Juries Are Thinking Differently
In 2025, juries are not just deciding who’s right and wrong. They are deciding what kind of behavior they want to see in the world.
Jurors now expect companies to take responsibility. They are quicker to punish corporations that cut corners. They don’t want long excuses. They want action, honesty, and real care for people.
When companies fall short, juries hit hard.
Big Verdicts Are Getting Bigger
The numbers don’t lie. According to the National Center for State Courts, the average jury award in workplace injury and wrongful death cases has increased by 40% since 2015.
Punitive damages are rising too. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce reports that state court punitive awards have grown by over 35% in the last ten years.
In a recent Texas case, a jury awarded $640 million to the family of a man killed in a crane accident. The defense had offered $6.9 million. The jury chose a number 90 times higher.
That case was tried by The Buzbee Law Firm. The verdict became national news and a warning to every company watching: take safety seriously or pay the price.
What’s Behind the Change in Sentiment?
1. People Are Fed Up
Jurors see corporate mistakes in the news every week. A data breach here. A chemical spill there. Unsafe trucks. Faulty equipment. Delayed recalls.
People are tired of hearing “we’re investigating” after something goes wrong. They expect better. And when they don’t get it, they use the only power they have—verdicts.
2. Social Media Moves Faster Than Courtrooms
Even before a case is heard, people are already talking about it online. That shapes public opinion—and that opinion follows jurors into the courtroom.
When a company shows a pattern of ignoring problems, people remember. They connect the dots. And they want to stop it.
3. Juries Want to Set an Example
Jurors want companies to change. They want safety policies improved, executives replaced, and bad practices fixed. If a fine won’t do it, they’ll hand out a number that will.
One juror from a 2024 trucking case said, “We made it big on purpose. We wanted every company in that industry to hear about it.”
The Legal Strategy Must Adapt
Speak Like a Human, Not a Lawyer
Juries respond to clarity. If your case is full of technical terms and legal buzzwords, you’re losing them.
Lawyers must explain things simply. What happened. Why it happened. Who had the power to stop it—and didn’t.
Leave out the fluff. Stick to real words. Juries notice when you’re talking around the truth.
Make the Client Real
If your client is a person—not a business—make their story count. Don’t just show injuries or bills. Show their life. Show birthdays they missed. Show how their routines changed. Juries connect with the small things.
If your client is a company, show the humans behind it. Show the effort. Show the policy changes. Show the real steps taken to fix problems. If there’s none, expect the worst.
Prepare for Emotion, Not Just Facts
Logic alone won’t save a case anymore. Emotion matters. If the jury feels anger, grief, or betrayal, those feelings will shape the verdict.
Trial teams must prep for this. Not just with slides and evidence—but with awareness of how the story feels to a stranger.
Corporate Leaders Need to Pay Attention
This shift doesn’t just affect lawyers. It affects executives, risk managers, and board members. The old ways of hiding behind a settlement don’t work anymore.
Here’s what companies should do now:
1. Fix Problems Early
If there’s a safety issue, fix it fast. Waiting for a lawsuit is too late. Juries will see the delay as negligence—even if it was just bad timing.
2. Document Everything
If you made a fix, write it down. Track your decisions. Save proof. In court, if it’s not written down, it didn’t happen.
3. Rethink Insurance Coverage
A $10 million policy might not cut it anymore. Companies should review coverage caps and adjust based on the real risk they carry.
4. Train Leaders for Crisis Response
When something goes wrong, how your leaders act will matter later. Teach them how to speak to employees, customers, and regulators. One bad email or memo could cost millions in court.
5. Don’t Assume Settlements Are Cheaper
The math has changed. Going to trial now comes with more risk. If a jury doesn’t like your story, they’ll write their own ending—and it might include a huge check.
What’s Next for Corporate Trials?
Expect more public verdicts. Expect higher damages. Expect more pressure on defense teams to humanize their clients.
Also expect more juries to think beyond the case in front of them. They’re not just deciding for one person anymore. They’re trying to fix the system—one verdict at a time.
Lawyers who ignore jury sentiment in 2025 are walking into court unarmed.
Final Takeaway
Jurors today want accountability. They want proof that companies care. They want to see change.
Lawyers must understand this shift to win. Executives must respect it to survive.
This isn’t about being scared of big numbers. It’s about building systems that stop problems before they end in court.
Because in 2025, if you don’t fix it early, a jury just might fix it for you—and you might not like their solution.
