WASHINGTON — Accident victims and others who win jury verdicts of more than $1 million receive less than half of the amount they are awarded because of reductions on appeal and other factors, the Assn. of Trial Lawyers of America said Friday.
A study conducted for the lawyers' group concluded that it is inaccurate to emphasize the size of jury verdicts, as the Reagan Administration is doing in favoring revision of the nation's liability laws.
"Focusing on verdicts is quite misleading," said Ivy Broder, a professor of economics at the American University in Washington who conducted the study. "Settlements differ significantly from verdicts."
Awards May Be Lowered
Jury awards sometimes are uncollectible and may be lowered by a judge or limited under state law. They also may be lowered during settlement negotiations designed to preclude appeals by the defendant, the study indicated.
