• Here’s what happened: A new report reveals that between 2009 and 2023, Texas led the nation in nuclear verdicts, with 207 nuclear verdicts totaling more than $45 billion. Texas’ tally is $12 billion and 32 verdicts more than the next highest state.
• By the numbers: Nationwide, verdicts of $10 million or more reached a 15-year high in 2023, with jury awards totaling $14.5 billion.
  • Between 2020 and 2023 nuclear jury verdicts more than doubled, from $21 million to $44 million. 
• Tell me more: The report credits the surge in massive jury awards to increasing corporate mistrust and social pessimism, as well as the erosion of tort reform and the massive growth of legal advertising—exceeding $1 billion dollars annually—influencing juries’ decisions.
• Same song, different verse: In these lawsuits, trial lawyers often use strategies like the Reptile Theory and anchoring to influence the jury’s award decisions. We often see these tactics in commercial vehicle litigation, but they apply to any personal injury lawsuit… meaning any industry could be a target.
• TLR Thoughts: This is one national ranking we don’t want to lead. It’s clear Texas has a nuclear verdict problem that threatens to hijack the Texas Miracle.
  

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