September 2026’s Biggest Personal Injury Verdicts: Six Cases That Made Headlines
Introduction
September 2026 saw several significant personal injury jury verdicts across the United States, involving child sex trafficking, defective medical devices, catastrophic injuries, police liability, and medical malpractice.
From a $164 million verdict involving hotel-related child sex trafficking to a $40 million award over an allegedly defective implanted medical device, these cases highlight how juries assess corporate responsibility, negligence, safety failures, and the long-term consequences of serious injuries.
September 2026 Personal Injury Verdict Highlights
$164 Million Verdict in Hotel Sex-Trafficking Case
$164 Million Jury Verdict in J.R. Child Sex-Trafficking Case Against Lincoln Bancorp, LLC
On September 24, 2026, a federal jury in Georgia awarded $164 million to J.R., a survivor of child sex trafficking, in a lawsuit against Lincoln Bancorp, LLC, the operator of a Super 8 hotel in College Park. The award included $44 million in compensatory damages and $120 million in punitive damages. The case centered on allegations that the hotel operator knew or should have known about trafficking activity at the property and financially benefited from it.
$40 Million Verdict in Bard PowerPort Product-Liability Case
$40 Million Jury Verdict in Bard PowerPort Catheter Fracture Case in Arizona
On September 4, 2026, a federal jury in Arizona awarded Kimberly Divelbliss $40 million in compensatory damages in a lawsuit involving a Bard PowerPort implanted catheter. She alleged that the catheter fractured and a fragment migrated into her heart, leading to serious cardiac complications and additional medical procedures. The jury found liability on design-defect and failure-to-warn claims but did not award punitive damages.
$32.7 Million Verdict in Michigan Child-Injury Case
$32.7 Million Jury Verdict in Michigan Test-Track Crash Leaves Child Catastrophically Injured
On September 11, 2026, a Michigan jury awarded approximately $32.7 million in Laurie Walker v. Continental Automotive Systems Inc. The case arose from a 2023 crash at an automotive test track in Auburn Hills, where a prototype vehicle struck bystanders during a student field trip. Continental admitted liability, and the trial focused on the damages associated with the injured child's long-term medical consequences.
$30.17 Million Verdict in Sheriff’s Deputy Amputation Case
$30.2 Million Jury Verdict in Clallam County Negligence Case After Deputy Suffers Leg Amputation
On September 17, 2026, a Washington jury returned a gross verdict of $30,176,905 for former sheriff’s deputy Matthew Murphy, who suffered a gunshot injury during mandatory firearms training in 2020. The injury ultimately led to a below-the-knee amputation. The jury assigned 95% of the fault to Clallam County and 5% to Murphy. The award included economic damages, non-economic damages, and compensation for his wife's loss-of-consortium claim.
$11 Million Wrongful-Death Verdict Against LAPD Officers
$11 Million Jury Verdict in Wilver Blanco Wrongful-Death Case Against LAPD Officers
On September 23, 2026, a Los Angeles jury awarded approximately $11 million to the two children of Wilver Blanco Mendoza, who was fatally shot by LAPD officers in May 2024. The jury found the officers liable for battery and negligence, assigning 60% of the responsibility to the officers and 40% to Blanco. The civil verdict differed from earlier official findings that the shooting was justified.
$7.65 Million Medical Malpractice Verdict in Florida
$7.65 Million Jury Verdict in Florida Medical Malpractice Case After Leg Amputation
On September 18, 2026, a Florida jury awarded Rebecca Knowles $7,652,848.18 in a medical malpractice case involving a dislocated knee and an associated arterial blockage. Knowles alleged that delayed treatment contributed to the eventual amputation of her leg. The case focused on whether the medical providers responded appropriately to the vascular injury and whether earlier intervention could have prevented the outcome.