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$3,650,000 Largest Settlement in 1970!

I found this settlement data on Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney the Reno Nevada Injury Lawyers who have been practicing law for over a quarter of a century.  This case was the largest settlement in 1970 and was an impressive one at that.  $3.65 million at that time would be worth MUCH more today!   At minimum this was in todays value a $15-$25 million dollar settlement.

General Electric v. Bush, 88 Nev. 360, 498 P.2d 366, (S.Ct. 1972)
After the trial in this case, the firm and BDJ Law's co-counsel, James F. Boccardo, received national attention and was featured in the January 7, 1970, issue of Time Magazine. The case involved catastrophic injuries to a man crushed by a heavy piece of equipment in a mining accident.  A jury verdict of $3,650,000 was the highest award ever attained on behalf of an individual plaintiff in United States history at the time. This case established two major legal precedents in Nevada in product liability and damages.  It rejected the defense of assumption of risk and contributory negligence in strict products liability cases and was the first case to allow damages ($500,000) for loss of consortium on behalf of a spouse.