Sometimes we are able to settle cases prior to a trial. Sometimes we need to have a trial. And at trial, you usually go all the way to verdict. And it’s a jury trial.
With our cases, we always want a jury trial. When we have a case in court, once there is a verdict and it’s a successful verdict and it’s a plaintiff’s verdict and there’s an award of money, the other side has an opportunity to appeal. There are sometimes post-trial motions that go to the trial judge.
But assuming that those are all denied and there really is no grounds for appeal, we then handle a post-trial or post-verdict settlement the same way we would any other settlement. We want the stipulation done right away. We would like to have the paperwork done right away, and we get that over to the carrier and the defense attorney to make sure payment is done timely.
When we have a trial and we reach a settlement in the middle of trial, what we will always do is have our client actually have his or her moment on the witness stand and take the witness stand and acknowledge that he or she understands the resolution and, most importantly, they are satisfied.
Not only do they understand, but they are satisfied with the work that was done in agreeing to that settlement because satisfaction is everything. You’re only as good as your reputation and your word. That’s very important to us.