S3 Eps 9 - Burned Into Memory: Inside the $100M CPS Energy Verdict

The Dirty Verdict

In this high-stakes, high-impact episode of The Dirty Verdict, Peter Taaffe, Kyle Herbert, and Bill Ogden sit down with powerhouse Dallas trial lawyers Chris Simmons and Mike Lyons to talk about one of the most jaw-dropping jury verdicts in recent memory: a $109.5 million win against CPS Energy following a devastating natural gas explosion in San Antonio.

From digging through decades-old utility records to overcoming a defense strategy that tried to deny the undeniable, Chris and Mike break down how they built the case, connected with the jury, and ultimately delivered justice for a mother and son with intellectual disabilities who survived the blast.

You’ll also hear stories from their early careers, the cases that pushed them to switch sides from defense to plaintiff, and why juries today are fed up with corporate BS.

👉 Whether you're a trial junkie or just love courtroom drama, this one’s got it all.

🔥 Episode Highlights:

• 00:03:00 – A look at recent big verdicts: Astroworld, crane collapse, Encore
• 00:04:00 – Dallas vs. Houston culture war: Who really runs Texas?
• 00:08:00 – Mike & Chris share how they met and teamed up in Dallas
• 00:14:00 – The moments that made them switch from defense to plaintiff’s work
• 00:17:00 – What’s fueling today’s massive jury verdicts? (Hint: It’s not just gas)
• 00:26:00 – Inside the CPS explosion case: victims, facts, and the gas company’s failing defense
• 00:43:00 – Voir dire strategies that flipped the case
• 00:50:00 – How the $60M settlement was struck while the jury was deliberating
• 00:54:00 – Dallas gas explosions: the next battleground?

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