Artwork for podcast Trial Lawyers University
Randall Sorrels – Foiling a “Nuclear Verdict Defense” to Win $353 Million
Episode 411st August 2024 • Trial Lawyers University • Dan Ambrose, Trial Lawyers University
00:00:00 00:58:10

Share Episode

Shownotes

Struck on an airport tarmac by a fueling vehicle, the United Airlines worker suffered catastrophic injuries. “The worst-hurt person I've ever seen in my life,” recalled his lawyer, Randall Sorrels.

When Randall sued the fueling vehicle company and its driver, he faced a high-powered defense firm, and a famous defense lawyer, that sought to keep the verdict low by using a so-called “nuclear verdict defense.” To host Dan Ambrose, Randall reveals how he and his law firm partner and wife, Alex, foiled the attack. Relying on a blend of strategy (putting the defendant’s corporate representative as the first witness), smart advice (listening to a jury consultant who advised him to keep a juror he wanted to strike), and a little luck (finding a mock juror who had sat through the defense’s mock trial), they transformed a lowball offer of $5 million into a jury verdict of $353 million. 

Train and Connect with the Titans

☑️ Randall Sorrels | Sorrels Law | Email | LinkedIn

☑️ Sorrels Law on Facebook | LinkedIn

☑️ TLU VEGAS

☑️ Trial Lawyers University Website

☑️ TLU On Demand Instant access to live lectures, case analysis, and skills training videos

☑️ TLU on X | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

☑️ Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

Episode Snapshot

  • Grabbing headlines: Randall’s $3.24 million verdict for the son and godson of baseball great Roger Clemens
  • How teaching at TLU made him a better lawyer
  • Background of his case against a fueling vehicle company and driver
  • Why Randall did a portion of his voir dire on the high-profile defense lawyer
  • One question plaintiffs’ lawyers in PI cases should ask the jury 
  • The defense’s big mistake in closing 
  • Securing a $353 million verdict

Produced and Powered by LawPods



This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Chapters

Video

More from YouTube