Three-Day Jury Trial Ending in Defense-Friendly Verdict.
After a three-day jury trial before Judge Bessen in Fulton County State Court, WWHGD attorneys Shane O’Neill, Chris Bridgers, and Jasmine Furin secured a $9.3 million defense-friendly verdict in a challenging personal injury case stemming from a passenger vehicle–bicycle accident. The case presented significant exposure: Plaintiffs’ counsel sought over $45 million at trial, following a $15 million pre-trial demand.
The plaintiff sustained catastrophic injuries, including a drop foot and neurogenic bladder, and claimed more than $2 million in past and future medical expenses. Importantly, our client had admitted liability prior to trial, making damages the central issue before the jury.
As lead trial counsel, WWHGD defense team successfully persuaded the Judge that the defense should be entitled to make both opening and closing arguments under the prima facie case provision of O.C.G.A. § 9-10-186, despite the introduction of limited evidence during cross-examination which resulted in key concessions from the plaintiff’s treating physicians and a balanced, compelling argument that appropriately placed the focus on the role of plaintiffs’ counsel rather than the plaintiff himself.
