Success Stories
• From Good Hands to Boxing Gloves
Lawyer Ken Allen gets $20.8 million verdict against Allstate Read story.
“David Berardinelli's book From Good Hands to Boxing Gloves is an essential tool for any trial lawyer handling bad faith claims against Allstate. The book details how Allstate redesigned its claims handling process to offer policyholders a very simple choice: accept less than fair value for your claims or face a battery of lawyers and years of costly litigation.
David contends this “Good Hands or Boxing Gloves” approach has netted Allstate billions, and its tactics have undoubtedly influenced other carriers to follow in Allstate's bad faith path. The trouble is Allstate's approach flies in the face of the duty to act in good faith and promptly pay policyholders' claims in full. From Good Hands to Boxing Gloves highlights how Allstate's “redesigned” approach to claims handling violates its duty of good faith and was useful in our trial preparation for Fields v. Allstate, a case resulting in a $20.8 million verdict against Allstate for bad faith.
This is definitely a book Allstate doesn't want you to read but one which I highly recommend!”
Kenneth J. Allen, kenallenlaw.com
• David Ball on Damages
The jury returned a verdict of $1.25 million! Read story.
My colleague and I recently attended your seminar in Atlantic City during the ATLA Convention in New Jersey. Ms McFadden Esq. and I were mesmerized with your suggestions and techniques. We discussed them at length, ordered your new book and utilized what we learned in a matter captioned Yucius v Venturi in Sussex County N.J.
Sussex County is rural and is arguably one of the most conservative counties in N.J.. I am sure we have Democrats living here but they don't dare tell anyone! Last night at 6pm following an 8 day trial and a 3 hour deliberation, the Sussex County Jury returned a verdict of $1.25m ! This represents one of the largest personal injury verdicts in county history and will be front page news tomorrow. Our client Jill Yucius (age 27) sustained an injury to her low back requiring fusion surgery and sustained an injury to her shoulder requiring arthroscopic surgery following an auto accident. The defense attorney had valued the case at less than $200,000.
On behalf of Lauren McFadden Esq. our client Jill Yucius and me I want to thank you for the work that you do. This money will help Jill begin to put her life back together. I told Jill and her parents that they also needed to thank a man they never met...his name is David Ball. Thank you David !
Most sincerely,
Andrew A. Fraser Esq.
Laddey Clark & Ryan Esq.
Sparta, NJ
I attribute my success to your ideas on presenting damages. Read story.
I just wanted to follow up with you regarding the method described in your book, CDs and seminars on Damages. Thank you for your help.
When I went to the ATLA Damages College I had already read your book on Damages, and listened to your CD. I was comfortable with your method and was looking to refine my skills. The case I worked on at the ATLA Damages seminar was a dental malpractice case where an oral surgeon severed my client's lingual nerve while extracting a lower wisdom tooth, leaving half of his tongue permanently numb.
My client made a poor witness and I had no one else I could call on damages.
Nonetheless, I applied your Damages techniques. I spent a significant portion of my opening talking about damages. I had my client on the stand for maybe 10 minutes since he did not make a great witness. I got him to say the few things I needed so that I could talk about his injury. I used the defense expert to talk about how serious the injury is and how it affects people. I spend a significant portion of my closing talking about damages. I used the three elements of damages and explained why the law forced me to ask for a certain amount of money for each injury.
In California, my damages are capped at $250,000. I asked for $600,000 just to be safe. The jury came back with $655,000 (and they were offended after trial when they learned my client would only get $250,000). I attribute my success to your ideas on presenting damages.
Thanks again for all the help. I wanted to follow up and make sure you have some feedback about my great results.
Todd J. Bloomfield, Esq.
Woodland Hills, CA
• Rules of the Road
The judge, as well as everyone else, warned me not to turn down the offer of $300,000. We did, and the verdict was $755,000 plus $195,000 to be added for attorneys fees. Read story.
I recently tried a bad faith case here in Kentucky that was supposed to be a very conservative jurisdiction. The judge , as well as everyone else, warned me not to turn down the offer of $300,000. We did, and the verdict was $755,000 plus $195,000 to be added for attorneys fees. Not a big verdict for California, but very respectable for here. Two jurors approached me afterwards . One said she liked the organization that we >> demostrated (We used alot of "on the fly" powerpoint, and I had the Rules of the Road on two posterboards for their view at all times.) The other juror thanked me for bringing the case and pointing out what insurance companies are supposed to be doing. What a great feeling to receive such a compliment for your work.
Every witness was hammmered about the rules of the road. They all admitted the rules applied. They then looked very silly in opining that there was no bad faith.
I spent alot of time reading your book before the trial. I altered my approach because of the book, by emphasizing the "rules" which kept the focus on the defendant's conduct. (I just purchased my second one for my expert witness in my next up-coming trial.)
Thanks for writing the book and sharing your knowledge with the rest of us.
M. Austin Mehr
Austin Mehr Law Offices, P.S.C.
Lexington, KY
