Description The pandemic upended so much of American society, including our jury pools. Mega verdicts—verdicts that vastly exceed the case’s evidence or assessed value—have spiked since courts re-opened, and the trend does not appear to be slowing. This rise in large verdicts has occurred alongside the spread of conspiracy-based thinking, which experts have identified as one of the strongest predictors of a mega verdict. It has also accompanied the more sophisticated use of anchoring techniques to drive jurors to award higher amounts. In this presentation, appellate law expert Derek Stikeleather provides some fascinating insights into these phenomena and offers advice on how defense counsel can better protect their healthcare clients.