Anchoring

Prohibiting plaintiffs and their attorneys from suggesting arbitrary and specific damage amounts will help prevent excessive jury awards influenced by inflated requests.

The Problem

Plaintiffs’ attorneys often use “anchoring” tactics by suggesting exorbitant damage amounts during trials, leading juries to award disproportionately high verdicts, sometimes referred to as “nuclear verdicts®,” disconnected from actual harm suffered.

ATRA’s Position

Implement rules prohibiting plaintiffs from suggesting specific damage amounts during trials to ensure fairer outcomes.

Search Through ATRA Reforms

Search through all of ATRA's reforms around Anchoring

No related legislation or reform items found for this issue.



Anchoring News and Press

Explore ATRA's most recent press releases and blogs around Anchoring

Gov. Kemp Signs Major Tort Reform Bills in ‘Judicial Hellhole’ Georgia

Today, the American Tort Reform Association celebrates Gov. Brian Kemp sig...

Georgia Senate Acts to Restore Fairness in Civil Justice System

Last week, the Georgia Senate passed critical tort reform legislation on a...

Search Resources

Search through all of ATRA's Amicus Briefs, Reports, and Other Resources around Anchoring
Search All
States
Status
Post Types
Date
CSX Transportation, Inc. v. Carey, II et. al.
(KY., filed August 26, 2025) : Arguing that in a wide range of cases, identification of suspicious claims activity has led to investigations that hav...
Kentucky
  • Case Not Yet Decided iconCase Not Yet Decided
Comment on “A Critical Review of Greenhouse Gas Emissions on the U.S. Climate” Report
This comment is on behalf of the American Tort Reform Association (ATRA), a broad-based coalition of businesses, associations, and professional firms...
Gill v. Exxon Mobil Corp.
(Pa. App., filed June 23, 2025): Arguing that trial courts must zealously ensure the integrity and fairness of the jury system throughout the trial p...
Pennsylvania
  • Case Not Yet Decided iconCase Not Yet Decided
CareFirst of Maryland, Inc. v. Johnson & Johnson and Janssen Biotech Inc.
(E.D. Va., filed August 15, 2025): Arguing that Plaintiffs urge an unprecedented theory that a defendant can violate antitrust law by incidentally a...
Eastern District of Virginia
  • Court Ruled in Favor of ATRA's Position iconCourt Ruled in Favor of ATRA's Position
Berk v. Choy
(U.S., filed August 7, 2025): Arguing that State legislatures enacted affidavit of merit statutes to prevent meritless lawsuits that threaten the ava...
SCOTUS
  • Court Ruled Against ATRA's Position iconCourt Ruled Against ATRA's Position
U.S. ex rel. Penelow v. Janssen Products LP.
(3rd Circ., filed July 21, 2025): Arguing that the qui tam provisions violate Article II’s vesting clause, the Appointments Clause, and the Take Care...
3rd Circuit
  • Case Not Yet Decided iconCase Not Yet Decided
Anne Arundel County v. Express Scripts
(Md., filed May 29, 2025): Arguing that the Court should join other states in affirming that public nuisance law cannot be converted into an all-enco...
Maryland
  • Case Not Yet Decided iconCase Not Yet Decided
Geico Casualty Company v. Jilianne Warner, et. al.
(Ky. App., filed May 28, 2025): Arguing that the court erred in finding that heavy motor trucks, such as tow trucks, are inherently dangerous.  The t...
Kentucky
  • Case Not Yet Decided iconCase Not Yet Decided
Monsanto v. Durnell
(U.S., filed May 9, 2025): Arguing that the Missouri Court of Appeals and other appellate courts have gutted FIFRA’s express preemption provision, al...
SCOTUS
  • Case Not Yet Decided iconCase Not Yet Decided
Gill v. Exxon Mobil Corp. 
(Pa. App., filed June 23, 2025) Arguing that trial courts must zealously ensure the integrity and fairness of the jury system throughout the trial pr...



The American Tort Reform Association is the nation’s first organization dedicated exclusively to reforming the civil justice system through education and legislative enactment.

To receive occasional updates from ATRA, enter your email address:
By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and consent to receive updates.
© 2026 ATRA. All rights reserved.