Delivering an opening statement from an unusual point of view can be a powerful way to grab jurors’ attention and pull them into the narrative of a case. In a recent webinar with an all-star panel of trial pros, Karen Koehler detailed her approach to creative openings, including how one eye-popping opening statement set up a $123 million verdict at trial over a crash that killed five and injured dozens.

Stock image. 

West Palm Beach, FL— Jurors Tuesday cleared State Farm of responsibility for the injuries a Florida man claims he suffered in a 2019 rollover crash. Thompson v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. 2019-CA-015823. 

Stock image. 

West Palm Beach, FL— Attorneys Thursday debated the injuries a Florida man suffered in a rollover crash, as trial opened in person against State Farm over how much it should pay for the wreck. Thompson v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. 2019-CA-015823. 

Stock image.

Gainesville, GA— Jurors handed down a $3 million verdict Tuesday for the death of a 42-year-old woman following a laparoscopic surgery, concluding what is one of the state’s first in-person, civil jury trials since COVID-19 forced a shut-down of such proceedings a year ago. Metcalf v. Northeast Georgia Medical Center, et al., 2018-CV-76A.  

Stock image. 

Atlanta, GA— The Georgia Court of Appeals last week reversed an $8 million award for the family of a stuntman who fell to his death while filming a scene for the zombie TV series The Walking Dead, finding the state’s Workers’ Compensation Act barred recovery in the personal injury claim.