Some law firms are comfortable with having a reputation for settling cases. Bill Stone, senior member of Boone & Stone, isn’t one of them. His firm has a well-earned reputation as a firm of trial lawyers, and that’s the only way he’ll have it.
“We only settle if the offer is reasonable for the client,” he says. “But if everybody knows you’re willing to go to trial, the chances of reasonably settling the case get a lot better.”
Stone describes a case the firm handled to make his point. A tractor-trailer driver ran a stop sign and crashed into another car, killing a 46-year-old businessman. The firm presented a settlement offer to a “big insurance company from New York” that held the policy for the trucking company. “They blew it off,” says Stone. “That told us they wanted to go to court, so we did.
“We promise we will aggressively pursue the case and put the resources and talent into doing what’s in the best interest of our client.”
In addition to the $41 million verdict, the judge added another $15 million for interest, court costs, and attorney fees.”
“All I can say is be careful what you ask for because you might not like the outcome. If our opposition wants a trial, we make sure they get their money’s worth.” The verdict stands as the largest wrongful death award in Georgia.
Unlike Other Firms
A key component to the firm’s successful record is their team approach. Stone calls it “unusual” because every lawyer works on every case, in some capacity.
“We have a group of people who have similar and diverse talents. Our team approach assigns tasks to the people who are best suited to accomplish those things,” he says. “That way we maximize the talent, and our whole is greater than the sum of our parts.”
As a result, the team excels in both legal and trial strategy. Stone says every case starts with a plan that’s repeatedly revised and improved throughout resolution or trial.
The Cases Nobody Wants
Boone & Stone specializes in complex civil litigation, such as industrial accidents, business fraud, racketeering, and airplane crashes. Frequently characterized as taking the cases nobody else is willing to touch, the firm gets results. In 2014 alone, they resolved over $100 million in claims.
“Nobody can guarantee a client a specific outcome, there are too many variables. Anyone who guarantees a certain result isn’t telling the truth,” says Stone. “But we promise we will aggressively pursue the case and put the resources and talent into doing what’s in the best interest of our client.”
In addition to receiving the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory’s highest rating (AV) for legal ability and integrity, David Boone and Bill Stone are both Life Members and past presidents of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association. Boone & Stone enjoys a U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” Tier 1 rating for 2017 as plaintiff’s personal injury litigation lawyers in the Atlanta, Georgia, market.
