In this blog, written by Laura Fetto of Milestone, we explore the importance of digital settlement administration as nuclear verdicts and large-scale settlements reshape the mass tort landscape.

The Rise of Nuclear Verdicts

Over the past decade, the legal industry has seen a steady increase in extraordinarily large jury awards and settlements, commonly referred to as nuclear verdicts because of their significant financial impact on businesses and even entire industries.

Verdicts that were once considered rare are becoming increasingly visible across the mass tort landscape. Sedgwick’s 2025 Liability Litigation Commentary reports that the average jury verdict now exceeds $51 million. Nuclear verdicts, jury awards greater than $10 million, rose by 52 percent in 2024, while verdicts exceeding $100 million surged by 81.5 percent during the same period. [1]

Landmark cases illustrate how dramatically the financial stakes have grown. Early large-scale litigation, such as the Agent Orange settlement in the 1980s, demonstrated how multi-plaintiff cases could reach unprecedented scale. More recently, product liability cases involving products like Roundup have produced multi-billion-dollar verdicts and settlements, reinforcing the growing magnitude of mass tort outcomes.

But while nuclear verdicts often represent major wins for plaintiffs and their attorneys, they also introduce new operational challenges once the settlement phase begins.

Why Verdicts and Settlements Are Getting Larger

Several trends help explain why nuclear verdicts continue to rise in modern litigation.

• Large corporate defendants and changing public expectations

Many mass tort cases involve large corporate defendants with significant financial resources. When allegations center on product safety, environmental harm, or consumer protection, juries may scrutinize these companies more closely. A 2023 survey found that 62% of potential jurors believe juries play an important role in influencing corporations to improve their behavior. The findings also reflect growing anti-corporate sentiment, with support for punitive damages increasing to 77%. [2]

Consumers increasingly expect transparency, safety, and accountability from corporations. When juries believe companies failed to meet those expectations, verdicts can reflect that sentiment.

• Longer and more complex litigation timelines

Mass tort cases often unfold over many years, involving extensive discovery, expert testimony, and procedural litigation. As cases stretch out, the potential financial exposure can increase significantly.

• Expanding claimant populations

Legal marketing and attorney referral networks now allow firms to connect with potential claimants nationwide, resulting in larger and more geographically diverse plaintiffs groups.

Together, these factors are helping drive the scale of verdicts and settlements.

What Large Settlements Could Mean for Your Firm’s Operations

While nuclear verdicts may signal major victories in the courtroom, they can also create significant administrative demands for plaintiff firms.

Once a settlement is reached, the post-settlement administration phase begins. For large mass tort cases, that process can involve:

• Managing thousands of claimant records
• Processing and reviewing extensive settlement documentation
• Coordinating lien resolution with medical providers or government programs
• Tracking settlement funds and managing payment distribution

Traditional workflows that rely on spreadsheets or manual document management can quickly become overwhelmed by the sheer volume of data involved.

For many firms, these demands can delay settlement distribution and strain internal resources. As a result, many mass tort practices are exploring technology-driven solutions and specialized partners for support.

How Technology Is Transforming Settlement Administration

Digital platforms are becoming essential tools for managing the complexity of large settlements.

Modern legal technology enables firms to centralize claimant data, organize documentation, and track settlement milestones in a single environment. Automation tools can also reduce repetitive administrative tasks and improve consistency across large claimant populations.

Digital settlement platforms can improve efficiency in several key areas:

• Claimant management

Secure systems help firms organize and monitor thousands of claimants without relying on spreadsheets.

• Lien resolution

Technology can help streamline medical or government lien tracking and resolution while improving transparency.

• Administrative workflows

Automation reduces back-office bottlenecks and allows legal teams to focus on case strategy and client service.

With the right systems in place, firms can improve visibility into settlement progress and reduce payment delays.

The Importance of Experienced QSF Administration

Another key component of managing large settlements is partnering with an experienced qualified settlement fund (QSF) administrator. QSF administrators help manage the financial and logistical components of settlement distribution, including:

• Digital settlement payments
• Claimant payment coordination
• Financial reporting and compliance management

Digital payment systems also help address a common challenge in large claimant populations. Some individuals may be underbanked, unbanked, or without stable housing. Electronic payment options can make it easier for those claimants to receive settlement funds quickly and securely.

By partnering with experienced QSF administrators, law firms can streamline settlement logistics and remain focused on litigation strategy and client advocacy.

Preparing for the Future

Larger settlements, expanding claimant pools, and longer litigation timelines are creating new administrative challenges for plaintiff firms. In response, many practices are investing in technology and specialized partners to streamline settlement administration.

Firms that build scalable settlement administration processes will be better positioned to manage complex mass tort cases and deliver timely outcomes for their clients.

Notes

1. Sedgwick, 2025 Liability Litigation Commentary.
2. Jenna Greene, “Today’s jurors are not OK (and probably don’t like you),” Reuters, Aug. 7, 2023.
3. Drugwatch, “Roundup Settlements,” Drugwatch.com, updated 2026.