Verdicts
The Fitzgerald Law Firm’s case results include multiple record-setting verdicts, some of which are the largest upheld on appeal in the state of Wyoming.
$22,000,000 Verdict
Guardian v. Hannifan (2008)
An injured miner and his children sued the mine manager and safety manager for failing to fix dangerous environments that caused the miner to suffer brain injury and paralysis. The jury awarded $22,000,000, the largest verdict for physical injuries ever in the State of Wyoming. By law, the judgment came to $9,460,000, affirmed on appeal. Jim was on the trial team. If you would like to read Jim’s closing argument in the case, send an email to [email protected] with the Subject: Closing.
$8,400,000 Verdict
Tobin v. SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals (2002)
Jim was on the two lawyer trial team. A U.S. District Court jury in Wyoming reached an $8.4 million verdict in favor of the relatives of a man who killed his family and himself after he took the antidepressant drug, Paxil, made by GlaxoSmithKline formerly SmithKline Beecham. The jury ruled that the global pharmaceutical company was 80 percent responsible for the deaths for failure to provide doctors with pertinent information and warnings about possible suicide and homicide. If you would like to read Jim’s final argument from the case, send an email with the Subject: Paxil Closing to Closing to [email protected].
$1,700,000 Verdict
The Estate Guinn v. Builders Transportation Co., L.L.C. (2008)
A United States District Court Jury awarded $1,700,000.00 for the wrongful death of a 57-year-old husband and father. $400,000 was awarded to make an example of the trucking company that killed him. Evidence unearthed before trial showed that the trucking company violated numerous federal regulations intended to promote highway safety. Many Wyoming State Highway Patrol Troopers testified at the trial. Jim Fitzgerald tried this case entirely alone against numerous lawyers. The Fitzgerald Law Firm was gratified to bring the facts to light, which helps the Troopers to do their best to enhance safety on Wyoming highways. At the urging of the Troopers, the speed limits in the area of the wreck are now reduced in the winter which helps save lives.
$1,500,000 Verdict
Caterpillar Tractor Co. v. Donahue (1983)
A heavy equipment operator at a construction company was killed when the Caterpillar 988B front-end loader — which weighed around 80,000 pounds — rolled over and crushed him. The crush was due to the machine’s defective design. He left behind a widow and three young children. Jim tried the case, for which the jury eventually awarded the victim’s widow and children $1,500,000 affirmed on appeal. It was the largest wrongful death verdict in the state of Wyoming at that time and is still the largest ever affirmed by the Wyoming Supreme Court.
*The result obtained in any case was dependent on the facts of that case.
**The photographs used above do not depict any of the events or parties involved in the referenced cases. The photographs are for illustrative purposes only.
Lawyers who have actually obtained good results in trials get better settlements.
Challenge your lawyer to send you a transcript of a trial. Most don’t have them because they don’t really go to trial.
The insurance companies know which lawyers can actually take a case to trial unless they offer a fair settlement.