Nationwide Insurance appeals $42.8M judgment to Mahoning Co. woman

YOUNGSTOWN — Christine Lucarell walked away from the Mahoning County Common Pleas Court with a $42.8 million verdict against Nationwide Insurance company, but now the company is asking for a new trial claiming there were lies told to jurors and other procedural irregularities.

An eight-member, all-male jury spent two weeks listening to evidence in the case before returning a finding in Lucarell’s favor. She had been seeking $5 million in compensatory damages and an undetermined amount in punitive damages, but the jury exceeded that amount granting Lucarell $36 million in punitive damages and $6.8 million in compensatory damages.

Attorneys for Nationwide Thursday filed several motions in county court asking the judge to set aside the verdict and enter a finding on their behalf. The company claims Lucarell perjured herself on the witness stand and other procedural matters that all led to an inflamed jury.

For details of the appeal, read Friday's Vindicator and Vindy.com