substantial factor resulting in an above-the-knee amputation of plaintiff’s leg.
. . . . . ..
. . . . ...
IDAHO
Phillips v. Eastern Idaho Health Services, Inc., 166 Idaho 731, 463 P.3d 365 (2019). In March of 2020, the Idaho Supreme Court significantly limited the ability to obtain the testimony of consulting physicians used to familiarize an outof-state physician with the local standard of care. The Court held that consulting physicians can be deposed only if there is a showing of exceptional circumstances under which it is impracticable for the party to obtain facts or opinions on the same subject by other means. The Court explained that deposing a consulting physician to examine the reliability and truthfulness of the testifying physician is not sufficient to show exceptional circumstances. Furthermore, the Court found that the testimony of the consulting physicians was not relevant because the plaintiffs did not intend to rely on the consultations to lay foundation for the testifying physician’s testimony.
BONNEVILLE
BLAINE
BINGHAM GOODING
LINCOLN CARIBOU JEROME
MINIDOKA POWER
OWYHEE TWIN FALLS
CASSIA
BANNOCK
ONEIDA
BEAR LAKE FRANKLIN
CONSERVATIVE
IDAHO
LIBERAL MODERATE
12
USLAW NETWORK
IL
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
STEPHENSON
JO DAVIESS
CARROLL
WINNEBAGO
BOONE
MCHENRY
In 2018 more than 15 eight-figure and 40 seven-figure jury verdicts were rendered primarily in Cook County, but also throughout the state
LAKE
OGLE KANE
DE KALB WHITESIDE
DU PAGE
COOK
LEE KENDALL
ROCK ISLAND
BUREAU
HENRY
WILL
LA SALLE GRUNDY
MERCER
PUTNAM KANKAKEE
STARK
MARSHALL
KNOX HENDERSON
HANCOCK
LIVINGSTON
WARREN
MASON
...... CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL
EDGAR COLES
CHRISTIAN
......
For Madison and St. Clair County – full disclosure of insurance coverage levels has become a new focus of the plaintiff’s bar resulting in mini-trials on defendant corporations and their practices and policies. This trend has spread to Cook County
PIATT
MOULTRIE
SCOTT
GREENE
MACOUPIN
SHELBY CUMBERLAND
MONTGOMERY
JERSEY
MONROE
VERMILION
DOUGLAS
SANGAMON
... ...
CALHOUN
CHAMPAIGN
MACON
MORGAN PIKE
DE WITT
LOGAN
MENARD
CASS
BROWN
FORD
TAZEWELL
SCHUYLER ADAMS
IROQUOIS
MCLEAN
FULTON
MCDONOUGH
WOODFORD
PEORIA
EFFINGHAM
FAYETTE
JASPER
CLARK
CRAWFORD
BOND
MADISON
CLAY
RICHLAND LAWRENCE
MARION
CLINTON
WAYNE
ST. CLAIR WASHINGTON
RANDOLPH
WABASH EDWARDS
JEFFERSON
PERRY
HAMILTON
WHITE
FRANKLIN
JACKSON
WILLIAMSON
SALINE
GALLATIN
HARDIN UNION
ALEXANDER
JOHNSON
PULASKI
MODERATE
13
POPE
MASSAC
ILLINOIS
IN
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
...
...
...
In a premises liability case in plaintiff-friendly Lake County, plaintiff was awarded $2 million when the jury found that the restaurant was negligent for failing to warn of a hazard on the floor and provide adequate lighting.
LA GRANGE
STEUBEN
NOBLE
DE KALB
ELKHART
PORTER
LAKE
MARSHALL STARKE
KOSCIUSKO WHITLEY
JASPER
ALLEN
FULTON
PULASKI
NEWTON
BENTON
MIAMI
CASS
WHITE
WABASH HUNTINGTON
TIPPECANOE TIPTON
CLINTON
...
...
MONTGOMERY
VERMILLION
PARKE
CLAY
...
HAMILTON
BOONE
MARION
JOHNSON
MORGAN
MONROE
BARTHOLOMEW
RIPLEY JENNINGS JACKSON JEFFERSON
MARTIN
WAYNE
UNION
FRANKLIN
In plaintiff-friendly Marion County (Indianapolis), a jury awarded $900,000 in damages to a theater patron who had knocked advertising brochures off of a ticket-counter and then slipped and fell on the brochures she had just knocked to the ground.
DEARBORN
OHIO SWITZERLAND
SCOTT WASHINGTON CLARK
DUBOIS
GIBSON
RANDOLPH
FAYETTE
DECATUR
BROWN
ORANGE PIKE
RUSH
SHELBY
LAWRENCE DAVIES
HENRY
HANCOCK
HENDRICKS
GREENE
KNOX
JAY
DELAWARE
OWEN
SULLIVAN
ADAMS
BLACKFORD
MADISON
PUTNAM
VIGO
... GRANT
HOWARD WARREN
... WELLS
CARROLL
FOUNTAIN
A jury in conservative Hendricks County awarded $18.5 million in damages to a 46-year-old man who was injured in a trucking accident.
ST JOSEPH
LA PORTE
...
USLAW NETWORK
FLOYD
CRAWFORD HARRISON WARRICK
POSEY
VANDERBURGH
PERRY SPENCER
CONSERVATIVE
INDIANA
LIBERAL MODERATE
14
USLAW NETWORK
IA
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
The Iowa Supreme Court’s 173-page, three-opinion ruling vacates a $2.5MM judgement and announces the elements of Iowa law on a sexually hostile work environment, the standard for retaliation claims, and constructive discharge.
OSCEOLA
LYON
DICKINSON
WINNEBAGO
EMMET
MITCHELL
WORTH
HOWARD
O’BRIEN
SIOUX
CHEROKEE
PLYMOUTH
MONONA
HUMBOLDT
CALHOUN
SAC
CRAWFORD
WRIGHT
CHICKASAW
CLAYTON
FAYETTE
BREMER BUTLER
GRUNDY
HARDIN
STORY
BOONE
FLOYD
FRANKLIN
HAMILTON
WEBSTER
GREENE
CARROLL
CERRO GORDO
HANCOCK
BUENA VISTA POCAHONTAS
IDA
WOODBURY
PALO ALTO
CLAY
ALLAMAKEE
WINNESHIEK
KOSSUTH
DELAWARE
LINN
BENTON
TAMA
MARSHALL
BUCHANAN
BLACK HAWK
DUBUQUE
JONES
JACKSON
CLINTON CEDAR HARRISON
SHELBY
AUDOBON
GUTHRIE
DALLAS
JASPER
POLK
IOWA
POWESHIEK
SCOTT
JOHNSON MUSCATINE
POTTAWATTAMIE
ADAIR
CASS
MADISON
WARREN
MARION
MAHASKA
KEOKUK
WASHINGTON LOUISA
MILLS
FREMONT
MONTGOMERY
PAGE
ADAMS
TAYLOR
UNION
RINGGOLD
CLARKE
DECATUR
LUCAS
WAYNE
MONROE
APPANOOSE
WAPELLO
DAVIS
JEFFERSON
HENRY
DES MOINES
VAN BUREN LEE
CONSERVATIVE
IOWA
LIBERAL MODERATE
15
USLAW NETWORK
KS
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
SHERMAN
RAWLINS
DECATUR
THOMAS
SHERIDAN
NORTON
GRAHAM
PHILLIPS
ROOKS
SMITH
JEWELL
OSBORNE
MITCHELL
REPUBLIC
WASHINGTON
GOVE
TREGO ELLIS
ELLSWORTH GREELEY
WICHITA
SCOTT
LANE
NESS
RUSH
MORRIS
MCPHERSON
MARION
HODGEMAN
STAFFORD
KEARNY
RENO
GRAY GRANT
STEVENS
SEWARD
CLARK
JOHNSON
FRANKLIN
MIAMI
COFFEY
ANDERSON
LINN
GREENWOOD
WOODSON
ALLEN
BOURBON
WILSON
NEOSHO
BUTLER KIOWA
MEADE
DOUGLAS
LYON
PRATT
KINGMAN
SEDGWICK ELK
MORTON
SHAWNEE
HARVEY
FORD
HASKELL
WYANDOTTE
OSAGE
CHASE
EDWARDS
STANTON
WABAUNSEE
DICKINSON
PAWNEE
FINNEY
LEAVENWORTH
JEFFERSON
BARTON RICE
HAMILTON
SALINE
DONIPHAN
RILEY
GEARY
RUSSELL
BROWN
POTTAWATOMIE JACKSON
CLAY OTTAWA
LOGAN
NEMAHA
ATCHISON
CLOUD
LINCOLN WALLACE
MARSHALL
...
CHEYENNE
. . . .. .
In June 2019, the Kansas Supreme Court, which sits in Shawnee County, struck down as unconstitutional the state’s long-standing cap on non-economic damages. At the time, the cap was $325,000.
COMANCHE
BARBER
HARPER
SUMNER
COWLEY
MONTGOMERY CHAUTAUQUA LABETTE
CRAWFORD
CHEROKEE
CONSERVATIVE
KANSAS
LIBERAL MODERATE
16
USLAW NETWORK
KY
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
In Lawson v. Ribeiro, __ S.W.3d___ (Ky. 2021), the Kentucky Supreme Court held that the Kentucky Court of Appeals exceeded the statutory basis for vacating an arbitration award. The Court of Appeals vacated an arbitration award in favor of a real estate agent who had been sued by her former client for breach of fiduciary duty. The Supreme Court’s decision reaffirmed a long-standing policy in Kentucky that a court’s review of an arbitrator’s award is limited. An arbitration award can only be vacated for the five grounds set forth in KRS 417.160, none of which were present in this case.
In Watson v. United States Liability Insurance Company – 2019-SC-475 – the Kentucky Supreme Court held that bad faith claims accrue when parties to litigation reach a settlement agreement because that is when the insurer becomes obligated to pay. In Miller v. House of Boom Kentucky, LLC – 2018-SC-625 – the Kentucky Supreme Court held that pre-injury waivers for minors are not enforceable even if signed by a parent/guardian.
BOONE KENTON CAMPBELL GALLATIN PENDLETON BRACKEN CARROLL GRANT MASON TRIMBLE GREENUP OWEN ROBERTSON LEWIS HENRY HARRISON OLDHAM FLEMING NICHOLAS BOYD CARTER SCOTT FRANKLIN ROWAN JEFFERSON BOURBON SHELBY BATH ELLIOTT WOODFORD LAWRENCE FAYETTE MONTGOMERY SPENCER ANDERSON MEADE CLARK BULLITT MENIFEE MORGAN HANCOCK JESSAMINE JOHNSON NELSON POWELL MARTIN MERCER HENDERSON BRECKINRIDGE WOLFE WASHINGTON MADISON MAGOFFIN DAVIES HARDIN ESTILL UNION BOYLE GARRARD LEE FLOYD MARION BREATHITT WEBSTER LARUE MCLEAN PIKE LINCOLN OHIO GRAYSON JACKSON OWSLEY CRITTENDEN ROCKCASTLE TAYLOR KNOTT CASEY HART HOPKINS GREEN PERRY LIVINGSTON BUTLER EDMONSON MUHLENBERG CLAY LETCHER PULASKI LESLIE LAUREL ADAIR CALDWELL LYON RUSSELL BALLARD MCCRACKEN WARREN BARREN METCALFE KNOX HARLAN MARSHALL CHRISTIAN CARLISLE LOGAN TODD CUMBERLAND WAYNE TRIGG WHITLEY SIMPSON ALLEN BELL MCCREARY MONROE HICKMAN GRAVES CLINTON CALLOWAY FULTON
CONSERVATIVE
KENTUCKY
LIBERAL MODERATE
17
USLAW NETWORK
CADDO
WEBSTER BOSSIER
MOREHOUSE
UNION
CLAIBORNE
WEST CARROLL EAST CARROLL
LINCOLN RICHLAND
OUACHITA BIENVILLE DE SOTO
LA
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
MADISON
JACKSON
RED RIVER
CALDWELL
FRANKLIN
TENSAS
WINN CATAHOULA
NATCHITOCHES SABINE
GRANT
LA SALLE CONCORDIA
RAPIDES VERNON
AVOYELLES WEST FELICIANA
BEAUREGARD
CALCASIEU
ALLEN
JEFFERSON DAVIS
EVANGELINE ST. LANDRY
EAST FELICIANA ST. HELENA
POINTE COUPEE
WASHINGTON
EAST BATON ROUGE TANGIPAHOA WEST ST. TAMMANY LIVINGSTON BATON ROUGE
ACADIA ST. MARTIN LAFAYETTE
IBERIA
CAMERON VERMILION
IBERVILLE
ASCENSION
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST ORLEANS ST. JAMES JEFFERSON ASSUMPTION ST. CHARLES ST. BERNARD ST. MARTIN
ST. MARY
LAFOURCHE TERREBONNE PLAQUEMINES
CONSERVATIVE
LOUISIANA
LIBERAL MODERATE
18
USLAW NETWORK
ME
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
AROOSTOOK
PISCATAQUIS
SOMERSET
.... . . . .
.
PENOBSCOT
WASHINGTON
FRANKLIN
HANCOCK
WALDO
OXFORD
KENNEBEC
ANDROSCOGGIN SAGADAHOC
KNOX
LINCOLN
In November 2016, a Penobscot County jury awarded a utility company more than $13.6 million in lost profits in a breach of contract lawsuit against a defendant company and four of its subsidiaries. This is a contract case so it does not necessarily remove Penobscot County from the list of conservative jurisdictions.
CUMBERLAND
YORK
CONSERVATIVE
MAINE
LIBERAL MODERATE
19
MD
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
. . . .. . ......
USLAW NETWORK
$1.2M for rear-end collision in jurisdiction known for low verdicts
WASHINGTON
ALLEGANY
...
...
Verdicts of $44M for a fertility related case and $16.5 for a failed abortion case demonstrate that sensitive issues command high verdicts in all kinds of jurisdictions
HARFORD
CARROLL
...
GARRETT
... ...
Three recent lead paint verdicts exceeding $1.63M to $3M continue a trend of high verdicts in lead paint cases
FREDERICK
CECIL
BALTIMORE
HOWARD
BALTIMORE CITY
KENT
MONTGOMERY ANNE ARUNDEL
QUEEN ANNE'S
CAROLINE PRINCE GEORGE'S
CHARLES
TALBOT
CALVERT DORCHESTER ST. MARY'S
WICOMICO
WORCESTER SOMERSET
CONSERVATIVE
MARYLAND
LIBERAL MODERATE
20
MA
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
...
Massachusetts courts have enacted new rules governing collection of consumer credit card debt. Consumers now enjoy greater protection as commercial debt collectors face additional hurdles before filing collection complaints. This will also have a positive effect on the courts’ caseloads.
...
The Massachusetts Legislature recently enacted a new law governing non-competition agreements. The new law allows such agreements, but imposes strict requirements before they can be enforced. This will have a major impact on local businesses and will be the subject of much written case law in the coming months/ years.
Multiple multimillion dollar jury verdicts across state for brain injuries relating to births. $12.8 million jury verdict for brain injury suffered by child after delivery for negligent newborn care in Essex. $29.9 million jury verdict for brain injuries caused by birth complications in Hampden County. Both within the top 5 highest verdicts of the year, and both tried by the same plaintiff’s firm.
...
USLAW NETWORK
ESSEX
FRANKLIN MIDDLESEX BERKSHIRE HAMPSHIRE
WORCESTER SUFFOLK
NORFOLK
.... . . . .
.
HAMPDEN
$32.3 million wrongful death jury verdict against a convenience store chain for woman killed by driver who suffered stroke and struck woman while entering one of defendant’s stores. The verdict is believed to have been the highest ever in Hampden County. In subsequent proceedings, the trial judge reduced the award to $20 million, which was still double what the decedent’s family had requested. Although Hampden County is relatively conservative, the jury award seems to reflect a trend toward more generous awards in the county.
PLYMOUTH BRISTOL
BARNSTABLE
DUKES NANTUCKET
CONSERVATIVE
MASSACHUSETTS
LIBERAL MODERATE
21
USLAW NETWORK
MI
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
KEWEENAW
HOUGHTON
ONTONAGON
BARAGA MARQUETTE
GOGEBIC IRON
LUCE CHIPPEWA
ALGER SCHOOLCRAFT
DICKINSON
MACKINAC
DELTA
MENOMINEE
EMMET
CHEBOYGAN PRESQUE ISLE
CHARLEVOIX ANTRIM LEELANAU
GRAND KALKASKACRAWFORD OSCODA TRAVERSE
BENZIE
WEXFORD
MANISTEE MASON
MONTMORENCY ALPENA
OTSEGO
LAKE
MISSAUKEE OGEMAW ROSCOMMON
OSCEOLA
GLADWIN
CLARE
ALCONA IOSCO
ARENAC HURON
.... . . . .
In November 2019, an Ingham County jury awarded $17 million in a medical malpractice case involving a 73-year-old plaintiff who was paralyzed from the waist down after what was supposed to be a routine procedure to improve blood flow. This was the largest verdict in 2019.
NEWAYGO
MECOSTA ISABELLA MONTCALM
MUSKEGON
OTTAWA
KENT
IONIA
ALLEGAN
BARRY
KALAMAZOO
CASS
BERRIEN
CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE
22
SANILAC
TUSCOLA
GRATIOT
SAGINAW
GENESEE CLINTON SHIAWASSEE
EATON
CALHOUN
VAN BUREN
MIDLAND
.
OCEANA
BAY
LAPEER
OAKLAND INGHAM LIVINGSTON
JACKSON
ST. CLAIR
MACOMB
WASHTENAW WAYNE
ST. JOSEPH BRANCH HILLSDALE LENAWEE MONROE
MICHIGAN
USLAW NETWORK
MN
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
ROSEAU
KITTSON
LAKE OF THE WOODS MARSHALL KOOCHICHING PENNINGTON RED LAKE
COOK
BELTRAMI
POLK
CLEARWATER
NORMAN
LAKE
ITASCA ST. LOUIS
MAHNOMEN HUBBARD BECKER
CASS
CLAY
WADENA
OTTER TAIL WILKIN
TODD
DOUGLAS
MORRISON
GRANT TRAVERSE BIG STONE
AITKIN
CROW WING
CARLTON
PINE
MILLE LACS KANABEC
BENTON STEVENS
POPE
STEARNS
SHERBURNE
SWIFT
ANOKA MEEKER
WRIGHT
CHIPPEWA KANDIYOHI
LAC QUI PARLE
RENVILLE
LYON
REDWOOD
WASHINGTON
CARVER
SIBLEY LINCOLN
CHISAGO
HENNEPIN RAMSEY MCLEOD
YELLOW MEDICINE
ISANTI
SCOTT
NICOLLET LE SUEUR
DAKOTA
RICE
GOODHUE WABASHA
BROWN
BLUE EARTH PIPESTONE MURRAY COTTONWOOD WASECA STEELE DODGE OLMSTED WATONWAN ROCK
NOBLES
JACKSON
MARTIN
FARIBAULT
FREEBORN
MOWER
WINONA
FILLMORE
HOUSTON
CONSERVATIVE
MINNESOTA
LIBERAL MODERATE
23
MS
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
...
...
In this historically conservative venue, a verdict just under $5M was returned by a state court jury in a disputed liability trucking case with the largest component being $2.5M for non-economic damages (before reduction per statutory cap).
...
USLAW NETWORK
ALCORN TISHOMINGO
TIPPAH
MARSHALL TATE
TUNICA
COAHOMA
BENTON
DESOTO
PRENTISS UNION
PANOLA
LAFAYETTE ITAWAMBA
LEE
PONTOTOC QUITMAN YALOBUSHA TALLAHATCHIE
BOLIVAR
CHICKASAW
CALHOUN
MONROE
GRENADA
SUNFLOWER LEFLORE
MONTGOMERY CARROLL CHOCTAW
WASHINGTON HUMPHREYS
CLAY
WEBSTER
HOLMES
ATTALA
OKTIBBEHA
WINSTON
LOWNDES
NOXUBEE
SHARKEY YAZOO ISSAQUENA
LEAKE
NESHOBA
KEMPER
MADISON
SCOTT
WARREN HINDS
LAUDERDALE
RANKIN SMITH
CLAIBORNE COPIAH
NEWTON
JASPER
CLARKE
SIMPSON
JEFFERSON LAWRENCE FRANKLIN
CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE
AMITE
MARION
PIKE
In Mississippi’s first civil trial post-COVID, an unusually large verdict for this venue of $1.3M was handed down in a rear-end accident (nontrucking) that resulted in a thoracic compression fracture.
WALTHALL
JONES
LAMAR FORREST PERRY
PEARL RIVER
.
WILKINSON
.... . . . .
ADAMS
LINCOLN
COVINGTON JEFFERSON DAVIS
STONE
HARRISON
WAYNE
GREENE
GEORGE
JACKSON
HANCOCK
24
MISSISSIPPI
USLAW NETWORK
ATCHISON
WORTH NODAWAY
PUTNAM
MERCER
HARRISON GENTRY
ANDREW DE KALB
SCHUYLER SCOTLAND CLARK
SULLIVAN
GRUNDY
HOLT
ADAIR
KNOX
LEWIS
DAVIESS LINN
MACON
SHELBY
LIVINGSTON BUCHANAN
MO
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
MARION
CLINTON CALDWELL CHARITON
PLATTE
RAY
CLAY
AUDRAIN
HOWARD
CASS
LINCOLN
BOONE
MONTGOMERY CALLAWAY
COOPER JOHNSON
WARREN ST. CHARLES
PETTIS MONITEAU
BATES
BENTON
GASCONADE OSAGE
MORGAN MARIES
CAMDEN
HICKORY
PULASKI
VERNON CEDAR POLK BARTON
DALLAS
FRANKLIN JEFFERSON
MILLER ST. CLAIR
PHELPS
CRAWFORD WASHINGTON
LACLEDE
REYNOLDS GREENE
WEBSTER WRIGHT
SHANNON CHRISTIAN
MCDONALD
BARRY
TANEY
PERRY CAPE GIRARDEAU
MADISON
BOLLINGER SCOTT
CARTER
DOUGLAS
OZARK
ST. FRANCOIS
WAYNE
STODDARD
HOWELL STONE
STE. GENEVIEVE
TEXAS
LAWRENCE NEWTON
IRON
DENT
DADE
JASPER
ST. LOUIS CITY
ST. LOUIS COLE
HENRY
RALLS
MONROE
PIKE SALINE
LAFAYETTE
JACKSON
RANDOLPH
CARROLL
OREGON
RIPLEY
In 2020, the Missouri Legislature passed legislation that makes significant reforms to the law governing the award of punitive damages. SB 591 (2020); Section 510.261 RSMo.
MISSISSIPPI
BUTLER NEW MADRID
PEMISCOT DUNKLIN
(Originated in Scott County) - On March 2, 2021, the Missouri Supreme Court affirmed an $870,000 verdict, including $300,000 in punitive damages against a medical center in a suit accusing health care providers of causing a patient’s death. The Court held that although the conduct was not “a complete indifference to or in conscious disregard for the rights or safety of others,” punitive damages were allowed because there was sufficient evidence that the health care providers exhibited a reckless indifference or conscious disregard of the patient’s well-being.
CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL
Also on March 2, 2021, the Missouri Supreme Court adopted the Missouri Legislature’s changes to Rules 56.01, 57.01, 57.03, 57.04, 58.01, 59.01 and 61.01. SB 224 (2019). These changes, which are effective September 2, 2021, amend Missouri’s discovery rules to more closely resemble the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
MODERATE
25
MISSOURI
USLAW NETWORK
MT
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
GLACIER
LINCOLN
DANIELS
TOOLE
HILL
LIBERTY
BLAINE
FLATHEAD
PONDERA
ROOSEVELT
PHILLIPS
TETON
RICHLAND
CHOUTEAU
LAKE
SANDERS
SHERIDAN
VALLEY
MCCONE CASCADE
MINERAL MISSOULA
POWELL
JUDITH BASIN
LEWIS AND CLARK
FERGUS
GARFIELD
DAWSON
PETROLEUM PRAIRIE
MEAGHER GRANITE RAVALLI
WHEATLAND
BROADWATER
JEFFERSON DEER LODGE SILVER BOW
GOLDEN VALLEY
WIBAUX
MUSSELSHELL TREASURE
ROSEBUD
FALLON CUSTER
YELLOWSTONE SWEET GRASS STILLWATER
GALLATIN
...
PARK
BIG HORN
MADISON
... BEAVERHEAD
POWDER RIVER
CARTER
CARBON
YELLOWSTONE NP
... $52 million jury verdict (including $10 million punitive) in suit against outof-state bank for alleged breach of commercial loan agreement in Silver Bow County. New trial ordered on appeal based on trial court wrongfully applying MT law contrary to choice-oflaw provision in contract.
CONSERVATIVE
MONTANA
LIBERAL MODERATE
26
USLAW NETWORK
NE
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
BOYD
KEYA PAHA DAWES
KNOX
CEDAR
CHERRY
SIOUX
SHERIDAN
BROWN
ROCK
BOX BUTTE
HOLT PIERCE
ANTELOPE GRANT
HOOKER
ARTHUR
MCPHERSON
SCOTTS BLUFF MORRILL BANNER
GARDEN
THOMAS
LOUP
BLAINE
VALLEY
GREELEY
CUSTER CHEYENNE KIMBALL
KEITH
WAYNE
THURSTON
MADISON STANTON CUMING
GARFIELD WHEELER BOONE
LOGAN
DIXON DAKOTA
PLATTE
COLFAX
BURT
DODGE WASHINGTON
NANCE SHERMAN HOWARD
DEUEL
MERRICK
POLK
BUTLER
HAMILTON
YORK
SEWARD
DOUGLAS
SAUNDERS
SARPY
LINCOLN DAWSON
PERKINS
BUFFALO
HALL
CASS LANCASTER
CHASE
HAYES
FRONTIER
GOSPER
PHELPS
KEARNEY
ADAMS
CLAY
FILLMORE
GAGE DUNDY
HITCHCOCK RED WILLOW
FURNAS
OTOE
SALINE
HARLAN FRANKLIN WEBSTER THAYER JEFFERSON NUCKOLLS
JOHNSON NEMAHA PAWNEE RICHARDSON
CONSERVATIVE
NEBRASKA
LIBERAL MODERATE
27
USLAW NETWORK
NV
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
HUMBOLDT ELKO
WASHOE PERSHING
LANDER
EUREKA
CHURCHILL
WHITE PINE
STOREY
CARSON CITY DOUGLAS
LYON
MINERAL NYE
ESMERALDA
LINCOLN
In February 2018, a jury returned a $20 million verdict in a lawsuit filed by a teenager who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a serious playground accident. This case was handled by Lasso Injury Law, LLC for Plaintiff.
...
MODERATE
...
LIBERAL
28
...
CONSERVATIVE
In 2013, 15-year-old Carl Thompson sat down on a swing set at Lamplight Village at Centennial Springs. When he sat down, the 42lb metal crossbar broke, landing on his head and crushing the left side of his skull. Thompson’s attorney argued the HOA knew the swing set was dangerous and that there had been four previous incidents where the crossbar fell. The manufacturer apparently told the HOA that it needed to have the swing set professionally inspected and maintained; however, the HOA failed to do so. The jury awarded $9.25M for Thompson’s future pain and suffering; $750K for past pain and suffering; and $10M for punitive exemplary damages
CLARK
NEVADA
USLAW NETWORK
NH
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
COOS
. . ... .
In 2018, the New Hampshire Supreme Court affirmed a $900,000 jury award (including $400,000 for attorneys’ fees) in a trade secret case. Defendants, a group of utility brokerage firms, secretly hired a sales manager from one of the plaintiffs, several energy supply and consulting services. Defendants then conspired with the sales manager to misappropriate Plaintiffs’ confidential customer lists and pricing information and use that information to compete against the Plaintiffs.
GRAFTON
In 2018, a Rockingham County jury awarded plaintiff and her husband $9 million in damages following an accident where she was struck by a car while walking down the street. The jury awarded $8.5 million to the plaintiff for medical bills, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life, and $500,000 to plaintiff’s husband for loss of consortium. The verdict is notable, as it is one of the highest jury awards rendered in New Hampshire in recent years.
...
...
CARROLL
SULLIVAN MERRIMACK
...
BELKNAP
...
STRAFFORD
ROCKINGHAM
CHESHIRE
HILLSBOROUGH
CONSERVATIVE
NEW HAMPSHIRE
LIBERAL MODERATE
29
USLAW NETWORK
NJ
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
SUSSEX PASSAIC
BERGEN
WARREN
MORRIS ESSEX
HUDSON
UNION SOMERSET HUNTERDON
MIDDLESEX MERCER MONMOUTH
BURLINGTON
GLOUCESTER
OCEAN
CAMDEN
SALEM ATLANTIC
CUMBERLAND
CONSERVATIVE
CAPE MAY
NEW JERSEY
LIBERAL MODERATE
30
USLAW NETWORK
NM
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
...
In Santa Fe County, a jury awarded $165.5 million in a trucking matter involving the death of a mother and daughter. The jury verdict did not include any punitive damages. Santa Fe is long considered to be a very liberal venue. The notable aspect of this case was that the theme presented by Plaintiffs’ lawyers was largely the negligence of the Defendant. However, the jury did not award punitive damages, which is to be expected with a verdict this large, and with the Plaintiff’s attorneys pushing for justice. Rather, it appears the verdict was intended to reflect the overall tragedy of the case.
TAOS
RIO ARRIBA
...
SAN JUAN
UNION
COLFAX
MORA HARDING
...
LOS ALAMOS
SANDOVAL
MCKINLEY
SANTA FE
SAN MIGUEL
QUAY
BERNALILLO CIBOLA
GUADALUPE VALENCIA
CURRY
TORRANCE DE BACA SOCORRO
ROOSEVELT
CATRON LINCOLN
CHAVES
SIERRA GRANT
LEA
DONA ANA
OTERO
EDDY
LUNA
HIDALGO
CONSERVATIVE
NEW MEXICO
LIBERAL MODERATE
31
USLAW NETWORK
NY
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
CLINTON
FRANKLIN ST. LAWRENCE
JEFFERSON
ESSEX
LEWIS HERKIMER
HAMILTON WARREN
OSWEGO NIAGARA
ORLEANS
ONEIDA
WASHINGTON
WAYNE
FULTON
MONROE GENESEE
ERIE
ONONDAGA
WYOMING
SCHENECTADY
SENECA
LIVINGSTON
SCHUYLER CHAUTAUQUA
CATTARAUGUS
RENSSELAER
OTSEGO
YATES CORTLAND
ALLEGANY
MONTGOMERY
MADISON
CAYUGA
ONTARIO
SARATOGA
ALBANY
SCHOHARIE
CHENANGO
TOMPKINS GREENE
STEUBEN CHEMUNG
TIOGA
BROOME
COLUMBIA
DELAWARE
ULSTER
...
MODERATE
32
...
LIBERAL
PUTNAM
ORANGE
...
CONSERVATIVE
Effective as of December 28, 2018, CPLR 4511(c) creates a rebuttable presumption that the court can take judicial notice of Google Maps/Google Earth images and maps. Specifically, the court can take judicial notice that “an image, map, location, distance, calculation, or other information taken from a web mapping service, a global satellite imaging site, or an internet mapping tool, when requested by a party to the action. This is subject to a rebuttable presumption that such image, map, location, distance, calculation, or other information fairly and accurately depicts the evidence presented. The presumption established by this subdivision shall be rebutted by credible and reliable evidence that the image, map, location, distance, calculation, or other information taken from a web mapping service, a global satellite imaging site, or an internet mapping tool does not fairly and accurately portray that which it is being offered to prove. A party intending to offer such image or information at a trial or hearing shall, at least thirty days before the trial or hearing, give notice of such intent, providing a copy or specifically identifying the internet address at which such image or information may be inspected.
DUTCHESS SULLIVAN
WESTCHESTER ROCKLAND
NEW YORK BRONX
RICHMOND
SUFFOLK
QUEENSNASSAU KINGS
NEW YORK
USLAW NETWORK
NC
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
SWAIN
CHEROKEE
CLAY
MCDOWELL BURKE
HAYWOOD RUTHERFORD
HENDERSON POLK JACKSON TRANSYLVANIA MACON
CATAWBA
ALAMANCE DAVIDSON
ROWAN
LINCOLN
CLEVELAND
GUILFORD
DAVIE
CABARRUSSTANLY GASTON MECKLENBURG
EDGECOMBE
ANSON RICHMOND
33
HOKE
SCOTLAND
CHOWAN
MARTIN WASHINGTONTYRRELL
DARE
WILSON
JOHNSTON HARNETT
GREENE
WAYNE
LENOIR
CUMBERLAND
ROBESON
BEAUFORT
PITT
HYDE
SAMPSON
CRAVEN
JONES
PAMLICO
DUPLIN
ONSLOW
CARTERET
BLADEN
PENDER
COLUMBUS
NEW HANOVER
...
MODERATE
BERTIE
NASH
...
LIBERAL
LEE
MOORE
Gideon Richardson v. Certified Heating and Air Conditioning, et al, Court File No. 17 CVS 8708, Cumberland County Superior Court (Gale Adams, J.). A jury returned a $5 million verdict for a thirty-five-year-old “eggshell plaintiff” who went blind in his right eye and suffered brain injuries after a ladder fell off a work van on Interstate 40. The plaintiff did not ask for medical damages or economic damages; he sought noneconomic damages based on his life expectancy of 79, and his counsel relied heavily on the “Reptile Theory.”
CONSERVATIVE
FRANKLIN
DURHAM
CHATHAM
CURRITUCK CAMDEN PASQUOTANK PERQUIMANS
GATES
HERTFORD
HALIFAX
WAKE
RANDOLPH
MONTGOMERY
UNION
NORTHAMPTON
WARREN
...
GRAHAM
CALDWELL ALEXANDER IREDELL
ORANGE
VANCE GRANVILLE
...
BUNCOMBE
FORSYTH
...
MADISON
YADKIN
ROCKINGHAM CASWELL PERSON
...
AVERY MITCHELL YANCEY
WILKES
STOKES
...
WATAUGA
SURRY
...
ALLEGHANY
ASHE
...
Chris Justice and Lisa Justice v. Greyhound Bus Lines Inc. & J.L. Robinson, Court File No. 5:16-CV-132, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina (New Bern, Craven County) (Louise Flanagan, J.). A jury in federal court awarded a former N.C. Highway patrolman $6 million after a Greyhound bus crashed into the patrolman’s car while he was investigating an accident on Christmas Eve. The patrolman’s wife was also awarded $1 million for loss of consortium.
BRUNSWICK
Wendy G. Carroll, Administrator of the Estate of Thomas Anthony Carroll, deceased, v. Oakley Trucking, Inc., Case No. 5:17-CV-00357-BR, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina (Wayne County) (W. Earl Britt, J.). The family of a man who was hit and killed by a tractor-trailer as he tried to pass the truck on his motorcycle was awarded $1.55 million against the truck driver after a bench trial in federal court. The judgment included an award of $300,000 for each of the decedent’s four children.
NORTH CAROLINA
USLAW NETWORK
DIVIDE
ND
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
BURKE
BOTTINEAU
ROLETTE
RENVILLE
CAVALIER
TOWNER
PEMBINA
WILLIAMS
WALSH MOUNTRAIL
PIERCE
MCHENRY
WARD
RAMSEY BENSON NELSON
MCKENZIE
MCLEAN
DUNN
EDDY SHERIDAN
WELLS FOSTER
MERCER
BILLINGS
GRIGGS
BURLEIGH STARK
TRAILL
KIDDER
STUTSMAN
LOGAN
HETTINGER
ADAMS
CASS
BARNES
MORTON
GRANT
BOWMAN
STEELE
OLIVER
GOLDEN VALLEY
SLOPE
GRAND FORKS
LA MOURE
RANSOM
EMMONS
RICHLAND MCINTOSH
SIOUX
DICKEY
SARGENT
CONSERVATIVE
NORTH DAKOTA
LIBERAL MODERATE
34
. . . .. .
While Trumbull County is typically more moderate-toconservative, a recent $28.7 million verdict for parents of a newborn who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy due to the negligence of a hospital demonstrates that sensitive issues can command high verdicts in any kind of jurisdiction.
LAKE
LUCAS
FULTON
WILLIAMS
OTTAWA ERIE
SANDUSKY
WOOD
HENRY
LORAIN
HURON
SENECA
PAULDING
PUTNAM
WYANDOT
ASHLAND
CRAWFORD RICHLAND
...
ALLEN
HARDIN
AUGLAIZE
MERCER
MARION
SHELBY
UNION
DARKE
WAYNE
SUMMIT
PORTAGE
STARK
KNOX
MAHONING
COLUMBIANA
TUSCARAWAS
JEFFERSON
HARRISON
COSHOCTON
DELAWARE
TRUMBULL
CARROLL
HOLMES
MORROW
LOGAN
CHAMPAIGN LICKING
MIAMI
GUERNSEY
BELMONT
...
MADISON
MONTGOMERY
FAIRFIELD
CLINTON
HOCKING
ROSS
VINTON
HIGHLAND
...
CLERMONT
WASHINGTON
ATHENS
....
HAMILTON
MONROE
MORGAN
...
FAYETTE WARREN
NOBLE
PERRY
PICKAWAY
GREENE BUTLER
MUSKINGUM
FRANKLIN
CLARK
PREBLE
MEDINA
HANCOCK
VAN WERT
GEAUGA
CUYAHOGA
ASHTABULA
..
A recent verdict of $34 million in a personal injury case was surprising for a venue that has been considered to be conservative.
DEFIANCE
OH
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
.. . . . . .
USLAW NETWORK
MEIGS
PIKE
JACKSON
...
BROWN
ADAMS
SCIOTO
GALLIA
LAWRENCE
... CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE
A recent $27.8 million negligence verdict highlights a trend of plaintiff-friendly verdicts, rendering Hamilton County more of a liberal venue than in previous years.
A $21.5 million verdict in a domestic abuse case solidifies Franklin County as a liberal venue in Ohio.
35
OHIO
OK
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
Recent $5 million verdict in a medical negligence action alleging damage to tissue during a surgery and a failed attempt to repair without informed consent ultimately resulting in an above the knee amputation. The Jury awarded $3 million in actual damages and $2 million in punitive damages
. . ... . ......
USLAW NETWORK
Recent $5 million verdict against a tractor manufacturer in which the operator was killed when the tractor tipped and rolled over. The Jury awarded $3 million in actual damages and $2 million in punitive damages.
WASHINGTON
DEWEY
ROGER MILLS
BECKHAM
GREER
HARMON
JACKSON
CUSTER
NOBLE
GARFIELD
MAJOR
OTTAWA
CADDO
GRADY
COMANCHE
LINCOLN
OKLAHOMA
OKMULGEE
ADAIR
MUSKOGEE SEQUOYAH
MACINTOSH
POTTAWATOMIE
HASKELL
SEMINOLE HUGHES
MCCLAIN
COTTON
WAGONER CHEROKEE
OKFUSKEE
CLEVELAND
STEPHENS
MAYES DELAWARE
TULSA
CREEK
LOGAN
CANADIAN
TILLMAN
ROGERS
PAWNEE
PAYNE
BLAINE KINGFISHER
WASHITA
KIOWA
CRAIG
NOWATA
KAY
OSAGE
...
ELLIS
GRANT
...
WOODWARD
Two recent verdicts against a large retail discount chain. A slip and fall on ice in the parking lot resulted in an $850,000 verdict. An unrelated dram shop fatality case resulted in an $11.9 million verdict, including $5.7 million in punitive damages for selling beer to a minor for offpremises consumption.
ALFALFA
WOODS
...
HARPER
...
TEXAS
BEAVER
...
CIMARRON
PITTSBURG
LATIMER
LE FLORE
PONTOTOC
GARVIN
COAL MURRAY CARTER
JOHNSTON
ATOKA
PUSHMATAHA MCCURTAIN
JEFFERSON LOVE
CHOCTAW
MARSHALL BRYAN
CONSERVATIVE
OKLAHOMA
LIBERAL MODERATE
36
USLAW NETWORK
OR
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
COLUMBIA
...
CLATSOP
...
...
In Multnomah County, on January 27, 2017, a $10.5 Million jury award for pain and suffering to a man whose leg was severed by a garbage truck was reduced to $500,000 under a 2016 Oregon Supreme Court decision which allowed the existing statutory cap on non-economic damages to be constitutionally applied to all cases. In two Multnomah County verdicts jurors rejected claims of alternate responsibility. On May 11, 2017, after an eight-day trial, jurors awarded a woman’s estate zero dollars in a wrongful death lawsuit against a psychiatrist blamed for not warning others about potential suicide. On Feb. 27, 2017, after a five-day trial, jurors determined that a social host was not liable when a drunk guest shot another guest at a party. In December 2016 the Oregon Supreme Court rejected the “impact rule” which had required actual physical impact before witness to an injury to another could recover in tort recovery. The Court substituted a rule allowing bystander recovery if there was (1) a sudden serious physical injury to a close family member, (2) contemporaneously observed, which (3) caused the bystander “serious” emotional distress.
TILLAMOOK
WASHINGTON
UMATILLA
HOOD RIVER GILLIAM
CLACKAMAS
UNION
WASCO
MARION WHEELER
BAKER
JEFFERSON LINCOLN
WALLOWA
MORROW
SHERMAN
YAMHILL
POLK
MULTNOMAH
LINN
BENTON
GRANT
CROOK
LANE
DESCHUTES
DOUGLAS
MALHEUR
COOS
HARNEY LAKE KLAMATH JACKSON
CURRY JOSEPHINE
CONSERVATIVE
OREGON
LIBERAL MODERATE
37
USLAW NETWORK
PA
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
Effective April 1, 2019, the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure permit Unknown Defendant/John Doe pleading. The pleading requirements are set forth in Rule 2005, and the actual name of the party must be substituted within 20 days of identification. Due diligence in identifying the actual name is required.
In Spencer v. Johnson, 2021 WL 1035175 (Pa. Super. 2021), the Pennsylvania Superior Court limited the Faire Share Act (42 Pa.C.S. §7102) to lawsuits where the plaintiff’s negligence is at issue. The Fair Share Act was enacted to change joint and several liability so a defendant is only responsible to pay the part of a judgment equal to the percentage of liability assigned by the jury. If it stands (it is expected that the decision will be appealed to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court), Spencer will materially change the trial strategy pursued in personal injury litigation involving multiple parties.
In Gregg v. Ameriprise Financial, Inc., 245 A.3d 637 (Pa. 2021), the Pennsylvania Supreme Court held that a strict liability standard will be applied to claims asserted pursuant to the “catch-all” provision of the Unfair Trade Practices Consumer Protection Law. Accordingly, a Plaintiff is no longer required to show intent to deceive. The focus is on words and actions that have a tendency or capacity to deceive. The decision in Gregg will likely impact insurers, insurance brokers, financial advisors, and real estate brokers.
ERIE WARREN
MCKEAN
SUSQUEHANNA
BRADFORD
TIOGA
POTTER
WAYNE
CRAWFORD FOREST
CAMERON
ELK
VENANGO
WYOMING
SULLIVAN
LACKAWANNA
LYCOMING
PIKE
MERCER CLINTON
CLARION
LUZERNE
JEFFERSON UNION
CENTRE
BUTLER
MONTOUR CARBON
ARMSTRONG BEAVER
MONROE
COLUMBIA CLEARFIELD
LAWRENCE
SNYDER
NORTHUMBERLAND
MIFFLIN
INDIANA
NORTHAMPTON
SCHUYLKILL
JUNIATA
LEHIGH
CAMBRIA ALLEGHENY
BLAIR
PERRY
DAUPHIN
BERKS LEBANON BUCKS
HUNTINGDON
WESTMORELAND WASHINGTON
MONTGOMERY
CUMBERLAND LANCASTER FAYETTE
GREENE
SOMERSET
CHESTER
BEDFORD FULTON
FRANKLIN
ADAMS
YORK
PHILADELPHIA DELAWARE
CONSERVATIVE
PENNSYLVANIA
LIBERAL MODERATE
38
USLAW NETWORK
RI
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
PROVIDENCE
BRISTOL KENT
NEWPORT WASHINGTON
CONSERVATIVE
RHODE ISLAND
LIBERAL MODERATE
39
USLAW NETWORK
SC
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
CHEROKEE
GREENVILLE
YORK
SPARTANBURG
PICKENS
The South Carolina Court of Appeals addressed the sufficiency of evidence in constructive notice cases. Specifically, the Court held that a premises owner had constructive notice of a syringe in the parking lot even though there was no direct evidence of the exact length of time. Additionally, the opinion provides that testimony of how long the syringe had been in the parking lot because of its “weathered” appearance was not speculative, but instead was a reasonable inference. Overall, the case provides that a defendant will have constructive notice of a dangerous or defective condition whenever it appears that the condition has existed for such a length of time before the injury, based on reasonable inferences drawn from the evidence. To this point, the law has been that some evidence of timing must be shown in constructive notice cases. Although the Court of Appeals has not changed that principle, the sufficiency of evidence to establish it may now be a lower bar to overcome.
OCONEE LANCASTER
CHESTER
UNION
CHESTERFIELD MARLBORO
ANDERSON LAURENS FAIRFIELD
KERSHAW
DILLON
DARLINGTON
NEWBERRY ABBEVILLE
LEE GREENWOOD
FLORENCE
SALUDA
RICHLAND
LEXINGTON
MCCORMICK
MARION HORRY
SUMTER
EDGEFIELD CALHOUN
CLARENDON WILLIAMSBURG
AIKEN
GEORGETOWN
ORANGEBURG ORANGEBURG BARNWELL BAMBERG DORCHESTER
BERKELEY CHARLESTON
ALLENDALE
COLLETON HAMPTON
CHARLESTON
BEAUFORT JASPER
BEAUFORT
CONSERVATIVE
SOUTH CAROLINA
LIBERAL MODERATE
40
USLAW NETWORK
SD
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
CAMPBELL
CORSON
MARSHALL
MCPHERSON
ROBERTS
BROWN
PERKINS
HARDING
WALWORTH
EDMUNDS
DAY
DEWEY BUTTE
GRANT
FAULK
POTTER
SPINK CODINGTON
ZIEBACH
CLARK DEUEL HAMLIN
SULLY HYDE
MEADE STANLEY
LAWRENCE
HAND
HUGHES
BEADLE
BUFFALO PENNINGTON
JONES
BRULE
AURORA DAVISON
MELLETTE
DOUGLAS
SHANNON FALL RIVER
SANBORN
BENNETT
MOODY
LAKE
MINER
LYMAN
JACKSON
CUSTER
JERAULD
BROOKINGS
KINGSBURY
HAAKON
TRIPP
TODD
GREGORY
HANSON
HUTCHINSON
CHARLES MIX BON HOMME
MINNEHAHA
MCCOOK
TURNER
LINCOLN
YANKTON CLAY
UNION
CONSERVATIVE
SOUTH DAKOTA
LIBERAL MODERATE
41
USLAW NETWORK
TN
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
The Supreme Court of Tennessee upheld the statutory cap on non-economic damages, holding that the cap did not violate the Tennessee Constitution on several grounds. The Supreme Court of Tennessee also clarified the applicability of two statutory laws as issues of first impression. First, the Court held that the statutory rebuttable presumption of acceptance of coverage by payment of premium in an insurance contract applies to actions against insurance agents for claims of negligent failure to procure a policy. Second, the Court held that a health care provider is subject to the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act when it acts in its business capacity rather than its professional capacity.
LAKE
STEWART
OBION WEAKLEY
HENRY
BENTON
DYER
GIBSON
MONTGOMERY
ROBERTSON
CHEATHAM
HOUSTON
SHELBY
HENDERSON
CHESTER
FAYETTE
PUTNAM
WILSON
HARDEMAN MCNAIRY
MORGAN
WARREN LEWIS
DECATUR
MAURY
ANDERSON
BEDFORD
COFFEE
MARSHALL HARDIN
LOUDON
WAYNE
LAWRENCE
BLEDSOE RHEA MEIGS
GRUNDY
MCMINN
SULLIVAN JOHNSON
HAWKINS
JEFFERSON
ROANE
VAN BUREN PERRY
HANCOCK
KNOX
WHITE
RUTHERFORD CANNON
CLAIBORNE
UNION GRAINGER HAMBLEN
DE KALB WILLIAMSON
TIPTON
CAMPBELL
CUMBERLAND
HICKMAN
MADISON
JACKSON
SCOTT
OVERTON FENTRESS
SMITH DAVIDSON
DICKSON
CARROLL
LAUDERDALE
PICKETT
CLAY
MACON TROUSDALE
HUMPHREYS
CROCKETT
HAYWOOD
SUMNER
WASHINGTON GREENE
CARTER
UNICOI
COCKE SEVIER
BLOUNT
MONROE
SEQUATCHIE
MOORE
GILES LINCOLN
FRANKLIN
MARION
HAMILTON
BRADLEY
POLK
CONSERVATIVE
TENNESSEE
LIBERAL MODERATE
42
USLAW NETWORK
TX
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
Recent $37.9 million and $35.4 million verdicts in truck accident death cases in Dallas County are final confirmation that the county should now be considered a liberal venue designation with, for the most part, plaintiff-friendly judges.
SHERMAN HANSFORD OCHILTREE LIPSCOMB
. . .. ... .......
DALLAM
• A $260 million verdict in a wrongful death case was awarded to the parents of a 21-year-old who was killed when the vehicle he was driving struck an 18-wheeler that was parked in the main lane of traffic on Highway 271 near Gilmer, Texas. The jury found the defendants negligent, apportioning 65% liability on the truck driver; 20% liability on the trucking company; and 10% liability on company owner. The jury also allotted 5% responsibility to the 21-year-old driver.
HEMPHILL
MOORE HUTCHINSON ROBERTS
HARTLEY
CARSON
POTTER
OLDHAM
GRAY
WHEELER
RANDALL ARMSTRONG DONLEY COLLINGSWORTH
DEAF SMITH
PARMER
CASTRO
SWISHER
BAILEY
LAMB
HALE
HALL
BRISCOE
• A second case in 2018 - a jury in Upshur County, Texas, awarded $101 million in a suit accusing oil services company FTS International Services LLC of being responsible for a motorist’s severe injuries when an FTS truck driver, under the influence of drugs, rear-ended plaintiff’s car.
CHILDRESS
HARDEMAN
FLOYD
MOTLEY
COTTLE
DICKENS
KING
FOARD
WILBARGER WICHITA
CLAY
COCHRAN HOCKLEY LUBBOCK
CROSBY
KNOX
BAYLOR
MONTAGUE
ARCHER
COOKE
GRAYSON
LAMAR
FANNIN
RED RIVER
BOWIE
DELTA
LYNN
GAINES DAWSON
GARZA
BORDEN
KENT
SCURRY
STONEWALL
HASKELL
COLLIN
JACK
THROCKMORTON YOUNG
WISE
HUNT
DENTON
ROCKWALL
PALO PINTO PARKER TARRANT SHACKLEFORD JONES STEPHENS
FISHER
DALLAS
LOVING
EL PASO
WINKLER
ECTOR
MARTIN
HOWARD
MITCHELL
NOLAN
COKE
MIDLAND GLASSCOCK STERLING
TAYLOR CALLAHAN EASTLAND
RUNNELS
ERATH SOMERVELL
JOHNSON
WARD
CULBERSON
CRANE
BOSQUE
REAGAN
TOM GREEN CONCHO
IRION
REEVES
ELLIS
MCLENNAN LIMESTONE
LAMPASAS
PECOS
MENARD
CROCKETT
JEFF DAVIS
MASON SUTTON
LLANO
KIMBLE GILLESPIE
BREWSTER
VAL VERDE
KERR REAL
COMAL
BANDERA
TRINITY
MILAM
BRAZOS
KINNEY
MEDINA
ZAVALA MAVERICK
FRIO
WASHINGTON WALLERMONTGOMERY AUSTIN
LA SALLE MCMULLEN LIVE OAK
WEBB
DUVAL
JIM WELLS
BRAZORIA JACKSON
BEE
ORANGE
JEFFERSON CHAMBERS
GALVESTON
WHARTON DE WITT
KARNES
LIBERTY
FORT BEND
LAVACA
BEXAR
GOLIAD DIMMIT
HARRIS
FAYETTE
CALDWELL
TYLER
SAN JACINTO HARDIN
LEE BASTROP
GUADALUPE GONZALES
ATASCOSA
NEWTON POLK
WALKER
BURLESON
WILSON
SAN AUGUSTINE SABINE ANGELINA JASPER
GRIMES
COLORADO UVALDE
HOUSTON
MADISON
WILLIAMSON
HAYS
KENDALL
EDWARDS
LEON
ROBERTSON
TRAVIS
BLANCO
TERRELL PRESIDIO
BURNET
SHELBY NACOGDOCHES
FALLS BELL
SCHLEICHER
PANOLA RUSK
ANDERSON CHEROKEE FREESTONE
CORYELL MCCULLOCHSAN SABA
HARRISON GREGG
HENDERSON
HILL
CASS
MARION
UPSHUR
VAN ZANDT SMITH
COLEMAN MILLS
UPTON
WOOD
NAVARRO
COMANCHE BROWN HAMILTON
HUDSPETH
HOPKINS FRANKLIN MORRIS CAMP
RAINS
KAUFMAN
HOOD ANDREWS
TITUS
..
TERRY
..
YOAKUM
MATAGORDA
VICTORIA CALHOUN
REFUGIO
SAN PATRICIO
ARANSAS
NUECES
KLEBERG
...
MODERATE
...
LIBERAL
JIM HOGG
43
BROOKS KENEDY
...
CONSERVATIVE
The Rio Grande Valley and Gulf Coast areas of Texas continue to live up to their reputation as the best place to be for plaintiffs bringing personal injury lawsuits in Texas. Juries in these areas, for whatever reason, tend to empathize more with injured parties and award plaintiffs large judgments.
ZAPATA
STARR
WILLACY
HIDALGO
CAMERON
TEXAS
USLAW NETWORK
UT
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
CACHE RICH
BOX ELDER
WEBER MORGAN DAVIS
DAGGETT SUMMIT
SALT LAKE TOOELE
WASATCH
DUCHESNE UINTAH
UTAH
JUAB
CARBON SANPETE
MILLARD EMERY
GRAND
SEVIER
BEAVER
PIUTE
IRON
WAYNE
GARFIELD
SAN JUAN
WASHINGTON
KANE
CONSERVATIVE
UTAH
LIBERAL MODERATE
44
USLAW NETWORK
VT
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
FRANKLIN
GRAND ISLE
ORLEANS ESSEX
LAMOILLE
CHITTENDEN
CALEDONIA
WASHINGTON
ORANGE
ADDISON
RUTLAND
BENNINGTON
WINDSOR
WINDHAM
CONSERVATIVE
VERMONT
LIBERAL MODERATE
45
VA
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
A jury awarded a $2,550,000 verdict for a patient who claimed a spinal surgeon inserted instruments too deeply during surgery causing lacerated blood vessels. This case is notable in that it perhaps indicates that the conservative Stafford County is becoming more liberal.
. .... ..
USLAW NETWORK
.... . . . .
... LOUDOUN
SHENANDOAH
CULPEPER MADISON
STAFFORD
HIGHLAND
KING GEORGE
GREENE
ORANGE SPOTSYLVANIA
ALBEMARLE
ROCKBRIDGE
BUCKINGHAM
CRAIG
AMHERST
GILES
BUCHANAN DICKENSON WISE
TAZEWELL
SCOTT
RUSSELL
WASHINGTON
MONTGOMERY PULASKI
CAMPBELL
FLOYD
WYTHE CARROLL
PATRICK
AMELIA
PRINCE EDWARD
NOTTOWAY
HALIFAX
NEW KENT CHARLES CITY
PRINCE GEORGE
LANCASTER
ACCOMACK
GLOUCESTER
SUSSEX
MATHEWS
JAMES CITY
SURRY
NORTHAMPTON
YORK NEWPORT NEWS HAMPTON
ISLE OF WIGHT VIRGINIA BEACH
SOUTHAMPTON
GREENSVILLE
NORTHUMBERLAND
MIDDLESEX
DINWIDDIE
BRUNSWICK
MECKLENBURG
HENRY
RICHMOND ESSEX
KING WILLIAM KING AND QUEEN
HENRICO
CHESTERFIELD
LUNENBURG
PITTSYLVANIA
GRAYSON
HANOVER
GOOCHLAND
CHARLOTTE
FRANKLIN SMYTH
LEE
BLAND
ROANOKE
LOUISA
POWHATAN CUMBERLAND
APPOMATTOX
BEDFORD
CAROLINE
FLUVANNA
NELSON
WESTMORELAND
...
AUGUSTA
BATH
ARLINGTON
FAIRFAX FAUQUIER RAPPAHANNOCK PRINCE WILLIAM
...
PAGE
ROCKINGHAM
BOTETOURT
.
FREDERICK CLARKE WARREN
ALLEGHANY
A jury handed down a Defense verdict in a medical malpractice failure to diagnose and treat case. Notable in that Richmond is usually a plaintifffriendly forum.
..
In Fairfax County, an unusually plaintiff-friendly jury awarded a $12M verdict to the family of a woman who died from a rare presentation of deepvein thrombosis after undergoing a surgical procedure.
SUFFOLK CHESAPEAKE
CONSERVATIVE
VIRGINIA
LIBERAL MODERATE
46
USLAW NETWORK
WA
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
...
In a case filed in King County, the Supreme Court of Washington held for the first time that punitive damages are available for general maritime unseaworthiness claims. This case is a landmark victory for fishermen, fish processors, deckhands, and seaman.
WHATCOM
SAN JUAN
OKANOGAN
PEND OREILLE
FERRY
...
SKAGIT
STEVENS
ISLAND
...
SNOHOMISH
CLALLAM
JEFFERSON KITSAP
CHELAN
DOUGLAS LINCOLN
KING
SPOKANE
MASON GRAYS HARBOR
KITTITAS GRANT
...
LEWIS
...
PACIFIC
ADAMS
PIERCE
THURSTON
FRANKLIN
YAKIMA
WAHKIAKUM COWLITZ
BENTON
WALLA WALLA
WHITMAN
GARFIELD COLUMBIA
ASOTIN
SKAMANIA
... KLICKITAT
CLARK
CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL
In April 2017, a Washington jury awarded $81.5 million in a wrongful death mesothelioma case. Trial was held in Pierce County and included allegations of exposure to friction products and asbestos cement pipe. The $81.5 million verdict is among the largest verdicts ever awarded in Washington and highlights the power of sensitive emotional facts in Pierce County.
MODERATE
47
WASHINGTON
USLAW NETWORK
WV
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
State of West Virginia ex rel. v. The Honorable Thomas A Bedell No. 19-1006 A class action certification may now only be certified by a circuit court, if through thorough analysis, the predominance and superiority prerequisites of Rule 23(b)(3) are satisfied. This includes a thorough analysis of 1) identifying the parties’ claims and defenses and their respective elements; 2) determining whether the issues are common questions of individual questions by analyzing how each party will prove them at trial; and, 3) determining whether the common questions predominate. The circuit court needs to review “predominance” with the overarching purpose of efficiency in time, expense, and effort in addition to promoting uniformity of decisions to similarly situated individuals. Cory Ryan Fields v. Ross H. Mellinger, No. 20-0183 There is no private right of action for monetary damages for violations of Article III, Section 6 of the West Virginia Constitution—unlawful search and seizures.
HANCOCK
Christopher McKenzie v. Donald L. Sevier, No. 19-0010 A jury’s award of $0 after finding liability for intentional tort against an individual was an error, and the individual must be entitled to at least some compensation.
BROOKE
AC&S Inc. v. Jeffrey R. George, No. 19-0459 A collective bargaining agreement between employer and employee may require an employee to resolve his or her statutory or common law employment discrimination claims through grievance and arbitration, but must be done so through clear and unmistakable terms .
OHIO
MARSHALL
MONONGALIA
WETZEL
PLEASANTS
RITCHIE
PRESTON
WIRT
TUCKER
ROANE
JEFFERSON
GRANT HARDY
LEWIS CALHOUN
MASON
HAMPSHIRE
DODDRIDGE BARBOUR
JACKSON
BERKELEY MINERAL
TAYLOR
HARRISON WOOD
MORGAN
MARION
TYLER
GILMER UPSHUR
RANDOLPH
BRAXTON
PUTNAM
PENDLETON WEBSTER
CABELL
CLAY KANAWHA NICHOLAS
WAYNE
POCAHONTAS
LINCOLN BOONE
FAYETTE GREENBRIER
LOGAN RALEIGH
MINGO WYOMING
MCDOWELL
SUMMERS
MONROE
MERCER
CONSERVATIVE
WEST VIRGINIA
LIBERAL MODERATE
48
USLAW NETWORK
WI
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
BAYFIELD
DOUGLAS
ASHLAND
IRON VILAS
BURNETT
WASHBURN
SAWYER
FLORENCE ONEIDA
PRICE
FOREST POLK
BARRON
RUSK
MARINETTE LINCOLN
LANGLADE
TAYLOR ST. CROIX
DUNN
CHIPPEWA
MENOMINEE
OCONTO
DOOR
MARATHON PIERCE PEPIN
SHAWANO
CLARK
EAU CLAIRE
KEWAUNEE BUFFALO
PORTAGE
WOOD TREMPEALEAU
WAUPACA
OUTAGAMIE
BROWN
JACKSON MANITOWOC
WAUSHARA LA CROSSE
MONROE
JUNEAU
WINNEBAGO CALUMET
ADAMS MARQUETTE GREEN LAKE
FOND DU LAC
SHEBOYGAN
VERNON RICHLAND
SAUK
COLUMBIA
OZAUKEE
DODGE
WASHINGTON
CRAWFORD
... GREEN
LAFAYETTE
CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE
...
GRANT
DANE
JEFFERSON WAUKESHA
ROCK
Typically a conservative venue; however, in January 2008 a jury returned a $35,314,585 verdict against Waukesha Memorial Hospital in a medical malpractice action involving allegations that a nurse at Waukesha Memorial introduced air into an IV line during a blood transfusion to a 2-week old, premature infant and that the air then travelled to the infant’s brain causing permanent brain damage. This verdict is particularly notable because although Waukesha County is typically conservative, this is the largest medical malpractice verdict obtained in the state of Wisconsin to date. The parties ultimately settled after trial but Waukesha Memorial was still on the hook for $27 million.
49
...
IOWA
WALWORTH
MILWAUKEE
RACINE KENOSHA
WISCONSIN
USLAW NETWORK
WY
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
In March 2019, the Wyoming Legislature created a Chancery Court in Wyoming. See Wyo. Stat. § 5-13-101 et seq. Its purpose is to provide a forum for streamlined resolution of commercial, business, trust and similar issues. Its jurisdiction will be over actions seeking declaratory or injunctive relief and actions seeking money recovery over $50,000.00 that arise from claims including breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, derivative actions, the Uniform Commercial Code, and the Uniform Trust Code. While the Chancery Court is still in the process of being established, it will significantly change Wyoming’s legal landscape going forward.
SHERIDAN CROOK
BIG HORN
PARK
CAMPBELL JOHNSON WASHAKIE
TETON
WESTON
HOT SPRINGS
FREMONT
NATRONA
CONVERSE
NIOBRARA
SUBLETTE
...
...
PLATTE
LINCOLN
...
SWEETWATER
GOSHEN
CARBON
ALBANY
LARAMIE
UINTA
A Wyoming district court case resulted in a verdict for $2.2 million in a wrongful death case. The case involved traffic control put in place through a construction zone. The decedent was riding a motorcycle when he was struck by another vehicle. It was alleged that the other driver was confused by the traffic control and turned in front of the decedent. The jury apportioned fault between the construction company, traffic control company, and the encroaching driver with the majority of fault being apportioned to the construction company and traffic control company. The verdict amount was more than the amount plaintiffs’ counsel asked for in his closing, and it seems to represent an emerging trend in Wyoming for larger jury verdicts in traditionally moderate and conservative counties.
CONSERVATIVE
WYOMING
LIBERAL MODERATE
50
2021
membership roster ALABAMA | BIRMINGHAM Carr Allison Charles F. Carr............................ (251) 626-9340 ccarr@carrallison.com ARIZONA | PHOENIX Jones, Skelton & Hochuli, P.L.C. Phillip H. Stanfield..................... (602) 263-1745 pstanfield@jshfirm.com ARKANSAS | LITTLE ROCK Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC John E. Tull, III............................ (501) 379-1705 jtull@qgtlaw.com CALIFORNIA | LOS ANGELES Murchison & Cumming LLP Dan L. Longo............................... (714) 953-2244 dlongo@murchisonlaw.com CALIFORNIA | SAN DIEGO Klinedinst PC John D. Klinedinst...................... (619) 239-8131 jklinedinst@klinedinstlaw.com CALIFORNIA | SAN FRANCISCO Hanson Bridgett LLP Mert A. Howard.......................... (415) 995-5033 mhoward@hansonbridgett.com CALIFORNIA | SANTA BARBARA Snyder Burnett Egerer, LLP Barry Clifford Snyder.................. (805) 683-7750 bsnyder@sbelaw.com
LOUISIANA | NEW ORLEANS McCranie, Sistrunk, Anzelmo, Hardy McDaniel & Welch LLC Michael R. Sistrunk.................... (504) 846-8338 msistrunk@mcsalaw.com MAINE | PORTLAND Richardson, Whitman, Large & Badger Elizabeth G. Stouder................... (207) 774-7474 estouder@rwlb.com MARYLAND | BALTIMORE Franklin & Prokopik, PC Albert B. Randall, Jr.................... (410) 230-3622 arandall@fandpnet.com MASSACHUSETTS | BOSTON Rubin and Rudman LLP John J. McGivney........................ (617) 330-7000 jmcgivney@rubinrudman.com MINNESOTA | ST. PAUL Larson • King, LLP Mark A. Solheim......................... (651) 312-6503 msolheim@larsonking.com MISSISSIPPI | GULFPORT Carr Allison Douglas Bagwell......................... (228) 864-1060 dbagwell@carrallison.com MISSISSIPPI | RIDGELAND Copeland, Cook, Taylor & Bush, P.A. James R. Moore, Jr...................... (601) 427-1301 jmoore@cctb.com MISSOURI | ST. LOUIS Lashly & Baer, P.C. Stephen L. Beimdiek.................. (314) 436-8303 sbeim@lashlybaer.com MONTANA | GREAT FALLS Davis, Hatley, Haffeman & Tighe, P.C. Maxon R. Davis........................... (406) 761-5243 max.davis@dhhtlaw.com NEBRASKA | OMAHA Baird Holm LLP Jennifer D. Tricker...................... (402) 636-8348 jtricker@bairdholm.com
COLORADO | DENVER Lewis Roca Jessica L. Fuller........................... (303) 628-9527 jfuller@lewisroca.com
NEVADA | LAS VEGAS Thorndal Armstrong Delk Balkenbush & Eisinger Brian K. Terry.............................. (702) 366-0622 bkt@thorndal.com
CONNECTICUT | HARTFORD Hinckley Allen Noble F. Allen............................. (860) 725-6237 nallen@hinckleyallen.com
NEW JERSEY | ROSELAND Connell Foley LLP Kevin R. Gardner........................ (973) 840-2415 kgardner@connellfoley.com
DELAWARE | WILMINGTON Cooch and Taylor P.A. C. Scott Reese.............................. (302) 984-3811 sreese@coochtaylor.com
NEW MEXICO | ALBUQUERQUE Modrall Sperling Jennifer G. Anderson.................. (505) 848-1809 Jennifer.Anderson@modrall.com
FLORIDA | CENTRAL FLORIDA Wicker Smith O’Hara McCoy & Ford P.A. Richards H. Ford......................... (407) 843-3939 rford@wickersmith.com
NEW YORK | BUFFALO Barclay Damon LLP Peter S. Marlette............................(716) 858-3763 pmarlette@barclaydamon.com
FLORIDA | SOUTH FLORIDA Wicker Smith O’Hara McCoy & Ford P.A. Nicholas E. Christin.................... (305) 448-3939 nchristin@wickersmith.com
NEW YORK | HAWTHORNE Traub Lieberman Stephen D. Straus........................ (914) 586-7005 sstraus@tlsslaw.com
FLORIDA | TALLAHASSEE Carr Allison Christopher Barkas..................... (850) 222-2107 cbarkas@carrallison.com
NEW YORK | UNIONDALE Rivkin Radler LLP David S. Wilck............................. (516) 357-3347 David.Wilck@rivkin.com
HAWAII | HONOLULU Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel LLP Edmund K. Saffery...................... (808) 547-5736 esaffery@goodsill.com
NORTH CAROLINA | RALEIGH Poyner Spruill LLP Deborah E. Sperati..................... (252) 972-7095 dsperati@poynerspruill.com
IDAHO | BOISE Duke Evett, PLLC Keely E. Duke.............................. (208) 342-3310 ked@dukeevett.com
NORTH DAKOTA | DICKINSON Ebeltoft . Sickler . Lawyers PLLC Randall N. Sickler....................... (701) 225-5297 rsickler@ndlaw.com
ILLINOIS | CHICAGO SmithAmundsen LLC Lew R.C. Bricker.......................... (312) 894-3224 lbricker@salawus.com
OHIO | CLEVELAND Roetzel & Andress Bradley A. Wright........................ (330) 849-6629 bwright@ralaw.com
IOWA | CEDAR RAPIDS Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman PLC Kevin J. Visser.............................. (319) 366-7641 kvisser@spmblaw.com
OKLAHOMA | OKLAHOMA CITY Pierce Couch Hendrickson Baysinger & Green, L.L.P. Gerald P. Green........................... (405) 552-5271 jgreen@piercecouch.com
KANSAS/WESTERN MISSOURI |
OREGON | PORTLAND Williams Kastner Thomas A. Ped............................ (503) 944-6988 tped@williamskastner.com
KANSAS CITY Dysart Taylor Cotter McMonigle & Brumitt, PC Patrick K. McMonigle................. (816) 714-3039 pmcmonigle@dysarttaylor.com KENTUCKY | LOUISVILLE Middleton Reutlinger Elisabeth S. Gray......................... (502) 625-2848 EGray@MiddletonLaw.com
PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA Sweeney & Sheehan, P.C. J. Michael Kunsch....................... (215) 963-2481 michael.kunsch@sweeneyfirm.com PENNSYLVANIA | PITTSBURGH Pion, Nerone, Girman, Winslow & Smith, P.C. John T. Pion................................ (412) 281-2288 jpion@pionlaw.com
RHODE ISLAND | PROVIDENCE Adler Pollock & Sheehan P.C. Richard R. Beretta, Jr.................. (401) 427-6228 rberetta@apslaw.com SOUTH CAROLINA | COLUMBIA Sweeny, Wingate & Barrow, P.A. Mark S. Barrow........................... (803) 256-2233 msb@swblaw.com SOUTH DAKOTA | PIERRE Riter Rogers, LLP Robert C. Riter............................ (605) 224-5825 r.riter@riterlaw.com TENNESSEE | MEMPHIS Martin, Tate, Morrow & Marston, P.C. Lee L. Piovarcy............................ (901) 522-9000 lpiovarcy@martintate.com TEXAS | DALLAS Fee, Smith, Sharp & Vitullo, L.L.P. Michael P. Sharp......................... (972) 980-3255 msharp@feesmith.com TEXAS | HOUSTON MehaffyWeber Barbara J. Barron........................ (713) 655-1200 BarbaraBarron@mehaffyweber.com UTAH | SALT LAKE CITY Strong & Hanni, PC Stephen J. Trayner...................... (801) 323-2011 strayner@strongandhanni.com WASHINGTON | SEATTLE Williams Kastner Rodney L. Umberger.................. (206) 628-2421 rumberger@williamskastner.com WEST VIRGINIA | CHARLESTON Flaherty Sensabaugh Bonasso PLLC Michael Bonasso........................ (304) 347-4259 mbonasso@flahertylegal.com WISCONSIN | MILWAUKEE Laffey, Leitner & Goode LLC Jack Laffey................................... (414) 312-7105 jlaffey@llgmke.com WYOMING | CASPER Williams, Porter, Day and Neville PC Scott E. Ortiz............................... (307) 265-0700 sortiz@wpdn.net
USLAW INTERNATIONAL ARGENTINA | BUENOS AIRES Barreiro, Olivas, De Luca, Jaca & Nicastro Nicolás Jaca Otaño................ (54 11) 4814-1746 njaca@bodlegal.com BRAZIL | SÃO PAULO Mundie e Advogados Rodolpho Protasio................. (55 11) 3040-2923 rofp@mundie.com CANADA | ALBERTA
CALGARY & EDMONTON Parlee McLaws LLP Connor Glynn............................. (780) 423-8639 cglynn@parlee.com CANADA | ONTARIO | OTTAWA Kelly Santini Lisa Langevin................. (613) 238-6321 ext 276 llangevin@kellysantini.com CANADA | QUEBEC | BROSSARD Therrien Couture JoliCoeur Douglas W. Clarke...................... (450) 462-8555 douglas.clarke@groupetcj.ca CHINA | SHANGHAI Duan&Duan George Wang.............................. 8621 6219 1103 george@duanduan.com MEXICO | MEXICO CITY EC Rubio René Mauricio Alva................ +52 55 5251 5023 ralva@ecrubio.com
CZECH REPUBLIC Vyskocil, Kroslak & spol., Advocates and Patent Attorneys Jiri Spousta......................... (00 420) 224 819 133 spousta@akvk.cz DENMARK Lund Elmer Sandager Jacob Roesen.............................(+45 33 300 268) jro@les.dk ENGLAND Wedlake Bell LLP Richard Isham......................+44(0)20 7395 3000 risham@wedlakebell.com ESTONIA • LATVIA • LITHUANIA LEXTAL Tallinn|Riga|Vilnius Lina Siksniute Vaitiekuniene.....................(+370) 5 210 27 33 lina@lextal.lt FINLAND Lexia Attorneys Ltd. Markus Myhrberg..................... +358 10 4244200 markus.myhrberg@lexia.fi FRANCE Delsol Avocats Emmanuel Kaeppelin........... +33(0)4 72 10 20 30 ekaeppelin@delsolavocats.com GERMANY Buse Jasper Hagenberg..................... +49 30 327942 0 hagenberg@buse.de GREECE Corina Fassouli-Grafanaki & Associates Law Firm Korina Fassouli Grafanaki...........................(+30) 210-3628512 korina.grafanaki@lawofmf.gr HUNGARY Bihary Balassa & Partners Attorneys at Law Phone......................................... +36 1 391 44 91 IRELAND Kane Tuohy Solicitors Sarah Reynolds..............................(+353) 1 6722233 sreynolds@kanetuohy.ie ITALY LEGALITAX Studio Legale e Tributario Alessandro Polettini.............. +39 049 877 58 11 alessandro.polettini@legalitax.it LUXEMBOURG Tabery & Wauthier Véronique Wauthier...............(00352) 251 51 51 avocats@tabery.eu MALTA EMD Dr. Italo Ellul.............................. +356 2123 3005 iellul@emd.com.mt NETHERLANDS Dirkzwager Legal & Tax Karen A. Verkerk...................... +31 26 365 55 57 Verkerk@dirkzwager.nl NORWAY Advokatfirmaet Sverdrup DA Tom Eivind Haug.......................... +47 90653609 haug@sverdruplaw.no POLAND GWW Aldona Leszczyńska -Mikulska.............................. +48 22 212 00 00 warszawa@gww.pl PORTUGAL Carvalho, Matias & Associados Antonio Alfaia de Carvalho..........................(351) 21 8855440 acarvalho@cmasa.pt SERBIA Vukovic & Partners Dejan Vuković........................ +381 11 2642 257 office@vp.rs
TELFA
SLOVAKIA Alianciaadvokátov Gerta Sámelová Flassiková............................. +421 2 57101313 flassikova@aliancia.sk
AUSTRIA PHH Rechtsanwälte Rainer Kaspar............................. +43 1 714 24 40 kaspar@phh.at
SPAIN Adarve Abogados SLP Juan José García.........................+34 91 591 30 60 Juanjose.garcia@adarve.com
BELGIUM CEW & Partners Charles Price............................(+32 2) 534 20 20 Charles.price@cew-law.be
SWEDEN Wesslau Söderqvist Advokatbyrå Phone......................................... +46 8 407 88 00
CYPRUS Pyrgou Vakis Law Firm Melina Pyrgou............................. +357 22466611 m.pyrgou@pyrgouvakis.com
SWITZERLAND Meyerlustenberger Lachenal Nadine von Büren-Maier............+41 22 737 10 00 nadine.vonburen-maier@mll-legal.com TURKEY Cukur & Yilmaz Phone..................................... +90 232 465 07 07
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2001. The Start of Something Better. Mega-firms...big, impersonal bastions of legal tradition, encumbered by bureaucracy and often slow to react. The need for an alternative was obvious. A vision of a network of smaller, regionally based, independent firms with the capability to respond quickly, efficiently and economically to client needs from Atlantic City to Pacific Grove was born. In its infancy, it was little more than a possibility, discussed around a small table and dreamed about by a handful of visionaries. But the idea proved too good to leave on the drawing board. Instead, with the support of some of the country’s brightest legal minds, USLAW NETWORK became a reality.
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