Peder Rigsby (Partner-Portland, OR), Dan Mooney (Partner-Seattle, WA) and John Carley (Of Counsel-Portland, OR) secured a highly favorable jury award on behalf of their client, a large resource recovery company. The trial was held in King County, WA, a notoriously difficult venue for defendants recently included on the “Judicial Hellhole Top 10” list. This was an admitted liability case that was vigorously contested.

The client’s garbage truck driver backed into the plaintiff’s vehicle, causing it minor damage. Plaintiff was standing in the truck bed and either jumped or fell out. Plaintiff claimed numerous catastrophic injuries, including multiple surgeries and a concussion diagnosed nearly five years after the accident. The alleged economic damages were $1.2 million. During jury selection, Plaintiff’s counsel anchored at $30 million. In closing, Plaintiff asked for $11.8 million. The defense strategy focused on causation and the plaintiff’s credibility, which included presenting numerous experts, a private investigator, and hours of video surveillance showing the plaintiff engaging in activities that he claimed he could not perform. Following a three-week trial, the jury returned a verdict of $500,000 or $100,000 less than our last offer.