In 2016, a Nemaha county jury awarded $2.64 billion to the family of Ty Thomas, the victim in a wrongful death suit. It became known as the largest civil verdict in Nebraska history. The attorney for the family of Ty Thomas, Vince Powers, reached out to Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson asking him to take another look at the case. In 2017, Peterson filed murder charges against the defendant.

Great honor to be one of fifty firms in the U.S. to be recognized by country’s leading legal newspaper. Elizabeth, Kathleen and I are grateful to our clients for giving us the privilege to represent them.

Dear Mr. Powers:

Congratulations to your firm on being selected to our third annual list of America’s Elite Trial Lawyers by The National Law Journal and Law.com.

The 2016 Elite Trial Lawyers report includes two components: a list of the 50 firms with the largest total recoveries over a 12-month period, compiled by ALM’s VerdictSearch and a separate list of 35 firms recognized as finalists in eight categories reflecting a range of plaintiffs work. .. we again wanted to express our congratulations. We hope to see you in New York. Sincerely,

Beth Frerking Editor in Chief
The National Law Journal

The National Law Journal

Danhauer v. J.K. Tooling, 8th Circuit Court of Appeals; Case No. 00-1736 Plaintiff’s discrimination jury verdict affirmed on appeal without comment.

Great honor to be one of fifty firms in the U.S. to be recognized by country’s leading legal newspaper. Elizabeth, Kathleen and I are grateful to our clients for giving us the privilege to represent them.

Dear Mr. Powers:

Congratulations to your firm on being selected to our third annual list of America’s Elite Trial Lawyers by The National Law Journal and Law.com.

The 2016 Elite Trial Lawyers report includes two components: a list of the 50 firms with the largest total recoveries over a 12-month period, compiled by ALM’s VerdictSearch and a separate list of 35 firms recognized as finalists in eight categories reflecting a range of plaintiffs work. .. we again wanted to express our congratulations. We hope to see you in New York.

Pfister v. Bryan Memorial Hospital Title VII, Retaliation Plaintiff’s Counsel, $1,482,315.00;

Doe v. Gunny’s, 256 Neb. 653 Verdict for rape victim against building owner upheld

Sacco v. Round Table, 253 Neb. 9 Efficient intervening cause jury instruction disapproved

Winslow v. Hammer, 247 Neb. 418 Adopts restatement (second) torts 491 (c)

A.W. v. Lancaster County School Dist. 0001, 280 Neb. 205, 784 N.W.2d 907 (Neb. 2010), Nebraska Supreme Court; adopted Foreseeability and Duty under Restatement (3rd) of Torts

Gavin v. Rogers Tech Servs. 276 Neb. 437 (2008) Secured reversal of summary judgment by trial court in sexual harassment/constructive discharge case for employee.

Case of first impression by Nebraska Supreme Court: “The element of intending to force the employee to quit is satisfied if the employer could have reasonably foreseen that the employee would quit as a result of its actions.”

Lacey v. State of Nebraska, 278 Neb. 87 (2009) Affirmed verdict for employee in sexual harassment case.

Case of first impression by Nebraska Supreme Court heard: ” We cannot conclude, as a matter of law, that the State exercised reasonable care to prevent and correct the sexual harassment…”

Garcia v. Monument Management Group, U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska 4:05 CV3139 (2006) Summary Judgment granted in favor of employee on liability in gender and pregnancy discrimination case.

Shlien v. Board of Regents, University of Nebraska, 263 Neb. 465, 640 N.W.2d 643 (Neb. 2002) Case of first impression, internet privacy.

Koch v. Norris Public Power District, 10 Neb. App. 453, 632 N.W.2d 391 (Neb. pp. 2001) Res Ipsa Loquiter.

Logsdon v. ISCO, 260 Neb. 624, 618 N.W.2d 667 (Neb. 2000) Unexplained fall, Workers’ Compensation.

“Both Ms. Neary and Mr. Powers enjoy a well-deserved reputation in the community as excellent trial attorneys and advocates and this case presents no exception.”

It is hereby ORDERED that Defendants’ Motion for New Trial is overruled; the judgment entered in favor of the Plaintiff Elizabeth Mays and against the Defendants Midnite Dreams, Inc. and Daniel Robinson, jointly and severally, in the amount of $7,586.78, is amended to add attorney’s fees and costs pursuant to the Nebraska Wage Payment and Collection Act, Neb. Rev. Stat. § 48-1231, and the Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. § 216(b), in the amount of $28,449.70, for a total judgment of $36,036.48. Post judgment interest shall accrue at the statutory rate of 2.927%.”

Dated this 31st day of May, 2017.

BY THE COURT:
Susan I.Strong

Link to article here

Jeff Hall was left with severe injuries, and nearly two dozen students were hurt.

“This was a tragic occurrence for all involved. There is no joy in prevailing, just recognition that Jeff can start to put his life back together,” attorney Vince Powers said.

District Judge Steven Burns originally found the school district 50 percent liable for the crash, the county 20 percent liable and Hall 30 percent. He awarded Hall $1.1 million, reduced to $770,000 to account for his liability.

A medical helicopter crash in Norfolk that killed three people in 2002 has led to the largest wrongful death settlement in Nebraska history.

Lancaster County District Court Judge Steven Burns accepted the terms of the $18.4 million settlement Tuesday, said Gary C. Robb of Kansas City, Mo., an attorney representing the families of those who died.

Killed in the crash were emergency room nurse Lori Schrempp, 41, of Yankton, S.D.; pilot Phil Herring, 43, of Lincoln; and paramedic Patrick Scollard, 40, of Sioux City, Iowa.

Co-counsel for the families, Vince Powers of Lincoln, described the settlement as the largest in the state’s history by a “significant factor.” Powers is a former president of the Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys.

The size of the settlement is a reflection, Powers said, of the quality of the people who lost their lives. Nebraska, he said, does not allow punitive awards but instead requires that an award be “compensatory” and examine what was lost with the loss of the lives.

“These were three people engaged in life-saving efforts; they’re the best (we) had,” he said.

Robb said another factor in the size of the settlement was that those on the helicopter knew for about 30 to 45 seconds that they would die. Nebraska, he said, allows apprehension of death to be a factor in the size of a settlement.

An attorney representing the defendants could not be reached for comment. Responsibility for the settlement will be split among several defendants, with Eurocopter France paying a significant portion, Robb said.

The LifeNet of the Heartland helicopter had just left a Norfolk hospital June 21, 2002, when it crashed at the airport.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the likely cause of the crash was a problem with the tail ro tor, gusty winds and the pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter.

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