STATE JUDICIAL
PROFILES
BY COUNTY
2019-2020
ALWAYS KNOW
WHAT 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.
Editors
Jeffrey Y. Choi
Snyder Burnett Egerer, LLP
5383 Hollister Ave., Suite 240
Santa Barbara, CA 93111
805.692.2800
USLAW NETWORK, Inc. • 3111 N. University Drive, Suite 400 • Coral Springs, FL 33065 (800) 231-9110 • www.uslaw.org
Clarice Spicker
Jones Skelton & Hochuli, PLC
40 North Central Avenue
Phoenix AZ 85004
602.263.1700
cspicker@jshfirm.com
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
GREENE
HALE
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
AL
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
ALABAMA
CONSERVATIVE
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 HAMPTON
VALDEZ-CORDOVA
SOUTHEAST FAIRBANKS
SKAGWAY-HOONAH-ANGOON
SKAGWAY-HOONAH-ANGOON
SKAGWAY-HOONAH-ANGOON
SITKA
PRINCE OF WALES-
OUTER KETCHIKAN
PRINCE OF WALES-
OUTER KETCHIKAN
NORTHWEST ARCTIC
NORTH SLOPE
NOME
MATANUSKA-SUSITNA
LAKE AND
PENINSULA
KODIAK ISLAND
KETCHIKAN
GATEWAY
KENAI
PENINSULA
JUNEAU
HAINES
HAINES
FAIRBANKS
NORTH STAR
DILLINGHAM
DENALI
BRISTOL BAY
BETHEL
ANCHORAGE
ALEUTIANS WEST
ALEUTIANS EAST
2
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
ALASKA
CONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
AK
YUMA
APACHE
COCHISE
COCONINO
GILA
GRAHAM
GREENLEE
MARICOPA
MOHAVE
NAVAJO
PIMA
PINAL
SANTA CRUZ
YAVAPAI
LA PAZ
3
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
ARIZONA
CONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
AZ
..
.......
..
.......
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..
.
......
.
........
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
BAXTER
BENTON
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
PRAIRIE
PULASKI
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
ARKANSAS
CONSERVATIVE
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
ALPINE
AMADOR
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
SAN
MATEO
SAN FRANCISCO
SANTA BARBARA
SANTA CLARA
SANTA CRUZ
SHASTA
SIERRA
SISKIYOU
SOLANO
SONOMA
STANISLAUS
SUTTER
TEHAMA
TRINITY
TULARE
TUOLUMNE
VENTURA
YOLO
YUBA
5
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
CONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
CA
.
.
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.
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.
.
.
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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
CHAFFEE
CHEYENNE
CLEAR CREEK
CONEJOS
COSTILLA
CROWLEY
CUSTER
DELTA
DOLORES
DOUGLAS
EAGLE
ELBERT
EL PASO
FREMONT
GARFIELD
GILPIN
GRAND
GUNNISON
HINSDALE
HUERFANO
JACKSON
JEFFERSON
KIOWA
KIT CARSON
LAKE
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
YUMA
BROOMFIELD
DENVER
6
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
COLORADO
CONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
CO
...
......
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....
.....
.........
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
TOLLAND
WINDHAM
7
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
CONNECTICUT
CONSERVATIVE
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.
KENT
NEW CASTLE
SUSSEX
8
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
DELAWARE
CONSERVATIVE
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
PINELLAS
POLK
PUTNAM
ST. JOHNS
ST. LUCIE
SANTA ROSA
SARASOTA
SEMINOLE
SUMTER
SUWANNEE
TAYLOR
UNION
VOLUSIA
WALTON
WASHINGTON
LIBERTY
ORANGE
OSCEOLA
NASSAU
9
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
FLORIDA
CONSERVATIVE
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
DODGE
DOOLY
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
JONES
LAMAR
LANIER
LAURENS
LEE
LIBERTY
LINCOLN
LONG
LOWNDES
LUMPKIN
MCDUFFIE
MCINTOSH
MACON
MADISON
MARION
MERIWETHER
MILLER
MITCHELL
MONROE
MONTGOMERY
MORGAN
MURRAY
MUSCOGEE
NEWTON
OCONEE
OGLETHORPE
PAULDING
PEACH
PICKENS
PIERCE
PIKE
POLK
PULASKI
PUTNAM
QUITMAN
RABUN
RANDOLPH
RICHMOND
ROCKDALE
SCHLEY
SCREVEN
SEMINOLE
SPALDING
STEPHENS
STEWART
SUMTER
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
GEORGIA
CONSERVATIVE
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.
HAWAII
MAUI
HONOLULU
KAUAI
KALAWAO
11
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
HAWAII
CONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
HI
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.
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
SHOSHONE
BENEWAH
LATAH
LINCOLN
MADISON
MINIDOKA
ONEIDA
OWYHEE
PAYETTE
POWER
TETON
TWIN FALLS
IDAHO
VALLEY
BLAINE
BUTTE
CLARK
CUSTER
LEMHI
WASHINGTON
12
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
IDAHO
CONSERVATIVE
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
EFFINGHAM
FAYETTE
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
MORGAN
MOULTRIE
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
ILLINOIS
CONSERVATIVE
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
WELLS
WHITE
WHITLEY
14
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
INDIANA
CONSERVATIVE
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
DAVIS
DECATUR
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
MAHASKA
MARION
MARSHALL
MILLS
MITCHELL
MONONA
MONROE
MONTGOMERY
MUSCATINE
O’BRIEN
OSCEOLA
PAGE
PALO ALTO
PLYMOUTH
POCAHONTAS
POLK
POTTAWATTAMIE
POWESHIEK
RINGGOLD
SAC
SCOTT
SHELBY
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
IOWA
CONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
IA
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.
ALLEN
ANDERSON
ATCHISON
BARBER
BARTON
BOURBON
BROWN
BUTLER
CHASE
CHAUTAUQUA
CHEROKEE
CHEYENNE
CLARK
CLAY
CLOUD
COFFEY
COMANCHE
COWLEY
CRAWFORD
DECATUR
DICKINSON
DONIPHAN
DOUGLAS
EDWARDS
ELK
ELLIS
ELLSWORTH
FINNEY
FORD
FRANKLIN
GEARY
GOVE
GRAHAM
GRANT
GRAY
GREELEY
GREENWOOD
HAMILTON
HARPER
HARVEY
HASKELL
HODGEMAN
JACKSON
JEFFERSON
JEWELL
JOHNSON
KEARNY
KINGMAN
KIOWA
LABETTE
LANE
LEAVENWORTH
LINCOLN
LINN
LOGAN
LYON
MARION
MARSHALL
MCPHERSON
MEADE
MIAMI
MITCHELL
MONTGOMERY
MORRIS
MORTON
NEMAHA
NEOSHO
NESS
NORTON
OSAGE
OSBORNE
OTTAWA
PAWNEE
PHILLIPS
POTTAWATOMIE
PRATT
RAWLINS
RENO
REPUBLIC
RICE
RILEY
ROOKS
RUSH
RUSSELL
SALINE
SCOTT
SEDGWICK
SEWARD
SHAWNEE
SHERIDAN
SHERMAN
SMITH
STAFFORD
STANTON
STEVENS
SUMNER
THOMAS
TREGO
WABAUNSEE
WALLACE
WASHINGTON
WICHITA
WILSON
WOODSON
WYANDOTTE
16
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
KANSAS
CONSERVATIVE
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
BALLARD
BARREN
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
JESSAMINE
JOHNSON
KENTON
KNOTT
KNOX
LARUE
LAUREL
LAWRENCE
LEE
LESLIE
LETCHER
LEWIS
LINCOLN
LIVINGSTON
LOGAN
LYON
MCCRACKEN
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
TODD
TRIGG
TRIMBLE
UNION
WARREN
WASHINGTON
WAYNE
WEBSTER
WHITLEY
WOLFE
WOODFORD
17
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
KENTUCKY
CONSERVATIVE
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
BOSSIER
CADDO
CALCASIEU
CALDWELL
CAMERON
CATAHOULA
CLAIBORNE
CONCORDIA
DE SOTO
EAST BATON ROUGE
EAST CARROLL
EAST
FELICIANA
EVANGELINE
FRANKLIN
GRANT
IBERIA
IBERVILLE
JACKSON
JEFFERSON
JEFFERSON
DAVIS
LAFAYETTE
LAFOURCHE
LA SALLE
LINCOLN
LIVINGSTON
MADISON
MOREHOUSE
NATCHITOCHES
ORLEANS
OUACHITA
PLAQUEMINES
POINTE
COUPEE
RAPIDES
RED RIVER
RICHLAND
SABINE
ST. BERNARD
ST. CHARLES
ST. HELENA
ST. JAMES
ST. JOHN
THE BAPTIST
ST. LANDRY
ST. MARY
ST. TAMMANY
TANGIPAHOA
TENSAS
TERREBONNE
UNION
VERMILION
VERNON
WASHINGTON
WEBSTER
WEST
BATON ROUGE
WEST CARROLL
WEST
FELICIANA
WINN
18
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
LOUISIANA
CONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
LA
ANDROSCOGGIN
AROOSTOOK
CUMBERLAND
FRANKLIN
HANCOCK
KENNEBEC
KNOX
LINCOLN
OXFORD
PENOBSCOT
PISCATAQUIS
SAGADAHOC
SOMERSET
WALDO
WASHINGTON
YORK
19
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
MAINE
CONSERVATIVE
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
CARROLL
CECIL
CHARLES
DORCHESTER
FREDERICK
GARRETT
HARFORD
HOWARD
KENT
MONTGOMERY
PRINCE GEORGE'S
QUEEN
ANNE'S
ST. MARY'S
SOMERSET
TALBOT
WASHINGTON
WICOMICO
WORCESTER
BALTIMORE
CITY
20
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
MARYLAND
CONSERVATIVE
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
MASSACHUSETTS
CONSERVATIVE
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
ALPENA
ANTRIM
ARENAC
BARAGA
BARRY
BAY
BENZIE
BERRIEN
BRANCH
CALHOUN
CASS
CHARLEVOIX
CHEBOYGAN
CHIPPEWA
CLARE
CLINTON
CRAWFORD
DELTA
DICKINSON
EATON
EMMET
GENESEE
GLADWIN
GOGEBIC
GRAND
TRAVERSE
GRATIOT
HILLSDALE
HOUGHTON
HURON
INGHAM
IONIA
IOSCO
IRON
ISABELLA
JACKSON
KALAMAZOO
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 BUREN
WASHTENAW
WAYNE
WEXFORD
22
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
MICHIGAN
CONSERVATIVE
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
CROW
WING
DAKOTA
DODGE
DOUGLAS
FARIBAULT
FILLMORE
FREEBORN
GOODHUE
GRANT
HENNEPIN
HOUSTON
HUBBARD
ISANTI
ITASCA
JACKSON
KANABEC
KANDIYOHI
KITTSON
KOOCHICHING
LAC QUI
PARLE
LAKE
LAKE OF THE WOODS
LE SUEUR
LINCOLN
LYON
MCLEOD
MAHNOMEN
MARSHALL
MARTIN
MEEKER
MILLE
LACS
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
MINNESOTA
CONSERVATIVE
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
HOLMES
HUMPHREYS
ISSAQUENA
ITAWAMBA
JACKSON
JASPER
JEFFERSON
DAVIS
JONES
KEMPER
LAFAYETTE
LAMAR
LAUDERDALE
LAWRENCE
LEAKE
LEE
LEFLORE
LINCOLN
LOWNDES
MADISON
MARION
MARSHALL
MONROE
MONTGOMERY
NESHOBA
NEWTON
NOXUBEE
OKTIBBEHA
PANOLA
PEARL RIVER
PERRY
PIKE
PONTOTOC
PRENTISS
QUITMAN
RANKIN
SCOTT
SHARKEY
SIMPSON
SMITH
STONE
SUNFLOWER
TALLAHATCHIE
TATE
TIPPAH
TISHOMINGO
TUNICA
UNION
WALTHALL
WARREN
WASHINGTON
WAYNE
WEBSTER
WILKINSON
WINSTON
YALOBUSHA
YAZOO
JEFFERSON
24
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
MISSISSIPPI
CONSERVATIVE
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
CAPE
GIRARDEAU
CARROLL
CARTER
CASS
CEDAR
CHARITON
CHRISTIAN
CLARK
CLAY
CLINTON
COLE
COOPER
CRAWFORD
DADE
DALLAS
DAVIESS
DE KALB
DENT
DOUGLAS
DUNKLIN
FRANKLIN
GASCONADE
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
PIKE
PLATTE
POLK
PULASKI
PUTNAM
RALLS
RANDOLPH
RAY
REYNOLDS
RIPLEY
ST. CHARLES
ST. CLAIR
STE.
GENEVIEVE
ST.
FRANCOIS
ST. LOUIS
SALINE
SCHUYLER
SCOTLAND
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
MISSOURI
CONSERVATIVE
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
DEER
LODGE
FALLON
FERGUS
FLATHEAD
GALLATIN
GARFIELD
GLACIER
GOLDEN
VALLEY
GRANITE
HILL
JEFFERSON
JUDITH BASIN
LAKE
LEWIS AND
CLARK
LIBERTY
LINCOLN
MCCONE
MADISON
MEAGHER
MINERAL
MISSOULA
MUSSELSHELL
PARK
PETROLEUM
PHILLIPS
PONDERA
POWDER RIVER
POWELL
PRAIRIE
RAVALLI
RICHLAND
ROOSEVELT
ROSEBUD
SANDERS
SHERIDAN
SILVER
BOW
STILLWATER
SWEET
GRASS
TETON
TOOLE
TREASURE
VALLEY
WHEATLAND
WIBAUX
YELLOWSTONE
YELLOWSTONE NP
26
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
MONTANA
CONSERVATIVE
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
ARTHUR
BANNER
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
FURNAS
GAGE
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
SARPY
SAUNDERS
SCOTTS BLUFF
SEWARD
SHERIDAN
SHERMAN
SIOUX
STANTON
THAYER
THOMAS
THURSTON
VALLEY
WASHINGTON
WAYNE
WEBSTER
WHEELER
YORK
27
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
NEBRASKA
CONSERVATIVE
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
NEVADA
CONSERVATIVE
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 HAMPSHIRE
CONSERVATIVE
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 JERSEY
CONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
NJ
BERNALILLO
CATRON
CHAVES
COLFAX
CURRY
DE BACA
DONA ANA
EDDY
GRANT
GUADALUPE
HARDING
HIDALGO
LEA
LINCOLN
LOS
ALAMOS
LUNA
MCKINLEY
MORA
OTERO
QUAY
RIO ARRIBA
ROOSEVELT
SANDOVAL
SAN JUAN
SAN MIGUEL
SANTA FE
SIERRA
SOCORRO
TAOS
TORRANCE
UNION
VALENCIA
CIBOLA
31
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
NEW MEXICO
CONSERVATIVE
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
HAMILTON
HERKIMER
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
WASHINGTON
WAYNE
WESTCHESTER
WYOMING
YATES
32
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
NEW YORK
CONSERVATIVE
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
BUNCOMBE
BURKE
CABARRUS
CALDWELL
CAMDEN
CARTERET
CASWELL
CATAWBA
CHATHAM
CHEROKEE
CHOWAN
CLAY
CLEVELAND
COLUMBUS
CRAVEN
CUMBERLAND
CURRITUCK
DARE
DAVIDSON
DAVIE
DUPLIN
DURHAM
EDGECOMBE
FORSYTH
FRANKLIN
GASTON
GATES
GRAHAM
GRANVILLE
GREENE
GUILFORD
HALIFAX
HARNETT
HAYWOOD
HENDERSON
HERTFORD
HOKE
HYDE
IREDELL
JACKSON
JOHNSTON
JONES
LEE
LENOIR
LINCOLN
MCDOWELL
MACON
MADISON
MARTIN
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
STOKES
SURRY
SWAIN
TRANSYLVANIA
TYRRELL
UNION
VANCE
WAKE
WARREN
WASHINGTON
WATAUGA
WAYNE
WILKES
WILSON
YADKIN
YANCEY
33
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
NORTH CAROLINA
CONSERVATIVE
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 MOURE
LOGAN
MCHENRY
MCINTOSH
MCKENZIE
MCLEAN
MERCER
MORTON
MOUNTRAIL
NELSON
OLIVER
PEMBINA
PIERCE
RAMSEY
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 DAKOTA
CONSERVATIVE
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
JEFFERSON
KNOX
LAKE
LAWRENCE
LICKING
LOGAN
LORAIN
LUCAS
MADISON
MAHONING
MARION
MEDINA
MEIGS
MERCER
MIAMI
MONROE
MONTGOMERY
MORGAN
MORROW
MUSKINGUM
NOBLE
OTTAWA
PAULDING
PERRY
PICKAWAY
PIKE
PORTAGE
PREBLE
PUTNAM
RICHLAND
ROSS
SANDUSKY
SCIOTO
SENECA
SHELBY
STARK
SUMMIT
TRUMBULL
TUSCARAWAS
UNION
VAN WERT
VINTON
WARREN
WASHINGTON
WAYNE
WILLIAMS
WOOD
WYANDOT
FAYETTE
35
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
OHIO
CONSERVATIVE
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
COAL
COMANCHE
COTTON
CRAIG
CREEK
CUSTER
DELAWARE
DEWEY
ELLIS
GARFIELD
GARVIN
GRADY
GRANT
GREER
HARMON
HARPER
HASKELL
HUGHES
JACKSON
JEFFERSON
JOHNSTON
KAY
KINGFISHER
KIOWA
LATIMER
LE FLORE
LINCOLN
LOGAN
LOVE
MCCLAIN
MCCURTAIN
MACINTOSH
MAJOR
MARSHALL
MAYES
MURRAY
MUSKOGEE
NOBLE
NOWATA
OKFUSKEE
OKLAHOMA
OKMULGEE
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
OKLAHOMA
CONSERVATIVE
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
MORROW
MULTNOMAH
POLK
SHERMAN
TILLAMOOK
UMATILLA
UNION
WALLOWA
WASCO
WASHINGTON
WHEELER
YAMHILL
37
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
OREGON
CONSERVATIVE
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
CARBON
CENTRE
CHESTER
CLARION
COLUMBIA
CRAWFORD
CUMBERLAND
DAUPHIN
DELAWARE
ELK
ERIE
FAYETTE
FOREST
FRANKLIN
FULTON
GREENE
INDIANA
JEFFERSON
JUNIATA
LACKAWANNA
LANCASTER
LAWRENCE
LEBANON
LEHIGH
LUZERNE
LYCOMING
MCKEAN
MERCER
MIFFLIN
MONROE
MONTGOMERY
MONTOUR
NORTHAMPTON
NORTHUMBERLAND
PERRY
PHILADELPHIA
PIKE
POTTER
SCHUYLKILL
SNYDER
SOMERSET
SULLIVAN
SUSQUEHANNA
TIOGA
UNION
VENANGO
WARREN
WASHINGTON
WAYNE
WESTMORELAND
WYOMING
YORK
38
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA
CONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
PA
Under 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 ISLAND
CONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
RI
ABBEVILLE
AIKEN
ALLENDALE
ANDERSON
BAMBERG
BARNWELL
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
LEXINGTON
MCCORMICK
MARION
MARLBORO
NEWBERRY
OCONEE
ORANGEBURG
PICKENS
RICHLAND
SALUDA
SPARTANBURG
SUMTER
UNION
WILLIAMSBURG
YORK
40
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
SOUTH CAROLINA
CONSERVATIVE
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
FAULK
GRANT
GREGORY
HAAKON
HAMLIN
HAND
HANSON
HARDING
HUGHES
HUTCHINSON
HYDE
JERAULD
JONES
KINGSBURY
LAKE
LAWRENCE
LINCOLN
LYMAN
MCCOOK
MCPHERSON
MARSHALL
MEADE
MELLETTE
MINER
MINNEHAHA
MOODY
PENNINGTON
PERKINS
POTTER
ROBERTS
SANBORN
SHANNON
SPINK
STANLEY
SULLY
TODD
TRIPP
TURNER
UNION
WALWORTH
YANKTON
JACKSON
ZIEBACH
41
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
SOUTH DAKOTA
CONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
SD
ANDERSON
BEDFORD
BENTON
BLEDSOE
BLOUNT
BRADLEY
CAMPBELL
CANNON
CARROLL
CARTER
CHEATHAM
CHESTER
CLAIBORNE
CLAY
COCKE
COFFEE
CROCKETT
CUMBERLAND
DAVIDSON
DECATUR
DE KALB
DICKSON
DYER
FAYETTE
FENTRESS
FRANKLIN
GIBSON
GILES
GRAINGER
GREENE
GRUNDY
HAMBLEN
HAMILTON
HANCOCK
HARDEMAN
HARDIN
HAWKINS
HAYWOOD
HENDERSON
HENRY
HICKMAN
HOUSTON
HUMPHREYS
JACKSON
JEFFERSON
JOHNSON
KNOX
LAKE
LAUDERDALE
LAWRENCE
LEWIS
LINCOLN
LOUDON
MCMINN
MCNAIRY
MACON
MADISON
MARION
MARSHALL
MAURY
MEIGS
MONROE
MONTGOMERY
MOORE
MORGAN
OBION
OVERTON
PERRY
PICKETT
POLK
PUTNAM
RHEA
ROANE
ROBERTSON
RUTHERFORD
SCOTT
SEQUATCHIE
SEVIER
SHELBY
SMITH
STEWART
SULLIVAN
SUMNER
TIPTON
TROUSDALE
UNICOI
UNION
VAN BUREN
WARREN
WASHINGTON
WAYNE
WEAKLEY
WHITE
WILLIAMSON
WILSON
42
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
TENNESSEE
CONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
TN
The 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
COKE
COLEMAN
COLLIN
COLLINGSWORTH
COLORADO
COMAL
COMANCHE
CONCHO
COOKE
CORYELL
COTTLE
CRANE
CROCKETT
CROSBY
CULBERSON
DALLAM
DALLAS
DAWSON
DEAF SMITH
DELTA
DENTON
DE WITT
DICKENS
DIMMIT
DONLEY
DUVAL
EASTLAND
ECTOR
EDWARDS
ELLIS
EL PASO
ERATH
FALLS
FANNIN
FAYETTE
FISHER
FLOYD
FOARD
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
JIM
WELLS
JOHNSON
JONES
KARNES
KAUFMAN
KENDALL
KENEDY
KENT
KERR
KIMBLE
KING
KINNEY
KLEBERG
KNOX
LAMAR
LAMB
LAMPASAS
LA SALLE
LAVACA
LEE
LEON
LIBERTY
LIMESTONE
LIPSCOMB
LIVE OAK
LLANO
LOVING
LUBBOCK
LYNN
MCCULLOCH
MCLENNAN
MCMULLEN
MADISON
MARION
MARTIN
MASON
MATAGORDA
MAVERICK
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
SAN
AUGUSTINE
SAN
JACINTO
SAN PATRICIO
SAN SABA
SCHLEICHER
SCURRY
SHACKLEFORD
SHELBY
SHERMAN
SMITH
SOMERVELL
STARR
STEPHENS
STERLING
STONEWALL
SUTTON
SWISHER
TARRANT
TAYLOR
TERRELL
TERRY
THROCKMORTON
TITUS
TOM GREEN
TRAVIS
TRINITY
TYLER
UPSHUR
UPTON
UVALDE
VAL VERDE
VAN
ZANDT
VICTORIA
WALKER
WALLER
WARD
WASHINGTON
WEBB
WHARTON
WHEELER
WICHITA
WILBARGER
WILLACY
WILLIAMSON
WILSON
WINKLER
WISE
WOOD
YOAKUM
YOUNG
ZAPATA
ZAVALA
43
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
TEXAS
CONSERVATIVE
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
DAGGETT
DAVIS
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
UTAH
CONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
UT
ADDISON
BENNINGTON
CALEDONIA
CHITTENDEN
ESSEX
FRANKLIN
GRAND
ISLE
LAMOILLE
ORANGE
ORLEANS
RUTLAND
WASHINGTON
WINDHAM
WINDSOR
45
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
VERMONT
CONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
VT
ACCOMACK
ALBEMARLE
ALLEGHANY
AMELIA
AMHERST
APPOMATTOX
ARLINGTON
AUGUSTA
BATH
BEDFORD
BLAND
BOTETOURT
BRUNSWICK
BUCHANAN
BUCKINGHAM
CAMPBELL
CAROLINE
CARROLL
CHARLES
CITY
CHARLOTTE
CHESTERFIELD
CLARKE
CRAIG
CULPEPER
CUMBERLAND
DICKENSON
DINWIDDIE
ESSEX
FAIRFAX
FAUQUIER
FLOYD
FLUVANNA
FRANKLIN
FREDERICK
GILES
GLOUCESTER
GOOCHLAND
GRAYSON
GREENE
GREENSVILLE
HALIFAX
HANOVER
HENRICO
HENRY
HIGHLAND
ISLE OF
WIGHT
JAMES
CITY
KING AND
QUEEN
KING GEORGE
KING
WILLIAM
LANCASTER
LEE
LOUDOUN
LOUISA
LUNENBURG
MADISON
MATHEWS
MECKLENBURG
MIDDLESEX
MONTGOMERY
SUFFOLK
NELSON
NEW KENT
NORTHAMPTON
NORTHUMBERLAND
NOTTOWAY
ORANGE
PAGE
PATRICK
PITTSYLVANIA
POWHATAN
PRINCE
EDWARD
PRINCE
GEORGE
PRINCE WILLIAM
PULASKI
RAPPAHANNOCK
RICHMOND
ROANOKE
ROCKBRIDGE
ROCKINGHAM
RUSSELL
SCOTT
SHENANDOAH
SMYTH
SOUTHAMPTON
SPOTSYLVANIA
STAFFORD
SURRY
SUSSEX
TAZEWELL
WARREN
WASHINGTON
WESTMORELAND
WISE
WYTHE
YORK
HAMPTON
NEWPORT
NEWS
VIRGINIA
BEACH
CHESAPEAKE
46
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
VIRGINIA
CONSERVATIVE
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
ASOTIN
BENTON
CHELAN
CLALLAM
CLARK
COLUMBIA
COWLITZ
DOUGLAS
FERRY
FRANKLIN
GARFIELD
GRANT
GRAYS HARBOR
ISLAND
JEFFERSON
KING
KITSAP
KITTITAS
KLICKITAT
LEWIS
LINCOLN
MASON
OKANOGAN
PACIFIC
PEND OREILLE
PIERCE
SAN JUAN
SKAGIT
SKAMANIA
SNOHOMISH
SPOKANE
STEVENS
THURSTON
WAHKIAKUM
WALLA WALLA
WHATCOM
WHITMAN
YAKIMA
47
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
WASHINGTON
CONSERVATIVE
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 VIRGINIA
CONSERVATIVE
LIBERAL
MODERATE
WV
In 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
BROWN
BUFFALO
BURNETT
CALUMET
CHIPPEWA
CLARK
COLUMBIA
CRAWFORD
DANE
DODGE
DOOR
DOUGLAS
DUNN
EAU CLAIRE
FLORENCE
FOND DU LAC
FOREST
GRANT
GREEN
GREEN
LAKE
IOWA
IRON
JACKSON
JEFFERSON
JUNEAU
KENOSHA
KEWAUNEE
LA CROSSE
LAFAYETTE
LANGLADE
LINCOLN
MANITOWOC
MARATHON
MARINETTE
MARQUETTE
MILWAUKEE
MONROE
OCONTO
ONEIDA
OUTAGAMIE
OZAUKEE
PEPIN
PIERCE
POLK
PORTAGE
PRICE
RACINE
RICHLAND
ROCK
RUSK
ST. CROIX
SAUK
SAWYER
SHAWANO
MENOMINEE
SHEBOYGAN
TAYLOR
TREMPEALEAU
VERNON
VILAS
WALWORTH
WASHBURN
WASHINGTON
WAUKESHA
WAUPACA
WAUSHARA
WINNEBAGO
WOOD
49
USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY
WISCONSIN
CONSERVATIVE
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
WYOMING
CONSERVATIVE
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 | BIRMINGHAM
Carr Allison
Charles F. Carr ...........................(251) 626-9340
ALASKA | ANCHORAGE
Richmond & Quinn
Robert L. Richmond .................. (907) 276-5727
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
CALIFORNIA | LOS ANGELES
Murchison & Cumming LLP
Dan L. Longo ..............................(714) 953-2244
CALIFORNIA | SAN DIEGO
Klinedinst PC
John D. Klinedinst .....................(619) 239-8131
CALIFORNIA | SAN FRANCISCO
Hanson Bridgett LLP
Mert A. Howard .........................(415) 995-5033
CALIFORNIA | SANTA BARBARA
Snyder Burnett Egerer, LLP
Barry Clifford Snyder .................(805) 683-7750
COLORADO | DENVER
Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie LLP
Jessica L. Fuller ..........................(303) 628-9527
CONNECTICUT | HARTFORD
Hinckley Allen
Noble F. Allen.............................(860) 725-6237
DELAWARE | WILMINGTON
Cooch and Taylor P.A.
Christopher H. Lee ....................(302) 984-3808
FLORIDA | CENTRAL FLORIDA
Wicker Smith O’Hara McCoy & Ford P.A.
Richards H. Ford ........................(407) 843-3939
FLORIDA | SOUTH FLORIDA
Wicker Smith O’Hara McCoy & Ford P.A.
Nicholas E. Christin ...................(305) 448-3939
FLORIDA | TALLAHASSEE
Carr Allison
Christopher Barkas ....................(850) 222-2107
GEORGIA | ATLANTA
Hall Booth Smith, P.C.
John E. Hall, Jr. ...........................(404) 954-5000
HAWAII | HONOLULU
Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel LLP
Edmund K. Saffery .....................(808) 547-5736
IDAHO | BOISE
Duke Scanlan & Hall, PLLC
Richard E. Hall ........................... (208) 342-3310
ILLINOIS | CHICAGO
SmithAmundsen LLC
Lew R.C. Bricker .........................(312) 894-3224
INDIANA | INDIANAPOLIS
Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP
James M. Hinshaw .....................(317) 968-5385
IOWA | CEDAR RAPIDS
Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman PLC
Kevin J. Visser .............................(319) 366-7641
KANSAS/WESTERN MISSOURI |
KANSAS CITY
Dysart Taylor Cotter McMonigle &
Montemore, PC
Patrick K. McMonigle ................ (816) 714-3039
KENTUCKY | LOUISVILLE
Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP
Mark S. Riddle ............................(502) 587-3623
LOUISIANA | NEW ORLEANS
McCranie, Sistrunk, Anzelmo, Hardy
McDaniel & Welch LLC
Michael R. Sistrunk....................(504) 846-8338
MAINE | PORTLAND
Richardson, Whitman, Large & Badger
Elizabeth G. Stouder ..................(207) 774-7474
MARYLAND | BALTIMORE
Franklin & Prokopik, PC
Albert B. Randall, Jr. ..................(410) 230-3622
MINNESOTA | ST. PAUL
Larson • King, LLP
Mark A. Solheim ........................(651) 312-6503
MISSISSIPPI | GULFPORT
Carr Allison
Douglas Bagwell ........................(228) 864-1060
MISSISSIPPI | RIDGELAND
Copeland, Cook, Taylor & Bush, P.A.
James R. Moore, Jr. .................... (601) 427-1301
MISSOURI | ST. LOUIS
Lashly & Baer, P.C.
Stephen L. Beimdiek .................(314) 436-8303
MONTANA | GREAT FALLS
Davis, Hatley, Haffeman & Tighe, P.C.
Maxon R. Davis .......................... (406) 761-5243
NEBRASKA | OMAHA
Baird Holm LLP
Jennifer D. Tricker ..................... (402) 636-8348
NEVADA | LAS VEGAS
Thorndal Armstrong Delk
Balkenbush & Eisinger
Brian K. Terry ............................. (702) 366-0622
NEW JERSEY | ROSELAND
Connell Foley LLP
Kevin R. Gardner .......................(973) 840-2415
NEW MEXICO | ALBUQUERQUE
Modrall Sperling
Jennifer G. Anderson ................. (505) 848-1809
NEW YORK | HAWTHORNE
Traub Lieberman
Stephen D. Straus........................(914) 586-7005
NEW YORK | UNIONDALE
Rivkin Radler LLP
David S. Wilck ............................ (516) 357-3347
NORTH CAROLINA | RALEIGH
Poyner Spruill LLP
Deborah E. Sperati ....................(252) 972-7095
NORTH DAKOTA | DICKINSON
Ebeltoft . Sickler . Lawyers PLLC
Randall N. Sickler ......................(701) 225-5297
OHIO | CLEVELAND
Roetzel & Andress
Bradley A. Wright .......................(330) 849-6629
OKLAHOMA | OKLAHOMA CITY
Pierce Couch Hendrickson
Baysinger & Green, L.L.P.
Gerald P. Green ..........................(405) 552-5271
OREGON | PORTLAND
Williams Kastner
Thomas A. Ped ........................... (503) 944-6988
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
RHODE ISLAND | PROVIDENCE
Adler Pollock & Sheehan P.C.
Richard R. Beretta, Jr. ................ (401) 427-6228
SOUTH CAROLINA | COLUMBIA
Sweeny, Wingate & Barrow, P.A.
Mark S. Barrow ..........................(803) 256-2233
SOUTH DAKOTA | PIERRE
Riter, Rogers, Wattier & Northrup, LLP
Robert C. Riter ...........................(605) 224-5825
TENNESSEE | MEMPHIS
Martin, Tate, Morrow & Marston, P.C.
Lee L. Piovarcy ........................... (901) 522-9000
TEXAS | DALLAS
Fee, Smith, Sharp & Vitullo, L.L.P.
Michael P. Sharp ........................(972) 980-3255
TEXAS | HOUSTON
MehaffyWeber
Barbara J. Barron ....................... (713) 655-1200
UTAH | SALT LAKE CITY
Strong & Hanni, PC
Stephen J. Trayner ..................... (801) 323-2011
WASHINGTON | SEATTLE
Williams Kastner
Sheryl J. Willert ..........................(206) 628-2408
WEST VIRGINIA | CHARLESTON
Flaherty Sensabaugh Bonasso PLLC
Andrew B. Cooke .......................(304) 347-4274
acooke@flahertylegal.com
WISCONSIN | MILWAUKEE
Laffey, Leitner & Goode LLC
Jack Laffey .................................. (414) 312-7105
WYOMING | CASPER
Williams, Porter, Day and Neville PC
Scott E. Ortiz ..............................(307) 265-0700
USLAW INTERNATIONAL
ARGENTINA | BUENOS AIRES
Barreiro, Olivas, De Luca, Jaca & Nicastro
Nicolás Jaca Otaño ............... (54 11) 4814-1746
BRAZIL | SÃO PAULO
Mundie e Advogados
Rodolpho Protasio ................ (55 11) 3040-2923
CANADA | ALBERTA
CALGARY & EDMONTON
Parlee McLaws LLP
Connor Glynn ............................(780) 423-8639
CANADA | ONTARIO | OTTAWA
Kelly Santini
Lisa Langevin ................ (613) 238-6321 ext 276
CANADA | QUEBEC | BROSSARD
Therrien Couture L.L.P.
Douglas W. Clarke .....................(450) 462-8555
CHINA | SHANGHAI
Duan&Duan
George Wang ............................. 8621 6219 1103
MEXICO | MEXICO CITY
EC Legal Rubio Villegas
René Mauricio Alva ............... +52 55 5251 5023
TELFA
AUSTRIA
PHH Rechtsanwälte
Rainer Kaspar ............................ +43 1 714 24 40
BELGIUM
CEW & Partners
Charles Price ...........................(+32 2) 534 20 20
CYPRUS
Pyrgou Vakis Law Firm
Melina Pyrgou ............................+357 22466611
CZECH REPUBLIC
Vyskocil, Kroslak & spol., Advocates and
Patent Attorneys
Jiri Spousta ........................ (00 420) 224 819 133
DENMARK
Lund Elmer Sandager
Jacob Roesen ............................(+45 33 300 268)
ENGLAND
Wedlake Bell LLP
Richard Isham .....................+44(0)20 7395 3000
ESTONIA • LATVIA • LITHUANIA
LEXTAL Tallinn|Riga|Vilnius
Lina Siksniute-
Vaitiekuniene ....................(+370) 5 210 27 33
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
GERMANY
Buse Heberer Fromm
Jasper Hagenberg .................... +49 30 327942 0
GREECE
Corina Fassouli-Grafanaki & Associates Law
Firm
Korina Fassouli-
Grafanaki ..........................(+30) 210-3628512
HUNGARY
Bihary Balassa & Partners
Attorneys at Law
Ágnes Dr. Balassa ..................... +36 1 391 44 91
IRELAND
Kane Tuohy Solicitors
Sheena Beale ...........................(+353) 1 6722233
ITALY
LEGALITAX Studio Legale e Tributario
Alessandro Polettini ............. +39 049 877 58 11
LUXEMBOURG
Tabery & Wauthier
Véronique Wauthier .............. (00352) 251 51 51
MALTA
EMD
Dr. Italo Ellul ............................. +356 2123 3005
NETHERLANDS
Dirkzwager Legal & Tax
Karen A. Verkerk ..................... +31 26 365 55 57
NORWAY
Advokatfirmaet Sverdrup DA
Tom Eivind Haug .........................+47 90653609
POLAND
GWW
Aldona Leszczyńska
-Mikulska..... ........................ +48 22 212 00 00
PORTUGAL
Carvalho, Matias & Associados
Antonio Alfaia de Carvalho ....(351) 21 8855440
SERBIA
Vukovic & Partners
Dejan Vuković ....................... +381 11 2642 257
SLOVAKIA
Alianciaadvokátov
Gerta Sámelová
Flassiková ............................ +421 2 57101313
SPAIN
Adarve Abogados SLP
Juan José García ........................+34 91 591 30 60
SWEDEN
Wesslau Söderqvist Advokatbyrå
Max Björkbom .......................... +46 8 407 88 00
SWITZERLAND
Meyerlustenberger Lachenal
Christophe Rapin...............(00 41) 22 737 10 00
TURKEY
Cukur & Yilmaz
Devrim Çukur ....................... +90 212 243 43 31
2019
membership
roster
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 a
responsive, agile legal alternative to the
mega-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.
A Legal Network for
Purchasers of Legal Services.
USLAW NETWORK firms go way beyond
providing quality legal services to their cli-
ents. Unlike other legal networks, USLAW is
organized around client expectations, not
around the member law firms. Clients
receive ongoing educational opportunities,
online resources including webinars,
jurisdictional updates, and resource librar-
ies. We also provide a semi-annual USLAW
Magazine, USLAW DigiKnow, which features
insights into today’s trending legal topics,
compendiums of law, as well as annual
membership directory. To ensure our goals
are the same as the clients our member
firms serve, our Client Leadership Council
and Practice Group Client Advisors are di-
rectly involved in the development of our
programs and services. This communication
pipeline is vital to our success and allows us
to better monitor and meet client needs and
expectations.
USLAW Abroad.
Just as legal issues seldom follow state
borders, they often extend beyond U.S.
boundaries as well. In 2007, USLAW
established a relationship with the Trans-
European Law Firms Alliance (TELFA), a
network of more than 20 independent law
firms representing more than 1000 lawyers
through Europe to further our service and
reach.
How USLAW NETWORK
Membership 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.
USLAW in Review.
• All vetted firms with demonstrated,
robust practices and specialties
• Efficient use of legal budgets, providing
maximum return on legal services
investments
• Seamless, cross-jurisdictional service
• Responsive and flexible
• Multitude of educational opportunities
and online resources
• Team approach to legal services
The USLAW Success Story.
The reality of our success is simple: we
succeed because our member firms’ cli-
ents succeed. Our member firms provide
high-quality legal results through the ef-
ficient use of legal budgets. We provide
cross-jurisdictional services eliminating the
time and expense of securing adequate rep-
resentation in different regions. We provide
trusted and experienced specialists quickly.
When a difficult legal matter emerges –
whether it’s in a single jurisdiction, nation-
wide or internationally – USLAW is there.
Success.
For more information, please contact Roger
M. Yaffe, USLAW CEO, at (800) 231-9110 or
roger@uslaw.org
®
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.
about
uslaw network
USLAW NETWORK, Inc. • 3111 N. University Drive, Suite 400 • Coral Springs, FL 33065 (800) 231-9110 • www.uslaw.org
