Jury verdicts for plaintiffs increase in average size - Kansas City Business Journal:

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million from the 116 plaintiffs’ awards, according to the . Althougjh the percentage of verdicts awardesd to plaintiffs was about the same as in previouayears — 53 percent in 2008, 48 perceng in 2007, 50 percent in 2006 and 52 percentt in 2005 — the amoun t has continued to grow. Althoughg the average size of 2008 jury verdicts was buoyed by a fewlarge awards, they have growh in consecutive years from $688,337 in 2006 to $1.3 milliobn in 2007 and $1.8 millionb in 2008. Last year saw 24 verdicts of $1 millioh or more, compared with 20 in 2007 and 14in 2006. Here are the top 10 jury verdictaof 2008, according to the Greater Kansas City Jury Verdict Service: 1. $104.
1 million in a class-actiob suit against , , and for violating Missouri’s Second Mortgage Loan Act. Representec by R. Frederick Walters, Kip Richards, David Skeens, J. Michaeol Vaughan and Garrett Hodes of inKansazs City, the plaintiffs claimedd that the defendants charged unauthorized and illegal fees and interest on second mortgages purchasedc from 2. $16.88 million in a breach of contract claim againstA class-action suit was filed againsty AT&T, and Network Services Inc. alleging they conspired to fix priceas and overcharge customers Universall ServiceFund fees.
MCI declared bankruptcy, and Sprint settled in A $400 million conspiracy claim was denied, but breach of contracgt was won. Plaintiffs were represented by lawyersfrom ’ws Dallas and Los Angeles offices; in Albuquerque, in Minneapolis; and in Kan. 3. $16 milliomn for a violation of federal constitutionalk rights against Richard andTina McKinley. Theodorre White Jr. spent five and a half yearxs in prison after being accused of sexually molestinghis stepdaughter.
Whiter claimed that during the investigation, his then-wife, Tina and a detective on the case were havingg an affair that was kept a secret and that the detectivw neglected to seize a diary from his stepdaughte r that contained information that wouled have cleared White ofthe charges. Representing Whiter were Brian McCallister, Cyndy Short and Christophet Lawler of the inKansas City; in and in Aurora, Mo. 4. $14 millio in a liability complaintagainst , , and James and Conniee Nickles. Chad Stockbauer was intoxicated when he dove intoan 3-foot-tall pool in the Nickles’ back yard, fracturinyg his neck.
The plaintiff, represented by Louis Accurso, Burton Haigh and Ann Wrigh t of inKansas City, claimed defective desigb and failure to warn that the pool was too Stockbauer was found 96 percent at Net recovery was $560,000. Defendents’ attorneys includerd John Cowden of and James Morrowa of inKansas City. 5. $12 million in a wrongful deaty suit against John Teuber was killeed after a truck driven by an employeesof , an independent contractor of Vance, ran a red lighg and hit Teuber’s vehicle. The truck was carrying 18 tons of asphalg and found to havefaulty brakes. The drivetr pled guilty to involuntarty manslaughter.
Plaintiff’s lawyers includesd Michael Ketchmark, Brett Davis and Scott McCreightg of inKansas City. 6. $11.0 for defective repair, nuisancs and trespass againstand . The city of Mo., claimed that the defendants made unauthorizef street repairs and that their trucks were not authorizes to use residential streets for transport of limestoneand Plaintiff’s attorneys were Steven Megan Redmond and Heather Esau Zerger of . 7. $7.1 million for breach of contract and fraudulent and negligent misrepresentatiom against Patrick Stueve and Eric Dirks of arguedxthat A.G.
Edwards loaded software on unlicensed computers and offered the reportes generated by the software tounlicensed brokers. 8. $4.95 million for tortuous interferencw and defamationagainst , , , and .