Verdicts and Settlements
We understand and always recommend that an injury victim perform their due diligence and carefully consider which law firm they feel will offer the best possible representation for their personal injury claim.
Ward-Mitchell is extremely proud of the high percentage of our client recoveries that exceed the available bodily injury liability and uninsured motorist insurance coverages. We achieve these results often unlike other big-name law firms. In order to help you learn more about our practice and the results we’ve achieved in previous cases over the past 30 years, we have compiled a partial list of judgments, verdicts and settlements obtained for clients.
The facts and circumstances of your case may differ from the facts and circumstances of the cases discussed here. Each case is different and must be evaluated and handled on its own merit. Results cannot be guaranteed or promised.
Confidential settlement of Bodily Injury claim with out-of-state insurer for more than 30 times the amount of the insurers liability policy limits. Pinellas County (2018)
$1,050,000 – Manatee County verdict and recovery to client of more than 5 times the combined total of all the available liability coverage. Thirty-four-year-old business owner suffered orthopedic injuries when struck by an underinsured motorist. (2015)
$3,600,000 – Settlement to client from liability insurer of more than 450 times the amount of the available insurance coverage following a Hillsborough County jury trial. (1999)
Confidential settlement with liability insurance carrier for more than 6 times the bodily injury liability limits. Charlotte County (2017)
Hillsborough County verdict for more than 6 times the liability policy limits plus a substantial legal fee and litigation cost award resulting from insurers failure to make a good faith settlement offer presuit (1991)
Manatee County injury verdict for over 50 times the available insurance. (1996)
$690,000 – Manatee County verdict against drunk driver for more than 10 times the amount of the available liability insurance coverage. Liability insurer failed to make a good faith presuit settlement offer. (2007)
Settlement - Local resident injured by uninsured foreign citizen. Our client’s insurance carrier did not handle the uninsured motorist claim properly, and we were able to recover 3 times the policy limits of their uninsured motorist coverage. (2024)
$10,100,000 Arbitration Award in favor of client injured by an intoxicated driver with but $10,000 in bodily injury liability coverage. Manatee County (2021)
$9,687,000 Judgment – Restrained driver was injured when his vehicle was struck by an uninsured motorist. The presuit settlement offer from the liability insurer was but $11,189 (1993)
$1,150,000 Settlement – 23-year-old nursing student injured by underinsured motorist (2023)
$1,150,000 – Driver of tractor trailer struck by passenger vehicle and sustained orthopedic injuries. (2014)
$1,250,000 – Pedestrian was injured when a vehicle struck her as she was crossing a street. She suffered orthopedic injuries to her hips and legs. (2009)
$3,900,000 Arbitration Award in favor of helmetless client injured in a motorcycle crash. Charlotte County. (2021)
$5,010,000 – Settlement from a liability insurer who provided but $10,000 in bodily injury liability coverage and failed to offer to settle the case presuit. Pedestrian suffered orthopedic injuries when she was struck by an underinsured motorist as she crossed a street. (2008)
$1,010,000 – Settlement from a liability insurer who provided but $10,000 in bodily injury liability coverage and failed to make a good faith offer to settle the case presuit. Motorcycle operator was injured when an underinsured motorist turned directly in front of him, causing operator to become airborne. He suffered a concussion. (2002)
$500,000 over liability limits – Confidential settlement reached with an automotive liability insurer during litigation for more than $500,000 above its liability coverage limits regarding a motor vehicle crash. The liability insurer and its appointed counsel failed to act in the best interest of the at fault insured driver leading to the outstanding settlement including payment of legal fees. (2023)
$200,000 over liability limits – Hillsborough County verdict awarding injured client more than $200,000 above the liability insurer’s limits, as well as an award of costs. (2022)
$770,000 Arbitration Award against client’s underinsured motorist carrier who offered nothing to settle before filing a lawsuit, and only $17,500 in settlement after years of litigation. Pasco County. (2021)
Hillsborough County settlement – Client with a learning disability was previously turned down from one of the nation’s largest law firms. Not only did we acquire a settlement, but it was substantially in excess of the available liability coverage. (2020)
Multi-Million Dollar Settlement – Confidential settlement reached during litigation. A construction vehicle attempted to pass thru an intersection and contributed to causing the death of a Tampa resident. (2010)
$1,585,000 Arbitration Award against the negligent driver of the vehicle in which our client was a passenger. Insurer’s presuit offer was but $10,000 which was withdrawn at the start of the arbitration proceeding. (2022)
$350,000 – Settlement of $250,000 in excess of available underinsured motorist coverage for client that was injured and suffered a wage loss claim. Client’s insurer made no offer to settle the claim presuit and acted in bad faith (2021)
$2,850,000 – Settlement from a liability insurer in excess of the available coverage following a Hillsborough County jury verdict. A pedestrian was struck by an out of control underinsured commercial vehicle while standing on the side of the road. (1992)
$750,000 – Settlement from a liability insurer who provided but $10,000 in liability coverage and failed to make a good faith settlement offer presuit. Bicyclist hit by an underinsured motorist that ran a red light, causing neck trauma. (2004)
$1,760,797 – Driver of an automobile in Manatee County injured when her vehicle was struck by a rock hauler. She suffered orthopedic injuries to her legs and hip, requiring surgery. (1995)
$430,000 Arbitration Award in favor of client who was rear ended in a school zone. The insurance company’s highest offer before filing a lawsuit was $12,500. (2021)
$900,000 – Truck driver was injured when a sand hauler made an illegal U-turn causing orthopedic injures to the truck driver. (2000)
$1,000,000 – Truck driver injured when struck by a dirt hauler. Polk County. (2016)
$1,064,000 – Hillsborough County verdict. Driver of an automobile was injured when struck from behind by a rental vehicle. She suffered an orthopedic injury to her neck, requiring surgery. (2001)
$1,455,797 – Hillsborough County verdict. Driver of an automobile injured in a low impact collision when struck from behind. Plaintiff suffered orthopedic injuries requiring lower back surgery. Presuit offer was $31,000 (2000)
Multi-Million Dollar Settlement – Confidential settlement reached during litigation. Commercial vehicle collides with Tampa resident contributing to her death. (2016)
$1,850,000 – Motorcyclist was injured when struck by a commercial vehicle. He suffered orthopedic injuries to his hips and legs. (1992)
$1,250,000 – Settlement in excess of all the available liability insurance. Motorcycle officer was rear ended by underinsured commercial vehicle. The officer has returned to full duty. (2016)
$1,275,000 – Judgment in favor of Law Firm against individual who refused to pay for legal services performed after their attorney obtained a multimillion-dollar recovery on their behalf. (2004)
$2,400,000 – Verdict against the liability insurer of an underinsured motorist for damages awarded in wrongful death trial in excess of available insurance. (2007)
$900,000 – Settlement from the homeowner’s insurer of the operator of an airboat which struck a spectator at an unsanctioned airboat race. The insurer denied their policy provided coverage for the loss. (2002)
Hillsborough County judgment in favor of subcontractors against general contractor for full amount claimed in Plaintiff’s lawsuit as well as interest, court costs, and legal fees. (2018)
Hillsborough County verdict in favor of general contractor for full amount claimed in lawsuit for construction services and awarding costs, interest, and substantial legal fees against Tampa attorneys who owned a popular night club and refused to pay its contractors (2015)
Hillsborough County verdict in favor of employer enforcing non-compete agreement (1990)
Pinellas County verdict in favor of investor against realtor/land developer for full amount of investment plus legal fees. (2016)
Multi-Million dollar confidential settlement in the excess of all available insurance against a national news organization for the negligent operation of a motor vehicle by its independent contractor deliveryman. Suwannee County (1990)
Hillsborough County verdict against business owner awarding treble damages, legal fees, and costs for civil racketeering and civil theft (1988)
Hillsborough County verdict awarding all costs of repair, full damages, and legal fees against manufacturer of leaking underground fuel storage tanks (1988)
Confidential settlement with liability insurance carrier for 50% more than available bodily injury liability coverage. Marion County. (2021)
$750,000 – Hillsborough County verdict against commercial property owner for worker injury (1992)
Hillsborough County verdict against South Tampa nightclub for assault on patron including legal fees and costs. (1991)
Hillsborough County verdict against North Tampa night club for assault on patron including legal fees and costs. (1991)
Hillsborough County verdict in favor of local business and against accounting firm for overcharging the client. (1992)
Confidential Settlement in favor of group of farmers and tree nursery-owners across Hillsborough, Pasco, Polk, Orange, and Hernando county who claimed their crops and plants were destroyed or damaged by a chemical manufacturer (1992)
Confidential Settlement for a product liability claim against Otis Elevator.