VERDICTS
The Virgin Islands, particularly St. Croix, is known as a “high verdict” jurisdiction. Unfortunately, it is often difficult to obtain information about particular verdicts or compare the injuries in a particular case to the injuries that were associated with past jury verdicts. The information below is collected from numerous sources, including hearsay from other members of the bar. Thus, while it is deemed generally reliable, it should only be used as a guide and with the knowledge that all information may not be accurate. Further information about particular verdicts may be obtained by contacting our firm.
| Date | Verdict | Type of claim | Damages claimed | Comments |
| 8/2003 St. Croix | 0 | Slip and fall on area being paved | Unknown | Defendant was local paving company |
| 6/2002 St. Croix | $1.0 million | Wrongful discharge by employer and defamation by second defendant | Emotional distress | Employer liable for $400,000; other defendant liable for $600,000. Settled before punitive damages phase of trial |
| 2/2002 St. Croix | 0 | Sexual assault on beach near hotel | Sexual assault and emotional distress | Defendant was local hotel. Assault did not take place on hotel property. |
| 2/2001 St. Thomas |
$375,000 | Premises liability – slip and fall | Soft tissue back injury | While post trial motion was pending, company entered bankruptcy |
| 8/2000 St. Croix | 0 | Premises liability – slip and fall | Lower back and torn meniscus | Jury found no negligence upon the part of Fortune 250 corporate defendant |
| 10/2000 St. Croix (Second trial) |
$3.4 million | Premises liability – slip and fall | Lower back pain with alleged nerve root entrapment at two levels; alleged economic losses of $975,000 | While post trial motion was pending (over a year), company entered bankruptcy and case settled for pennies on the dollar. |
| 10/1998 St. Croix (First trial) |
$2.9 million | as above | as above | New trial ordered based upon juror confusion over economic damages |
| 8/1997 St. Croix |
$650,000 including $300,000 in pain and suffering | Premises liability – slip and fall | Soft tissue lower back | Reversed on appeal due to erroneous admission of expert testimony; remanded for new trial. Defendant declared bankruptcy prior to new trial |
| 4/2000 St. Croix |
$500,000 | Premises liability – slip and fall | Aggravation of pre-existing spondyl-ol- esthesis |
Settled and discharged in bankruptcy while post trial motion was pending. |
| 7/1998 St. Croix |
$75,000 | Premises liability – trip over cart | Fractured wrist with testimony that it was permanent; no economic damages | |
| 5/1998 St. Croix |
$175,000 w/ 15% contribution assessed against plaintiff | Premises liability – slip and fall – industrial | Torn rotator cuff with surgery to repair prior to trial | Extenuating circumstances , including undisclosed pre-existing injury, probably kept this verdict low |
| 1999 St. Croix (Second trial) |
$75,000 | Wrongful detention (shoplifting detention) | Injury to reputation and psychological injury | In first trial, jury found no wrongful detention but found defamation. Second trial was based upon defamation only |
| 1997 St. Croix (First trial) |
$80,000 | Wrongful detention (shoplifting detention) | Injury to reputation and psychological injury | New trial ordered due to erroneous jury instruction |
| 12/1997 St. Thomas |
$700,000 | Premises liability – believed to be slip and fall | Unknown | Plaintiff presented evidence of economic damages alone that exceeded $700,000. |
| 10/1997 St. Croix |
$650,000 (including $350,000 in economic) | Premises liability – slip and fall | Soft tissue lower back injury. | Reversed on appeal and remanded for new trial (pending); plaintiff presented only $150,000 in economic damages, but jury awarded $350,000. |
| 1997 St. Croix |
$1.173 million | Premises liability | Soft tissue lower back injury | |
| 1996 St. Croix |
$1.66 MM | Premises liability – industrial | Ulnar nerve injury | |
| 1995 St. Croix |
$1.1 million (including $567,000 for pain and suffering) | Premises liability – industrial | Fractured leg w/o hospitalization – | Post judgment motion granted and case then settled |
| 1995 St. Croix |
$4.5 million | Motor vehicle accident | Bulging disc with no nerve root impingement | Reversed by Third Circuit due to pretrial error; case then settled |
| 1994 St. Croix |
$675,000 (including $25,000 for pain and suffering) | Premises liability – industrial | Two herniated discs with two back surgeries. | |
| 1993 St. Croix |
$375,000 | Motor vehicle accident | Badly broken leg | Sole defendant at trial was an individual |
| Circa 1987 St. Croix |
$1.1 MM | Premises liability – industrial | Burn injury, including facial burns | Remitted by trial judge to $575,000; case then settled while on appeal |
| 1987 St. Thomas |
$900,000 | Premises liability – slip and fall | Soft tissue | Trial judge remitted to $575,000; Third Circuit remitted further to $235,000 |
| 1987 St. Croix |
$317,000 | Premises liability – industrial | Soft tissue back injury | Third Circuit remitted to $100,000 |
| Circa 1985 St. Croix |
$400,000 | Premises liability – slip and fall | Broken wrist | Trial court remitted to $165,000 |
| Circa 1985 | $1 million | Medical malpractice | Knee injury; no medical or lost earnings claimed | Trial court remitted to $200,000 |
| 1984 | $261,130 (by judge, not jury) (including $42,500 for pain and suffering) | Distal fracture of wrist |