STATE JUDICIAL PROFILES BY COUNTY - USLAW NETWORK, … USLAW Judicial Profiles.pdfRIO BLANCO RIO...
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STATE JUDICIAL PROFILES BY COUNTY 2019-2020 ALWAYS KNOW WHAT LIES AHEAD PREPARED BY THE MEMBER FIRMS OF ®
Transcript of STATE JUDICIAL PROFILES BY COUNTY - USLAW NETWORK, … USLAW Judicial Profiles.pdfRIO BLANCO RIO...
STATE JUDICIAL PROFILES
BY COUNTY2019-2020
ALWAYS KNOWWHAT LIES AHEAD
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 county-by-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.
EditorsJeffrey Y. ChoiSnyder Burnett Egerer, LLP5383 Hollister Ave., Suite 240Santa Barbara, CA [email protected]
USLAW NETWORK, Inc. • 3111 N. University Drive, Suite 400 • Coral Springs, FL 33065 (800) 231-9110 • www.uslaw.org
Clarice SpickerJones Skelton & Hochuli, PLC40 North Central AvenuePhoenix AZ [email protected]
Alabama ................................... page 1
Alaska ...................................... page 2
Arizona ..................................... page 3
Arkansas ................................... page 4
California .................................. page 5
Colorado ................................... page 6
Connecticut ............................... page 7
Delaware .................................. page 8
Florida ...................................... page 9
Georgia ....................................page 10
Hawaii .....................................page 11
Idaho .......................................page 12
Illinois .....................................page 13
Indiana ....................................page 14
Iowa ........................................page 15
Kansas .....................................page 16
Kentucky ..................................page 17
Louisiana .................................page 18
Maine ......................................page 19
Maryland ..................................page 20
Massachusetts ..........................page 21
Michigan ..................................page 22
Minnesota ................................page 23
Mississippi ...............................page 24
Missouri...................................page 25
Montana...................................page 26
Nebraska .................................page 27
Nevada ....................................page 28
New Hampshire .........................page 29
New Jersey ..............................page 30
New Mexico .............................page 31
New York .................................page 32
North Carolina ...........................page 33
North Dakota .............................page 34
Ohio ........................................page 35
Oklahoma .................................page 36
Oregon .....................................page 37
Pennsylvania ............................page 38
Rhode Island .............................page 39
South Carolina ..........................page 40
South Dakota ............................page 41
Tennessee ................................page 42
Texas ......................................page 43
Utah ........................................page 44
Vermont ...................................page 45
Virginia ....................................page 46
Washington ..............................page 47
West Virginia ............................page 48
Wisconsin ................................page 49
Wyoming ..................................page 50
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
Table of Contents
AUTAUGA
BALDWIN
BARBOUR
BIBB
BLOUNT
BULLOCK
BUTLER
CALHOUN
CHAMBERS
CHEROKEE
CHILTON
CHOCTAW
CLARKE
CLAY
CLEBURNE
COFFEE
COLBERT
CONECUH
COOSA
COVINGTON
CRENSHAW
CULLMAN
DALE
DALLAS
DE KALB
ELMORE
ESCAMBIA
ETOWAH
FAYETTE
FRANKLIN
GENEVA
GREENEHALE
HENRY
HOUSTON
JACKSON
JEFFERSON
LAMAR
LAUDERDALE
LAWRENCE
LEE
LIMESTONE
LOWNDES
MACON
MADISON
MARENGO
MARION
MARSHALL
MOBILE
MONROE
MONTGOMERY
MORGAN
PERRY
PICKENS
PIKE
RANDOLPH
RUSSELL
ST. CLAIR
SHELBY
SUMTER
TALLADEGA
TALLAPOOSA
TUSCALOOSA
WALKER
WASHINGTON
WILCOX
WINSTON
1
ALUSLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
ALABAMACONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
..................$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.
......... .........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.
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.
YUKON-KOYUKUK
YAKUTAT
WRANGELL-PETERSBURG
WADE HAMPTONVALDEZ-CORDOVA
SOUTHEAST FAIRBANKS
SKAGWAY-HOONAH-ANGOONSKAGWAY-HOONAH-ANGOON
SKAGWAY-HOONAH-ANGOON
SITKA
PRINCE OF WALES-OUTER KETCHIKANPRINCE OF WALES-
OUTER KETCHIKAN
NORTHWEST ARCTIC
NORTH SLOPE
NOME
MATANUSKA-SUSITNA
LAKE ANDPENINSULA
KODIAK ISLAND
KETCHIKANGATEWAY
KENAIPENINSULA
JUNEAU
HAINESHAINES
FAIRBANKSNORTH STAR
DILLINGHAM
DENALI
BRISTOL BAY
BETHELANCHORAGE
ALEUTIANS WEST
ALEUTIANS EAST
2
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
ALASKACONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
AK
YUMA
APACHE
COCHISE
COCONINO
GILA
GRAHAM
GREENLEE
MARICOPA
MOHAVE
NAVAJO
PIMA
PINAL
SANTA CRUZ
YAVAPAI
LA PAZ
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USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
ARIZONACONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
AZ
......... .................. .........
.........
.........Jackson v. Eagle (Mohave—Filed
January 2, 2019) The Arizona Supreme Court held that Arizona’s automatic assignment provision in A.R.S. § 23-1023(B) does not apply when an employee receives workers’ compensation benefits under another state’s laws. The law of the state in which an employee’s workers’ compensation is paid determines the assignment rights of the employer and employee.
Ryan v. Napier (Pima—Filed August 23, 2018) The Arizona Supreme Court also held that plaintiffs cannot assert a negligence claim against an officer for the intentional use of physical force. A plaintiff can, however, bring a negligence claim against an officer when the officer’s conduct is independent of the intentional use of physical force.
Spooner v. City of Phoenix (Maricopa—Filed November 27, 2018) Despite recent and heightened scrutiny of law enforcement officers, the Arizona Court of Appeals held that a law enforcement officer is not subject to civil liability for simple negligence arising from an investigation into criminal activity.
..................Donovan v. Yavapai County Community College District(Yavapai—Filed May 31, 2018) Arizona’s notice of claim statute, A.R.S. § 12-821.01, does not require that the proffered settlement amount be objectively reasonable. Instead, it simply requires a statement of a specific settlement amount with supporting facts. Because the plaintiff’s claim at issue provided a definite and exact amount for which the defendant could settle, it satisfied the requirements of A.R.S. § 12-821.01(A).
ARKANSAS
ASHLEY
BAXTERBENTON
BOONE
BRADLEY
CALHOUN
CARROLL
CHICOT
CLARK
CLAY
CLEBURNE
CLEVELAND
COLUMBIA
CONWAY
CRAIGHEAD
CRAWFORD
CRITTENDEN
CROSS
DALLAS
DESHA
DREW
FAULKNER
FRANKLIN
FULTON
GARLAND
GRANT
GREENE
HEMPSTEAD
HOT SPRING
HOWARD
INDEPENDENCE
IZARD
JACKSON
JEFFERSON
JOHNSON
LAFAYETTE
LAWRENCE
LEE
LINCOLN
LITTLE RIVER
LOGAN
LONOKE
MADISON
MARION
MILLER
MISSISSIPPI
MONROE
MONTGOMERY
NEVADA
NEWTON
OUACHITA
PERRY
PHILLIPS
PIKE
POINSETT
POLK
POPE
PRAIRIEPULASKI
RANDOLPH
ST. FRANCIS
SALINE
SCOTT
SEARCY
SEBASTIAN
SEVIER
SHARP
STONE
UNION
VAN BUREN
WASHINGTON
WHITE
WOODRUFF
YELL
4
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
ARKANSASCONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
AR
..................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.
.........
.........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.
ALAMEDA
ALPINEAMADOR
BUTTE
CALAVERAS
COLUSA
CONTRA COSTA
DEL NORTE
EL DORADO
FRESNO
GLENN
HUMBOLDT
IMPERIAL
INYO
KERN
KINGS
LAKE
LASSEN
LOS ANGELES
MADERA
MARIN
MARIPOSA
MENDOCINO
MERCED
MODOC
MONO
MONTEREY
NAPA
NEVADA
ORANGE
PLACER
PLUMAS
RIVERSIDE
SACRAMENTO
SAN BENITO
SAN BERNARDINO
SAN DIEGO
SAN JOAQUIN
SAN LUIS OBISPO
SANMATEO
SAN FRANCISCO
SANTA BARBARA
SANTA CLARA
SANTA CRUZ
SHASTA
SIERRA
SISKIYOU
SOLANO
SONOMA
STANISLAUS
SUTTER
TEHAMA
TRINITY
TULARE
TUOLUMNE
VENTURA
YOLO
YUBA
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USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
CALIFORNIACONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
CA
......... .........
......... .........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.
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.
.........
.........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.
ADAMS
ALAMOSA
ARAPAHOE
ARCHULETA
BACA
BENT
BOULDER
CHAFFEECHEYENNE
CLEAR CREEK
CONEJOS COSTILLA
CROWLEY
CUSTER
DELTA
DOLORES
DOUGLAS
EAGLE
ELBERT
EL PASO
FREMONT
GARFIELD
GILPIN
GRAND
GUNNISON
HINSDALE
HUERFANO
JACKSON
JEFFERSON
KIOWA
KIT CARSONLAKE
LA PLATA
LARIMER
LAS ANIMAS
LINCOLN
LOGAN
MESA
MINERAL
MOFFAT
MONTEZUMA
MONTROSE
MORGAN
OTERO
OURAY
PARK
PHILLIPS
PITKIN
PROWERS
PUEBLO
RIO BLANCO
RIO GRANDE
ROUTT
SAGUACHE
SAN JUAN
SAN MIGUEL
SEDGWICK
SUMMIT
TELLER
WASHINGTON
WELD
YUMABROOMFIELD
DENVER
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USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
COLORADOCONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
CO
.........
.........
.........
.........
On November 7, 2018, the Colorado Supreme Court clarified the bad faith standard in relation to both claims for common law bad faith and statutory unreasonable delay or denial of benefits. The Court concluded that the insurer’s conduct must be evaluated solely on the evidence possessed by the insurer at the time the decision was made. Evidence acquired after the denial of coverage cannot be considered.
On January 14, 2019, the Colorado Supreme Court reversed a Court of Appeals decision requiring the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to only grant drilling permits when the proposed drilling would not negatively impact Colorado’s atmosphere, water, wildlife, human health, or climate change. The Court instead ruled that the Commission was entitled to balance environmental considerations with other considerations such as property and production rights. The decision is seen as a victory for the oil and gas industry in Colorado.
FAIRFIELD
HARTFORD
LITCHFIELD
MIDDLESEX
NEW HAVEN
NEW LONDON
TOLLANDWINDHAM
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USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
CONNECTICUTCONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
CT
..................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.
K E N T
N E W C A S T L E
S U S S E X
8
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
DELAWARECONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
DE
• 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.
JACKSON
CALHOUN
FRANKLIN
GADSDEN
GULF
LEON
WAKULLA
ALACHUA
BAKER
BAY
BRADFORD
BREVARD
BROWARD
CHARLOTTE
CITRUS
CLAY
COLLIER
COLUMBIA
DADE
DE SOTO
DIXIE
DUVAL
ESCAMBIA
FLAGLER
GILCHRIST
GLADES
HAMILTON
HARDEE
HENDRY
HERNANDO
HIGHLANDS
HILLSBOROUGH
HOLMES
INDIAN RIVER
JEFFERSON
LAFAYETTE
LAKE
LEE
LEVY
MADISON
MANATEE
MARION
MARTIN
MONROE
OKALOOSA
OKEECHOBEE
PALM BEACH
PASCO
PINELLASPOLK
PUTNAM
ST. JOHNS
ST. LUCIE
SANTA ROSA
SARASOTA
SEMINOLESUMTER
SUWANNEETAYLOR UNION
VOLUSIA
WALTONWASHINGTON
LIBERTY
ORANGE
OSCEOLA
NASSAU
9
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
FLORIDACONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
FL
......... .........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.
......... .........
$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.
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
APPLING
ATKINSON
BACON
BAKER
BALDWIN
BANKS
BARROW
BARTOW
BEN HILL
BERRIEN
BIBB
BLECKLEY
BRANTLEY
BROOKS
BRYAN
BULLOCH
BURKE
BUTTS
CALHOUN
CAMDEN
CANDLER
CARROLL
CATOOSA
CHARLTON
CHATHAM
CHATAHOOCHEE
CHATTOOGA
CHEROKEE
CLARKE
CLAY
CLAYTON
CLINCH
COBB
COFFEE
COLQUITT
COLUMBIA
COOK
COWETA
CRAWFORD
CRISP
DADE
DAWSON
DECATUR
DEKALB
DODGEDOOLY
DOUGHERTY
DOUGLAS
EARLY
ECHOLS
EFFINGHAM
ELBERT
EMANUEL
EVANS
FANNIN
FAYETTE
FLOYD FORSYTH
FRANKLIN
FULTON
GILMER
GLASCOCK
GLYNN
GORDON
GRADY
GREENE
GWINNETT
HABERSHAM
HALL
HANCOCK
HARALSON
HARRIS
HART
HEARD
HENRY
HOUSTON
IRWIN
JACKSON
JASPER
JEFF DAVIS
JEFFERSON
JENKINS
JOHNSON
JONESLAMAR
LANIER
LAURENS
LEELIBERTY
LINCOLN
LONG
LOWNDES
LUMPKIN
MCDUFFIE
MCINTOSH
MACON
MADISON
MARION
MERIWETHER
MILLER MITCHELL
MONROE
MONTGOMERY
MORGAN
MURRAY
MUSCOGEE
NEWTON
OCONEE OGLETHORPEPAULDING
PEACH
PICKENS
PIERCE
PIKE
POLK
PULASKI
PUTNAM
QUITMAN
RABUN
RANDOLPH
RICHMOND
ROCKDALE
SCHLEY
SCREVEN
SEMINOLE
SPALDING
STEPHENS
STEWARTSUMTER
TALBOT
TALIAFERRO
TATTNALL
TAYLOR
TELFAIR
TERRELL
THOMAS
TIFT
TOOMBS
TOWNS
TREUTLEN
TROUP
TURNER
TWIGGS
UNION
UPSON
WALKER
WALTON
WARE
WARREN
WASHINGTON
WAYNE
WEBSTER
WHEELER
WHITE
WHITFIELD
WILCOX
WILKES
WILKINSON
WORTH
10
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
GEORGIACONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
GA
..................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.
.........
.........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.
H A W A I I
M A U I
H O N O L U L U
K A U A I
K A L A W A O
11
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
HAWAIICONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
HIA 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.
ADA
ADAMS
BANNOCK
BEAR LAKE
BINGHAM
BOISE
BONNER
BONNEVILLE
BOUNDARY
CAMAS
CANYON
CARIBOU
CASSIA
ELMORE
FRANKLIN
FREMONT
GEM
GOODING
JEFFERSON
JEROME
CLEARWATER
KOOTENAI
LEWIS
NEZ PERCE
SHOSHONEBENEWAH
LATAH
LINCOLN
MADISON
MINIDOKA
ONEIDA
OWYHEE
PAYETTE
POWER
TETON
TWIN FALLS
IDAHO
VALLEY
BLAINE
BUTTE
CLARKCUSTER
LEMHI
WASHINGTON
12
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
IDAHOCONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
ID
.........
.........
In May 2019 the Supreme Court of Idaho held that the Idaho Protection of Public Employees Act (the “Whistleblower Act”) supplants the Idaho Tort Claims Act, thereby rendering the Tort Claims Act damages cap inapplicable to Whistleblower Act claims. The Court made clear that non-economic damages are allowed under the Whistleblower Act and reiterated that a claim under the Whistleblower Act must be brought within 180 days of the alleged violation. Finally, the Court stated that Whistleblower Act remedies preclude common law causes of action in cases where the Act applies, overruling its prior decision in Wright v. Ada County, 160 Idaho 491, 376 P.3d 58 (permitting a separate damages action within a whistleblower claim).
.........
.........In 2018, a jury awarded $7.95M in a medical
malpractice/negligent supervision case. The award included $7.2M in compensatory damages to Plaintiff and $750k to his spouse for loss of consortium. Defendant had alleged Plaintiff was comparatively negligent for refusing a physician’s advice and that the complications Plaintiff suffered were not foreseeable.
.........
.........There was a $3.48M jury verdict in an insurance breach of contract/bad faith case in 2019. This is an extraordinarily high reward for this type of case in a traditionally conservative jury base.
ADAMS
ALEXANDER
BOND
WINNEBAGO
BROWN
BUREAU
CALHOUN
CARROLL
CASS
CHAMPAIGN
CHRISTIAN
CLARK
CLAY
CLINTON
COLES
COOK
CRAWFORD
CUMBERLAND
DE KALB
DE WITT
DOUGLAS
DU PAGE
EDGAR
EDWARDS
EFFINGHAMFAYETTE
FORD
FRANKLIN
FULTON
GALLATIN
GREENE
GRUNDY
HAMILTON
HANCOCK
HARDIN
HENDERSON
HENRY
IROQUOIS
JACKSON
JASPER
JEFFERSON
JERSEY
LAKE
JOHNSON
KANE
KANKAKEE
KENDALL
KNOX
JO DAVIESS
LA SALLE
LAWRENCE
LEE
LIVINGSTON
LOGAN
MCDONOUGH
STEPHENSON
MCLEAN
MACON
MACOUPIN
MADISON
MARION
MARSHALL
MASON
MASSAC
MENARD
MERCER
MONROE
MONTGOMERY
MORGANMOULTRIE
OGLE
PEORIA
PERRY
PIATT
PIKE
POPE
PULASKI
PUTNAM
RANDOLPH
RICHLAND
ROCK ISLAND
ST. CLAIR
SALINE
SANGAMON
SCHUYLER
SCOTT
SHELBY
STARK
MCHENRY
TAZEWELL
UNION
VERMILION
WABASH
WARREN
WASHINGTON
WAYNE
WHITE
WHITESIDE
WILL
WILLIAMSON
BOONE
WOODFORD
13
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
ILLINOISCONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
IL
......... .................. .........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
In 2018 more than 15 eight-figure and 40 seven-figure jury verdicts were rendered primarily in Cook County, but also throughout the state
ADAMS
ALLEN
BARTHOLOMEW
BENTON
BLACKFORD
BOONE
BROWN
CARROLL
CASS
CLARK
CLAY
CLINTON
CRAWFORD
DAVIES
DEARBORN
DECATUR
DE KALB
DELAWARE
DUBOIS
ELKHART
FAYETTE
FLOYD
FOUNTAIN
FRANKLIN
FULTON
GIBSON
GRANT
GREENE
HAMILTON
HANCOCK
HARRISON
HENDRICKS
HENRY
HOWARD
HUNTINGTON
JACKSON
JASPER
JAY
JEFFERSON
JENNINGS
JOHNSON
KNOX
KOSCIUSKO
LA GRANGE
LAKE
LA PORTE
LAWRENCE
MADISON
MARION
MARSHALL
MARTIN
MIAMI
MONROE
MONTGOMERY
MORGAN
NEWTON
NOBLE
OHIO
ORANGE
OWEN
PARKE
PERRY
PIKE
PORTER
POSEY
PULASKI
PUTNAM
RANDOLPH
RIPLEY
RUSH
ST JOSEPH
SCOTT
SHELBY
SPENCER
STARKE
STEUBEN
SULLIVAN
SWITZERLAND
TIPPECANOE
TIPTON
UNION
VANDERBURGH
VERMILLION
VIGO
WABASH
WARREN
WARRICK
WASHINGTON
WAYNE
WELLSWHITE
WHITLEY
14
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
INDIANACONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
IN
......... ...........................
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.
......... .........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.
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.
ADAIR
ADAMS
ALLAMAKEE
APPANOOSE
AUDOBON
BENTON
BLACK HAWK
BOONE
BREMER
BUCHANAN
BUENA VISTA BUTLER
CALHOUN
CARROLL
CASS
CEDAR
CERRO GORDO
CHEROKEE
CHICKASAW
CLARKE
CLAY
CLAYTON
CLINTON
CRAWFORD
DALLAS
DAVISDECATUR
DELAWARE
DES MOINES
DICKINSON
DUBUQUE
EMMET
FAYETTE
FLOYD
FRANKLIN
FREMONT
GREENE
GRUNDY
GUTHRIE
HAMILTON
HANCOCK
HARDIN
HARRISON
HENRY
HOWARD
HUMBOLDT
IDA
IOWA
JACKSON
JASPER
JEFFERSON
JOHNSON
JONES
KEOKUK
KOSSUTH
LEE
LINN
LOUISA
LUCAS
LYON
MADISON MAHASKAMARION
MARSHALL
MILLS
MITCHELL
MONONA
MONROEMONTGOMERY
MUSCATINE
O’BRIEN
OSCEOLA
PAGE
PALO ALTO
PLYMOUTH POCAHONTAS
POLK
POTTAWATTAMIE
POWESHIEK
RINGGOLD
SAC
SCOTTSHELBY
SIOUX
STORY TAMA
TAYLOR
UNION
VAN BUREN
WAPELLO
WARREN WASHINGTON
WAYNE
WEBSTER
WINNEBAGO
WINNESHIEK
WOODBURY
WORTH
WRIGHT
15
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
IOWACONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
IAThe 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.
ALLEN
ANDERSON
ATCHISON
BARBER
BARTON
BOURBON
BROWN
BUTLER
CHASE
CHAUTAUQUACHEROKEE
CHEYENNE
CLARK
CLAY
CLOUD
COFFEY
COMANCHECOWLEY
CRAWFORD
DECATUR
DICKINSON
DONIPHAN
DOUGLAS
EDWARDS
ELK
ELLISELLSWORTH
FINNEY
FORD
FRANKLIN
GEARYGOVE
GRAHAM
GRANT
GRAY
GREELEY
GREENWOOD
HAMILTON
HARPER
HARVEY
HASKELL
HODGEMAN
JACKSON
JEFFERSON
JEWELL
JOHNSON
KEARNY
KINGMANKIOWA
LABETTE
LANE
LEAVENWORTH
LINCOLN
LINN
LOGAN
LYONMARION
MARSHALL
MCPHERSON
MEADE
MIAMI
MITCHELL
MONTGOMERY
MORRIS
MORTON
NEMAHA
NEOSHO
NESS
NORTON
OSAGE
OSBORNE
OTTAWA
PAWNEE
PHILLIPS
POTTAWATOMIE
PRATT
RAWLINS
RENO
REPUBLIC
RICE
RILEYROOKS
RUSH
RUSSELL
SALINE
SCOTT
SEDGWICK
SEWARD
SHAWNEE
SHERIDANSHERMAN
SMITH
STAFFORD
STANTON
STEVENS SUMNER
THOMAS
TREGO WABAUNSEEWALLACE
WASHINGTON
WICHITA
WILSON
WOODSON
WYANDOTTE
16
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
KANSASCONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
KS
.........
.........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.
ADAIR
ALLEN
ANDERSON
BALLARDBARREN
BATH
BELL
BOONE
BOURBON
BOYD
BOYLE
BRACKEN
BREATHITT
BRECKINRIDGE
BULLITT
BUTLER
CALDWELL
CALLOWAY
CAMPBELL
CARLISLE
CARROLL
CARTER
CASEY
CHRISTIAN
CLARK
CLAY
CLINTON
CRITTENDEN
CUMBERLAND
DAVIES
EDMONSON
ELLIOTT
ESTILL
FAYETTE
FLEMING
FLOYD
FRANKLIN
FULTON
GALLATIN
GARRARD
GRANT
GRAVES
GRAYSON
GREEN
GREENUP
HANCOCK
HARDIN
HARLAN
HARRISON
HART
HENDERSON
HENRY
HICKMAN
HOPKINS
JACKSON
JEFFERSON
JESSAMINEJOHNSON
KENTON
KNOTT
KNOX
LARUE
LAUREL
LAWRENCE
LEE
LESLIE LETCHER
LEWIS
LINCOLN
LIVINGSTON
LOGAN
LYONMCCRACKEN
MCCREARY
MCLEAN
MADISON MAGOFFIN
MARION
MARSHALL
MARTIN
MASON
MEADE MENIFEE
MERCER
METCALFE
MONROE
MONTGOMERY
MORGAN
MUHLENBERG
NELSON
NICHOLAS
OHIO
OLDHAM
OWEN
OWSLEY
PENDLETON
PERRY
PIKE
POWELL
PULASKI
ROBERTSON
ROCKCASTLE
ROWAN
RUSSELL
SCOTT
SHELBY
SIMPSON
SPENCER
TAYLOR
TODDTRIGG
TRIMBLE
UNION
WARREN
WASHINGTON
WAYNE
WEBSTER
WHITLEY
WOLFE
WOODFORD
17
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
KENTUCKYCONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
KY
......... .........
.........
.........In 2018, the Kentucky Supreme Court declared unconstitutional a recently enacted law that required medical malpractice plaintiffs to submit their claims for evaluation by a medical review panel prior to filing a lawsuit. The Court held that the law delayed access to the courts in violation of Section 14 of the Kentucky Constitution.
Knott County juries awarded two large verdicts in 2018 – one for $53.7 million and another for $13.7 million. Both cases involved claims alleging that the plaintiffs developed black lung disease due to defective coal dust masks. These verdicts continue the longstanding reputation of the Appalachian region of eastern Kentucky as being a high-risk venue for corporate defendants.
ST. MARTIN
ST. MARTIN
ACADIA
ALLEN
ASCENSION
ASSUMPTION
AVOYELLES
BEAUREGARD
BIENVILLE
BOSSIERCADDO
CALCASIEU
CALDWELL
CAMERON
CATAHOULA
CLAIBORNE
CONCORDIA
DE SOTO
EAST BATON ROUGE
EAST CARROLL
EASTFELICIANA
EVANGELINE
FRANKLIN
GRANT
IBERIA
IBERVILLE
JACKSON
JEFFERSON
JEFFERSONDAVIS
LAFAYETTE
LAFOURCHE
LA SALLE
LINCOLN
LIVINGSTON
MADISON
MOREHOUSE
NATCHITOCHES
ORLEANS
OUACHITA
PLAQUEMINES
POINTECOUPEE
RAPIDES
RED RIVER
RICHLAND
SABINE
ST. BERNARDST. CHARLES
ST. HELENA
ST. JAMES
ST. JOHNTHE BAPTIST
ST. LANDRY
ST. MARY
ST. TAMMANY
TANGIPAHOA
TENSAS
TERREBONNE
UNION
VERMILION
VERNON
WASHINGTON
WEBSTER
WESTBATON ROUGE
WEST CARROLL
WESTFELICIANA
WINN
18
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
LOUISIANACONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
LA
ANDROSCOGGIN
AROOSTOOK
CUMBERLAND
FRANKLIN
HANCOCK
KENNEBEC
KNOXLINCOLN
OXFORD
PENOBSCOT
PISCATAQUIS
SAGADAHOC
SOMERSET
WALDO
WASHINGTON
YORK
19
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
MAINECONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
ME
.........
.........
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.
ALLEGANY
ANNE ARUNDEL
BALTIMORE
CALVERT
CAROLINE
CARROLLCECIL
CHARLES
DORCHESTER
FREDERICK
GARRETT HARFORD
HOWARDKENT
MONTGOMERY
PRINCE GEORGE'S
QUEENANNE'S
ST. MARY'S
SOMERSET
TALBOT
WASHINGTON
WICOMICO
WORCESTER
BALTIMORECITY
20
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
MARYLANDCONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
MD
......... ......... .........
.........Three recent lead paint verdicts
exceeding $1.63M to $3M continue a trend of high verdicts in lead paint cases
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
.........
.........$1.2M for
rear-end collision in jurisdiction known for low verdicts
BARNSTABLE
BERKSHIRE
BRISTOL
DUKES
ESSEX
FRANKLIN
HAMPDEN
HAMPSHIRE
MIDDLESEX
NANTUCKET
NORFOLK
PLYMOUTH
SUFFOLK
WORCESTER
21
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
MASSACHUSETTSCONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
MA
.........
...............
.........
...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.
$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.
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.
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.
ALCONA
ALGER
ALLEGAN
ALPENAANTRIM
ARENAC
BARAGA
BARRY
BAY
BENZIE
BERRIENBRANCH
CALHOUN
CASS
CHARLEVOIX
CHEBOYGAN
CHIPPEWA
CLARE
CLINTON
CRAWFORD
DELTADICKINSON
EATON
EMMET
GENESEE
GLADWIN
GOGEBIC
GRANDTRAVERSE
GRATIOT
HILLSDALE
HOUGHTON
HURON
INGHAM
IONIA
IOSCO
IRON
ISABELLA
JACKSONKALAMAZOO
KALKASKA
KENT
KEWEENAW
LAKE
LAPEER
LEELANAU
LENAWEE
LIVINGSTON
LUCE
MACKINAC
MACOMB
MANISTEE
MARQUETTE
MASON
MECOSTA
MENOMINEE
MIDLAND
MISSAUKEE
MONROE
MONTCALM
MONTMORENCY
MUSKEGON
NEWAYGO
OAKLAND
OCEANA
OGEMAW
ONTONAGON
OSCEOLA
OSCODA
OTSEGO
OTTAWA
PRESQUE ISLE
ROSCOMMON
SAGINAW
ST. CLAIR
ST. JOSEPH
SANILAC
SCHOOLCRAFT
SHIAWASSEE
TUSCOLA
VAN BURENWASHTENAW WAYNE
WEXFORD
22
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
MICHIGANCONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
MI
......... .........The Michigan Supreme Court reversed the Court of Appeals and reinstated the trial court’s grant of summary judgment in a case where the plaintiff alleged his injuries were caused by an oil spill, finding that plaintiff’s causation expert’s opinions were based on “speculation” and conjecture.” Justice Markman wrote an extensive concurring opinion joined by two other Justices detailing what expert testimony is required to show causation in a toxic tort case.
AITKIN
ANOKA
BECKER
BELTRAMI
BENTON
BIG STONE
BLUE EARTH
BROWN
CARLTON
CARVER
CASS
CHIPPEWA
CHISAGO
CLAY
CLEARWATER
COOK
COTTONWOOD
CROWWING
DAKOTA
DODGE
DOUGLAS
FARIBAULT FILLMOREFREEBORN
GOODHUE
GRANT
HENNEPIN
HOUSTON
HUBBARD
ISANTI
ITASCA
JACKSON
KANABEC
KANDIYOHI
KITTSON
KOOCHICHING
LAC QUIPARLE
LAKE
LAKE OF THE WOODS
LE SUEURLINCOLN LYON
MCLEOD
MAHNOMEN
MARSHALL
MARTIN
MEEKER
MILLELACS
MORRISON
MOWER
MURRAY
NICOLLET
NOBLES
NORMAN
OLMSTED
OTTER TAIL
PENNINGTON
PINE
PIPESTONE
POLK
POPE
RAMSEY
RED LAKE
REDWOOD
RENVILLE
RICE
ROCK
ROSEAU
ST. LOUIS
SCOTT
SHERBURNE
SIBLEY
STEARNS
STEELE
STEVENS
SWIFT
TODD
TRAVERSE
WABASHA
WADENA
WASECA
WASHINGTON
WATONWAN
WILKIN
WINONA
WRIGHT
YELLOW MEDICINE
23
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
MINNESOTACONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
MN
ADAMS
ALCORN
AMITE
ATTALA
BENTON
BOLIVAR
CALHOUN
CARROLL
CHICKASAW
CHOCTAW
CLAIBORNE CLARKE
CLAY
COAHOMA
COPIAH
COVINGTON
DE SOTO
FORREST
FRANKLIN
GEORGE
GREENE
GRENADA
HANCOCK
HARRISON
HINDS
HOLMESHUMPHREYS
ISSAQUENA
ITAWAMBA
JACKSON
JASPER
JEFFERSONDAVIS
JONES
KEMPER
LAFAYETTE
LAMAR
LAUDERDALE
LAWRENCE
LEAKE
LEE
LEFLORE
LINCOLN
LOWNDES
MADISON
MARION
MARSHALL
MONROE
MONTGOMERY
NESHOBA
NEWTON
NOXUBEE
OKTIBBEHA
PANOLA
PEARL RIVER
PERRYPIKE
PONTOTOC
PRENTISS
QUITMAN
RANKIN
SCOTT
SHARKEY
SIMPSON
SMITH
STONE
SUNFLOWER
TALLAHATCHIE
TATE
TIPPAHTISHOMINGO
TUNICA
UNION
WALTHALL
WARREN
WASHINGTON
WAYNE
WEBSTER
WILKINSON
WINSTON
YALOBUSHA
YAZOO
JEFFERSON
24
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
MISSISSIPPICONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
MS
......... .........A Hinds County Circuit Court jury returned a unanimous verdict for $2,000,000 in a disputed liability case, where the plaintiff had $31,000 in past medical expenses and $20,000 in future medical expenses.
..................The election of a new state court judge in 2014 has moved this once dangerous venue to moderate/conservative.
......... .........A federal jury returned a unanimous verdict for $4,170,172 in a disputed liability trucking case. The court applied the $1,000,000 cap on non-economic damages before deducting the 20% comparative fault not apportioned to the defendants. After this application, the total judgment was $2,936,138.19.
ADAIR
ANDREW
ATCHISON
AUDRAIN
BARRY
BARTON
BATES BENTON
BOLLINGER
BOONE
BUCHANAN
BUTLER
CALDWELL
CALLAWAY
CAMDEN
CAPEGIRARDEAU
CARROLL
CARTER
CASS
CEDAR
CHARITON
CHRISTIAN
CLARK
CLAY
CLINTON
COLE
COOPER
CRAWFORD
DADE
DALLAS
DAVIESSDE KALB
DENT
DOUGLAS
DUNKLIN
FRANKLINGASCONADE
GENTRY
GREENE
GRUNDY
HARRISON
HENRY
HICKORY
HOLT
HOWARD
HOWELL
IRON
JACKSON
JASPER
JEFFERSON
JOHNSON
KNOX
LACLEDE
LAFAYETTE
LAWRENCE
LEWIS
LINCOLN
LINN
LIVINGSTON
MCDONALD
MACON
MADISON
MARIES
MARION
MERCER
MILLER
MISSISSIPPI
MONITEAU
MONROE
MONTGOMERY
MORGAN
NEW MADRID
NEWTON
NODAWAY
OREGON
OSAGE
OZARK
PEMISCOT
PERRY
PETTIS
PHELPS
PIKEPLATTE
POLK
PULASKI
PUTNAM
RALLSRANDOLPH
RAY
REYNOLDS
RIPLEY
ST. CHARLES
ST. CLAIR
STE.GENEVIEVE
ST.FRANCOIS
ST. LOUIS
SALINE
SCHUYLERSCOTLAND
SCOTT
SHANNON
SHELBY
STODDARD
STONE
SULLIVAN
TANEY
TEXAS
VERNON
WARREN
WASHINGTON
WAYNE
WEBSTER
WORTH
WRIGHT
ST. LOUIS CITY
25
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
MISSOURICONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
MO
.........
.........
Talcum powder/cancer cases continue to flourish in the city of St. Louis. Since 2016, more than 50 cases have gone to trial in the Circuit Court of the City of St. Louis alleging that women developed ovarian cancer from the use of talcum powder. While one of those trials resulted in a defense verdict, the other five resulted in verdicts for the plaintiff in the sums of $72M, $55M, $110.5M and $70M. Most recently, a verdict for 22 plaintiffs was entered in 2018 for $550M in actual damages and $4.14B in punitive damages.
.........
.........On September 26, 2018, a Jackson County jury awarded a $28.8 million verdict to a former Kansas City-area doctor who brought a whistleblower suit against an emergency room staffing company claiming its policies undermined patient safety. The verdict included $20 million in punitive damages.
Also, in Jackson County, On November 16, 2018, a Jackson County jury handed down a $6.4 million verdict to a Plaintiff alleging gender discrimination. The jury ruled that the defendant did not discriminate based on gender in firing one of its male employees, but levied its seven-figure award based on allegations of retaliation
BEAVERHEAD
BIG HORN
BLAINE
BROADWATER
CARBON
CARTER
CASCADE
CHOUTEAU
CUSTER
DANIELS
DAWSON
DEERLODGE
FALLON
FERGUS
FLATHEAD
GALLATIN
GARFIELD
GLACIER
GOLDENVALLEY
GRANITE
HILL
JEFFERSON
JUDITH BASIN
LAKE
LEWIS ANDCLARK
LIBERTYLINCOLN
MCCONE
MADISON
MEAGHER
MINERALMISSOULA
MUSSELSHELL
PARK
PETROLEUM
PHILLIPSPONDERA
POWDER RIVER
POWELL
PRAIRIE
RAVALLI
RICHLAND
ROOSEVELT
ROSEBUD
SANDERS
SHERIDAN
SILVERBOW
STILLWATERSWEETGRASS
TETON
TOOLE
TREASURE
VALLEY
WHEATLAND
WIBAUX
YELLOWSTONE
YELLOWSTONE NP
26
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
MONTANACONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
MT
.........
......... $52 million jury verdict (including $10 million punitive) in suit against out-of-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-of-law provision in contract.
ADAMS
ANTELOPE
ARTHURBANNER
BLAINE
BOONE
BOX BUTTE
BOYD
BROWN
BUFFALO
BURT
BUTLER
CASS
CEDAR
CHASE
CHERRY
CHEYENNE
CLAY
COLFAX
CUMING
CUSTER
DAKOTA
DAWES
DAWSON
DEUEL
DIXON
DODGE
DOUGLAS
DUNDY
FILLMORE
FRANKLIN
FRONTIER
FURNASGAGE
GARDEN
GARFIELD
GOSPER
GRANT
GREELEY
HALL HAMILTON
HARLAN
HAYES
HITCHCOCK
HOLT
HOOKER
HOWARD
JEFFERSON
JOHNSON
KEARNEY
KEITH
KEYA PAHA
KIMBALL
KNOX
LANCASTER
LINCOLN
LOGAN
LOUP
MCPHERSON
MADISON
MERRICK
MORRILL
NANCE
NEMAHA
NUCKOLLS
OTOE
PAWNEE
PERKINS
PHELPS
PIERCE
PLATTE
POLK
RED WILLOW RICHARDSON
ROCK
SALINE
SARPYSAUNDERS
SCOTTS BLUFF
SEWARD
SHERIDAN
SHERMAN
SIOUX
STANTON
THAYER
THOMAS
THURSTON
VALLEYWASHINGTON
WAYNE
WEBSTER
WHEELER
YORK
27
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
NEBRASKACONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
NE
CHURCHILL
CLARK
DOUGLAS
ELKO
ESMERALDA
EUREKA
HUMBOLDT
LANDER
LINCOLN
LYON
MINERAL
NYE
PERSHING
STOREY
WASHOE
WHITE PINE
CARSON CITY
28
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
NEVADACONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
NV
......... .........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.
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
BELKNAP
CARROLL
CHESHIRE
COOS
GRAFTON
HILLSBOROUGH
MERRIMACK
ROCKINGHAM
STRAFFORD
SULLIVAN
29
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
NEW HAMPSHIRECONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
NH
.........
.........
.........
.........
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.
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.
ATLANTIC
BERGEN
BURLINGTON
CAMDEN
CAPE MAY
CUMBERLAND
ESSEX
GLOUCESTER
HUDSON
HUNTERDON
MERCER
MIDDLESEX
MONMOUTH
MORRIS
OCEAN
PASSAIC
SALEM
SOMERSET
SUSSEX
UNION
WARREN
30
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
NEW JERSEYCONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
NJ
BERNALILLO
CATRON
CHAVES
COLFAX
CURRY
DE BACA
DONA ANA EDDY
GRANT
GUADALUPE
HARDING
HIDALGO
LEA
LINCOLN
LOSALAMOS
LUNA
MCKINLEY
MORA
OTERO
QUAY
RIO ARRIBA
ROOSEVELT
SANDOVAL
SAN JUAN
SAN MIGUELSANTA FE
SIERRA
SOCORRO
TAOS
TORRANCE
UNION
VALENCIA
CIBOLA
31
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
NEW MEXICOCONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
NM
.........
.........
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.
ALBANY
ALLEGANY
BRONX
BROOME
CATTARAUGUS
CAYUGA
CHAUTAUQUA
CHEMUNG
CHENANGO
CLINTON
COLUMBIA
CORTLAND
DELAWARE
DUTCHESS
ERIE
ESSEX
FRANKLIN
FULTON
GENESEE
GREENE
HAMILTONHERKIMER
JEFFERSON
KINGS
LEWIS
LIVINGSTON
MADISON
MONROE
MONTGOMERY
NASSAU
NEW YORK
NIAGARA ONEIDA
ONONDAGA
ONTARIO
ORANGE
ORLEANS
OSWEGO
OTSEGO
PUTNAM
QUEENS
RENSSELAER
RICHMOND
ROCKLAND
ST. LAWRENCE
SARATOGA
SCHENECTADY
SCHOHARIE
SCHUYLER
SENECA
STEUBEN
SUFFOLK
SULLIVAN
TIOGA
TOMPKINS
ULSTER
WARREN
WASHINGTONWAYNE
WESTCHESTER
WYOMINGYATES
32
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
NEW YORKCONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
NY
......... .........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.
ALAMANCE
ALEXANDER
ALLEGHANY
ANSON
ASHE
AVERY
BEAUFORT
BERTIE
BLADEN
BRUNSWICK
BUNCOMBEBURKE
CABARRUS
CALDWELL
CAMDEN
CARTERET
CASWELL
CATAWBACHATHAM
CHEROKEE
CHOWAN
CLAY
CLEVELAND
COLUMBUS
CRAVEN
CUMBERLAND
CURRITUCK
DAREDAVIDSON
DAVIE
DUPLIN
DURHAM
EDGECOMBE
FORSYTHFRANKLIN
GASTON
GATES
GRAHAM
GRANVILLE
GREENE
GUILFORD
HALIFAX
HARNETTHAYWOOD
HENDERSON
HERTFORD
HOKE
HYDE
IREDELL
JACKSON
JOHNSTON
JONES
LEE
LENOIR
LINCOLN
MCDOWELL
MACON
MADISONMARTIN
MECKLENBURG
MITCHELL
MONTGOMERY
MOORE
NASH
NEW HANOVER
NORTHAMPTON
ONSLOW
ORANGE
PAMLICO
PASQUOTANK
PENDER
PERQUIMANS
PERSON
PITT
POLK
RANDOLPH
RICHMOND
ROBESON
ROCKINGHAM
ROWAN
RUTHERFORD
SAMPSON
SCOTLAND
STANLY
STOKESSURRY
SWAIN
TRANSYLVANIA
TYRRELL
UNION
VANCE
WAKE
WARREN
WASHINGTON
WATAUGA
WAYNE
WILKES
WILSON
YADKIN
YANCEY
33
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
NORTH CAROLINACONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
NC
......... ......... .........
.........
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 non-economic damages based on his life expectancy of 79, and his counsel relied heavily on the “Reptile Theory.”
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.
..................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.
ADAMS
BARNES
BENSON
BILLINGS
BOTTINEAU
BOWMAN
BURKE
BURLEIGH CASS
CAVALIER
DICKEY
DIVIDE
DUNN
EDDY
EMMONS
FOSTER
GOLDEN VALLEY
GRAND FORKS
GRANT
GRIGGS
HETTINGER
KIDDER
LA MOURELOGAN
MCHENRY
MCINTOSH
MCKENZIEMCLEAN
MERCER
MORTON
MOUNTRAIL
NELSON
OLIVER
PEMBINA
PIERCERAMSEY
RANSOM
RENVILLE
RICHLAND
ROLETTE
SARGENT
SHERIDAN
SIOUX
SLOPE
STARK
STEELE
STUTSMAN
TOWNER
TRAILL
WALSH
WARD
WELLS
WILLIAMS
34
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
NORTH DAKOTACONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
ND
ADAMS
ALLEN
ASHLAND
ASHTABULA
ATHENS
AUGLAIZE
BELMONT
BROWN
BUTLER
CARROLL
CHAMPAIGN
CLARK
CLERMONT
CLINTON
COLUMBIANA
COSHOCTON
CRAWFORD
CUYAHOGA
DARKE
DEFIANCE
DELAWARE
ERIE
FAIRFIELD
FRANKLIN
FULTON
GALLIA
GEAUGA
GREENE
GUERNSEY
HAMILTON
HANCOCK
HARDIN
HARRISON
HENRY
HIGHLAND
HOCKING
HOLMES
HURON
JACKSON
JEFFERSONKNOX
LAKE
LAWRENCE
LICKING
LOGAN
LORAIN
LUCAS
MADISON
MAHONING
MARION
MEDINA
MEIGS
MERCER
MIAMI
MONROEMONTGOMERY
MORGAN
MORROW
MUSKINGUM
NOBLE
OTTAWA
PAULDING
PERRYPICKAWAY
PIKE
PORTAGE
PREBLE
PUTNAM
RICHLAND
ROSS
SANDUSKY
SCIOTO
SENECA
SHELBY
STARK
SUMMIT
TRUMBULL
TUSCARAWAS
UNION
VAN WERT
VINTON
WARRENWASHINGTON
WAYNE
WILLIAMS
WOOD
WYANDOT
FAYETTE
35
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
OHIOCONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
OH
.........
.........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.
......... .........While Trumbull County is typically more moderate-to-conservative, 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.
..................
.........
.........A recent verdict of $34 million
in a personal injury case was surprising for a venue that has been considered to be conservative.
ADAIR
ALFALFA
ATOKA
BEAVER
BECKHAM
BLAINE
BRYAN
CADDO
CANADIAN
CARTER
CHEROKEE
CHOCTAW
CIMARRON
CLEVELAND
COALCOMANCHE
COTTON
CRAIG
CREEK
CUSTER
DELAWARE
DEWEY
ELLIS
GARFIELD
GARVIN
GRADY
GRANT
GREER
HARMON
HARPER
HASKELL
HUGHES
JACKSON
JEFFERSON
JOHNSTON
KAY
KINGFISHER
KIOWALATIMER LE FLORE
LINCOLN
LOGAN
LOVE
MCCLAIN
MCCURTAIN
MACINTOSH
MAJOR
MARSHALL
MAYES
MURRAY
MUSKOGEE
NOBLE
NOWATA
OKFUSKEEOKLAHOMAOKMULGEE
OSAGE
OTTAWA
PAWNEE
PAYNE
PITTSBURG
PONTOTOC
POTTAWATOMIE
PUSHMATAHA
ROGER MILLS
ROGERS
SEMINOLE
SEQUOYAH
STEPHENS
TEXAS
TILLMAN
TULSA
WAGONER
WASHINGTON
WASHITA
WOODS
WOODWARD
36
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
OKLAHOMACONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
OK
......... .........The Oklahoma Supreme Court declared the statutory cap on non-economic damages of $350,000 as unconstitutional. Therefore, there are no caps on damages in Oklahoma currently,
In a recent jury verdict for a plaintiff in the amount of $700,000, the trial judge awarded $430,000 in recoverable costs to plaintiff’s counsel.
.........
.........
......... .........In the last two years, we have noted a few more verdicts with higher damages awards than previously seen. The judiciary is also less conservative. Judge Balkman recently awarded damages against Johnson & Johnson for $572 million in an opioid case on the theory of public nuisance.
BAKER
BENTON
CLACKAMAS
CLATSOP COLUMBIA
COOS
CROOK
CURRY
DESCHUTES
DOUGLAS
GILLIAM
GRANT
HARNEY
HOOD RIVER
JACKSON
JEFFERSON
JOSEPHINE
KLAMATH
LAKE
LANE
LINCOLN LINN
MALHEUR
MARION
MORROWMULTNOMAH
POLK
SHERMAN
TILLAMOOKUMATILLA
UNION
WALLOWA
WASCO
WASHINGTON
WHEELER
YAMHILL
37
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
OREGONCONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
OR
.........
.........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.
ADAMS
ALLEGHENY
ARMSTRONG
BEAVER
BERKS
BEDFORD
CAMBRIA
CLEARFIELD
CLINTON
HUNTINGDON
BLAIR
BRADFORD
BUCKS
BUTLER
CAMERON
CARBONCENTRE
CHESTER
CLARION
COLUMBIA
CRAWFORD
CUMBERLAND
DAUPHIN
DELAWARE
ELK
ERIE
FAYETTE
FOREST
FRANKLINFULTONGREENE
INDIANA
JEFFERSON
JUNIATA
LACKAWANNA
LANCASTER
LAWRENCE
LEBANON
LEHIGH
LUZERNE
LYCOMING
MCKEAN
MERCER
MIFFLIN
MONROE
MONTGOMERY
MONTOUR
NORTHAMPTONNORTHUMBERLAND
PERRY
PHILADELPHIA
PIKE
POTTER
SCHUYLKILL
SNYDER
SOMERSET
SULLIVAN
SUSQUEHANNATIOGA
UNION
VENANGO
WARREN
WASHINGTON
WAYNE
WESTMORELAND
WYOMING
YORK
38
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIACONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
PAUnder Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure 126, effective May 1, 2019, litigants may cite to non-precedential (unpublished) Superior Court opinions dated May 1, 2019, and moving forward, and to non-precedential (unpublished) Commonwealth Court opinions dated January 15, 2008, and moving forward, for their persuasive value. Prior to this amendment, only published opinions could be cited to, and relied upon by, the courts.
.........
.........
In a case of first impression in Sullivan v. Crete Carrier Corp., No. 8716 - CV - 2015 (C.P. Monroe Co. Jan. 18, 2019 Williamson, J.), the court granted a Defendant’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment and ruled that where a Defendant trucking company concedes an agency relationship with a Co-Defendant truck driver, the Plaintiff’s claim against the company for negligent hiring, retention, supervision and/or entrustment cannot stand in the absence of a related claim for punitive damages. While there have been a number of unpublished Federal District Court cases in Pennsylvania that have dismissed similar corporate negligence claims, where no claim for punitive damages has been asserted against an employer Defendant, this is the first state trial court opinion that has exercised that right. While this opinion is not binding, it can be used for its persuasive value.
.........
.........In the case of Pennsylvania Electric Co. v. Antoine’s Timbering, Inc., No. 2016-CV-50 (C.P. Sullivan Co.
Oct. 20, 2018 Shurtleff, P.J.), the court granted a Defendant’s Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings based upon a Plaintiff’s failure to complete service of original process within the applicable statute of limitations for a negligence cause of action. The court noted that, while the Complaint was filed within the statute of limitations and promptly provided to the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department, service was not effectuated. The Plaintiff then waited approximately eighteen (18) months to reinstate the Complaint. The court noted that waiting eighteen (18) months to reinstate a Complaint on the basis that the Plaintiff’s attorney was unable to locate the Defendant in the interim, did not show conduct of good faith and ultimately served to unnecessarily delay the legal process. While this opinion is not binding, it can be used for its persuasive value.
BRISTOL
KENT
NEWPORT
PROVIDENCE
WASHINGTON
39
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
RHODE ISLANDCONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
RI
ABBEVILLE
AIKEN
ALLENDALE
ANDERSON
BAMBERGBARNWELL
BEAUFORT
BEAUFORT
BERKELEY
CALHOUN
ORANGEBURG
CHARLESTON
CHARLESTON
CHEROKEE
CHESTER CHESTERFIELD
CLARENDON
COLLETON
DARLINGTON DILLON
DORCHESTER
EDGEFIELD
FAIRFIELD
FLORENCE
GEORGETOWN
GREENVILLE
GREENWOOD
HAMPTON
HORRY
JASPER
KERSHAW
LANCASTER
LAURENS
LEE
LEXINGTONMCCORMICK
MARION
MARLBORO
NEWBERRY
OCONEE
ORANGEBURG
PICKENS
RICHLANDSALUDA
SPARTANBURG
SUMTER
UNION
WILLIAMSBURG
YORK
40
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
SOUTH CAROLINACONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
SC
......... .........The South Carolina Supreme Court held that suicide is not always an intervening act that breaks the chain of causation in a wrongful death action. The Court also held that when the plaintiff’s own actions caused his enhanced injuries in a crashworthiness case, comparative principles are used to determine the defendant’s share of liability for the plaintiff’s enhanced injuries. (Wickersham v. Ford Motor Co )
AURORA
BEADLE
BENNETT
BON HOMME
BROOKINGS
BROWN
BRULE
BUFFALO
BUTTE
CAMPBELL
CHARLES MIX
CLARK
CLAY
CODINGTON
CORSON
CUSTER DAVISON
DAY
DEUEL
DEWEY
DOUGLAS
EDMUNDS
FALL RIVER
FAULKGRANT
GREGORY
HAAKON
HAMLIN
HAND
HANSON
HARDING
HUGHES
HUTCHINSON
HYDE
JERAULDJONES
KINGSBURY
LAKE
LAWRENCE
LINCOLN
LYMAN
MCCOOK
MCPHERSON MARSHALL
MEADE
MELLETTE
MINER
MINNEHAHA
MOODYPENNINGTON
PERKINS
POTTER
ROBERTS
SANBORN
SHANNON
SPINK
STANLEY
SULLY
TODDTRIPP TURNER
UNION
WALWORTH
YANKTON
JACKSON
ZIEBACH
41
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
SOUTH DAKOTACONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
SD
ANDERSON
BEDFORD
BENTON
BLEDSOEBLOUNT
BRADLEY
CAMPBELL
CANNON
CARROLL
CARTERCHEATHAM
CHESTER
CLAIBORNECLAY
COCKE
COFFEE
CROCKETT
CUMBERLAND
DAVIDSON
DECATUR
DE KALB
DICKSON
DYER
FAYETTE
FENTRESS
FRANKLIN
GIBSON
GILES
GRAINGER
GREENE
GRUNDY
HAMBLEN
HAMILTON
HANCOCK
HARDEMAN HARDIN
HAWKINS
HAYWOODHENDERSON
HENRY
HICKMAN
HOUSTON
HUMPHREYS
JACKSON
JEFFERSON
JOHNSON
KNOX
LAKE
LAUDERDALE
LAWRENCE
LEWIS
LINCOLN
LOUDON
MCMINN
MCNAIRY
MACON
MADISON
MARION
MARSHALL
MAURYMEIGS
MONROE
MONTGOMERY
MOORE
MORGAN
OBION OVERTON
PERRY
PICKETT
POLK
PUTNAM
RHEA
ROANE
ROBERTSON
RUTHERFORD
SCOTT
SEQUATCHIE
SEVIER
SHELBY
SMITH
STEWART
SULLIVANSUMNER
TIPTON
TROUSDALE
UNICOI
UNION
VAN BURENWARREN
WASHINGTON
WAYNE
WEAKLEY
WHITEWILLIAMSON
WILSON
42
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
TENNESSEECONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
TNThe Court of Appeals of Tennessee held that reasonable medical charges in personal injury cases are not limited to those actually paid by insurers and willingly accepted by hospitals. However, the Supreme Court of Tennessee has granted an appeal of this decision. The Supreme Court of Tennessee clarified the standard of ownership in a joint tenancy by effectively adopting the common law standard that joint tenants’ survivorship interests are terminated when one of the joint tenants conveys her interest in the land to a third party.
ANDERSON
ANDREWS
ANGELINA
ARANSAS
ARCHER
ARMSTRONG
ATASCOSA
AUSTIN
BAILEY
BANDERA
BASTROP
BAYLOR
BEE
BELL
BEXAR
BLANCO
BORDEN
BOSQUE
BOWIE
BRAZORIA
BRAZOS
BREWSTER
BRISCOE
BROOKS
BROWN
BURLESON
BURNET
CALDWELL
CALHOUN
CALLAHAN
CAMERON
CAMP
CARSON
CASS
CASTRO
CHAMBERS
CHEROKEE
CHILDRESS
CLAY
COCHRAN
COKECOLEMAN
COLLIN
COLLINGSWORTH
COLORADO
COMAL
COMANCHE
CONCHO
COOKE
CORYELL
COTTLE
CRANE
CROCKETT
CROSBY
CULBERSON
DALLAM
DALLASDAWSON
DEAF SMITH
DELTA
DENTON
DE WITT
DICKENS
DIMMIT
DONLEY
DUVAL
EASTLAND
ECTOR
EDWARDS
ELLIS
EL PASO
ERATH
FALLS
FANNIN
FAYETTE
FISHER
FLOYDFOARD
FORT BEND
FRANKLIN
FREESTONE
FRIO
GAINES
GALVESTON
GARZA
GILLESPIE
GLASSCOCK
GOLIAD
GONZALES
GRAY
GRAYSON
GREGG
GRIMES
GUADALUPE
HALE
HALL
HAMILTON
HANSFORD
HARDEMAN
HARDIN
HARRIS
HARRISON
HARTLEY
HASKELL
HAYS
HEMPHILL
HENDERSON
HIDALGO
HILL
HOCKLEY
HOOD
HOPKINS
HOUSTON
HOWARD
HUDSPETH
HUNT
HUTCHINSON
IRION
JACK
JACKSON
JASPER
JEFF DAVIS
JEFFERSON
JIM HOGG
JIMWELLS
JOHNSON
JONES
KARNES
KAUFMAN
KENDALL
KENEDY
KENT
KERR
KIMBLE
KING
KINNEY
KLEBERG
KNOXLAMAR
LAMB
LAMPASAS
LA SALLE
LAVACA
LEE
LEON
LIBERTY
LIMESTONE
LIPSCOMB
LIVE OAK
LLANO
LOVING
LUBBOCK
LYNN
MCCULLOCH
MCLENNAN
MCMULLEN
MADISON
MARION
MARTIN
MASON
MATAGORDAMAVERICK
MEDINA
MENARD
MIDLAND
MILAM
MILLS
MITCHELL
MONTAGUE
MONTGOMERY
MOORE
MORRIS
MOTLEY
NACOGDOCHES
NAVARRO
NEWTON
NOLAN
NUECES
OCHILTREE
OLDHAM
ORANGE
PALO PINTO
PANOLA
PARKER
PARMER
PECOS POLK
POTTER
PRESIDIO
RAINS
RANDALL
REAGAN
REAL
RED RIVER
REEVES
REFUGIO
ROBERTS
ROBERTSON
ROCKWALL
RUNNELS
RUSK
SABINE
SANAUGUSTINE
SANJACINTO
SAN PATRICIO
SAN SABA
SCHLEICHER
SCURRY
SHACKLEFORD
SHELBY
SHERMAN
SMITHSOMERVELL
STARR
STEPHENS
STERLING
STONEWALL
SUTTON
SWISHER
TARRANT
TAYLOR
TERRELL
TERRY THROCKMORTON TITUS
TOM GREEN
TRAVIS
TRINITY
TYLER
UPSHUR
UPTON
UVALDE
VAL VERDE
VANZANDT
VICTORIA
WALKER
WALLER
WARD
WASHINGTON
WEBB
WHARTON
WHEELER
WICHITAWILBARGER
WILLACY
WILLIAMSON
WILSON
WINKLER
WISE
WOOD
YOAKUM YOUNG
ZAPATA
ZAVALA
43
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
TEXASCONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
TX
......... .........
.........
.........
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.
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.
.........
.........
• 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.
• 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.
BEAVER
BOX ELDER
CACHE
CARBON
DAGGETTDAVIS
DUCHESNE
EMERY
GARFIELD
GRAND
IRON
JUAB
KANE
MILLARD
MORGAN
PIUTE
RICH
SALT LAKE
SAN JUAN
SANPETE
SEVIER
SUMMIT
TOOELE
UINTAH
UTAH
WASATCH
WASHINGTON
WAYNE
WEBER
44
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
UTAHCONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
UT
ADDISON
BENNINGTON
CALEDONIACHITTENDEN
ESSEX
FRANKLINGRAND
ISLE
LAMOILLE
ORANGE
ORLEANS
RUTLAND
WASHINGTON
WINDHAM
WINDSOR
45
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
VERMONTCONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
VT
ACCOMACK
ALBEMARLE
ALLEGHANY
AMELIA
AMHERST
APPOMATTOX
ARLINGTON
AUGUSTA
BATH
BEDFORD
BLAND
BOTETOURT
BRUNSWICK
BUCHANAN
BUCKINGHAM
CAMPBELL
CAROLINE
CARROLL
CHARLESCITY
CHARLOTTE
CHESTERFIELD
CLARKE
CRAIG
CULPEPER
CUMBERLAND
DICKENSON DINWIDDIE
ESSEX
FAIRFAXFAUQUIER
FLOYD
FLUVANNA
FRANKLIN
FREDERICK
GILES
GLOUCESTER
GOOCHLAND
GRAYSON
GREENE
GREENSVILLE
HALIFAX
HANOVER
HENRICO
HENRY
HIGHLAND
ISLE OFWIGHT
JAMESCITY
KING ANDQUEEN
KING GEORGE
KINGWILLIAM
LANCASTER
LEE
LOUDOUN
LOUISA
LUNENBURG
MADISON
MATHEWS
MECKLENBURG
MIDDLESEX
MONTGOMERY
SUFFOLK
NELSON
NEW KENT
NORTHAMPTON
NORTHUMBERLAND
NOTTOWAY
ORANGE
PAGE
PATRICK
PITTSYLVANIA
POWHATAN
PRINCEEDWARD
PRINCEGEORGE
PRINCE WILLIAM
PULASKI
RAPPAHANNOCK
RICHMOND
ROANOKE
ROCKBRIDGE
ROCKINGHAM
RUSSELL
SCOTT
SHENANDOAH
SMYTH
SOUTHAMPTON
SPOTSYLVANIA
STAFFORD
SURRY
SUSSEX
TAZEWELL
WARREN
WASHINGTON
WESTMORELAND
WISEWYTHE
YORK
HAMPTON
NEWPORTNEWS
VIRGINIABEACH
CHESAPEAKE
46
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
VIRGINIACONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
VA
.........
.................. ......... A jury handed
down a Defense verdict in a medical malpractice failure to diagnose and treat case. Notable in that Richmond is usually a plaintiff-friendly forum.
.........
.........
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.
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 deep-vein thrombosis after undergoing a surgical procedure.
ADAMS
ASOTINBENTON
CHELANCLALLAM
CLARK
COLUMBIACOWLITZ
DOUGLAS
FERRY
FRANKLINGARFIELD
GRANT
GRAYS HARBOR
ISLAND
JEFFERSON
KINGKITSAP
KITTITAS
KLICKITAT
LEWIS
LINCOLN
MASON
OKANOGAN
PACIFIC
PEND OREILLE
PIERCE
SAN JUAN
SKAGIT
SKAMANIA
SNOHOMISH
SPOKANE
STEVENS
THURSTON
WAHKIAKUMWALLA WALLA
WHATCOM
WHITMAN
YAKIMA
47
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
WASHINGTONCONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
WA
.........
.........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.
.........
.........
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.
BARBOUR
BERKELEY
BOONE
BRAXTON
BROOKE
CABELL
CALHOUN
CLAY
DODDRIDGE
FAYETTE
GILMER
GRANT
GREENBRIER
HAMPSHIRE
HANCOCK
HARDY
HARRISON JEFFERSON
LEWIS
LINCOLN
LOGAN
MCDOWELL
MARION
MARSHALL
MERCER
MINERAL
MINGO
MONONGALIA
MONROE
MORGAN
NICHOLAS
OHIO
PENDLETON
PLEASANTS
POCAHONTAS
PRESTON
RALEIGH
RANDOLPH
RITCHIE
SUMMERS
TAYLOR
TUCKER
TYLER
UPSHUR
WAYNE
WEBSTER
WETZEL
WYOMING
JACKSON
KANAWHA
MASON
PUTNAM
ROANE
WIRT
WOOD
48
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
WEST VIRGINIACONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
WVIn 2015, the West Virginia Legislature passed HB 2010 which requires all Supreme Court of Appeals Justices, circuit court judges, family court judges, and magistrates to be elected on a nonpartisan basis. In July of 2017, the Supreme Court of Appeals held that a new statute, which caps punitive damages at the greater of $500,000 or four times the compensatory damages, applies in cases after its effective date regardless of the date of injury or complaint. In an effort to improve West Virginia’s civil justice system, the West Virginia Legislature passed major tort reform in 2015 and 2016 with regard to a variety of subjects ranging from arbitration, premises liability, wage payment, and medical professional liability.
ADAMS
ASHLAND
BARRON
BAYFIELD
BROWNBUFFALO
BURNETT
CALUMET
CHIPPEWA
CLARK
COLUMBIA
CRAWFORD
DANE
DODGE
DOOR
DOUGLAS
DUNN
EAU CLAIRE
FLORENCE
FOND DU LAC
FOREST
GRANT
GREEN
GREENLAKE
IOWA
IRON
JACKSON
JEFFERSON
JUNEAU
KENOSHA
KEWAUNEE
LA CROSSE
LAFAYETTE
LANGLADELINCOLN
MANITOWOC
MARATHON
MARINETTE
MARQUETTE
MILWAUKEE
MONROE
OCONTO
ONEIDA
OUTAGAMIE
OZAUKEE
PEPINPIERCE
POLK
PORTAGE
PRICE
RACINE
RICHLAND
ROCK
RUSK
ST. CROIX
SAUK
SAWYER
SHAWANO
MENOMINEE
SHEBOYGAN
TAYLOR
TREMPEALEAU
VERNON
VILAS
WALWORTH
WASHBURN
WASHINGTON
WAUKESHA
WAUPACA
WAUSHARAWINNEBAGO
WOOD
49
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
WISCONSINCONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
WI
......... .........
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.
PARK
TETON
ALBANY
BIG HORN
CAMPBELL
CARBON
CONVERSE
CROOK
FREMONT
GOSHEN
HOT SPRINGS
JOHNSON
LARAMIE
LINCOLN
NATRONA NIOBRARA
PLATTE
SHERIDAN
SUBLETTE
SWEETWATER
UINTA
WASHAKIE
WESTON
50
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
WYOMINGCONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
WY
.........
.........Federal Court trial in carbon monoxide poisoning case resulted in verdict against apartment complex owner for $3 million in compensatory and $25 million in punitive damages. The 10th Circuit overturned and confirmed that a ratio of 1:1 between punitive and compensatory damages comports with due process. The combination of a large verdict, the trial court’s confirmation of the verdict, and subsequent overturn on appeal confirm this as a liberal region.
.........
.........In the Wyoming Supreme Court case of Bogdanski v. Budzik, 2018 WY 7, 408 P.3d 1156 (Wyo. 2018), the plaintiff was a co-driver of a tractor-trailer that was involved in an accident on I-80. The defendants in the case were a co-driver of another tractor-trailer and the motor carrier. The plaintiff brought vicarious liability and direct negligence claims against the motor carrier. The motor carrier defendant admitted it was vicariously liable for its driver’s actions. The Wyoming Supreme Court held that when an employer concedes it is subject to vicarious liability for any negligence of its employee, direct negligence claims such as negligent hiring, supervision, and retention claims become superfluous.
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.
ALABAMA | BIRMINGHAMCarr AllisonCharles F. Carr ........................... (251) [email protected]
ALASKA | ANCHORAGERichmond & QuinnRobert L. Richmond .................. (907) [email protected]
ARIZONA | PHOENIXJones, Skelton & Hochuli, P.L.C.Phillip H. Stanfield..................... (602) [email protected]
ARKANSAS | LITTLE ROCKQuattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLCJohn E. Tull, III ........................... (501) [email protected]
CALIFORNIA | LOS ANGELESMurchison & Cumming LLPDan L. Longo .............................. (714) [email protected]
CALIFORNIA | SAN DIEGOKlinedinst PCJohn D. Klinedinst ..................... (619) [email protected]
CALIFORNIA | SAN FRANCISCOHanson Bridgett LLPMert A. Howard ......................... (415) [email protected]
CALIFORNIA | SANTA BARBARASnyder Burnett Egerer, LLPBarry Clifford Snyder ................. (805) [email protected]
COLORADO | DENVERLewis Roca Rothgerber Christie LLPJessica L. Fuller .......................... (303) [email protected]
CONNECTICUT | HARTFORDHinckley AllenNoble F. Allen............................. (860) [email protected]
DELAWARE | WILMINGTONCooch and Taylor P.A. Christopher H. Lee .................... (302) [email protected]
FLORIDA | CENTRAL FLORIDAWicker Smith O’Hara McCoy & Ford P.A. Richards H. Ford ........................ (407) [email protected]
FLORIDA | SOUTH FLORIDAWicker Smith O’Hara McCoy & Ford P.A. Nicholas E. Christin ................... (305) [email protected]
FLORIDA | TALLAHASSEECarr AllisonChristopher Barkas .................... (850) [email protected]
GEORGIA | ATLANTAHall Booth Smith, P.C. John E. Hall, Jr. ........................... (404) [email protected]
HAWAII | HONOLULUGoodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel LLPEdmund K. Saffery ..................... (808) [email protected]
IDAHO | BOISEDuke Scanlan & Hall, PLLCRichard E. Hall ........................... (208) [email protected]
ILLINOIS | CHICAGOSmithAmundsen LLCLew R.C. Bricker ......................... (312) [email protected]
INDIANA | INDIANAPOLISBingham Greenebaum Doll LLPJames M. Hinshaw ..................... (317) [email protected]
IOWA | CEDAR RAPIDSSimmons Perrine Moyer Bergman PLCKevin J. Visser ............................. (319) [email protected]
KANSAS/WESTERN MISSOURI | KANSAS CITYDysart Taylor Cotter McMonigle & Montemore, PCPatrick K. McMonigle ................ (816) [email protected]
KENTUCKY | LOUISVILLEBingham Greenebaum Doll LLPMark S. Riddle ............................ (502) [email protected]
LOUISIANA | NEW ORLEANSMcCranie, Sistrunk, Anzelmo, HardyMcDaniel & Welch LLCMichael R. Sistrunk.................... (504) [email protected]
MAINE | PORTLANDRichardson, Whitman, Large & BadgerElizabeth G. Stouder .................. (207) [email protected]
MARYLAND | BALTIMOREFranklin & Prokopik, PCAlbert B. Randall, Jr. .................. (410) [email protected]
MINNESOTA | ST. PAULLarson • King, LLPMark A. Solheim ........................ (651) [email protected]
MISSISSIPPI | GULFPORTCarr AllisonDouglas Bagwell ........................ (228) [email protected]
MISSISSIPPI | RIDGELANDCopeland, Cook, Taylor & Bush, P.A. James R. Moore, Jr. .................... (601) [email protected]
MISSOURI | ST. LOUISLashly & Baer, P.C. Stephen L. Beimdiek ................. (314) [email protected]
MONTANA | GREAT FALLSDavis, Hatley, Haffeman & Tighe, P.C.Maxon R. Davis .......................... (406) [email protected]
NEBRASKA | OMAHABaird Holm LLPJennifer D. Tricker ..................... (402) [email protected]
NEVADA | LAS VEGASThorndal Armstrong Delk Balkenbush & EisingerBrian K. Terry ............................. (702) [email protected]
NEW JERSEY | ROSELANDConnell Foley LLPKevin R. Gardner ....................... (973) [email protected]
NEW MEXICO | ALBUQUERQUEModrall SperlingJennifer G. Anderson ................. (505) [email protected]
NEW YORK | HAWTHORNETraub LiebermanStephen D. Straus........................ (914) [email protected]
NEW YORK | UNIONDALERivkin Radler LLPDavid S. Wilck ............................ (516) [email protected]
NORTH CAROLINA | RALEIGHPoyner Spruill LLPDeborah E. Sperati .................... (252) [email protected]
NORTH DAKOTA | DICKINSONEbeltoft . Sickler . Lawyers PLLCRandall N. Sickler ...................... (701) [email protected]
OHIO | CLEVELANDRoetzel & AndressBradley A. Wright ....................... (330) [email protected]
OKLAHOMA | OKLAHOMA CITYPierce Couch Hendrickson Baysinger & Green, L.L.P. Gerald P. Green .......................... (405) [email protected]
OREGON | PORTLANDWilliams KastnerThomas A. Ped ........................... (503) [email protected]
PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIASweeney & Sheehan, P.C. J. Michael Kunsch ...................... (215) [email protected]
PENNSYLVANIA | PITTSBURGHPion, Nerone, Girman, Winslow & Smith, P.C.John T. Pion................................ (412) [email protected]
RHODE ISLAND | PROVIDENCEAdler Pollock & Sheehan P.C.Richard R. Beretta, Jr. ................ (401) [email protected]
SOUTH CAROLINA | COLUMBIASweeny, Wingate & Barrow, P.A.Mark S. Barrow .......................... (803) [email protected]
SOUTH DAKOTA | PIERRERiter, Rogers, Wattier & Northrup, LLPRobert C. Riter ........................... (605) [email protected]
TENNESSEE | MEMPHISMartin, Tate, Morrow & Marston, P.C. Lee L. Piovarcy ........................... (901) [email protected]
TEXAS | DALLASFee, Smith, Sharp & Vitullo, L.L.P. Michael P. Sharp ........................ (972) [email protected]
TEXAS | HOUSTONMehaffyWeber Barbara J. Barron ....................... (713) [email protected]
UTAH | SALT LAKE CITYStrong & Hanni, PCStephen J. Trayner ..................... (801) [email protected]
WASHINGTON | SEATTLEWilliams KastnerSheryl J. Willert .......................... (206) [email protected]
WEST VIRGINIA | CHARLESTONFlaherty Sensabaugh Bonasso PLLC Andrew B. Cooke ....................... (304) [email protected]
WISCONSIN | MILWAUKEELaffey, Leitner & Goode LLC Jack Laffey .................................. (414) [email protected]
WYOMING | CASPERWilliams, Porter, Day and Neville PCScott E. Ortiz .............................. (307) [email protected]
USLAW INTERNATIONALARGENTINA | BUENOS AIRESBarreiro, Olivas, De Luca, Jaca & NicastroNicolás Jaca Otaño ............... (54 11) [email protected]
BRAZIL | SÃO PAULOMundie e AdvogadosRodolpho Protasio ................ (55 11) [email protected]
CANADA | ALBERTACALGARY & EDMONTONParlee McLaws LLPConnor Glynn ............................ (780) [email protected]
CANADA | ONTARIO | OTTAWAKelly SantiniLisa Langevin ................ (613) 238-6321 ext [email protected]
CANADA | QUEBEC | BROSSARDTherrien Couture L.L.P.Douglas W. Clarke ..................... (450) [email protected]
CHINA | SHANGHAIDuan&DuanGeorge Wang ............................. 8621 6219 [email protected] MEXICO | MEXICO CITYEC Legal Rubio VillegasRené Mauricio Alva ............... +52 55 5251 [email protected]
TELFAAUSTRIAPHH Rechtsanwälte Rainer Kaspar ............................ +43 1 714 24 [email protected]
BELGIUMCEW & PartnersCharles Price ...........................(+32 2) 534 20 [email protected]
CYPRUS Pyrgou Vakis Law FirmMelina Pyrgou ............................ +357 [email protected]
CZECH REPUBLICVyskocil, Kroslak & spol., Advocates and Patent AttorneysJiri Spousta ........................ (00 420) 224 819 [email protected] DENMARKLund Elmer SandagerJacob Roesen ............................(+45 33 300 268) [email protected] ENGLANDWedlake Bell LLPRichard Isham .....................+44(0)20 7395 [email protected] ESTONIA • LATVIA • LITHUANIALEXTAL Tallinn|Riga|VilniusLina Siksniute- Vaitiekuniene ....................(+370) 5 210 27 [email protected] FINLANDLexia Attorneys Ltd.Markus Myhrberg .................... +358 10 [email protected] FRANCEDelsol AvocatsEmmanuel Kaeppelin .......... +33(0)4 72 10 20 [email protected] GERMANYBuse Heberer FrommJasper Hagenberg .................... +49 30 327942 [email protected] GREECECorina Fassouli-Grafanaki & Associates Law FirmKorina Fassouli- Grafanaki ..........................(+30) [email protected] HUNGARYBihary Balassa & Partners Attorneys at LawÁgnes Dr. Balassa ..................... +36 1 391 44 [email protected]
IRELANDKane Tuohy SolicitorsSheena Beale ...........................(+353) 1 [email protected] ITALYLEGALITAX Studio Legale e Tributario Alessandro Polettini ............. +39 049 877 58 [email protected] LUXEMBOURGTabery & WauthierVéronique Wauthier ..............(00352) 251 51 [email protected] MALTAEMDDr. Italo Ellul ............................. +356 2123 [email protected] NETHERLANDSDirkzwager Legal & TaxKaren A. Verkerk ..................... +31 26 365 55 [email protected] NORWAYAdvokatfirmaet Sverdrup DATom Eivind Haug ......................... +47 [email protected] POLANDGWWAldona Leszczyńska -Mikulska..... ........................ +48 22 212 00 [email protected] PORTUGALCarvalho, Matias & AssociadosAntonio Alfaia de Carvalho ....(351) 21 [email protected] SERBIAVukovic & PartnersDejan Vuković ....................... +381 11 2642 [email protected] SLOVAKIAAlianciaadvokátovGerta Sámelová Flassiková ............................ +421 2 [email protected] SPAINAdarve Abogados SLPJuan José García ........................+34 91 591 30 [email protected] SWEDENWesslau Söderqvist AdvokatbyråMax Björkbom .......................... +46 8 407 88 [email protected] SWITZERLANDMeyerlustenberger LachenalChristophe Rapin............... (00 41) 22 737 10 [email protected] TURKEY Cukur & YilmazDevrim Çukur ....................... +90 212 243 43 [email protected]
2019membershiproster
Fast-forward to today.The commitment remains the same as originally envisioned. To provide the highest quality legal representation and seamless cross-jurisdictional service to major corpo-rations, insurance carriers, and to both large and small businesses alike, through a net-work of professional, innovative law firms dedicated to their client’s legal success. Now as a diverse network with more than 6,000 attorneys from more than 60 independent, full practice firms with roots in civil litiga-tion across the U.S., Canada, Latin America and Asia, and with affiliations with TELFA in Europe, USLAW NETWORK remains aresponsive, agile legal alternative to themega-firms.
Home Field Advantage.USLAW NETWORK offers what it calls The Home Field Advantage which 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. The strength and power of an international presence combined with the understanding of a respected local firm makes for a winning line-up.
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How USLAW NETWORKMembership is Determined.Firms are admitted to the NETWORK by invitation only and only after they are fully vetted through a rigorous review process. Many firms have been reviewed over the years, but only a small percentage were eventually invited to join. The search for quality member firms is a continuous and ongoing effort. Firms admitted must possess broad commercial legal capabilities and have substantial litigation and trial experi-ence. In addition, USLAW NETWORK members must subscribe to a high level of service standards and are continuously evaluated to ensure these standards of quality and expertise are met.
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and economically to client needs from Atlantic City to Pacific Grove was born. In its infancy, it was little more than a possibility, discussed
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the support of some of the country’s brightest legal minds, USLAW NETWORK became a reality.
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