Sometimes, a trial is necessary in order to reach a fair settlement. That was the case for one 79-year-old man who was badly hurt during an otherwise nice walk at the mall. A kiddie ride had been set up in an open area of the mall, with a ramp leading up to the ride. That ramp was in the walkway and was nearly the same color as the floor. Before the man walked through that area, the owners of a nearby store had reported to the mall security that they had seen numerous shoppers trip and fall over the ramp. Despite this warning, the ride operators took no safety precautions. When the man walked through that area, he tripped and fell. His medical bills exceeded $80,000.

To the man’s lawyers, it appeared to be a clear case of negligence - but the defendant denied liability and offered no settlement at all. His law firm filed suit and prepared the case for trial. Still, the defendant offered no money. The law firm took the case to court. After a two-day trial, the jury returned with a verdict of approximately $170,000.