08/26/2026
--- "Nuclear Verdicts" Explode! Increase 40.7% in 2025 ---
According to a new report from Marathon Strategies, there were nearly 200 verdicts resulting in an award of at least $10 million in 2025. Verdicts like this against corporate defendants have come to be known as nuclear verdicts, and the total from 2025βa 40.7% increase over 2024βis the highest Marathon has seen since 2009.
'These developments suggest that while a state can change rules in the courtroom, the court of public opinion is another matter entirely,' Marathon said."
So-called "nuclear" verdicts did not subside in 2025. In fact, it was quite the opposite. According to a new report from strategic communications and