December 1, 1997    NCJ 165810

Presents findings from the Federal Judicial Centers, Integrated Data Base (Civil) for fiscal years 1994 and 1995. The Center derives the data for the Integrated Data Base (Civil, Criminal, and Appeals) from files provided by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AOUSC). This report examines tort cases terminated in United States District Courts by jury and bench trial. Of the 82,333 tort cases terminated in U.S. district courts during fiscal years 1994 and 1995, 4% or 3,356 were decided by a completed jury or bench trial. Medical malpractice claims comprised 8% of tort trial cases, and product liability cases including asbestos suits, 16%. Overall, plaintiffs won 43% of the tort cases decided by trials. Of the 1,256 tort trial cases in which the plaintiff won monetary damages, the median award was $140,000. The median case processing time for all tort trial cases from filing to termination was 18.1 months.

Part of the Federal Tort Trials and Verdicts Series

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