At our firm, justice is never just a word: it’s a mission. And today, we are proud to announce that our $71.95 million jury verdict on behalf of the family of Hernan Murillo has been named one of the Top 100 Verdicts of 2024 by ALM and featured on Law.com.
This honor comes after a powerful Dallas County jury trial in which we represented the widow and four children of Mr. Murillo, a 40-year-old worker who tragically lost his life in 2019 after falling 30 feet from a scissor lift while on the job. The defendant, Irving-based Walker Engineering and its subsidiary Walker Industrial, offered a $1.25 million settlement before trial. But we knew Hernan’s life, and the catastrophic loss suffered by his family, was worth far more.
We refused to accept anything less than the true value of this case. For Hernan. For his family. And for the principle that worker safety is non-negotiable.
Our team built the case that revealed the full extent of the defendants’ failures. In the courtroom, we presented compelling evidence, including internal video footage from the facility, that made clear the liability of Walker Engineering. The jury listened and delivered a resounding message with a $71.95 million verdict.
“Hernan’s family has endured an unimaginable loss, and while no verdict can bring him back, this case was always about holding the right people accountable and delivering justice,” said firm founder Charla Aldous. “We were proud to stand with his family in the courtroom, and we’re deeply honored that ALM recognized the significance of this verdict by including it among the nation’s top 100.”
The case Laura Lopez et al. vs. Frito-Lay, Inc. stood out nationally, earning its place among the country’s most significant verdicts in 2024. This case, tried in the 44th Civil District Court in Dallas County, is now part of a distinguished legacy of verdicts that have shaped the legal landscape. According to ALM, their annual list is one of the most comprehensive resources tracking significant jury verdicts nationwide. ALM’s Top 100 Verdicts list, featured on Law.com, ranks outcomes based on total jury awards and is considered one of the most comprehensive collections of high-impact cases across the United States. The full list includes cases that span corporate accountability, wrongful death, civil rights, and more. To be counted among them is a deep honor we do not take lightly.
Being named to the Top 100 Verdicts of 2024 means more than national attention. It affirms the importance of standing firm in the pursuit of full and fair justice. For Hernan’s widow and children, this recognition adds yet another layer of validation to the long road they walked, choosing truth over convenience, trial over settlement, and resolution over silence.
To Hernan’s family: thank you for your trust. It was a privilege to fight for your truth. And to our colleagues and peers: this case is a reminder that when we refuse to settle for less, justice can, and does, prevail.
