We’re pleased to announce that our Hutchison & Steffen trial team, led by Firm Partner Jason Guinassso (1st chair) and supported by Firm Attorney Russell Carr (2nd chair) and Trial Paralegal Risa Beck, recently obtained a defense verdict on behalf of their client in a two-week jury trial in where the plaintiff was asking for $20 million dollars. This was a high stakes case where our client was facing extraordinary liability. A loss would have had a profound impact on our client personally and professionally. The jury took two and a half days to reach an unanimous verdict finding that our client was not liable for the damages sustained by the plaintiffs. To achieve this result, our team had to overcome the natural sympathies the jury had for a family grieving the death of a loved one. Even though the burden of proof was on the plaintiff, as a practical matter our defense team carried the burden of winning the hearts and minds of a jury from voir dire to closing argument. Because we secured a complete defense, we beat the offer of judgment, which means our client will be entitled to recover attorneys fees and costs.