Long v. Courtaulds Fibers, Circuit Court of Mobile County (2000) The Longs brought a lawsuit against Courtaulds Fibers claiming that pollution from its manufacturing facility was causing serious health problems for their livestock and diminished the value of their property. The jury awarded the plaintiffs $1 million in damages.
Namislo v. Akzo Chemicals, Inc., 620 So.2d 573 (Ala. 1993), Mobile County Circuit. While pregnant, the child’s mother had been exposed to mercury at her workplace. In a tort action brought by the child against the company, lawyers argued that the company was responsible for injuries sustained by the child as a result of the mother’s exposure –injuries allegedly caused while the child was in utero. The company sought dismissal, claiming that the child’s action was based on the mother’s personal workplace injury and therefore barred by the Alabama workers’ compensation statute. The Alabama Supreme Court disagreed. It found that the child’s claims were not subsumed by the mother’s, but were instead based on independent fetal harm. Since the fetus could not be considered an “employee” within the meaning of the workers’ compensation statute, the child’s suit was permitted to go.
$11.9 million Jury Verdict against a manufacturer of an aerial lift device for failure to adequately warn of the electrocution hazards of the product and cover exposed metal on the boom tip of the lift truck.
$381 million Jury Verdict against E.I. DuPont chemical company found negligent in creating a 112-acre zinc waste site in Spelter, West Virginia, and putting area residents at risk of cancer, heart disease, and lead poisoning. DuPont was ordered to pay for property remediation and provide medical monitoring for community residents. This was the fifth largest verdict in the country in 2007 and the largest civil plaintiff verdict in 2007. (Perrine v. E.I. DuPont De Nemours & Co., Harrison County, West Virginia Circuit Court).
Over $200 million in added shareholder value recovered in a shareholder derivative and breach of contract suit on behalf of a speedway corporation’s shareholders against NASCAR. The plaintiff claimed that NASCAR had conspired with its sister corporation to illegally restrain trade. (Ferko, Francis v. NASCAR, et al).
William Lovelace and Elizabeth Lovelace, etc. v. Fleetwood Homes of Mississippi, Inc., et al., CV 98-107, Circuit Court of Lauderdale County, Alabama (2000). A confidential settlement for the family of a minor child who was exposed to unreasonably dangerous levels of lead leaching from foreign-made mini-blinds.
$25 million Jury Verdict against a drunk driver and a bar for the wrongful death of a jogger struck and killed by the drunk driver. This case was a dram shop action against the bar that served the drunk driver and against the driver whose blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit. (Estate of Brian Dowling and July Dowling v Anthony Harp, Froggie, Inc. d/b/a Toy Box Too; USF&G, Inc., et al).
The Cochran Firm played an integral role in helping thousands of qualified claimants receive compensation in the Vioxx mass tort litigation settlement with Merck & Co., Inc. In 2007, after five years of intricate and complicated litigation, Merck agreed to pay $4.85 billion. This was the largest pharmaceutical settlement in history.
Record $192.5 Million Settlement for racial discrimination against the Coca-Cola Company, the largest settlement for a racial discrimination case against a private employer
$182.5 Million Jury Verdict against Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Baxter Healthcare Corp. and McKesson Corp who gave 3 clients contaminated vials propofal that resulted in the individuals contracting hepatitis C.
Record $104 Million Jury Verdict for two victims were rendered quadriplegic. The brothers dove off of a city pier that was unattended by a life guard and did not have adequate warning signs for the potential danger.
$80 Million Jury Verdict on behalf of a woman who was defrauded by Orkin resulting in her home being destroyed by termites. This was the largest civil verdict in the history of Macon County, Alabama.
$70 Million Settlement for Florida residents whose property was contaminated by Conoco Phillips when a toxic plume spread from an old A grico Chemical Company Fertilizer plant.
$42 Million Jury Verdict on behalf of a client who suffered side effects from the diabetes drug Rezulin. The lawsuit was against Pfizer, parent company of the drug manufacturer Warner Lambert Company.
$33 Million Jury Verdict against NYC when a child suffered a serious spinal cord injury after falling from a park sculpture.
$33 Million Jury Verdict for a wrongful death suit in the City of New York which was caused by negligent Highway design and maintenance.
Confidential Settlement against FirstEnergy on behalf of dozens of Pennsylvania and West Virginia property owners whose properties were adversely affected by the largest coal ash inbound in the United States.
Confidential Settlements against Uniroyal on behalf of numerous plaintiffs who suffered personal injury and death as a result of defective tire failures.
$25 Million Jury Verdict the negligence of a paratransit bus driver resulted in a 40 – year – old incomplete quadriplegic fell from his wheelchair on the bus lift. This was the largest verdict for a single personal injury claim in Nevada history.
$20.2 Million Jury Verdict for family of a school teacher who suffered injuries as a result of being struck from behind by a truck. Not only is this verdict the largest in Clayton County, Georgia history, it is also the largest verdict in a wrongful death case a female and an African American as lead attorneys.
