Two men. Two amputations. One dangerous subway station. In this episode of Trial Bible, host Gennady Voldz welcomes legendary trial attorney Peter S. Thomas to break down how he secured a $103.6 million verdict against the New York City Transit Authority—turning a tragic pattern of negligence at the Spring Street station into a mandate for change. Peter unpacks the strategy behind taking over a retrial, reframing a case involving intoxicated plaintiffs, and exposing the devastating consequences of unchecked speed policies in the subway system. This isn’t just a verdict—it’s a cultural reckoning. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: Why Peter threw out the old trial transcript and started fresh How to reframe juror bias about intoxicated plaintiffs The data-driven strategy behind challenging subway speed policies How to cross-examine for maximum outrage (and impact) The difference between a real study and a “rail sim” How demonstrative evidence and real-time vulnerability drive damage awards Jury conditioning techniques that make asking for 9-figure verdicts possible 📍 KEY MOMENTS: – Trial setup: Two cases, one station, two amputations – Why Peter ignored the prior transcript entirely – Jury selection: owning the facts about alcohol – “You’ve all broken the law”: Crosswalk analogy + relatability – The “struck list” and statistical smoking gun – The aha cross: “Would you slow down 3, 2, or 1 MPH to save a life?” – Transit’s refusal to change policy, even for 12 dangerous stations – Qualified immunity dismantled: no real study, no defense – Defense toxicologist admits: alcohol ≠ fault – Live prosthetic reveal + emotional damage testimony – How to condition a jury for a 9-figure number – The final verdict: $103.6 million – Trial self-care: Peter’s unexpected secret weapon – The ripple effect: gates begin appearing in subway stations 🧰 PJI HIGHLIGHTS FOR YOUR REFERENCE: Duty to a Passenger – PJI 2:161 Comparative Negligence – Intoxicated Person - PJI 2:45 Qualified Immunity - PJI 2:225b Damages: Past Pain & Suffering – PJI 2:280 Damages: Future Pain & Suffering - PJI 2:281 🔎 GUEST CONTACT: Peter S. Thomas – Trial Attorney [Check him out on LinkedIn] https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-thomas-b9850514/ 📩 SUBSCRIBE & SHARE: This episode isn’t just about two cases—it’s about preventing the next one. Share this episode with a colleague who believes in changing the system through the courtroom. Justice rides with those who speak up.
Two men. Two amputations. One dangerous subway station. In this episode of Trial Bible, host Gennady Voldz welcomes legendary trial attorney Peter S. Thomas to break down how he secured a $103.6 million verdict against the New York City Transit Authority—turning a tragic pattern of negligence at the Spring Street station into a mandate for change. Peter unpacks the strategy behind taking over a retrial, reframing a case involving intoxicated plaintiffs, and exposing the devastating consequences of unchecked speed policies in the subway system. This isn’t just a verdict—it’s a cultural reckoning.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:
📍 KEY MOMENTS:
– Trial setup: Two cases, one station, two amputations
– Why Peter ignored the prior transcript entirely
– Jury selection: owning the facts about alcohol
– “You’ve all broken the law”: Crosswalk analogy + relatability
– The “struck list” and statistical smoking gun
– The aha cross: “Would you slow down 3, 2, or 1 MPH to save a life?”
– Transit’s refusal to change policy, even for 12 dangerous stations
– Qualified immunity dismantled: no real study, no defense
– Defense toxicologist admits: alcohol ≠ fault
– Live prosthetic reveal + emotional damage testimony
– How to condition a jury for a 9-figure number
– The final verdict: $103.6 million
– Trial self-care: Peter’s unexpected secret weapon
– The ripple effect: gates begin appearing in subway stations
🧰 PJI HIGHLIGHTS FOR YOUR REFERENCE:
Duty to a Passenger – PJI 2:161
Comparative Negligence – Intoxicated Person - PJI 2:45
Qualified Immunity - PJI 2:225b
Damages: Past Pain & Suffering – PJI 2:280
Damages: Future Pain & Suffering - PJI 2:281
🔎 GUEST CONTACT:
Peter S. Thomas – Trial Attorney [Check him out on LinkedIn] https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-thomas-b9850514/
📩 SUBSCRIBE & SHARE:
This episode isn’t just about two cases—it’s about preventing the next one. Share this episode with a colleague who believes in changing the system through the courtroom. Justice rides with those who speak up.