Top Verdicts of 2015
Feb. 17, 2016
Top Verdicts
In choosing top verdicts, defense results and appellate reversals each year, we are always struck by wide spectrum of legal disputes that still must be fought out in court. Last year was no different. From product liability cases to wrongful termination lawsuits, California attorneys tried cases that had a major impact on individuals, industries and society. In this issue, we recognize the largest and most significant trial verdicts, appellate reversals, and defense wins in 2015. As we do every year, the editors break up the outcomes into four categories: plaintiffs' verdicts by dollar, plaintiffs' verdicts by impact, defense results, and appellate reversals. The defense wins include cases tried to verdict and successful pretrial motions that block a plaintiffs' lawsuit before the case ever reaches a jury. The goal is to honor excellence in litigation, whether the victory came at trial, on appeal, or before the case got that far. To select cases, we consider nothing that happens after the verdict, and many cases are on appeal. Last year's losing attorneys can -- and often do - turn out to be this year's winners, representing the same clients. The verdicts chosen reflect the wide range of major cases tried in the state, from a $235 million verdict in a breach of contract lawsuit by the San Diego County Water Authority against the Metropolitan Water District, to a copyright decision ruling that "Happy Birthday to You" - probably the most famous song in the world - belongs in the public domain. Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers faced a tough battle when sued by former partner Ellen Pao for gender discrimination and retaliation, but a team of lawyers at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP -- led by partner Lynne C. Hermle -- won a defense verdict. Some of the cases, such as the Kleiner Perkins defense win, generated national headlines. Others were only noticed by attorneys and judges. But all of the cases illustrate the critical importance of outstanding trial or appellate lawyers.