Jury Verdict Survey

1
Jury Verdict Survey 1999 - 2001 a
presentation by Matt Dow Jackson
Walker L.L.P.
2
This survey examines employment cases in Texas,
and in particular, how juries have handled
employment cases. The survey period is 1999-2001.
The cases include sexual
harassment claims, race, disability and age
discrimination, workers compensation retaliation
and whistle-blower claims. Only the major
metropolitan areas in Texas were included.
3
1999-2000 24 cases

• Thirteen defense verdicts (including 1 hung
  jury). 30 minutes to 9 hours
• - major depressive disorder requiring
• hospitalization and psychiatric
  treatment
• 314,000 (71K past wages, 68K mental
  anguish and 175K punitive) hour and wage,
  retaliation
• 600,000 (500K punitive damages, 100K
  compensatory
• for PTSD) - Sexual harassment
• 50,000 (25K punitive damages) - sexual
  harassment
• 15,500 (15K punitive damages) - sexual
  harassment
• 21,760 (15K punitive damages but only 500
  emotional distress)
• - sexual harassment and retaliation
• 18,800,000 (1.8M demand and 35,000 offer)
• 2,000,000 - sexual harassment
• 126,000 (lost wages and benefits) -
  retaliatory discharge following complaint
• of sexual harassment and assault but no
  finding of malice
• 400,000 (220,000 punitive damages) - sexual
  harassment, ADA, retaliation, assault
• and battery, intentional infliction.
  Defendant was GM
• 495,500 (450,000 punitive damages) - ADA
• 700,000 - race discrimination (policy to ban
  speaking of languages other than English

q Dallas/Ft. Worth
4
2001
20 cases Six defense verdicts
q Dallas/Ft. Worth

• 40,000 (30,000 punitive damages) slander
• 500,000 retaliation
• 450,000 (300,000 punitive damages)
  discrimination
• 1,225,000 (1,000,000 punitive damages) sexual
  harassment
• 240,000 ADA
• 143,500 (70,000 punitive damages)
  discrimination, wrongful discharge
• 5,700,000 breach of severance agreement, sex
  discrimination
• 24,080 wrongful termination
• 212,982 ADEA
• 72,000 disability discrimination
• 240,000 ADA, retaliation
• 250,000 ADEA
• 0 damages discrimination
• 23,499 ADA

5
1999-2000
21 cases Ten defense verdicts
Houston q

• 250,000 (all mental anguish) - sexual
  harassment
• 37,879 (no punitive damages) - sexual
  harassment
• 19,000 (14K lost wages 5K mental anguish) -
  sexual harassment
• 14,500 (10K punitive damages) - sexual
  harassment
• 25,000 (all mental anguish) - sexual
  harassment
• 70,000 (10K punitive damages) - sexual
  harassment
• 32,500 (7,500 actual damages 25,000
  attorneys fee) - sexual harassment
• 810,000 (310,000 attorneys fees) -
  whistleblower
• 38,078.73 (28,000 economic and 10,000
  emotional) - w/c retaliation
• 126,823 (lost wages) - w/c retaliation. So
  much for company loyalty.
• 60,000 (30,000 back pay) - ADEA

6
2001
20 cases Sixteen defense verdicts
Houston q

• 44,931.65 race discrimination
• 217,500 wrongful discharge
• 61,000 (25,000 punitive damages) retaliation
• 235,000 wrongful discharge

7
1999-2000
q San Antonio
13 cases Seven defense verdicts

• Consent Decree (3K to former employee) -
  sexual harassment
• Consent Decree (14K to 3 plaintiffs and
  training ordered ) - sexual harassment
• Consent Decree (58K to former employees and
  training ordered) - sexual harassment
• 92,000 (including 22K attorneys fees) - ADA
• 900,000 but reduced to 23K - sexual
  harassment and retaliation
• 3,000,000 (2M punitive damages) - ADA

8
2001
q San Antonio
6 cases One defense verdict

• 150,000 ADA Discrimination
• 300,000 freedom of association
• 300,000 First Amendment Violation
• 33,000 wrongful discharge
• 332,001 w/c retaliation

9
1999-2001
10 cases Four defense verdicts
q Austin

• 47,000 (7K past wages, 5K punitive, 35K
  fees) - sexual harassment
• 65,000 (47K past wages and 18K attorneys
  fees) - sexual harassment w/pro se
  defendant
• 335,000 (mental anguish) - sexual harassment
• 341,000 (91K actual and 250K punitive) -
  sexual harassment
• 465,997 (156K past wages, 59K future wages
  and 250K mental anguish) - sexual
  harassment and retaliation. Judge will award
  attorney fees.
• 105,000 (75,000 actual damages and 3,000
  attorneys fees) retaliation, but no race
  discrimination

10
2001
q Austin
4 cases Four defense verdicts