Beating Goliath – Season 3, Part 3 – Transcript

Speaker1(00:05):

FromtheChicagolandlawfirmofSalvi,ShostokandPritchard,thisisbeatingGoliath,aplaintiff’spursuitofjustice.Casenumberthree,partthree,TierneyDardenversusthecityofChicago.Inourlastepisode,TierneyDarden’sattorneyspresentedhercasetoaCookCountyjuryafterbothsidescompletedtheirclosingarguments.ThecasewasnowinthehandsofthejurywhowoulddecidehowmuchTierneyshouldbecompensatedforherinjury.Duringclosingarguments,Tierney’sattorneyssuggestedaverdictofaround175million.WhilethedefenseattorneysfortheCityofChicagosuggestedjustabout30millionanumber,notmuchdifferentthantheiroriginalsettlementoffer.Itwasclearbothsidesbelievedintheircase,butitwasonlyamatteroftimebeforethejurywouldreturntheirverdictandTierneywouldhopefullyandfinallyseejustice. 

Speaker2(01:05):

Theydeliberateaboutfivehours,whichwasgood.Therewasafewquestionsinbetween.Wewantedthemtotaketheirtimeandgothrougheachelementanddiscussitfully. 

Speaker3(01:19):

Theyweretryingtosettlethecase,butitjustwasn’tcominguptotherightnumberandwejustfeltsogoodaboutitgivenhoweverythingwentandclosingsweresopowerful 

Speaker4(01:29):

Afterclosingarguments,butbeforeweheardfromthejurywasthattherewerenegotiationsasitrelatedtowhat’scalledahigh,low,lowagreementisonewherebothsidesarelookingtomitigatetheirrisk.ThosediscussionsweregoingonhereintheDardencase,whetherornotthereshouldbeahighlowandultimatelynohighlowcametogether. 

Speaker2(01:51):

Wewereofferedahighlowof,thehighwas75millionandthelowwassomethinglike40,butwedidn’tfeelthatitwaslikelytobelessthan75million,soweturnedthatdownanddecidedtotaketheverdict.Ijustfeltinmyguttheoddswereitwasgoingtoexceed75.Iremembergettingthewordthatwehaveaverdict, 

Speaker3(02:26):

Thejudge’sclerkwillcallthepartiesandletusknowthatthere’saverdict,sowejumpup,getallourthingstogether,callthefamily,makesurethatthey’rethere.Itwasaprettycrowdedcourtroom. 

Speaker2(02:41):

It’salwaysvery,veryexhilarating,butanervoustimeasyouawaitaverdict.It’sverydramatic,alotatstake,andIrememberthedefenselawyeraskingmeonelasttimewhetherornotIwouldagreetothehighlow.Wesaid,no,we’regoingto,we’rejustgoingtotaketheverdict. 

Speaker3(03:01):

Eventuallywegettothecourtroom,wesitdownandthewarperson,thejurywarpersonthatthegroupelectstobetheirspokespersonorsotospeak,tellsthejudgetheyhaveaverdict. 

Speaker2(03:16):

Generallyspeaking,notalways,alwaysthecase,butifmostofthejurorslookatyouorcertainlyiftheylookatyoukindoffavorablyversuscominginandnotjustavoidingeyecontact,eachandeveryonecutout,they’renottooanxioustositinthecourtroomanddisappointyou.SoasIrecall,it’snotliketheyweregivingthumbsuptousastheywalkedin,butIjustgenerallyhadafavorablesensethatifajurysensesthatwhatyou’reabouttohearisgoingtobeyou’regoingtolike,theycan’thelp.Theygetalittlebit,they’renotaspokerfacedastheywereduringthetrial. 

Speaker4(04:09):

Theverdictformwashandedtothejudgeandthejudgewenttoreadtheverdictandshesaid,wethejuryfindinfavoroftyrannyDardenandagainstthecityofChicagointheamountof,anditstartedwith100andIthinkIblackedoutatthatpoint. 

Speaker3(04:30):

Thejudgereads,wethejuryfindfortheplaintifftyrannyDardenandagainstthedefendantcityofChicago,weassessedthedamagesinthesumof148million190,997itemizedasfollows,andshereadsthebreakdown,butIrememberwhensheread,weassessedthedamagesinthesumof140andwewerejustlike,ohmyGod,Ididn’theartherestofit. 

Speaker5(05:04):

Iknewitwasgoingtobeagoodverdict.Ijustdidnotexpectthat,soIthinkIinhaledverysharplyandIdon’tthinkIcouldevenbreatheforawhilebecauseitwasjustsostunning 

Speaker6(05:23):

Whentheverdictwasbeingread.Ican’tevendescribehowgreatitfeltbecauseitfeltgreat,butitwasashock.Iwasn’texpectingthatmuch. 

Speaker2(05:39):

IhadmysonPatrickandmydaughter-in-law,Aarona,theywereveryimportantpartsoftheteamandaswereJeffandTaraandhavingtyrannyandherparentsthere,itwasgreat.ItwaslikebeingamongIcherisheverydayofmylife 

Speaker6(06:02):

Atcourtwaswhentheywerereadingtheverdict.HeheldmyhandthewholetimeandthenIbelievehewascryingandhuggedmeandhejustfeltlikefamily.Everyonefeltlikefamily 

Speaker7(06:15):

Whentheverdictwasread,firstthoughtwasreliefbecausenowweknewthatTerry’sneedswouldn’t 

Speaker2(06:22):

Becovered. 

Speaker7(06:26):

ThemainreasonwebroughtthecaseforwardinthefirstplacewasbecausetherewasnowayIwasgoingtobeabletopayforTerry’scontinuedcare. 

Speaker8(06:34):

Itdidfeelgreatanditalso,itfeltgreatformetoknowthatthejurorsrecognizedtothebestoftheirabilitywhatTierneyhadgonethroughandwhatshe’llcontinuetogothrough. 

Speaker3(06:46):

There’skindofavindicationthatyoufeelattheendofalloftheblood,sweat,tearsthatwentintoyourpreparationandeverythingthatyourclientwentthroughandjustforthemtojustknowingthatshefeltseenandheardandunderstoodbythisgroupof12peoplewhodidn’tevenknowwhoshewas10daysago, 

Speaker2(07:08):

Everyjurorwantedtohugtyranny.Theylineduptohugherbeforetheylefteachone.Ifyourecallmystoryoftheproblem,jurorreplacedbythealternateanditwasthisalternatewhobecamethe12thjurorwhocameuptomeandsaid,I’msorryMr.Salvia,Itried.Itriedtogetyoumore. 

Speaker2(07:36):

Whenyougetaveryfavorableverdict,it’saveryemotionalthing.You’vebeenontrialseveralweeks,there’salotofanxiety.You’reverytired,andsowhenyougetaveryfavorableresult,it’sveryexhilaratingandemotionalforthelawyers,fortheplaintiff,butit’stoughforyouropponentandyouhavetobeprofessional.Theyexpectyoutocelebratetosomeextent,butnotoverthetopinthecourtroomandit’smorehuggingandthenshakinghandswithyouropponentsbecausewe’veallbeentherewherewedidnotgetafavorableresult.Soyou’renot,youwanttobeprofessionalandrecognizethegoodworkthattheydidandgoodeffortthattheymade. 

Speaker3(08:35):

ThenextmorningwehadapressconferenceacrossthestreetfromouroldofficeatahotelandIwasshockedathowmanydifferentnewspapersornewschannelsorhowmanydifferentorganizationswererepresentedatthepressconference.Thiswasareallybigdealanditfeltverysurreal.Itwaslikewecouldfinallybreatheagainandknowingthatwemadetherightmoveandturningdown30million,Ican’tsaythatIwasexpectingthatnumber.DoIthinkshedeservedit?Absolutely. 

Speaker4(09:12):

Theverdict 

Speaker2(09:13):

WasrepresentedbyfarandawaythehighestcompensatoryawardeverinthehistoryofIllinoisthatcontinuestothisdateapproachingsixyearslater, 

Speaker4(09:25):

Butit’snotsomuchthatwesettherecord,it’sthatTierney’sinjurywassoseverethatitdemandedwesettherecord. 

Speaker3(09:32):

Itwasaverylongtwoyearsforherandherparentsjusthavingtoadjusttoeverythingandsometimestheparentswerereallynervousabouttherisk,Iguessrejectingthe30millionandit’snatural.It’sanaturalresponse,butyoujustcan’tlosesightofthefactthatthisneedstolastfordecades,awholelifetime. 

Speaker4(10:01):

Whilethisverdictseemslikeaneye-poppingnumber,itreallydoesn’tevendojusticetowhatTierneyhastogothrough.Iftherewereanadinthepaperthatsaid,wewillpayyou$148millionandfortherestofyourlifeyouwillbeparalyzedfromaroundthebellybuttondown,youwillhavepaineverywakingmoment,youwilllivehourtohouronwhatyournextpainmedicationwillbe.Mostmovementswillbepainfulandeveryrelationshipthatyouhaveinyourlife,everylastoneofthemwillbediminishedinaboutassignificantawayasyoucanimagine,andintermsofanyemotionalconnection,it’llalways,alwaysbeinterruptedbyyourphysicalconditionandtheconstantpainthatyoufeelandyou’regoingtohavetodothatfromyourmidtwentiesfor50years,nobodywouldtakethatjobandanybodythatdidwouldregretitimmediately. 

Speaker7(11:18):

Wouldyoupreferyourlegorwouldyoupreferthemoney?I’msureshewouldgivebackallthatmoneyifshecouldonlywalk.Again, 

Speaker4(11:29):

Theverdictonlyentitlesyoutoajudgment.Itdoesn’tentitleyoutoanyactualmoneyyetbecausetherecanbepost-trialandappeals,andso 

Speaker8(11:38):

Unlessyouhavesomeotheragreementinplacewhenatrialisdonethere,evenadmittedliabilitytrials,there’salwaysthepotentialforanappeal.Oneofthebiggestconcernsaboutanappealisyourclienthasnowwaitedhowlong? 

Speaker3(11:55):

Appealscantakeseveralyears,two,threeyearsdependingonhowhighupitgoes.TheverdictcameinAugust23rd,2015.Wewentthroughpost-trialmotion,sothedefensehadfiledamotiontolowertheverdictandbecauseofX,Y,andZrulingsthattheyfeltwerenotcorrect, 

Speaker8(12:21):

Theygaveusalotmoreforfuturemedicalexpensesthanwehadaskedfor,andsothatwasalsooneofthereasonswhyweknewthattherewasapotentialforappealoratleastdeductionbecauseinessence,thejuryawardedanamountforfuturemedicalexpenses.Thatwasaboveandbeyondevenwhatwesuggested. 

Speaker7(12:43):

Obviouslythedefenseviewedhercontinuedneedsorfutureneeds,etcetera,asmuchlowerthanwhatoursidelookedat,butwhenyoulookedatsomeofthethingsthattheyhadintheirlistofwhatshemightneed,tomeitlookedlikeasortofajuryconsideringbothsidesandcombinedthetwo. 

Speaker8(13:03):

Ourconcernwasthatthecourtswouldsay,thisistoomuchandajurycannotinthissituation,whichweknewwasabadsituationunderthelawshereinIllinois,thatistoomuchandtheverdictwouldn’tstandforthatamountandtheywould’vereducedit,andthenwe’resettingahorribleprecedenceforallthecasesthatcomeafterusbecausenowtheyhaveanumberouttherethatthecourtsnowinIllinoiscouldhavefoundpotentiallythatyoucouldnevergetaboveevenifit’sacleancaseandeverythinggoesinwell.AsIsaid,thatdoesn’tmeanthattherecan’tbepost-trialmotions.Doesn’tmeanthatthereisnotariskofappeal,sothat’swhyourfirmandourclientsreadilyagreedtoparticipateinpost-trial,postverdictsettlementmediationbecausewewantedtoremovethatriskfortheclients. 

Speaker3(13:55):

WewenttomediationinJanuary,2018anditwasanalldaything.Wehadoneofthebestmediatorswell-respectedbyboththeplaintiffsanddefensebars,andwewereabletoreachasettlementagreementattheendoftheday, 

Speaker8(14:14):

ThiswasnevergoingtobankruptacompanyorputthecityofChicago.Theyhadsomuchinsurance.Thiswasaquarteroftheinsuranceorwhatevertheyhadatthetime.Ithinktheyalsowantedtoputanendtothebadpublicitythattheyhadalreadyreceived. 

Speaker3(14:31):

Tyrannycanfinallypickherlifebackupandgetthetreatmentthatsheneeds 

Speaker2(14:40):

Yetultimatelyresolvedveryfavorablyfortyrannyandprovidedherliterallywithalloftheresourcesnecessaryforhertogetthebestmedicalcareandhasbeenbestpainmanagementcareinthecountry,whichshehastakenfulladvantageofandhasreallyimprovedher,I’mveryhappytosayhasreallyimprovedherlife.Iwouldnothavebeenpossible,butfortheunlimitedresourcesthatshehasatherdisposal. 

Speaker6(15:17):

Theverdictreallydidhelpmeoutwitheverythingfrommedicinetosupplies,whichyoudon’tknowhowmanysuppliesyoucangothroughinamonth,butit’sfast.It’sbasicallybeen,Iguesskindofliketherockinsurvivingthis.It’sreallyhelpedwithgoingtorehab,beabletoworkoutandjusthavingthatstabilityissomethingthatnotalotofpeoplehave,andsoI’mverythankfulforit. 

Speaker2(15:58):

Wefirst 

Speaker7(15:59):

LearnedaboutQLIthroughacompanycalledBroadspire,butQLI,theirphilosophyisopioidsbadactivity,good. 

Speaker5(16:10):

ThenursewhorecommendedQLI,shecouldnotstopsayingenoughaboutitandthenwhentherepresentativecameandspokewithus,itwaslike,oh,she’sgoingthere. 

Speaker8(16:20):

Itwaslikethisamazingplacewheretheyhelpedweanyouoffofyouropioidmedicationsandgiveyouothertoolsandskillsetstouse. 

Speaker5(16:27):

Ithinksheverydepressedwhenshewentoutthere.Ithinkthatshewasveryresignedgoingoutthere.Noneofuswereinagoodplacewhenshewentoutthereandwewerehopingthatitwasgoingtobesomethingthatwasgoingtobebeneficialtoher,whichtheninturnwouldbebeneficialtousbecausethenwewouldgetourdaughterback. 

Speaker6(16:56):

Idiminisheddowntothissad,slowslothbeing,itwasbad. 

Speaker5(17:05):

Shewasatapointwheresheknewsheneededtodosomething,butIalsoknowshewasveryscared,very,veryscared.Tobeinacompletelydifferentenvironmentwithnobodyaround 

Speaker6(17:18):

WeaningofftheopioidswasprobablythemostdifficultthingIdidthere,butbeingoffopioidsandIguesslearninghowdifferentofapersonIwasbecauseIthoughtIwasactingnormal 

Speaker7(17:34):

Duringtheweanoff,itwascallsinthemiddleofthenightwhereshewasjustinabsolutepain.Itistimewhenaftershewasweanedoffwherethere’slessofthosecalls,theysaidherweedoffperiodwaslongerthanmostthattheyhavebecauseoftheamountsandofopioidsandherneedforopioids.Itwassortofroughoritwasrough,notnecessarilyforme,butforherduringthatweanoffperiodbecauseshewas,herbodywasmissingthatmedication,buttheywereworkingongettingherintodifferentactivities,differentmindsetsthatshecouldusetofocusawayfromtheneedforopioids. 

Speaker6(18:19):

TheytriedtogetmetoeathealthyandthenItalkedtoatherapist,whichIdidbeforeQLI,butthiswasmoregearedonhowtomanageyourpainandnotfocusonyourpain.IwouldsayQlIchangedmylife. 

Speaker8(18:42):

IthinkTierney,despiteeverythingthatshewentthrough,Ithinkherentirelife,shewasjustsomeonewhohadabrightshininglightinsideofher,andItrulybelievethatitwasherinnatenatureandpositivitythatgotherthroughherrecovery. 

Speaker7(18:59):

Whenshegotofftheopioids,herhandsteadiedup.Shebecamemoreclear,she’smorealert,she’sdoingnewthings.She’sgotatraderatexport. 

Speaker6(19:09):

IusedtodoartandIstoppedbecausemyhandwasshakingsomuch,butnowI’msteadyasarockandIcanpaintagain,soI’mtryingtogetbackintothatlikeartisticstreak. 

Speaker7(19:21):

She’slotmoreclearonthat.Handshakehasgone,she’sabletoreturntoherart.She’sthinkingforherself.She’stakenoverherownhandlingofhermedications,sopreviouslybeenmetakingcareofallhermedications,makingsureshewastakingthemontime,andnowshe’sgotclearenoughheadwhereshecandothatkindofthingherself. 

Speaker5(19:44):

She’sinabetterplace,soIknowshe’stakencareof.Iknowshecantakecareofherself.Ihavemydaughterback.She’sherfunny,sillyselfagain,whichiswhatshewasbeforetheaccident.She’ssomuchmoreself-sufficient.She’scookingdinners,she’sdrivingherselfplaces,drivingustoplaces.Wegotopaintingclassestogethernowshegoesandworksoutnow,soitwaslifechanging 

Speaker3(20:14):

Anditalwaysmakesmehappybecauseshe’smakingartagainandshe’sseeingherlittlenephewsandshe’spickeduphobbiesagain,andthesearejustthingsthatshejustwasnotgoingtobeabletodobefore.Sheunderwentallofthistreatment,whichobviouslywasnotavailabletoherbeforeandthatwasamatterofresourcesandaccess.Soit’scertainlyhelpedherimproveherqualityoflife,andthat’sreallywhatthisisallabout. 

Speaker5(20:49):

Ithinkoneoftheproudestmomentswaswhenshegotherdriver’slicense.It’sanotheraccomplishmentforher.Anotherthingyoucando,whetheryou’reinawheelchairornot, 

Speaker6(20:58):

Mylifeismuchhappier 

Speaker8(21:01):

Mentally.She’sinagreatplace.Ithinkemotionally,she’sinagreatplaceforitnottohercatastrophicinjury,tonotdefineherfutureanddefineher.It’slikethemostyoucanhopefor. 

Speaker5(21:13):

Youhavetotrytoalwaysseethebestinthesituationwheresomedaysit’simpossibletodo.Wakeupthenextdayandseeifyoucan’tfindsomegratitudeinwhatthatdaybrought.Wegotsoveryluckyonsomanylevels.Wewenttotherighthospitalwiththerightdoctors.Wewenttotherightlawfirmandgottheverdictthatweneeded.Wewereabletogototherightrehabilitationplaces. 

Speaker6(21:46):

IwanttopayitforwardnowandmakesurethatotherpeopleinmysituationareabletobecomfortableandhaveaniceeasygoinglifelikeIdidandhelpthemoutwiththetypeofrehabthatIhadbecausenotalotofpeoplegetthatopportunityandnotalotofpeople,iftheydogetthatopportunity,gettostayaslongasIdid.IwanttobeabletoprovidethestabilitythatIhadtootherpeopleinmykindofcondition. 

Speaker5(22:16):

Tyracandoanythingshewantstodoifshesetshermindtoit,soshehasliterallyveryfewrestrictionsonwhatshecanorcan’tdo.Theonlyrestrictionsshehasarewhatsheplacesonherself,sohowcanInotbeoptimisticbecauseIdon’tseeanythingbutabrightfutureforher. 

Speaker7(22:44):

Charity’sinjuryhashelpedwith,it’sgottenthosesheltersoutofO’Haresoitwon’thappentosomebodyelse.It’sgotpeoplethinking,whereelsearethereissues,sothat’sapositive. 

Speaker4(23:00):

Averdictlikethisiscertainlyamessagetoanyonetobespecificthathastheresponsibilityofmaintainingpremises,particularlypublicways. 

Speaker2(23:13):

IhopeandpraythatthecityofChicago,especiallyattheairport,aremuchmorediligentwithregardstothemaintainingoftheirpremises. 

Speaker3(23:22):

ThisverdictwasnotonlyimportantforTierneyandherhealthandherjourneytoimprovinghercondition,butitwasalsoextremelyimportantforthecitytotakeresponsibilityandtakenoteoftheirlackofcare,theircarelessnessinmaintaining 

Speaker5(23:42):

Premises 

Speaker3(23:42):

Wherethere’smillionsofpeoplewhogothroughO’Hare,youbetthatthey’vegotaroutinenowforinspectingtheseshelters. 

Speaker6(23:53):

IthinknowI’vegottentothepointwhereI’mjustlike,youmessedupandyouhadtodealwiththeconsequences,andIhopeyoulearnedfromyourmistake. 

Speaker1(24:13):

ThankyouforlisteningtoBeatingGoliath,aPlaintiff’sPursuitofjustice.SpecialthankstoTyraDardenforallowingustoshareherstory.BeatingGoliathwaswrittenandproducedin-houseatSalvie,ShastiandPritchardSound,designedbyEricCianiandeditingbythetalentedteamatSYMedia.TolearnmoreaboutthiscaseortolistentomoreepisodesofbeatingGoliath,headtoselvylaw.com/podcast.Untilnexttime.