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$85 million for fall into manhole 

By: Justin Rebello
Published: January 20, 2009

Tags: Top Ten Verdicts

In the largest premises liability verdict in Pennsylvania history, a 30-year-old former University of Pennsylvania medical school student who fell 20 feet into an uncovered manhole was awarded $85 million in compensatory damages.

Hurrying to catch the bus to his morning classes in June 2004, Marcus Gustafsson stepped into
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Mexican businessman wins $188 defamation suit 

By: Justin Rebello
Published: January 20, 2009

Tags: Top Ten Verdicts

In what is believed to be the largest defamation verdict in our nation’s history, a New York City jury awarded $188 million to a Mexican contractor who claims the words of an American businessman severely damaged his reputation.

It was a case that involved a phony lawsuit, a national
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Texas businessman wins $316 million 

By: Justin Rebello
Published: January 20, 2009

Tags: Top Ten Verdicts

An Atlanta jury has ordered Turner Broadcasting System to pay $316 million to a Houston businessman who claimed that the media giant reneged on a deal to sell him the NBA Hawks and NHL Thrashers.

The unanimous Dec. 10 verdict by a 12-person jury capped 20 hours of deliberations
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California scheming nets $388 M 

By: Justin Rebello
Published: January 20, 2009

Tags: Top Ten Verdicts

In the state’s largest verdict to an individual, a Nevada jury awarded $388 million to a 70-year-old inventor who claims he was hounded by California tax authorities for the past 15 years.

Gilbert P. Hyatt, an electrical engineer with more than 70 patents, was unanimously awarded $138.1 million in
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E-discovery challenges: The next generation 

By: Justin Rebello
Published: January 19, 2009

Tags: 20 things, e-discovery

Not that long ago, lawyers could hope for some slack from judges in coping with e-discovery demands.

But those days are numbered. Courts are growing impatient and cracking down on parties and lawyers who are unprepared or uneducated about electronically stored information.

“Because of the greater education of lawyers about
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New frontier in legal research: The specialized legal blog 

By: Justin Rebello
Published: January 19, 2009

Tags: 20 things, blogs, research

The Internet has made legal research simpler, faster and mobile, and lawyers are increasingly turning to a new resource for knowledge: Legal blogs.

Blogs (short for web logs) operate like a portal for easily obtaining information in a specific area that before was unavailable, says Paul Caron, a professor at
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Electronic networking can rapidly build your referral sources 

By: Justin Rebello
Published: January 19, 2009

Tags: 20 things, referrals, social networking

Electronic networking is rapidly changing how lawyers build their referral sources.

“All of a sudden in the last few months, there has been a boom in LinkedIn activity,” says Jeff Scalzi, director of marketing at Foley Hoag in Boston.

LinkedIn is a professional networking website that allows people to exponentially
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When they come marching home: Lawyers reaching out to help returning vets 

By: Justin Rebello
Published: January 19, 2009

Tags: 20 things, military, pro bono

Nicholas Henry, fresh out of John Marshall Law School in Chicago, knows firsthand the hassle involved in filing for veterans benefits.

A Marine veteran who served two tours of duty in Iraq, Henry spent 37 hours one week trying to change his educational benefits.

“If I’m a law student having
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Brother, can you spare me a court? Federal preemption biggest issue facing Supreme Court 

By: Justin Rebello
Published: January 19, 2009

Tags: 20 things, preemption, U.S. Supreme Court

Federal preemption is the biggest issue on the U.S. Supreme Court’s docket for the 2009 term.

Two closely watched cases – Altria Group v. Good and Wyeth v. Levine – will determine the right of plaintiffs to sue pharmaceutical and tobacco companies in state court over claims the products are
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What are the hot practice areas (and what’s not)? 

By: Justin Rebello
Published: January 19, 2009

Tags: 20 things, Your Practice

Are you thinking about changing your practice niche or expanding your areas of expertise? Do you want to grow your firm’s business, but aren’t sure what types of work will usher more clients into your office?

Here’s a look at five practice areas legal consultants and recruiting experts predict will
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