Eight-figure verdicts appear to be on the rise in Pennsylvania, and some trial lawyers say the uptick in high-value plaintiff wins stems from a coronavirus pandemic-era shift in juror sensibilities.

Marc Perry, principal at Post & Schell, was on the defense side of an $18.1 million trip-and-fall verdict in late August. From Perry’s anecdotal experience, the pandemic seemed to have been an inflection point, sparking high-value verdicts from jurors motivated by a desire to help plaintiffs and hold defendants accountable.