Representing the Defense in Florida's Super Six

CVN's unparalleled coverage of Florida's trials included some of the state's biggest cases in 2015, in areas ranging from construction negligence to medical malpractice. As we move into a new year, we honor the state's Super Six—the premier trials of 2015, based on their verdict, their legal impact, and their story. In this part, we highlight the defense wins that stood above the rest. 

The Plaintiff's Part of Florida's Super Six

CVN covered explosive trials throughout every corner of Florida in 2015, and our cameras provided the most important moments in cases ranging from medical malpractice to tobacco litigation. As 2016 begins, CVN honors the year's top trials—its Super Six—in the state. While verdicts are important in the Super 6 selection process, legal impact and trial storylines also play a key role in designating the elite trials of the year. In this part, we highlight and present, in no particular order, the three premier plaintiff's verdicts in the pantheon of the year's CVN Florida trials. 

As critical as a well-prepared closing is, sometimes the moments with the biggest impact are delivered as a counterpunch to a remark by opposing counsel.  That’s how James Butler framed the 60 seconds of silence during rebuttal argument in Walden v. Chrysler Group LLC.

By the time opening statements begin, the average juror has already been overwhelmed with information. Voir dire, instructions from the bench, even the courtroom environment are all new and confusing to many jurors, making it difficult for them to fully understand details delivered in an opening. Under these circumstances, too many charts, models, and graphs intended to explain key terms can, in the wrong circumstances, confuse and distract the overwhelmed juror. Particularly where complex terms and ideas are central to a case, opting for a basic, simple demonstration of a theory can often be a powerful tool. That's the route The Cochran Firm's Jane Lamberti took in explaining the deadly buildup of fluid in a sleep center patient's lungs. 

Toxic tort cases involving dangerous exposure from decades earlier can be rife with problems linking the allegedly toxic product to your client's disease. In some cases, you'll have to ask jurors to infer connections based on limited documentary evidence and no "smoking gun" proof. James Ferraro was faced with a similar situation in a mesothelioma suit against Georgia Pacific, but, in a closing that connected the dots from wallboard to his client's cancer, won an eight-figure verdict.