Why Do Lawyers Always Want to Bring Lawsuits in the Bronx?

According to the New York Post, The Bronx is the “lawsuit capital of NYC.”  The Bronx is the second smallest borough, yet more lawsuits are filed there due to the belief that Bronx juries are more generous to plaintiffs than any other borough.  The statistics are clear that the highest verdicts in the State are brought in by Bronx juries.  That’s why Personal Injury Attorneys always want to bring a lawsuit in the Bronx, whenever possible.  Councilman Andrew Cohen (D Bronx) says, “Any way they can figure out to find a nexus to bring a case in The Bronx, they’re going to do that,” he said. “Bronx people are generally poorer than in other parts of the city, so they might be more sympathetic to poor ­plaintiffs.”

Personal Injury Attorneys can file lawsuits in any borough where there is a connection to either the Plaintiff or Defendant, so they can often choose to bring lawsuits in The Bronx.  So, for example, if the Plaintiff is from Nassau County and the Defendant is from The Bronx, lawyers will always file in the Bronx.  The demographics of other boroughs have changed, with Brooklyn becoming more affluent and Queens becoming more diverse, but The Bronx is still the best venue for plaintiffs in personal injury lawsuits, with verdicts higher than elsewhere in New York.  The reputation for high verdicts also leads to higher settlements when the threat of a Bronx jury is looming.  That’s why lawyers always want to bring lawsuits in The Bronx.

It is interesting to note that this liberal bent always leads to a surprising amount of acquittals in criminal cases.  According to the Wall Street Journal, Bronx juries find criminal defendants guilty only 43% of the time, whereas the rate is about 70% in other boroughs.  The Bronx also has the high rates of arrests in New York City, which probably is a factor in the “let the guy go” attitude.