Insurance companies that are pitted against individuals as litigants in civil cases would be advised to seek out potential jurors who are college grads with an income in excess of $100,000. According to a recent national poll by DRI – Voice of the Defense Bar, that is the demographic that is least likely to be biased in favor of the individual in such cases. In fact, it is the only demographic surveyed in which fewer than half would be inclined toward bias in favor of the individual.
Overall, 59 percent of respondents said that they would be inclined to favor the individual in such a lawsuit with virtually no difference between male and female respondents. The poll found that 20 percent of respondents said they would not favor either.
“The results of our poll show two things,” said John R. Kouris, DRI Executive Director. “The fact that only 20 percent would approach their responsibilities as a juror in an objective manner means that we have a bit of public education to do on the role of a juror in the administration of justice. Second, while some of the demographic responses are expected, others are quite surprising.”
The poll also found a “bias spike” among the respondents in the youngest age category, individuals 18-29. There, 71 percent said that they would be inclined to favor the individual over the insurance company. That was 15 percent higher than among all adults age 30 and over.
The poll also found that 73 percent of liberals and 50 percent of conservatives saying that they would favor the individual.
Victoria Spears
Victoria Prussen Spears is senior vice president of Meyerowitz Communications Inc., a law firm marketing communications consulting company. A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and Brooklyn Law School, Ms. Spears was an attorney at a leading New York City law firm before joining Meyerowitz Communications. She may be contacted at [email protected].