Jurisdiction Intelligence Report
Wrongful Death Case Values in Missouri (2026)
Data-driven verdict and settlement analysis for Wrongful Death cases in Missouri. Median outcome: $256.0M across 2 tracked cases.
Verdict Distribution
| Range | Cases | Percent |
|---|
| $5M+ | 2 | 100% |
Key Valuation Factors
Degree of defendant's negligence or recklessness (corporate vs. individual)Economic damages including lost future earnings and financial supportAvailability and size of punitive damages given egregious conductMissouri's $400,000 non-economic damages cap and applicable exceptionsPlaintiff's comparative fault percentage under pure comparative negligence rules
Key Trends & Insights
Based on a limited but notable dataset of two tracked Wrongful Death cases in Missouri, outcomes have been extraordinarily large, with a median and mean of $256 million and a range spanning $50 million to $462 million, suggesting high-value verdicts driven by egregious liability facts or significant punitive components. The Williams v. Wabash National Corp. verdict of $462 million in 2024 reflects Missouri juries' willingness to deliver substantial awards against corporate defendants in catastrophic death cases, potentially exceeding the state's $400,000 non-economic damages cap through punitive or economic damage components. With only two data points, caution is warranted in drawing broad conclusions, but the trend indicates Missouri courts may be receptive to large wrongful death awards when corporate negligence and severe harm are clearly established.
Notable Cases
2025 · Expert Institute
Expert Institute reports a confidential $50 million settlement in Missouri involving the death of a young man with intellectual disabilities after a respiratory device failed and the supplier allegedly did not promptly replace it or provide a loaner. The defendants are not named in the article due t
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2024 · Missouri Lawyers Media / AAJ Top Verdicts 2024
Families of Taron Tailor (30) and Nicholas Perkins (23) received $462M verdict ($450M punitive, $12M compensatory) after their car went under a 2004 Wabash trailer on I-55. Jury found Wabash 65% at fault for failing to build safer rear impact guards for 30 years. Punitive damages later reduced to $1
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