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Nuclear verdicts against companies hit record high in 2025

Marathon Strategies says the combined value of verdicts of at least $10 million exceeded $25.6 billion last year, with 40 “thermonuclear” awards above $100 million.

Reported · Written up by our desk · Industry & Deals

Nuclear verdicts against corporate defendants reached their highest annual total since 2009 in 2025, according to Marathon Strategies, which analyzed 190 lawsuits producing awards of at least $10 million. The communications and research firm found the number of such large verdicts rose 40.7% from 2024. The combined amount of those awards topped $25.6 billion last year, the report said.

Marathon defined “thermonuclear” verdicts as those exceeding $100 million, which totaled more than 40 cases for a second straight year, including four awards above $1 billion. It also reported that 68 industries were hit in 2025, up from 55 in 2024 and 48 in 2023.

The report also highlighted state-level totals, with Georgia leading at $4.9 billion across 10 cases, driven by two products liability awards exceeding $2 billion each against Ford Motor Co. and Bayer AG. Nevada followed with $4.3 billion across three cases, which Marathon attributed largely to litigation tied to the now-defunct bottled water maker AffinityLifestyles and its Real Water brand.

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