Personal Injury Law

Punitive Damages in Maryland: More on the Exxon Trial

The Daily Record has another article on the Exxon case in Jacksonville that I had blogged about yesterday. What was interesting, at least to me, is that one Plaintiffs' lawyer gave the closing and another Plaintiffs' lawyer gave the rebuttal. Even in large trials involving multiple lawyers for each party, I think this is a little surprising. But I don't think it is a bad thing.

Without reading the pleadings, I'm amazed that the punitive damages have gone to the jury. The Plaintiffs' attorneys have three hurdles to climb to get punitive damages: (1) the jury, (2) the judge, who still may rule against them, and (3) Maryland appellate courts, who most certainly will hear this case if Plaintiffs get past the first two steps.

Full post as published by Maryland Injury Lawyer Blog on March 03, 2009 (boomark / email).