$860 Million Trial Win Recognized Among Largest 2023 Texas Verdicts

Lyons & Simmons co-founder Michael Lyons was part of the team that secured a verdict for the family of a woman killed in a crane collapse

DALLAS – In April 2023, a Dallas County jury returned an $860 million verdict in a well-publicized wrongful death trial involving the collapse of a tower crane onto an apartment building that tragically killed a young woman. The verdict has been recognized by TopVerdict.com as the second-largest verdict in Texas in 2023. Michael Lyons was part of the successful trial team that included Jason Itkin and Cory Itkin of Arnold & Itkin, LLP and Jonathan Clark of Glasheen, Valles & Inderman, LLP.

Lyons, co-founder of the trial law firm Lyons & Simmons, was a member of the team representing the parents and estate of Kiersten Smith, the young woman who was killed when a tower crane from a nearby construction site collapsed during a 2019 storm, tearing through her downtown Dallas apartment complex.

“It was an honor and a privilege to get to be a part of this team,” says Lyons. “This company refused to take any responsibility for Kiersten’s death. Even today, after the verdict, Greystar will not take responsibility. I am glad this jury spoke clearly and unequivocally in holding Greystar responsible for the death of this beautiful and talented young woman.”

According to trial testimony, real estate developer Greystar had negligently allowed the crane to fall out of inspection and failed to supervise the crane operator who did not properly place the crane out of service prior to the outbreak of severe weather, which had been predicted days in advance of the accident. The case was Williams, et al. v. Bigge Crane & Rigging, Co., et al.

The full list of the Top Verdicts, Settlements, and Bench Awards in Texas in 2023 can be found at https://topverdict.com/lists/2023/texas.

“Texans care about accountability. Here, corporate responsibility is just as important as personal responsibility. What this verdict illustrates is that this company’s conduct needed a course correction,” Lyons says.

Lyons & Simmons has dedicated its practice to representing victims of catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death. That dedication has earned the firm a reputation for big results in important cases.

This is the second consecutive year that a Lyons & Simmons case has earned top verdict recognition. The firm’s $10.1 million medical negligence trial win against Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Flower Mound was recognized as a national Top 100 verdict and a Top 50 verdict in Texas, and among the nation’s “Most Impressive Plaintiffs Verdicts of 2022.” Earlier this year, Lyons was part of a trial team that secured a $37.5 million verdict in a trucking fatality case.

About Lyons & Simmons LLP

Dallas-based Lyons & Simmons, LLP is a trial boutique representing clients in wrongful death, personal injury, products liability, and complex "bet-the-company" business litigation matters across the country.