We are pleased to introduce Dentons’ US Trial Strategy Series. Over the course of the next year, Dentons US litigators will publish a series of articles addressing a topic that has become increasingly concerning for corporate defendants: the rise of “nuclear verdicts,” or jury verdicts of $10 million or more. Our Trial Strategy Series will highlight concrete solutions, at various phases of the trial life cycle, designed to prevent nuclear verdicts, reduce risk, and generate positive outcomes.

Join us as we explore this important subject by reviewing the articles linked below. To learn more, please contact your Dentons team.

Check out the Introduction to Dentons’ Trial Strategy Series here.

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Strategies to Help Best Prepare for the Company Deposition

May 20, 2025

Sophisticated plaintiffs’ lawyers in high stakes litigation matters often seek to use the Rule 30(b)(6) deposition as a tool to lock in testimony that they may leverage to produce outsized verdicts at trial. The use of “reptile” tactics has only served to increase this risk. To reduce the risk of such outcomes, defense counsel and the corporate deponent should attack preparation for the Rule 30(b)(6) deposition in a comprehensive manner.

How to Build a Winning Defense Case – Pretrial Strategy

February 27, 2025

Begin with the End in Mind. From the very inception of a potential high exposure case, defense counsel should begin formulating a plan for achieving victory at the end of the case, whether by motion and/or trial. When defense counsel takes this approach in a disciplined and rigorous manner, counsel optimizes the opportunity for a positive outcome.

The Causes of Excessive Jury Verdicts

February 27, 2025

Before exploring strategies to counteract the rise in escalating jury verdicts, it is essential to understand the causes of such outcomes. This article delves into the causes of oversized jury awards.

Introduction to Dentons’ Trial Strategy Series

February 27, 2025

Over the past fifteen years, we have seen a concerning rise in "nuclear verdicts," or jury awards of $10 million or more. While this development undoubtedly benefits contingency fee plaintiffs’ lawyers, it presents significant potential adverse consequences to corporate defendants and the people they employ. This article explores the data concerning the rise in nuclear verdicts and introduces the Dentons US Trial Strategy Series.