The October issue of the Mississippi Jury Verdict Reporter covers the $36 million verdict in Jasper County mentioned in this post. The plaintiff suffered a skull fracture and severe brain injury when injured while working on an oil rig.
The jury awarded $9 million in economic damages to the victim and $18 million in non-economic damages. The jury also awarded $9 million to a spouse on a loss of consortium claim.
The case was tried in Bay Springs with a Paulding jury. “Paulding jury” typically translates to mostly African-American. Paulding is a tough venue for defendants. Get a copy of MJVR for more details.
I’m going to go out on a limb (not really) and predict that there will be a way for the Mississippi Supreme Court to decide the appeal of this case without addressing the constitutionally of the state’s non-economic damages caps.
Other than the Jasper County verdict, the October issue makes Mississippi litigation look like one big county court. Reported verdicts included, for the defendants:
- Hinds County negligent security defense verdict;
- Leflore County medical malpractice defense verdict;
- Jackson federal court racial discrimination defense verdict;
- DeSoto County medical malpractice defense verdict;
- Aberdeen federal court equal pay act defense verdict;
- Oxford federal court retaliation directed verdict for defense; and
- Natchez federal court disability discrimination defense verdict.
And for the plaintiffs:
- $150,000, Warren County, alienation of affection;
- $27,370, Lee County, funeral home negligence;
- $12,325, Jackson federal court, construction negligence;
- $500, DeSoto County; car wreck;
- $2,000, Pike County; car wreck; and
- $166,631, Lafayette County, breach of contract.
MJVR has all the details you want on these verdicts.