Item: Law Office of Michael F. Pezzulli
Rating: 5
Author: J. Williamson

$40 Million Settlement is the Largest Financial Award Judgement Issued to a Domestic Violence Survivor

“My Life is not Worthless”

Michael Pezzulli and Doug Mulder represented a Dallas woman who was savagely beaten and left for dead by her then-boyfriend. In April 2016, she was awarded the largest financial award judgement in US history for domestic abuse. It was the 44th highest jury verdict in the United States for 2016.

“To me, it means that man who tried to kill me and mutilated me and tortured me for five hours deemed me worthless,” Maria Escamilla, 46, told The Dallas Morning News (here). “But the jury disagreed. My life is not worthless.”

Making a Statement by Setting a Verdict Award Record

While the verdict is a record setter, both Ms. Escamilla and her attorneys are realistic about collecting on the judgement. Also from The Dallas Morning News interview: “It was really to send the message that Dallas County is not going to tolerate family violence anymore,” Pezzulli said. “The jury was angry.”

To read the full story about Ms. Escamilla’s experience and the $40M judgment, see the The Dallas Morning News here, or see these additional stories:

★★★★★

"My case was complicated. My opponents were very high profile individuals with the ability to hire the best attorneys to defend their egregious actions. Michael Pezzulli did not back down, and my verdict was very favorable. He is a strategist with amazing skills. Most of the time he had them beaten before they ever entered the courtroom!" J. Williamson

"Michael Pezzulli is as good as it gets. You'll be hard pressed to find a litigator with not just the know-how but the experience in the courtroom to back it up. Ethically, you can be assured he is one who upholds the Texas Lawyer's Creed. And as a mediator who has mediated for Mr. Pezzulli, I know that he comes prepared, prepares the mediator, and most importantly, prepares his client." Barry Wernick

"My husband and I have known Michael Pezzulli for over 40 years. When representing us we have found him to be very thorough, decisive and, to our benefit, quite intimidating to the opposing attorney when necessary. He has an uncanny way of communicating to members of the jury and I highly recommend him to anyone who needs legal representation." Jan Richey

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