ALWAYS KNOW WHAT LIES AHEAD

STATE JUDICIAL PROFILES BY COUNTY 2019-2020

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 Clarice Spicker Snyder Burnett Egerer, LLP Jones Skelton & Hochuli, PLC 5383 Hollister Ave., Suite 240 40 North Central Avenue Santa Barbara, CA 93111 Phoenix AZ 85004 805.692.2800 602.263.1700 [email protected] [email protected]

USLAW NETWORK, Inc. • 3111 N. University Drive, Suite 400 • Coral Springs, FL 33065 (800) 231-9110 • www.uslaw.org USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY

Table of Contents

Alabama...... page 1 Montana...... page 26 Alaska...... page 2 Nebraska...... page 27 Arizona...... page 3 Nevada...... page 28 Arkansas...... page 4 New Hampshire...... page 29 California...... page 5 New Jersey...... page 30

Colorado...... page 6 New Mexico...... page 31 Connecticut...... page 7 New York...... page 32 Delaware...... page 8 North Carolina...... page 33 Florida...... page 9 North Dakota...... page 34 Georgia...... page 10 Ohio...... page 35 Hawaii...... page 11 Oklahoma...... page 36 Idaho...... page 12 Oregon...... page 37 Illinois...... page 13 Pennsylvania...... page 38 Indiana...... page 14 Rhode Island...... page 39 Iowa...... page 15 South Carolina...... page 40 Kansas...... page 16 South Dakota...... page 41 Kentucky...... page 17 Tennessee...... page 42 Louisiana...... page 18 Texas...... page 43 Maine...... page 19 Utah...... page 44 Maryland...... page 20 Vermont...... page 45 Massachusetts...... page 21 Virginia...... page 46

Michigan...... page 22 Washington...... page 47 Minnesota...... page 23 West Virginia...... page 48 Mississippi...... page 24 Wisconsin...... page 49 Missouri...... page 25 Wyoming...... page 50 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY AL

LAUDERDALE LIMESTONE

MADISON JACKSON

COLBERT

LAWRENCE

FRANKLIN MORGAN DE KALB

MARSHALL . .

.

. CULLMAN MARION WINSTON CHEROKEE

. ETOWAH

Tuscaloosa County, home of the University . BLOUNT

.

of Alabama and previously thought of as .

a conservative county, recently entered a WALKER . . CALHOUN

FAYETTE

$30 million judgment in a wrongful death ST. CLAIR LAMAR .

medical malpractice case. This is the .

.

largest medical malpractice award in the . JEFFERSON CLEBURNE $16 million verdict in . . history of the state. . truck accident case . was tried as a products TALLADEGA RANDOLPH case so that standard PICKENS TUSCALOOSA SHELBY CLAY defenses in auto negligence cases were no longer available, which is a new tact BIBB taken by sophisticated COOSA TALLAPOOSA CHAMBERS GREENE CHILTON plaintiffs’ counsel. HALE

PERRY SUMTER ELMORE LEE AUTAUGA

MACON DALLAS RUSSELL MARENGO MONTGOMERY LOWNDES BULLOCK . CHOCTAW .. . . WILCOX ......

BARBOUR BUTLER PIKE CLARKE CRENSHAW

MONROE HENRY WASHINGTON DALE CONECUH COFFEE

COVINGTON ESCAMBIA HOUSTON GENEVA

MOBILE

BALDWIN

CONSERVATIVE While medical malpractice cases LIBERAL traditionally resulted in defense verdicts or minimal awards in Alabama, there has been a significant increase in the ALABAMA MODERATE potential value of these cases throughout the entire state.

1 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY AK

NORTH SLOPE

NORTHWEST ARCTIC YUKON-KOYUKUK

NOME FAIRBANKS NORTH STAR DENALI SOUTHEAST FAIRBANKS

WADE HAMPTON MATANUSKA-SUSITNA VALDEZ-CORDOVA BETHEL ANCHORAGE KENAI LAKE AND PENINSULA YAKUTAT DILLINGHAM PENINSULA HAINES SKAGWAY-HOONAH-ANGOON HAINES BRISTOL BAY JUNEAU SKAGWAY-HOONAH-ANGOON SKAGWAY-HOONAH-ANGOON SITKA WRANGELL-PETERSBURG KODIAK ISLAND ALEUTIANS EAST PRINCE OF WALES- PRINCE OF WALES- OUTER KETCHIKAN OUTER KETCHIKAN KETCHIKAN GATEWAY

ALEUTIANS WEST

CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE ALASKA

2

USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY AZ

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

Jackson v. Eagle (Mohave—Filed reasonable. Instead, it simply requires a statement of a specific settlement amount January 2, 2019) The Arizona with supporting facts. Because the plaintiff’s claim at issue provided a definite and

. Supreme Court held that Arizona’s. exact amount for which the defendant could settle, it satisfied the requirements of

automatic assignment provision in A.R.S. § 12-821.01(A).

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. . .

. .

.

.

.

. COCONINO ..

MOHAVE .... Spooner v. City of NAVAJO

. . . .

Phoenix (Maricopa— .. APACHE

Filed November 27, . . .

. .

2018) Despite recent .....

and heightened .

scrutiny of law .

enforcement officers, the Arizona Court .

of Appeals held that . YAVAPAI . a law enforcement .

officer is not subject .

to civil liability for .

.

simple negligence .

. arising from an . . investigation into . criminal activity. LA PAZ GILA

MARICOPA

GREENLEE

GRAHAM PINAL

YUMA

.

.

. .

. .

. .

.

. PIMA . . .

. COCHISE . . . . SANTA CRUZ

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 CONSERVATIVE negligence claim against an officer when the officer’s conduct is independent of the intentional use of physical LIBERAL force. MODERATE ARIZONA

3 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY AR

BENTON FULTON CLAY RANDOLPH CARROLL BOONE BAXTER MARION

IZARD SHARP GREENE LAWRENCE MADISON WASHINGTON NEWTON SEARCY STONE CRAIGHEAD INDEPENDENCE MISSISSIPPI

CRAWFORD JOHNSON VAN BUREN CLEBURNE POINSETT JACKSON FRANKLIN POPE

CROSS CONWAY LOGAN WHITE SEBASTIAN FAULKNER CRITTENDEN WOODRUFF

YELL ST. FRANCIS PERRY SCOTT PRAIRIE PULASKI LONOKE LEE

SALINE MONROE GARLAND MONTGOMERY . POLK . . PHILLIPS HOT SPRING GRANT . ARKANSAS JEFFERSON .. PIKE HOWARD . SEVIER CLARK The Arkansas Supreme Court DALLAS concluded a Lonoke County LINCOLN CLEVELAND . jury’s award of $42M in punitive DESHA damages did not “shock the . conscience” in a case where the LITTLE RIVER HEMPSTEAD NEVADA jury found only $5.9 million in OUACHITA CALHOUN DREW .actual damages.

BRADLEY

MILLER

.

.

.

. CHICOT

COLUMBIA . ASHLEY

UNION .

.

LAFAYETTE .

. .

. . . .

. .

. CONSERVATIVE A jury. awarded $46.5 million in damages in a medical malpractice LIBERAL case in Union County after the defense relied on the ability to MODERATE apply a lower standard of care ARKANSAS than national standards.

4 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY CA

DEL NORTE SISKIYOU MODOC

SHASTA HUMBOLDT LASSEN TRINITY

TEHAMA PLUMAS

GLENN BUTTE SIERRA MENDOCINO

NEVADA

YUBA

COLUSA

LAKE SUTTER PLACER

YOLO EL DORADO

ALPINE

SONOMA NAPA SACRAMENTO AMADOR ...... SOLANO . CALAVERAS . . . . MARIN TUOLUMNE . MONO . CONTRA COSTA SAN JOAQUIN . . SAN FRANCISCO ALAMEDA STANISLAUS MARIPOSA SAN MATEOSANTA CLARA MERCED MADERA SANTA CRUZ An appellate court considering a Contra Costa County case found FRESNO SAN BENITO that defendants could present INYO evidence of benefits under the Affordable Care Act to argue for TULARE MONTEREY a reduction in the costs of future KINGS 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 SAN LUIS OBISPO KERN

medical providers.

SAN BERNARDINO . . SANTA BARBARA .

...... VENTURA. LOS ANGELES . . . .

.

.

.

. .

.

. . .

. RIVERSIDE ORANGE. . .

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 SAN DIEGO IMPERIAL . Beach and Santa Monica are relatively moderate, and sub-venues . such as Chatsworth, Alhambra, Torrance, Van Nuys and Norwalk . can even tilt conservative. .

While Orange County has been a rock-ribbed conservative venue, the changing CONSERVATIVE 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 LIBERAL 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 CALIFORNIA MODERATE 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.

5 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY CO

On November 7, 2018, the Colorado Supreme Court On January 14, 2019, the Colorado Supreme Court clarified the bad faith standard in relation to both reversed a Court of Appeals decision requiring the claims for common law bad faith and statutory Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to only unreasonable delay or denial of benefits. The Court grant drilling permits when the proposed drilling would concluded that the insurer’s conduct must be evaluated not negatively impact Colorado’s atmosphere, water, solely on the evidence possessed by the insurer at the wildlife, human health, or climate change. The Court time the decision was made. Evidence acquired after instead ruled that the Commission was entitled to balance the denial of coverage cannot be considered. 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. ..

.. SEDGWICK LOGAN LARIMER WELD MOFFAT JACKSON . PHILLIPS ROUTT ...... MORGAN .. GRAND BOULDER .. . YUMA .. . RIO BLANCO BROOMFIELD WASHINGTON GILPIN . ADAMS ...... DENVER.. CLEAR CREEK ... EAGLE . ARAPAHOE JEFFERSON. SUMMIT GARFIELD

DOUGLAS ELBERT PITKIN LAKE PARK KIT CARSON

MESA TELLER DELTA EL PASO LINCOLN CHEYENNE CHAFFEE GUNNISON

FREMONT KIOWA MONTROSE CROWLEY

OURAY PUEBLO SAGUACHE CUSTER SAN MIGUEL BENT PROWERS HINSDALE OTERO DOLORES SAN JUAN MINERAL HUERFANO RIO GRANDE ALAMOSA

MONTEZUMA LAS ANIMAS BACA LA PLATA COSTILLA ARCHULETA CONEJOS

CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE COLORADO

6 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY CT

TOLLAND HARTFORD WINDHAM LITCHFIELD

NEW LONDON MIDDLESEX

NEW HAVEN

FAIRFIELD ...... 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.

CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE CONNECTICUT

7 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY DE

NEW CASTLE

• 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).

KENT • 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.

SUSSEX

CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE DELAWARE

8 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY FL

ESCAMBIA HOLMES JACKSON OKALOOSA SANTA ROSA WASHINGTON GADSDEN NASSAU WALTON JEFFERSON HAMILTON BAY CALHOUN LEON MADISON DUVAL COLUMBIA LIBERTY WAKULLA SUWANNEE BAKER TAYLOR UNION CLAY GULF FRANKLIN LAFAYETTE BRADFORD ST. JOHNS GILCHRIST ALACHUA DIXIE PUTNAM FLAGLER LEVY MARION

The Florida Supreme Court, according to its exclusive VOLUSIA rulemaking authority pursuant to article V, section 2(a) of the Florida Constitution, adopted chapter CITRUS LAKE SEMINOLE

2013-107, sections 1 and 2, Laws of Florida SUMTER

(Daubert amendments), which amended sections HERNANDO

90.702 (Testimony by experts) and 90.704 (Basis ORANGE

of opinion testimony by experts), Florida Statutes,

PASCO of the Florida Evidence Code to replace the Frye

standard for admitting certain expert testimony OSCEOLA

with the Daubert standard, the standard for expert PINELLAS HILLSBOROUGH BREVARD

testimony found in Federal Rule of Evidence 702 POLK

INDIAN RIVER

MANATEE

HARDEE OKEECHOBEE

ST. LUCIE .

. HIGHLANDS

.

.

DE. SOTO

SARASOTA .

MARTIN .

Pregnant woman was killed when a .

.

GLADES. drunk driver drove into a hotel cabana 15 CHARLOTTE . .

. feet from the road. The woman’s family .

. . .

sued the hotel and the driver. The South PALM. BEACH

Florida jury found both parties liable and LEE HENDRY

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 BROWARD

...... was not a dangerous condition, the hotel COLLIER ...... had acted reasonably, and the accident . was attributable to “an improbable freak accident” and not to the negligence of MONROE the hotel. This is a surprising reversal from DADE 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 CONSERVATIVE would not have improved her prognosis, and therefore the delay ultimately did not negatively affect her survival chances. The LIBERAL Miami jury awarded her over $21 million anyway, highlighting plaintiff-friendly nature MODERATE of venue. FLORIDA

9 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY 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.

DADE CATOOSA TOWNS FANNIN RABUN MURRAY UNION WHITFIELD.. . .HABERSHAM . GILMER WHITE WALKER ..... LUMPKIN STEPHENS CHATTOOGA GORDON PICKENS DAWSON BANKS FRANKLIN HALL HART FLOYD BARTOW CHEROKEE FORSYTH

JACKSON MADISON ELBERT

POLK BARROW COBB GWINNETT CLARKE PAULDING OCONEE OGLETHORPE HARALSON WALTON WILKES DEKALB LINCOLN DOUGLAS FULTON

CLAYTON ROCKDALE GREENE CARROLL NEWTON MORGAN TALIAFERRO COLUMBIA MCDUFFIE FAYETTE HENRY WARREN COWETA RICHMOND JASPER PUTNAM HEARD BUTTS SPALDING HANCOCK GLASCOCK

PIKE JEFFERSON LAMAR BURKE MERIWETHER JONES BALDWIN TROUP MONROE WASHINGTON UPSON BIBB

WILKINSON JENKINS

SCREVEN

HARRIS TALBOT CRAWFORD JOHNSON

.

. TWIGGS

.

. EMANUEL .

. TAYLOR PEACH

.

. MUSCOGEE

LAURENS

. BLECKLEY . HOUSTON TREUTLEN CANDLER BULLOCH

MARION MACON EFFINGHAM . . CHATAHOOCHEE MONTGOMERY

SCHLEY PULASKI

.

. DOOLY EVANS DODGE WHEELER BRYAN STEWART TOOMBS

TATTNALL CHATHAM . SUMTER

. WEBSTER WILCOX In August 2019, a CRISP TELFAIR QUITMAN LIBERTY . Muscogee County. TERRELL LEE JEFF DAVIS State Court jury RANDOLPH BEN HILL APPLING LONG TURNER needed 45 minutes to return a $280 CLAY IRWIN DOUGHERTY COFFEE BACON WAYNE CALHOUN MCINTOSH million verdict WORTH against a trucking TIFT PIERCE company whose EARLY BAKER driver crossed the BERRIEN ATKINSON GLYNN MILLER MITCHELL COLQUITT center line and WARE BRANTLEY killed five members COOK LANIER of a family SEMINOLE traveling together. CLINCH CAMDEN LOWNDES DECATUR GRADY THOMAS BROOKS CHARLTON

ECHOLS

CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE GEORGIA

10 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY 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.

KAUAI

HONOLULU

KALAWAO

MAUI

HAWAII

CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE HAWAII

11 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY ID

BOUNDARY

BONNER

KOOTENAI

BENEWAH SHOSHONE

LATAH CLEARWATER

In May 2019 the Supreme NEZ PERCE Court of Idaho held that LEWIS

the Idaho Protection of

Public Employees Act (the “Whistleblower

Act”) supplants the

Idaho Tort Claims Act, IDAHO In 2018, a jury awarded $7.95M in a medical

thereby rendering the malpractice/negligent supervision case. The .

Tort Claims Act damages . award included $7.2M in compensatory damages

.

cap inapplicable to to Plaintiff and . $750k to his spouse for loss of

Whistleblower Act claims. consortium. Defendant had alleged Plaintiff was

.

The Court made clear that . comparatively negligent for refusing a physician’s

advice and that the complications Plaintiff suffered .

non-economic damages ADAMS LEMHI .

are allowed under the were not foreseeable.

.

Whistleblower Act and . VALLEY

.

reiterated that a claim .

. under the Whistleblower .

WASHINGTON Act must be brought within . .

.

180 days of the alleged . CLARK

CUSTER FREMONT

violation. Finally, the Court . .

.

PAYETTE .

stated that Whistleblower BOISE

.

GEM .

Act remedies preclude .

common law causes of . JEFFERSON MADISON TETON . . .

BUTTE .

action in cases where the CANYON .. . .

.

Act applies, overruling its .. . . . ADA CAMAS . prior decision in Wright v. . BLAINE BONNEVILLE Ada County, 160 Idaho 491, .. ELMORE 376 P.3d 58 (permitting a BINGHAM .. separate damages action GOODING within a whistleblower LINCOLN claim). .. CARIBOU JEROME MINIDOKA .. POWER BANNOCK OWYHEE

TWIN FALLS CASSIA BEAR LAKE .. ONEIDA FRANKLIN .. CONSERVATIVE There was a $3.48M jury verdict in an insurance breach of contract/bad faith case in 2019. This is an LIBERAL extraordinarily high reward for this type of case in a traditionally conservative jury base. MODERATE IDAHO

12 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY IL

In 2018 more than 15 JO DAVIESS STEPHENSON WINNEBAGO eight-figure and 40 BOONE MCHENRY LAKE seven-figure jury verdicts were rendered primarily in Cook County, but also CARROLL OGLE throughout the state KANE DE KALB DU PAGE COOK

WHITESIDE LEE

KENDALL

WILL ROCK ISLAND HENRY BUREAU LA SALLE GRUNDY MERCER PUTNAM KANKAKEE STARK MARSHALL

KNOX LIVINGSTON WARREN HENDERSON PEORIA WOODFORD IROQUOIS

MCLEAN FORD

MCDONOUGH FULTON HANCOCK TAZEWELL

MASON

SCHUYLER DE WITT VERMILION

LOGAN CHAMPAIGN

MENARD

ADAMS PIATT

BROWN CASS MACON

DOUGLAS

MORGAN SANGAMON MOULTRIE EDGAR

. SCOTT

. PIKE

. .

. COLES . CHRISTIAN

.

. SHELBY GREENE.

. CLARK .

. . MACOUPIN

. CUMBERLAND

. . . MONTGOMERY .

. . CALHOUN .

. .

.

.

. JERSEY .

. EFFINGHAM

For Madison and St. Clair County JASPER CRAWFORD . . FAYETTE

– full disclosure of insurance . . BOND . coverage levels has become . . MADISON. a new focus of the plaintiff’s CLAY RICHLAND LAWRENCE bar resulting in mini-trials on MARION defendant corporations and their CLINTON practices and policies. This trend WABASH has spread to Cook County ST. CLAIR WAYNE EDWARDS WASHINGTON MONROE JEFFERSON

PERRY HAMILTON WHITE RANDOLPH FRANKLIN

JACKSON SALINE GALLATIN WILLIAMSON

HARDIN UNION JOHNSON POPE CONSERVATIVE

PULASKI MASSAC LIBERAL ALEXANDER MODERATE ILLINOIS

13

USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY IN

...... LA GRANGE . STEUBEN . . . . . ST JOSEPH LA PORTE ELKHART

PORTER LAKE NOBLE DE KALB MARSHALL

In a premises liability STARKE KOSCIUSKO

case in plaintiff-friendly

WHITLEY

Lake County, plaintiff ALLEN JASPER was awarded $2 million PULASKI FULTON

when the jury found NEWTON that the restaurant was

negligent for failing to WABASH HUNTINGTON

CASS MIAMI

warn of a hazard on WHITE WELLS ADAMS

the floor and provide

adequate lighting. BENTON CARROLL

GRANT

HOWARD BLACKFORD

JAY

.

.

. . TIPPECANOE

WARREN . . CLINTON TIPTON

. DELAWARE

.

.

. MADISON .

. RANDOLPH

. FOUNTAIN . HAMILTON . MONTGOMERY . BOONE . . In plaintiff-friendly HENRY Marion County VERMILLION WAYNE (Indianapolis), a jury A jury in conservative HANCOCK awarded $900,000 in PARKE HENDRICKS MARION Hendricks County awarded damages to a theater $18.5 million in damages to PUTNAM patron who had knocked RUSH FAYETTE UNION a 46-year-old man who was advertising brochures injured in a trucking accident. SHELBY off of a ticket-counter MORGAN JOHNSON.. VIGO . and then slipped and CLAY . FRANKLIN . fell on the brochures she . had just knocked to the OWEN .DECATUR. ground. BROWN BARTHOLOMEW MONROE . .DEARBORN. RIPLEY SULLIVAN . GREENE JENNINGS OHIO JACKSON LAWRENCE JEFFERSON SWITZERLAND

DAVIES MARTIN KNOX SCOTT WASHINGTON ORANGE CLARK PIKE DUBOIS FLOYD GIBSON CRAWFORD

HARRISON

WARRICK PERRY POSEY SPENCER VANDERBURGH

CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE INDIANA

14 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY 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.

WINNEBAGO LYON OSCEOLA DICKINSON EMMET WORTH MITCHELL HOWARD ALLAMAKEE KOSSUTH WINNESHIEK

O’BRIEN PALO ALTO CERRO GORDO FLOYD CHICKASAW SIOUX CLAY HANCOCK

CLAYTON FAYETTE HUMBOLDT BREMER CHEROKEE POCAHONTAS PLYMOUTH BUENA VISTA WRIGHT FRANKLIN BUTLER

BLACK HAWK BUCHANAN DELAWARE DUBUQUE CALHOUN HARDIN GRUNDY WOODBURY IDA SAC WEBSTER HAMILTON

JACKSON JONES MONONA CRAWFORD TAMA BENTON LINN CARROLL GREENE BOONE STORY MARSHALL

CLINTON CEDAR HARRISON GUTHRIE DALLAS JASPER SHELBY AUDOBON POLK POWESHIEK IOWA JOHNSON SCOTT

MUSCATINE

POTTAWATTAMIE CASS ADAIR MADISON WARREN MARION MAHASKA KEOKUK WASHINGTON LOUISA

MILLS MONTGOMERY ADAMS UNION CLARKE LUCAS MONROE WAPELLO JEFFERSON HENRY DES MOINES

FREMONT DAVIS VAN BUREN PAGE TAYLOR RINGGOLD DECATUR WAYNE APPANOOSE LEE

CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE IOWA

15

USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY 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. . .

.

. BROWN REPUBLIC . SMITH . DONIPHAN

CHEYENNE RAWLINS DECATUR NORTON PHILLIPS JEWELL WASHINGTON MARSHALL NEMAHA

.

. ATCHISON .

CLOUD .

MITCHELL POTTAWATOMIE JACKSON SHERMAN .

SHERIDAN ROOKS OSBORNE CLAY . THOMAS GRAHAM RILEY LEAVENWORTH . . JEFFERSON OTTAWA WYANDOTTE LINCOLN GEARY SHAWNEE WALLACE WABAUNSEE LOGAN GOVE TREGO RUSSELL DOUGLAS ELLIS DICKINSON JOHNSON SALINE ELLSWORTH MORRIS OSAGE FRANKLIN MIAMI GREELEY RUSH BARTON WICHITA SCOTT LANE NESS MARION LYON RICE MCPHERSON CHASE COFFEY PAWNEE ANDERSON LINN FINNEY HODGEMAN STAFFORD HARVEY HAMILTON KEARNY RENO WOODSON EDWARDS GREENWOOD ALLEN BOURBON GRAY BUTLER FORD SEDGWICK STANTON GRANT PRATT CRAWFORD HASKELL KIOWA KINGMAN WILSON NEOSHO ELK

STEVENS SEWARD MEADE CLARK COWLEY MONTGOMERY MORTON COMANCHE BARBER HARPER SUMNER CHEROKEE CHAUTAUQUA LABETTE

CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE KANSAS

16

USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY 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.

KENTON . BOONE . CAMPBELL

. . GALLATIN PENDLETON BRACKEN

CARROLL

.

TRIMBLE . GRANT MASON

OWEN ROBERTSON LEWIS GREENUP

. HENRY. HARRISON

OLDHAM . . FLEMING NICHOLAS CARTER BOYD . . SCOTT FRANKLIN JEFFERSON SHELBY BOURBON ROWAN BATH WOODFORD ELLIOTT SPENCER FAYETTE MONTGOMERY LAWRENCE ANDERSON MEADE BULLITT CLARK MENIFEE HANCOCK JESSAMINE MORGAN JOHNSON NELSON MERCER POWELL MARTIN HENDERSON BRECKINRIDGE WASHINGTON MADISON WOLFE DAVIES HARDIN MAGOFFIN UNION ESTILL BOYLE GARRARD LEE MARION FLOYD WEBSTER MCLEAN LARUE BREATHITT OHIO LINCOLN PIKE GRAYSON JACKSON OWSLEY CRITTENDEN TAYLOR CASEY ROCKCASTLE ..KNOTT HART HOPKINS GREEN PERRY .. LIVINGSTON BUTLER EDMONSON MUHLENBERG CLAY .. PULASKI LAUREL LESLIE LETCHER CALDWELL ADAIR MCCRACKEN LYON RUSSELL BALLARD WARREN .. BARREN METCALFE KNOX MARSHALL CHRISTIAN HARLAN CARLISLE TODD LOGAN .. TRIGG CUMBERLAND WAYNE SIMPSON ALLEN WHITLEY BELL HICKMAN GRAVES MONROE CLINTON MCCREARY CALLOWAY .. FULTON .. ..

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.

CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE KENTUCKY

17 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY LA

MOREHOUSE CLAIBORNE UNION WEBSTER WEST CARROLL BOSSIER CADDO EAST CARROLL LINCOLN

OUACHITA RICHLAND MADISON BIENVILLE JACKSON

DE SOTO RED RIVER CALDWELL FRANKLIN WINN TENSAS

NATCHITOCHES CATAHOULA

SABINE LA SALLE GRANT CONCORDIA

RAPIDES VERNON AVOYELLES

WEST FELICIANA EAST WASHINGTON FELICIANA ST. HELENA EVANGELINE POINTE BEAUREGARD ALLEN COUPEE ST. LANDRY EAST BATON ROUGE TANGIPAHOA WEST LIVINGSTON ST. TAMMANY BATON ROUGE

JEFFERSON ACADIA DAVIS ST. MARTIN IBERVILLE CALCASIEU LAFAYETTE ASCENSION ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST ORLEANS ST. JAMES JEFFERSON IBERIA ASSUMPTION CAMERON ST. CHARLES VERMILION ST. MARTIN ST. BERNARD ST. MARY LAFOURCHE

TERREBONNE PLAQUEMINES

CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE LOUISIANA

18 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY ME

AROOSTOOK

PISCATAQUIS

SOMERSET

.

. PENOBSCOT

. .

.

.

. .

.

. WASHINGTON .

FRANKLIN .

. .

HANCOCK

.

WALDO . . OXFORD KENNEBEC .

KNOX ANDROSCOGGIN LINCOLN SAGADAHOC

In November 2016, a Penobscot County jury CUMBERLAND 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 YORK so it does not necessarily remove Penobscot County from the list of conservative jurisdictions.

CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE MAINE

19 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY MD

$1.2M for

rear-end Three recent lead paint verdicts .

. collision in exceeding $1.63M to $3M

jurisdiction continue a trend of high verdicts ..

known for

in lead paint cases .

. low ..verdicts

.

. ..

.

. ..

.

. ..

.

WASHINGTON .

.. CECIL

ALLEGANY HARFORD

GARRETT . CARROLL . ..

......

. . FREDERICK ...... BALTIMORE . . . BALTIMORE CITY KENT HOWARD

MONTGOMERY ANNE ARUNDEL QUEEN ANNE'S

CAROLINE Verdicts of $44M for a fertility TALBOT related case and $16.5 for a failed PRINCE GEORGE'S abortion case demonstrate that sensitive issues command high verdicts in all kinds of jurisdictions CALVERT CHARLES

DORCHESTER

WICOMICO ST. MARY'S

WORCESTER

SOMERSET

CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE MARYLAND

20 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY MA

Multiple multimillion dollar jury verdicts across state for brain injuries relating to births. $12.8 million jury verdict for brain injury suffered The Massachusetts Legislature recently enacted a new law by child after delivery for negligent newborn governing non-competition agreements. The new law allows such care in Essex. $29.9 million jury verdict for agreements, but imposes strict requirements before they can be brain injuries caused by birth complications enforced. This will have a major impact on local businesses and in Hampden County. Both within the.. top 5 will be the subject of much written case law in the coming months/ highest verdicts of the year, and both tried by years. the same plaintiff’s firm. .. 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...... ESSEX ..

FRANKLIN MIDDLESEX BERKSHIRE WORCESTER HAMPSHIRE SUFFOLK

NORFOLK . .

. HAMPDEN .

.

.

. .

.

. PLYMOUTH

BRISTOL . .

.

. BARNSTABLE

. .

. $32.3. million wrongful death jury verdict against a convenience store chain for woman killed by driver who suffered stroke and struck woman while DUKES entering one of defendant’s stores. The verdict is believed to have been the highest ever in Hampden County. In subsequent proceedings, the trial NANTUCKET 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.

CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE MASSACHUSETTS

21 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY MI

KEWEENAW

HOUGHTON

ONTONAGON BARAGA LUCE MARQUETTE GOGEBIC ALGER CHIPPEWA IRON SCHOOLCRAFT DICKINSON MACKINAC DELTA

MENOMINEE EMMET CHEBOYGAN PRESQUE ISLE CHARLEVOIX

MONTMORENCY ANTRIM ALPENA

OTSEGO LEELANAU

CRAWFORD OSCODA ALCONA BENZIE GRAND KALKASKA

TRAVERSE

MISSAUKEE IOSCO

WEXFORD OGEMAW MANISTEE ROSCOMMON

MASON ARENAC

LAKE OSCEOLA CLARE GLADWIN

HURON

.

. BAY OCEANA MECOSTA ISABELLA

. . MIDLAND

The Michigan Supreme Court reversed the NEWAYGO . SANILAC

Court of Appeals and reinstated the trial . TUSCOLA

court’s grant of summary judgment in a case MUSKEGON MONTCALM SAGINAW . . GRATIOT

where the plaintiff alleged his injuries were . .

caused by an oil spill, finding that plaintiff’s . LAPEER

KENT. GENESEE ST. CLAIR

causation expert’s opinions were based . CLINTON OTTAWA . IONIA SHIAWASSEE . on “speculation” and conjecture.” Justice . . Markman wrote an extensive concurring . MACOMB opinion joined by two other Justices detailing OAKLAND BARRY EATON INGHAM what expert testimony is required to show ALLEGAN LIVINGSTON causation in a toxic tort case. VAN BUREN CALHOUN JACKSON KALAMAZOO WASHTENAW WAYNE

CASS ST. JOSEPH BRANCH LENAWEE BERRIEN HILLSDALE MONROE

CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE MICHIGAN

22 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY MN

KITTSON ROSEAU LAKE OF THE WOODS

MARSHALL KOOCHICHING

PENNINGTON COOK RED LAKE BELTRAMI

POLK LAKE CLEARWATER ITASCA ST. LOUIS NORMAN MAHNOMEN

HUBBARD BECKER CASS CLAY

AITKIN WADENA CROW CARLTON OTTER TAIL WING WILKIN

PINE MILLE DOUGLAS TODD LACS GRANT MORRISON KANABEC

TRAVERSE BENTON POPE STEVENS STEARNS ISANTI BIG STONE SHERBURNE CHISAGO

SWIFT ANOKA MEEKER WRIGHT WASHINGTON CHIPPEWA KANDIYOHI LAC QUI HENNEPIN RAMSEY PARLE MCLEOD CARVER YELLOW MEDICINE RENVILLE SCOTT DAKOTA SIBLEY LINCOLN LYON GOODHUE REDWOOD NICOLLET LE SUEUR RICE WABASHA BROWN

PIPESTONE COTTONWOOD BLUE EARTH MURRAY WATONWAN WASECA STEELE DODGE OLMSTED WINONA

JACKSON MARTIN ROCK NOBLES FARIBAULT FREEBORN MOWER FILLMORE HOUSTON

CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE MINNESOTA

23 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY MS

BENTON DE SOTO ALCORN TISHOMINGO TIPPAH MARSHALL TATE TUNICA PRENTISS

UNION PANOLA LAFAYETTE LEE ITAWAMBA COAHOMA PONTOTOC QUITMAN

YALOBUSHA

TALLAHATCHIE CALHOUN CHICKASAW MONROE

BOLIVAR GRENADA

CLAY

WEBSTER SUNFLOWER LEFLORE

MONTGOMERY

CARROLL

OKTIBBEHA LOWNDES CHOCTAW

WASHINGTON HUMPHREYS

HOLMES .

. ATTALA WINSTON NOXUBEE . .

.

. SHARKEY

A Hinds County Circuit Court .

. YAZOO

jury returned a unanimous . LEAKE NESHOBA KEMPER .

. verdict for $2,000,000 in a .

ISSAQUENA MADISON

.

disputed liability case, where . . the plaintiff had $31,000 in . . . LAUDERDALE past medical expenses and NEWTON $20,000 in future medical WARREN SCOTT expenses. HINDS RANKIN

SMITH

CLAIBORNE JASPER CLARKE

SIMPSON COPIAH

JEFFERSON

COVINGTON LAWRENCE JONES WAYNE

JEFFERSON

LINCOLN

ADAMS FRANKLIN DAVIS . The election of a new

.. state court judge in 2014

. has moved this once . . dangerous venue to

. .

MARION

WILKINSON AMITE PIKE LAMAR FORREST PERRY .GREENE moderate/conservative. . .

WALTHALL. . .

. .

.

A federal jury returned . . . .

a unanimous verdict for . GEORGE . . . . PEARL RIVER STONE

$4,170,172 in a disputed .

. liability trucking case. The . . . court applied the $1,000,000 . JACKSON cap on non-economic HARRISON damages before deducting HANCOCK CONSERVATIVE the 20% comparative fault not apportioned LIBERAL to the defendants. After this application, MODERATE the total judgment was MISSISSIPPI $2,936,138.19.

24 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY 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 WORTH PUTNAM City of St. Louis alleging that MERCER SCHUYLER ATCHISON SCOTLAND CLARK NODAWAY HARRISON women developed ovarian cancer from the use of talcum GENTRY SULLIVAN powder. While one of those ADAIR HOLT GRUNDY KNOX LEWIS trials resulted in a defense verdict, the other five resulted ANDREW DAVIESS DE KALB in verdicts for the plaintiff in the LINN MACON MARION sums of $72M, $55M, $110.5M SHELBY LIVINGSTON and $70M. Most recently, a BUCHANAN CALDWELL verdict for 22 plaintiffs was CLINTON entered in 2018 for $550M in CHARITON MONROE RALLS actual damages and $4.14B.. in RANDOLPH

CARROLL

PLATTE punitive damages.

CLAY RAY PIKE ..

AUDRAIN .

.

.

. HOWARD . SALINE .

.

. .. LAFAYETTE LINCOLN

. BOONE . JACKSON

MONTGOMERY ..

On September 26, . . COOPER CALLAWAY .. 2018, a Jackson County.

. PETTIS WARREN ST. CHARLES .. jury awarded a $28.8 JOHNSON ST... LOUIS CITY million verdict. to a . CASS . MONITEAU ST. LOUIS . former Kansas City-area .. COLE doctor who brought GASCONADE . . OSAGE FRANKLIN a whistleblower suit HENRY MORGAN BENTON against an emergency BATES JEFFERSON room staffing company MILLER MARIES claiming its policies ST. CLAIR CAMDEN undermined patient CRAWFORD HICKORY STE. safety. The verdict PHELPS WASHINGTON included $20 million in PULASKI GENEVIEVE punitive damages. VERNON ST. CEDAR LACLEDE FRANCOIS PERRY DALLAS IRON Also, in Jackson County, POLK DENT BARTON On November 16, 2018, CAPE DADE MADISON a Jackson County jury REYNOLDS GIRARDEAU handed down a $6.4 TEXAS WEBSTER WRIGHT million verdict to a GREENE JASPER BOLLINGER Plaintiff alleging gender SHANNON LAWRENCE WAYNE discrimination. The jury SCOTT CHRISTIAN ruled that the defendant CARTER did not discriminate NEWTON DOUGLAS STODDARD MISSISSIPPI based on gender in HOWELL firing one of its male BARRY STONE OREGON BUTLER MCDONALD OZARK RIPLEY employees, but levied TANEY NEW MADRID its seven-figure award based on allegations of retaliation

PEMISCOT DUNKLIN

CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE MISSOURI

25 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY MT

DANIELS GLACIER TOOLE SHERIDAN LINCOLN LIBERTY HILL VALLEY BLAINE FLATHEAD ROOSEVELT PONDERA PHILLIPS

TETON CHOUTEAU RICHLAND LAKE SANDERS MCCONE

CASCADE GARFIELD DAWSON FERGUS MINERAL LEWIS AND JUDITH BASIN PETROLEUM MISSOULA POWELL CLARK PRAIRIE WIBAUX MEAGHER MUSSELSHELL GRANITE WHEATLAND GOLDEN BROADWATER FALLON VALLEY ROSEBUD TREASURE RAVALLI DEER JEFFERSON CUSTER YELLOWSTONE LODGE SILVER BOW SWEET GALLATIN .. GRASS STILLWATER .. PARK CARTER BIG HORN .. MADISON POWDER RIVER CARBON BEAVERHEAD.. .. YELLOWSTONE NP ....

$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.

CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE MONTANA

26 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY NE

KEYA PAHA BOYD

DAWES KNOX CHERRY CEDAR DIXON SIOUX SHERIDAN BROWN ROCK DAKOTA HOLT BOX BUTTE PIERCE ANTELOPE WAYNE THURSTON

GRANT HOOKER THOMAS BLAINE LOUP GARFIELD WHEELER MADISON STANTON CUMING BURT SCOTTS BLUFF MORRILL BOONE GARDEN MCPHERSON PLATTE COLFAX DODGE ARTHUR LOGAN VALLEY GREELEY BANNER WASHINGTON CUSTER NANCE CHEYENNE KEITH DOUGLAS SHERMAN HOWARD BUTLER SAUNDERS KIMBALL POLK DEUEL MERRICK SARPY LINCOLN DAWSON CASS PERKINS BUFFALO HALL HAMILTON YORK SEWARD LANCASTER OTOE CHASE HAYES FRONTIER CLAY GOSPER PHELPS KEARNEY ADAMS FILLMORE SALINE JOHNSONNEMAHA GAGE DUNDY FURNAS HARLAN FRANKLIN WEBSTER THAYER JEFFERSON HITCHCOCK RED WILLOW NUCKOLLS PAWNEE RICHARDSON

CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE NEBRASKA

27 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY NV

HUMBOLDT ELKO

WASHOE PERSHING

LANDER EUREKA

CHURCHILL WHITE PINE STOREY

CARSON CITY

DOUGLAS LYON

MINERAL

NYE

ESMERALDA

LINCOLN

.

. .

. .

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 CLARK 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 CONSERVATIVE past pain and suffering; and $10M for punitive exemplary damages LIBERAL MODERATE NEVADA

28 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY NH

COOS

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

GRAFTON In 2018, a Rockingham County jury

the Plaintiffs. CARROLL .

. 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 .

. BELKNAP . highest jury awards rendered in New . Hampshire in recent years.

SULLIVAN .. MERRIMACK STRAFFORD ...... ROCKINGHAM ...... HILLSBOROUGH CHESHIRE

CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE NEW HAMPSHIRE

29 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY NJ

SUSSEX PASSAIC

BERGEN

WARREN MORRIS

ESSEX HUDSON

UNION

SOMERSET HUNTERDON

MIDDLESEX

MERCER

MONMOUTH

OCEAN BURLINGTON

GLOUCESTER CAMDEN

SALEM

ATLANTIC

CUMBERLAND

CONSERVATIVE CAPE MAY LIBERAL MODERATE NEW JERSEY

30 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY 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. ..

TAOS.. UNION RIO ARRIBA COLFAX SAN JUAN .. .. MORA LOS .. HARDING ALAMOS .. . MCKINLEY SANDOVAL . .. SANTA FE .. SAN MIGUEL

QUAY BERNALILLO CIBOLA GUADALUPE

VALENCIA CURRY TORRANCE

DE BACA SOCORRO

ROOSEVELT CATRON

LINCOLN

CHAVES

SIERRA

GRANT LEA

DONA ANA OTERO EDDY

LUNA

HIDALGO

CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE NEW MEXICO

31 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY NY

CLINTON

FRANKLIN ST. LAWRENCE

JEFFERSON ESSEX

LEWIS HAMILTON HERKIMER WARREN

OSWEGO

ORLEANS NIAGARA ONEIDA WASHINGTON WAYNE

MONROE FULTON SARATOGA GENESEE ONONDAGA

MONTGOMERY

CAYUGA MADISON ONTARIO

ERIE SENECA SCHENECTADY

WYOMING LIVINGSTON YATES OTSEGO RENSSELAER ALBANY CORTLAND CHENANGO SCHOHARIE

SCHUYLER TOMPKINS

CATTARAUGUS ALLEGANY GREENE COLUMBIA

CHAUTAUQUA STEUBEN

DELAWARE CHEMUNG TIOGA BROOME

ULSTER

.

.

.

. DUTCHESS .

. SULLIVAN

.

Effective as of December 28, 2018, CPLR 4511(c) creates a . .

.

rebuttable presumption that the court can take judicial notice of . PUTNAM

ORANGE. . Google Maps/Google Earth images and maps. . . . . Specifically, the court can take judicial notice that “an image, . WESTCHESTER map, location, distance, calculation, or other information taken ROCKLAND from a web mapping service, a global satellite imaging site, or an internet mapping tool, when requested by a party to the action. NEW YORK BRONX SUFFOLK This is subject to a rebuttable presumption that such image, map, QUEENSNASSAU location, distance, calculation, or other information fairly and KINGS accurately depicts the evidence presented. The presumption RICHMOND 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 CONSERVATIVE or information may be inspected. LIBERAL MODERATE NEW YORK

32 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY NC

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.

ALLEGHANY NORTHAMPTON CURRITUCK. ASHE GATES . SURRY STOKES ROCKINGHAM CASWELL WARREN CAMDEN PERSON VANCE HERTFORD PASQUOTANK GRANVILLE HALIFAX WATAUGA WILKES PERQUIMANS. YADKIN . FORSYTH ORANGE GUILFORD FRANKLIN AVERY BERTIE CHOWAN MITCHELL NASH CALDWELL ALAMANCE DURHAM YANCEY DAVIE . EDGECOMBE .

MADISON ALEXANDER

WAKE TYRRELL

IREDELL DAVIDSON MARTIN WASHINGTON. DARE RANDOLPH .

CHATHAM WILSON

MCDOWELL BURKE CATAWBA ROWAN

BUNCOMBE BEAUFORT..

HAYWOOD PITT

SWAIN LINCOLN LEE JOHNSTON HYDE

RUTHERFORD MONTGOMERY HARNETT GREENE ..

.

GRAHAM HENDERSON CLEVELAND CABARRUSSTANLY . ..

JACKSON POLK GASTON WAYNE

. . . . CRAVEN MECKLENBURG . . MOORE LENOIR . TRANSYLVANIA . . .

. ..

. . CHEROKEE MACON . . CLAY . CUMBERLAND PAMLICO UNION JONES . HOKE . .

RICHMOND SAMPSON . ANSON . . DUPLIN SCOTLAND CARTERET . ONSLOW

. . .

ROBESON . BLADEN . .

. PENDER

Gideon Richardson v. Certified Heating and Air Conditioning,

. COLUMBUS . et al, Court File No. 17 CVS 8708, Cumberland County NEW HANOVER Superior Court (Gale Adams, J.). A jury returned a $5 million

verdict for a thirty-five-year-old “eggshell plaintiff” who went BRUNSWICK . 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- Wendy G. Carroll, Administrator of the Estate of Thomas . economic damages based on his life expectancy of 79, and his Anthony Carroll,. deceased, v. Oakley Trucking, Inc., Case No. counsel relied heavily on the “Reptile Theory.” 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.

CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE NORTH CAROLINA

33 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY ND

DIVIDE BURKE BOTTINEAU ROLETTE RENVILLE CAVALIER PEMBINA TOWNER

WILLIAMS WALSH RAMSEY MOUNTRAIL PIERCE WARD MCHENRY BENSON

NELSON GRAND FORKS

MCKENZIE EDDY MCLEAN SHERIDAN WELLS GRIGGS STEELE TRAILL FOSTER DUNN MERCER

BILLINGS OLIVER KIDDER BURLEIGH STUTSMAN BARNES CASS GOLDEN VALLEY STARK MORTON

SLOPE HETTINGER LOGAN LA MOURE RANSOM GRANT EMMONS RICHLAND DICKEY BOWMAN ADAMS MCINTOSH SARGENT SIOUX

CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE NORTH DAKOTA

34

USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY OH

. .

.

While Trumbull County is typically more moderate-to- . .

A recent verdict of $34 million conservative, a recent $28.7 million verdict for parents of a .

in a personal injury case was newborn who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy due to the

. . .

surprising for a venue that has . negligence of a hospital demonstrates that sensitive issues

.

been considered to be conservative. can command high verdicts in any kind of jurisdiction. .

. .

LAKE .

. ASHTABULA

. .

FULTON LUCAS . .

. WILLIAMS . OTTAWA

GEAUGA

CUYAHOGA . . TRUMBULL

WOOD SANDUSKY ERIE

DEFIANCE HENRY LORAIN .

. HURON PORTAGE

PAULDING SENECA MEDINA SUMMIT

PUTNAM MAHONING .

HANCOCK.

CRAWFORD ASHLAND VAN WERT .

. WYANDOT WAYNE STARK

RICHLAND COLUMBIANA ALLEN . .

. HARDIN .

AUGLAIZE HOLMES CARROLL . MARION MERCER . MORROW LOGAN JEFFERSON KNOX TUSCARAWAS

SHELBY HARRISON UNION DELAWARE COSHOCTON

DARKE CHAMPAIGN LICKING MIAMI GUERNSEY MUSKINGUM BELMONT FRANKLIN CLARK . . . MADISON . . MONTGOMERY . FAIRFIELD PREBLE PERRY NOBLE MONROE . PICKAWAY. GREENE MORGAN . FAYETTE . HOCKING BUTLER WASHINGTON . . .. WARREN CLINTON .. ATHENS . ROSS . . . VINTON .. HAMILTON HIGHLAND . . .. MEIGS .... CLERMONT PIKE .. .. JACKSON BROWN . . .. ADAMS SCIOTO .. .. GALLIA ...... LAWRENCE .. A recent $27.8 million negligence verdict highlights a trend of .. A $21.5 million plaintiff-friendly verdicts, verdict in a rendering Hamilton domestic abuse CONSERVATIVE County more of a liberal .. case solidifies venue than in previous Franklin County years. LIBERAL as a liberal venue in Ohio. MODERATE OHIO

35 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY OK

WASHINGTON

OTTAWA

HARPER WOODS ALFALFA GRANT KAY NOWATA CRAIG

CIMARRON TEXAS BEAVER

. OSAGE .

.

.

. ROGERS . NOBLE

WOODWARD GARFIELD DELAWARE

MAJOR PAWNEE MAYES .

. .

ELLIS .

.

. TULSA

. BLAINE KINGFISHER. PAYNE DEWEY . . WAGONER . CHEROKEE

The Oklahoma Supreme Court declared LOGAN. CREEK ADAIR

the statutory cap on non-economic ROGER MILLS LINCOLN

damages of $350,000 as unconstitutional. CUSTER OKMULGEE MUSKOGEE

CANADIAN OKLAHOMA

Therefore, there are no caps on damages OKFUSKEE SEQUOYAH

in Oklahoma currently, MACINTOSH

POTTAWATOMIE .

WASHITA . BECKHAM . . . . .

CADDO CLEVELAND. SEMINOLE HASKELL

In a recent jury verdict for a plaintiff in . . . the amount of $700,000, the trial judge GRADY. HUGHES . . MCCLAIN awarded $430,000 in recoverable costs to GREER KIOWA PITTSBURG LATIMER LE FLORE . plaintiff’s counsel. . GARVIN PONTOTOC HARMON COMANCHE . JACKSON . COAL STEPHENS MURRAY TILLMAN PUSHMATAHA COTTON JOHNSTON ATOKA CARTER JEFFERSON MCCURTAIN MARSHALL CHOCTAW LOVE In the last two years, BRYAN 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. ... CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE OKLAHOMA

36 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY 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.

CLATSOP .. COLUMBIA ...... UMATILLA TILLAMOOK ..HOOD RIVER WALLOWA WASHINGTON MULTNOMAH .... GILLIAM MORROW SHERMAN UNION YAMHILL CLACKAMAS WASCO

POLK MARION WHEELER BAKER JEFFERSON LINN LINCOLN BENTON GRANT

CROOK

LANE DESCHUTES

DOUGLAS MALHEUR COOS HARNEY

LAKE

KLAMATH

CURRY JACKSON JOSEPHINE

CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE OREGON

37 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY 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 inSullivan v. Crete Carrier Corp., No. 8716 In the case of Pennsylvania Electric Co. v. Antoine’s Timbering, Inc., No. 2016-CV-50 (C.P. Sullivan Co. - CV - 2015 (C.P. Monroe Co. Jan. 18, 2019 Williamson, J.), the court

Oct. 20, 2018 Shurtleff, P.J.), the court granted a Defendant’s Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings granted a Defendant’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment and

based upon a Plaintiff’s failure to complete service of original process within the applicable statute ruled that where a Defendant trucking company concedes an agency of limitations for a negligence cause of action. The court noted that, while the Complaint was filed relationship with a Co-Defendant truck driver, the Plaintiff’s claim

against the company for negligent hiring, retention, supervision and/ .

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 or entrustment cannot stand in the absence of a related claim for reinstate the Complaint. The court noted that waiting eighteen (18) months to reinstate a Complaint punitive damages. While there have been a number of unpublished

. Federal District Court cases in Pennsylvania that have dismissed

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 similar corporate negligence claims, where no claim for punitive

opinion is not binding, it can be used for its persuasive value. 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.

.

. .. .

ERIE .

.

. .

SUSQUEHANNA .

WARREN MCKEAN . BRADFORD

POTTER TIOGA .

. . . CRAWFORD . WAYNE

. . . . FOREST WYOMING CAMERON SULLIVAN ELK LACKAWANNA VENANGO . . LYCOMING PIKE MERCER . .

CLINTON LUZERNE . . CLARION . . JEFFERSON COLUMBIA MONROE CLEARFIELD MONTOUR LAWRENCE UNION CENTRE BUTLER CARBON ARMSTRONG NORTHUMBERLAND SNYDER NORTHAMPTON BEAVER INDIANA MIFFLIN JUNIATA SCHUYLKILL LEHIGH CAMBRIA ALLEGHENY BLAIR DAUPHIN PERRY BERKS LEBANON WESTMORELAND HUNTINGDON BUCKS WASHINGTON MONTGOMERY CUMBERLAND

LANCASTER PHILADELPHIA BEDFORD CHESTER FAYETTE SOMERSET YORK DELAWARE FULTON FRANKLIN ADAMS GREENE

CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE PENNSYLVANIA

38 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY RI

PROVIDENCE

BRISTOL

KENT

NEWPORT WASHINGTON

CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE RHODE ISLAND

39 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY SC

CHEROKEE GREENVILLE YORK PICKENS SPARTANBURG

OCONEE UNION CHESTER LANCASTER CHESTERFIELD

ANDERSON MARLBORO

LAURENS

FAIRFIELD KERSHAW

DARLINGTON DILLON

NEWBERRY

ABBEVILLE LEE

......

GREENWOOD . MARION . . FLORENCE . SALUDA . . . RICHLAND HORRY MCCORMICK LEXINGTON SUMTER . . . EDGEFIELD. CALHOUN CLARENDON AIKEN WILLIAMSBURG

ORANGEBURG GEORGETOWN ORANGEBURG

BARNWELL The South Carolina Supreme BAMBERG Court held that suicide is DORCHESTER BERKELEY not always an intervening CHARLESTON ALLENDALE act that breaks the chain of causation in a wrongful death action. The Court also held that when the COLLETON plaintiff’s own actions HAMPTON CHARLESTON caused his enhanced injuries in a crashworthiness case, comparative principles BEAUFORT are used to determine the JASPER defendant’s share of liability for the plaintiff’s enhanced injuries. (Wickersham v. Ford BEAUFORT Motor Co )

CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE SOUTH CAROLINA

40 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY SD

CAMPBELL MCPHERSON MARSHALL CORSON ROBERTS BROWN

HARDING PERKINS WALWORTH EDMUNDS DAY

DEWEY GRANT FAULK POTTER SPINK CODINGTON BUTTE ZIEBACH CLARK DEUEL SULLY HAMLIN HAND MEADE HYDE

HUGHES BEADLE LAWRENCE STANLEY KINGSBURY BROOKINGS HAAKON

BUFFALO JERAULD SANBORN MINER LAKE MOODY PENNINGTON JONES LYMAN

AURORA JACKSON BRULE HANSON MINNEHAHA CUSTER DAVISON MCCOOK MELLETTE

DOUGLAS SHANNON HUTCHINSON TRIPP TURNER LINCOLN FALL RIVER CHARLES MIX BENNETT TODD GREGORY

YANKTON BON HOMME CLAY UNION

CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE SOUTH DAKOTA

41 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY 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.

CLAY PICKETT ROBERTSON MACON HANCOCK SULLIVAN MONTGOMERY SUMNER CLAIBORNE STEWART TROUSDALE SCOTT CAMPBELL HAWKINS JOHNSON OBION JACKSON OVERTON FENTRESS CHEATHAM WASHINGTON LAKE WEAKLEY HENRY HOUSTON UNION GRAINGER SMITH CARTER HAMBLEN DICKSON DAVIDSON WILSON PUTNAM MORGAN GREENE BENTON ANDERSON UNICOI DYER HUMPHREYS CUMBERLAND JEFFERSON GIBSON CARROLL DE KALB KNOX COCKE WILLIAMSON WHITE RUTHERFORD ROANE CROCKETT HICKMAN CANNON SEVIER LAUDERDALE VAN BUREN LOUDON HENDERSON BLOUNT PERRY WARREN BLEDSOE MEIGS HAYWOOD MADISON RHEA LEWIS MAURY BEDFORD TIPTON DECATUR COFFEE CHESTER MCMINN MONROE MARSHALL GRUNDY SEQUATCHIE MOORE WAYNE GILES SHELBY FAYETTE HARDEMAN HARDIN LAWRENCE MCNAIRY FRANKLIN MARION BRADLEY LINCOLN HAMILTON POLK

CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE TENNESSEE

42 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY TX

• 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 Recent $37.9 million and traffic on Highway 271 near Gilmer, Texas. The jury

DALLAM SHERMAN HANSFORD OCHILTREE LIPSCOMB $35.4 million verdicts in found the defendants negligent, apportioning 65%

truck accident death cases liability on the truck driver; 20% liability on the

HARTLEY MOORE HUTCHINSON ROBERTS HEMPHILL in Dallas County are final trucking company; and 10% liability on company .

confirmation that the county . owner. The jury also allotted 5% responsibility to

CARSON should now be considered the 21-year-old driver.

POTTER GRAY WHEELER

OLDHAM a liberal venue designation .. . with, for the most part, . • A second case in 2018 - a jury in Upshur County,

DEAF SMITH RANDALL ARMSTRONG DONLEY COLLINGSWORTH plaintiff-friendly judges. Texas, awarded $101 million in a suit accusing oil

services company FTS International ..Services LLC of . HALL CHILDRESS . being responsible for a motorist’s severe injuries

PARMER CASTRO SWISHER BRISCOE

HARDEMAN when an FTS truck driver, under the influence of

drugs, rear-ended plaintiff’s car. .. .

HALE MOTLEY .

BAILEY LAMB FLOYD COTTLE WILBARGER

FOARD WICHITA .. . CLAY .

MONTAGUE LAMAR COCHRAN DICKENS KING RED RIVER

HOCKLEY LUBBOCK CROSBY KNOX BAYLOR ARCHER COOKE GRAYSON FANNIN .. . . DELTA BOWIE

COLLIN HASKELL JACK TITUS . . . .

YOAKUM TERRY LYNN GARZA STONEWALL THROCKMORTON YOUNG WISE HUNT HOPKINS

KENT DENTON

FRANKLIN MORRIS. CASS .

. CAMP .

ROCKWALL RAINS . . . . SHACKLEFORD PALO PINTO PARKER TARRANT WOOD MARION GAINES DALLAS UPSHUR. JONES STEPHENS . BORDEN FISHER DAWSON SCURRY KAUFMAN VAN ZANDT HARRISON HOOD GREGG SMITH ANDREWS MARTIN HOWARD EASTLAND JOHNSON MITCHELL NOLAN TAYLOR CALLAHAN SOMERVELL ELLIS ERATH HENDERSON PANOLA NAVARRO RUSK COMANCHE BROWN BOSQUE HILL LOVING ECTOR MIDLANDGLASSCOCKSTERLING COKE RUNNELS CHEROKEE EL PASO WINKLER COLEMAN ANDERSON SHELBY FREESTONE HAMILTON LIMESTONE HUDSPETH WARD MILLS MCLENNAN NACOGDOCHES CULBERSON CRANE SAN CORYELL UPTON TOM GREEN AUGUSTINE REAGAN IRION CONCHO LEON HOUSTON FALLS SABINE REEVES MCCULLOCHSAN SABA LAMPASAS ANGELINA ROBERTSON TRINITY NEWTON BELL MADISON SCHLEICHER MENARD JASPER PECOS BURNET CROCKETT LLANO WILLIAMSON MILAM POLK JEFF DAVIS MASON BRAZOS WALKER TYLER GRIMES SAN SUTTON KIMBLE BURLESON JACINTO TRAVIS GILLESPIE BLANCO LEE HARDIN TERRELL MONTGOMERY WASHINGTON WALLER LIBERTY ORANGE KERR BASTROP HAYS PRESIDIO VAL VERDE EDWARDS KENDALL AUSTIN BREWSTER HARRIS JEFFERSON REAL COMAL CALDWELL FAYETTE CHAMBERS BANDERA COLORADO

GUADALUPE FORT BEND GONZALES LAVACA UVALDE MEDINA BEXAR GALVESTON

KINNEY WHARTON WILSON BRAZORIA

DE WITT

ZAVALA JACKSON

FRIO KARNES

MAVERICK ATASCOSA MATAGORDA VICTORIA GOLIAD

CALHOUN DIMMIT LA SALLE MCMULLEN REFUGIO

LIVE OAK BEE

SAN PATRICIO JIM ARANSAS

DUVAL WEBB WELLS NUECES

KLEBERG

.

. . . .

. ZAPATA BROOKS JIM HOGG .

. KENEDY .

.

. . . The Rio Grande Valley and . . . . STARR . Gulf Coast areas of Texas WILLACY continue to live up to their HIDALGO

reputation as the best place CAMERON to be for plaintiffs bringing CONSERVATIVE personal injury lawsuits in Texas. Juries in these areas, LIBERAL for whatever reason, tend to empathize more with injured MODERATE parties and award plaintiffs TEXAS large judgments.

43 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY UT

CACHE RICH BOX ELDER

WEBER

MORGAN

DAVIS DAGGETT SUMMIT

SALT LAKE

TOOELE WASATCH DUCHESNE

UINTAH UTAH

JUAB CARBON

SANPETE

MILLARD GRAND EMERY

SEVIER

BEAVER PIUTE WAYNE

IRON GARFIELD

SAN JUAN

WASHINGTON KANE

CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE UTAH

44 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY VT

FRANKLIN GRAND ORLEANS ISLE ESSEX

LAMOILLE

CHITTENDEN CALEDONIA

WASHINGTON

ADDISON ORANGE

WINDSOR RUTLAND

BENNINGTON WINDHAM

CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE VERMONT

45 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY VA

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. .

. .

.

. A jury handed

. down a Defense In Fairfax County, an unusually .

. verdict in a medical plaintiff-friendly jury awarded a $12M . ..

.

verdict to the family of a woman who . malpractice failure

.

died from a rare presentation of deep- . .. to diagnose and . FREDERICK . treat case. Notable vein thrombosis after undergoing a . CLARKE . surgical procedure. LOUDOUN .. in that Richmond is WARREN usually a plaintiff- ARLINGTON.. SHENANDOAH FAIRFAX friendly forum. FAUQUIER .. .. RAPPAHANNOCK PRINCE WILLIAM PAGE .. ROCKINGHAM CULPEPER ... .. STAFFORD. MADISON .. HIGHLAND GREENE KING GEORGE .. ORANGE AUGUSTA SPOTSYLVANIA WESTMORELAND .. BATH ALBEMARLE CAROLINE . NORTHUMBERLAND. LOUISA RICHMOND ESSEX .. ROCKBRIDGE FLUVANNA . KING . NELSON HANOVER KING AND LANCASTER. ALLEGHANY . WILLIAM GOOCHLAND QUEEN .. BUCKINGHAM ACCOMACK AMHERST MIDDLESEX BOTETOURT POWHATAN HENRICO CUMBERLAND NEW KENT CRAIG GLOUCESTER MATHEWS CHESTERFIELD CHARLES NORTHAMPTON APPOMATTOX CITY GILES BEDFORD AMELIA JAMES BUCHANAN ROANOKE CAMPBELL CITY PRINCE PRINCE YORK MONTGOMERY EDWARD NOTTOWAY GEORGE DICKENSON TAZEWELL BLAND SURRY NEWPORT PULASKI DINWIDDIE NEWS CHARLOTTE HAMPTON FRANKLIN WISE RUSSELL LUNENBURG ISLE OF WYTHE FLOYD SUSSEX WIGHT SMYTH PITTSYLVANIA VIRGINIA HALIFAX BRUNSWICK BEACH SCOTT CARROLL LEE WASHINGTON PATRICK MECKLENBURG SOUTHAMPTON SUFFOLK CHESAPEAKE GRAYSON HENRY GREENSVILLE

CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE VIRGINIA

46 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY WA

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.

WHATCOM SAN JUAN .. OKANOGAN PEND OREILLE FERRY SKAGIT .. STEVENS ISLAND .. SNOHOMISH . CLALLAM . .. CHELAN .. DOUGLAS JEFFERSON .... KITSAP .. LINCOLN KING SPOKANE MASON

GRAYS HARBOR KITTITAS GRANT ADAMS PIERCE WHITMAN THURSTON ......

PACIFIC LEWIS .. FRANKLIN GARFIELD .. YAKIMA WAHKIAKUM COLUMBIA .. WALLA WALLA ASOTIN COWLITZ BENTON SKAMANIA .. KLICKITAT CLARK ..

..

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 CONSERVATIVE pipe. The $81.5 million verdict is among the largest verdicts ever awarded in Washington and highlights the power of sensitive LIBERAL emotional facts in Pierce County. MODERATE WASHINGTON

47 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY 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.

HANCOCK

BROOKE

OHIO

MARSHALL

MONONGALIA WETZEL MORGAN MARION TYLER PRESTON BERKELEY MINERAL PLEASANTS TAYLOR HARRISON HAMPSHIRE JEFFERSON WOOD DODDRIDGE RITCHIE GRANT BARBOUR TUCKER

WIRT LEWIS HARDY GILMER CALHOUN UPSHUR RANDOLPH MASON JACKSON ROANE BRAXTON PENDLETON

PUTNAM WEBSTER CABELL CLAY KANAWHA NICHOLAS POCAHONTAS

WAYNE LINCOLN

BOONE FAYETTE GREENBRIER

LOGAN MINGO RALEIGH

WYOMING SUMMERS MONROE

MERCER MCDOWELL

CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE WEST VIRGINIA

48 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY WI

DOUGLAS BAYFIELD

ASHLAND IRON

VILAS

WASHBURN BURNETT SAWYER FLORENCE ONEIDA PRICE FOREST

POLK RUSK BARRON MARINETTE LINCOLN LANGLADE TAYLOR

ST. CROIX CHIPPEWA DUNN MENOMINEE OCONTO DOOR MARATHON SHAWANO PIERCE EAU CLAIRE CLARK PEPIN KEWAUNEE WOOD PORTAGE WAUPACA OUTAGAMIE BUFFALO BROWN TREMPEALEAU JACKSON MANITOWOC WAUSHARA WINNEBAGO CALUMET JUNEAU ADAMS MONROE LA CROSSE

MARQUETTE GREEN

LAKE FOND DU LAC

SHEBOYGAN

VERNON

SAUK COLUMBIA DODGE OZAUKEE

RICHLAND

WASHINGTON

CRAWFORD

...... JEFFERSON WAUKESHA IOWA DANE. . MILWAUKEE GRANT .

RACINE LAFAYETTE GREEN ROCK WALWORTH KENOSHA

Typically a conservative venue; however, in January 2008 a jury returned a CONSERVATIVE $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 LIBERAL 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 WISCONSIN MODERATE 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.

49 USLAW NETWORK STATE JUDICIAL PROFILE BY COUNTY WY

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.

SHERIDAN

CROOK BIG HORN PARK

CAMPBELL JOHNSON

TETON WASHAKIE WESTON HOT SPRINGS

CONVERSE FREMONT NATRONA NIOBRARA

SUBLETTE

PLATTE GOSHEN LINCOLN

SWEETWATER

CARBON ALBANY

.

.

.

.

. . . .

. .

. . LARAMIE

UINTA . .

.

.

. .

.

.

. . . .

.

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 Federal Court trial in carbon monoxide poisoning case resulted

and direct negligence claims against the motor carrier. in verdict against apartment complex owner for $3 million in

compensatory and $25 million in punitive damages. The 10th Circuit The motor . carrier defendant admitted it was vicariously liable for its. driver’s actions. The Wyoming Supreme overturned and confirmed that a ratio of 1:1 between punitive and Court held that when an employer concedes it is subject compensatory damages comports with due process. The combination to vicarious liability for any negligence of its employee, of a large verdict, the trial court’s confirmation of the verdict, and direct negligence claims such as negligent hiring, subsequent overturn on appeal confirm this as a liberal region. supervision, and retention claims become superfluous.

CONSERVATIVE LIBERAL MODERATE WYOMING

50 KANSAS/WESTERN MISSOURI | PENNSYLVANIA | PITTSBURGH CZECH REPUBLIC KANSAS CITY Pion, Nerone, Girman, Winslow Vyskocil, Kroslak & spol., Advocates and Dysart Taylor Cotter McMonigle & & Smith, P.C. Patent Attorneys Montemore, PC John T. Pion...... (412) 281-2288 Jiri Spousta...... (00 420) 224 819 133 [email protected] Patrick K. McMonigle...... (816) 714-3039 [email protected] 2019 [email protected] RHODE ISLAND | PROVIDENCE DENMARK Adler Pollock & Sheehan P.C. Lund Elmer Sandager KENTUCKY | LOUISVILLE Richard R. Beretta, Jr...... (401) 427-6228 Jacob Roesen...... (+45 33 300 268) Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP membership [email protected] [email protected] Mark S. Riddle...... (502) 587-3623 [email protected] SOUTH CAROLINA | COLUMBIA ENGLAND Sweeny, Wingate & Barrow, P.A. Wedlake Bell LLP roster LOUISIANA | NEW ORLEANS Richard Isham...... +44(0)20 7395 3000 Mark S. Barrow...... (803) 256-2233 McCranie, Sistrunk, Anzelmo, Hardy [email protected] [email protected] McDaniel & Welch LLC Michael R. Sistrunk...... (504) 846-8338 SOUTH DAKOTA | PIERRE ESTONIA • LATVIA • LITHUANIA [email protected] Riter, Rogers, Wattier & Northrup, LLP LEXTAL Tallinn|Riga|Vilnius Robert C. Riter...... (605) 224-5825 Lina Siksniute- MAINE | PORTLAND [email protected] Vaitiekuniene...... (+370) 5 210 27 33 Richardson, Whitman, Large & Badger [email protected] ALABAMA | BIRMINGHAM Elizabeth G. Stouder...... (207) 774-7474 TENNESSEE | MEMPHIS Carr Allison [email protected] Martin, Tate, Morrow & Marston, P.C. FINLAND Lexia Attorneys Ltd. Charles F. Carr...... (251) 626-9340 Lee L. Piovarcy...... (901) 522-9000 MARYLAND | BALTIMORE [email protected] [email protected] Markus Myhrberg...... +358 10 4244200 Franklin & Prokopik, PC [email protected] ALASKA | ANCHORAGE Albert B. Randall, Jr...... (410) 230-3622 TEXAS | DALLAS FRANCE Richmond & Quinn [email protected] Fee, Smith, Sharp & Vitullo, L.L.P. Delsol Avocats Robert L. Richmond...... (907) 276-5727 Michael P. Sharp...... (972) 980-3255 MINNESOTA | ST. PAUL Emmanuel Kaeppelin...... +33(0)4 72 10 20 30 [email protected] [email protected] Larson • King, LLP [email protected]

ARIZONA | PHOENIX TEXAS | Mark A. Solheim...... (651) 312-6503 HOUSTON GERMANY Jones, Skelton & Hochuli, P.L.C. MehaffyWeber [email protected] Buse Heberer Fromm Phillip H. Stanfield...... (602) 263-1745 Barbara J. Barron...... (713) 655-1200 MISSISSIPPI | GULFPORT Jasper Hagenberg...... +49 30 327942 0 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Carr Allison ARKANSAS | LITTLE ROCK Douglas Bagwell...... (228) 864-1060 UTAH | SALT LAKE CITY GREECE Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC [email protected] John E. Tull, III...... (501) 379-1705 Strong & Hanni, PC Corina Fassouli-Grafanaki & Associates Law [email protected] MISSISSIPPI | RIDGELAND Stephen J. Trayner...... (801) 323-2011 Firm Copeland, Cook, Taylor & Bush, P.A. [email protected] Korina Fassouli- CALIFORNIA | LOS ANGELES James R. Moore, Jr...... (601) 427-1301 Grafanaki...... (+30) 210-3628512 WASHINGTON | SEATTLE Murchison & Cumming LLP [email protected] [email protected] Dan L. Longo...... (714) 953-2244 Williams Kastner [email protected] MISSOURI | ST. LOUIS Sheryl J. Willert...... (206) 628-2408 HUNGARY Lashly & Baer, P.C. [email protected] Bihary Balassa & Partners CALIFORNIA | SAN DIEGO Stephen L. Beimdiek...... (314) 436-8303 Attorneys at Law WEST VIRGINIA | CHARLESTON Klinedinst PC [email protected] Ágnes Dr. Balassa...... +36 1 391 44 91 John D. Klinedinst...... (619) 239-8131 Flaherty Sensabaugh Bonasso PLLC [email protected] [email protected] MONTANA | GREAT FALLS Andrew B. Cooke...... (304) 347-4274 Davis, Hatley, Haffeman & Tighe, P.C. [email protected] IRELAND CALIFORNIA | SAN FRANCISCO Maxon R. Davis...... (406) 761-5243 WISCONSIN | MILWAUKEE Kane Tuohy Solicitors Hanson Bridgett LLP [email protected] Laffey, Leitner & Goode LLC Sheena Beale...... (+353) 1 6722233 Mert A. Howard...... (415) 995-5033 [email protected] [email protected] NEBRASKA | OMAHA Jack Laffey...... (414) 312-7105 Baird Holm LLP [email protected] ITALY CALIFORNIA | SANTA BARBARA Jennifer D. Tricker...... (402) 636-8348 LEGALITAX Studio Legale e Tributario WYOMING | CASPER Snyder Burnett Egerer, LLP [email protected] Alessandro Polettini...... +39 049 877 58 11 Williams, Porter, Day and Neville PC Barry Clifford Snyder...... (805) 683-7750 [email protected] [email protected] NEVADA | LAS VEGAS Scott E. Ortiz...... (307) 265-0700 Thorndal Armstrong Delk [email protected] LUXEMBOURG COLORADO | DENVER Balkenbush & Eisinger Tabery & Wauthier Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie LLP Brian K. Terry...... (702) 366-0622 Véronique Wauthier...... (00352) 251 51 51 Jessica L. Fuller...... (303) 628-9527 [email protected] USLAW INTERNATIONAL [email protected] [email protected] NEW JERSEY | ROSELAND ARGENTINA | BUENOS AIRES MALTA CONNECTICUT | HARTFORD Connell Foley LLP Barreiro, Olivas, De Luca, Jaca & Nicastro EMD Hinckley Allen Kevin R. Gardner...... (973) 840-2415 Nicolás Jaca Otaño...... (54 11) 4814-1746 Dr. Italo Ellul...... +356 2123 3005 Noble F. Allen...... (860) 725-6237 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] NEW MEXICO | ALBUQUERQUE BRAZIL | SÃO PAULO NETHERLANDS DELAWARE | WILMINGTON Modrall Sperling Mundie e Advogados Dirkzwager Legal & Tax Cooch and Taylor P.A. Jennifer G. Anderson...... (505) 848-1809 Rodolpho Protasio...... (55 11) 3040-2923 Karen A. Verkerk...... +31 26 365 55 57 Christopher H. Lee...... (302) 984-3808 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] NORWAY NEW YORK | HAWTHORNE CANADA | ALBERTA FLORIDA | CENTRAL FLORIDA Traub Lieberman Advokatfirmaet Sverdrup DA Wicker Smith O’Hara McCoy & Ford P.A. CALGARY & EDMONTON Tom Eivind Haug...... +47 90653609 Stephen D. Straus...... (914) 586-7005 Parlee McLaws LLP Richards H. Ford...... (407) 843-3939 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Connor Glynn...... (780) 423-8639 NEW YORK | UNIONDALE [email protected] POLAND FLORIDA | SOUTH FLORIDA Rivkin Radler LLP GWW Wicker Smith O’Hara McCoy & Ford P.A. CANADA | ONTARIO | OTTAWA David S. Wilck...... (516) 357-3347 Aldona Leszczyńska Kelly Santini Nicholas E. Christin...... (305) 448-3939 [email protected] -Mikulska...... +48 22 212 00 00 [email protected] Lisa Langevin...... (613) 238-6321 ext 276 [email protected] NORTH CAROLINA | RALEIGH [email protected] FLORIDA | TALLAHASSEE Poyner Spruill LLP PORTUGAL Carvalho, Matias & Associados Carr Allison Deborah E. Sperati...... (252) 972-7095 CANADA | QUEBEC | BROSSARD Christopher Barkas...... (850) 222-2107 [email protected] Therrien Couture L.L.P. Antonio Alfaia de Carvalho.....(351) 21 8855440 [email protected] Douglas W. Clarke...... (450) 462-8555 [email protected] NORTH DAKOTA | DICKINSON [email protected] SERBIA GEORGIA | ATLANTA Ebeltoft . Sickler . Lawyers PLLC Vukovic & Partners Hall Booth Smith, P.C. Randall N. Sickler...... (701) 225-5297 CHINA | SHANGHAI Dejan Vukovi ...... +381 11 2642 257 John E. Hall, Jr...... (404) 954-5000 [email protected] Duan&Duan ć [email protected] [email protected] George Wang...... 8621 6219 1103 OHIO | CLEVELAND HAWAII | HONOLULU [email protected] SLOVAKIA Roetzel & Andress Alianciaadvokátov Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel LLP MEXICO | MEXICO CITY Bradley A. Wright...... (330) 849-6629 Gerta Sámelová Edmund K. Saffery...... (808) 547-5736 EC Legal Rubio Villegas [email protected] Flassiková...... +421 2 57101313 [email protected] René Mauricio Alva...... +52 55 5251 5023 OKLAHOMA | OKLAHOMA CITY [email protected] [email protected] IDAHO | BOISE Pierce Couch Hendrickson Duke Scanlan & Hall, PLLC SPAIN Baysinger & Green, L.L.P. Adarve Abogados SLP Richard E. Hall...... (208) 342-3310 Gerald P. Green...... (405) 552-5271 [email protected] Juan José García...... +34 91 591 30 60 [email protected] TELFA [email protected] AUSTRIA ILLINOIS | CHICAGO OREGON | PORTLAND PHH Rechtsanwälte SWEDEN SmithAmundsen LLC Williams Kastner Rainer Kaspar...... +43 1 714 24 40 Wesslau Söderqvist Advokatbyrå Lew R.C. Bricker...... (312) 894-3224 Thomas A. Ped...... (503) 944-6988 [email protected] [email protected] Max Björkbom...... +46 8 407 88 00 [email protected] [email protected] INDIANA | INDIANAPOLIS BELGIUM PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA SWITZERLAND Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP CEW & Partners Sweeney & Sheehan, P.C. Meyerlustenberger Lachenal James M. Hinshaw...... (317) 968-5385 Charles Price...... (+32 2) 534 20 20 J. Michael Kunsch...... (215) 963-2481 Christophe Rapin...... (00 41) 22 737 10 00 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

IOWA | CEDAR RAPIDS CYPRUS Pyrgou Vakis Law Firm TURKEY Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman PLC Cukur & Yilmaz Kevin J. Visser...... (319) 366-7641 Melina Pyrgou...... +357 22466611 [email protected] Devrim Çukur...... +90 212 243 43 31 [email protected] [email protected] about uslaw network

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.

Fast-forward to today. jurisdictional updates, and resource librar- USLAW in Review. The commitment remains the same as ies. We also provide a semi-annual USLAW • All vetted firms with demonstrated, originally envisioned. To provide the highest Magazine, USLAW DigiKnow, which features robust practices and specialties quality legal representation and seamless insights into today’s trending legal topics, • Efficient use of legal budgets, providing cross-jurisdictional service to major corpo- compendiums of law, as well as annual maximum return on legal services rations, insurance carriers, and to both large membership directory. To ensure our goals investments are the same as the clients our member and small businesses alike, through a net- • Seamless, cross-jurisdictional service firms serve, our Client Leadership Council work of professional, innovative law firms • Responsive and flexible dedicated to their client’s legal success. Now and Practice Group Client Advisors are di- • Multitude of educational opportunities as a diverse network with more than 6,000 rectly involved in the development of our and online resources attorneys from more than 60 independent, programs and services. This communication full practice firms with roots in civil litiga- pipeline is vital to our success and allows us • Team approach to legal services tion across the U.S., Canada, Latin America to better monitor and meet client needs and and Asia, and with affiliations with TELFA in expectations. The USLAW Success Story. Europe, USLAW NETWORK remains a The reality of our success is simple: we responsive, agile legal alternative to the USLAW Abroad. succeed because our member firms’ cli- mega-firms. Just as legal issues seldom follow state ents succeed. Our member firms provide borders, they often extend beyond U.S. high-quality legal results through the ef- Home Field Advantage. boundaries as well. In 2007, USLAW ficient use of legal budgets. We provide USLAW NETWORK offers what it calls The established a relationship with the Trans- cross-jurisdictional services eliminating the Home Field Advantage which comes from European Law Firms Alliance (TELFA), a time and expense of securing adequate rep- knowing and understanding the venue in network of more than 20 independent law resentation in different regions. We provide a way that allows a competitive advantage firms representing more than 1000 lawyers trusted and experienced specialists quickly. – a truism in both sports and business. through Europe to further our service and Jurisdictional awareness is a key ingredient reach. When a difficult legal matter emerges – to successfully operating throughout the whether it’s in a single jurisdiction, nation- United States and abroad. Knowing the local How USLAW NETWORK wide or internationally – USLAW is there. rules, the judge, and the local business and Membership is Determined. Success. legal environment provides our firms’ clients Firms are admitted to the NETWORK by For more information, please contact Roger this advantage. The strength and power of invitation only and only after they are fully M. Yaffe, USLAW CEO, at (800) 231-9110 or an international presence combined with vetted through a rigorous review process. [email protected] the understanding of a respected local firm Many firms have been reviewed over the makes for a winning line-up. years, but only a small percentage were eventually invited to join. The search for A Legal Network for quality member firms is a continuous and Purchasers of Legal Services. ongoing effort. Firms admitted must possess USLAW NETWORK firms go way beyond broad commercial legal capabilities and have substantial litigation and trial experi- providing quality legal services to their cli- ® ents. Unlike other legal networks, USLAW is ence. In addition, USLAW NETWORK organized around client expectations, not members must subscribe to a high level of around the member law firms. Clients service standards and are continuously receive ongoing educational opportunities, evaluated to ensure these standards of online resources including webinars, quality and expertise are met. USLAW NETWORK, Inc. • 3111 N. University Drive, Suite 400 • Coral Springs, FL 33065 (800) 231-9110 • www.uslaw.org