A 90-Second Police Chase That Led to a $37.5M Verdict

In this episode of The Trial Bible, we break down a high-stakes police pursuit case that resulted in a $37.5 million jury verdict—every dollar the attorneys asked for. What began as a split-second decision by law enforcement turned into a devastating crash that changed a man’s life forever. But in the courtroom, those “split seconds” were slowed down into a series of choices—each one examined, challenged, and ultimately held accountable. Joining us are trial attorneys Robert Chaiken and Paul Perkins, who walk us through how they built and tried this case from start to finish. 🔑 What You’ll Learn: How to frame a case around decision-making vs. “split-second judgment” The two key liability theories in police pursuit cases: Lack of reasonable suspicion to initiate the chase Reckless conduct during the pursuit Why holding back your strongest fact (124 MPH average speed) can win a case The strategy behind calling adverse witnesses first How to use jury questions as a “scoreboard” during trial Voir dire techniques for handling pro-police and anti-police bias How to humanize your client through family testimony and simple exhibits A powerful approach to damages: $1M per year framing Why sometimes your “main theory” isn’t what ultimately wins the case ⚖️ Case Highlights: Early morning police pursuit of the wrong vehicle Chase lasted ~90 seconds over 3.1 miles Average speed: 124 MPH Six intersections at high speed No working dashcam from the pursuing officer Catastrophic injuries to an innocent driver Jury finds recklessness and awards $37.5 million 💡 Key Takeaway: Great trial lawyers don’t just tell the story—they control the pace at which the jury understands it.