The National Law Journal, March 28, 2005.

Jury Awards Bus Crash Survivors $70.9 Million

The National Law Journal previously named Sayles Werbner one of the top 5 winningest law firms in the nation.  Last year's court victory, on behalf of several Texas teenagers injured in a horrific bus accident, further solidified the label, and gained the Firm a spot on NLJ's Top 100 Verdicts list.

In June 2002, a church youth group onboard a chartered bus was traveling down the highway, on its way to church camp, when the bus drifted off the road and crashed into a concrete bridge abutment.  The crash killed four children and injured dozens of others.  Later tests showed the driver had cocaine and Valium in his system, was fatigued and had not been properly qualified by the bus company.  The jury found the bus company and its owner liable and awarded $70.9 million to the plaintiffs, including more than $35 million to Sayles Werbner's client, Nick Stout - the largest single amount awarded to any of the plaintiffs.

Other Sayles Werbner cases are getting attention as well.  The Firm heads up an international team of lawyers in a suit against Jordan's Arab Bank, accusing it of providing insurance payments to Hamas suicide bombers.  It's also representing the City of Dallas in a $1 billion claim for back pay brought by police officers and fire fighters.

If past victories are any indication, Sayles Werbner will continue to make headlines throughout 2005.