Susman Godfrey among inaugural inductees into ‘Texas Verdicts Hall of Fame’

HOUSTON (Dec. 17, 2013)—Susman Godfrey LLP was inducted into Texas Lawyer’s “Texas Verdicts Hall of Fame” recently for securing a $239 million verdict for Dillard’s department stores in its 2010 breach of contract lawsuit against i2 Technologies.

Selected as one of the Hall of Fame’s inaugural inductees, Susman Godfrey was honored along with fellow inductees at a November 12 dinner and reception held at the Ritz-Carlton, Dallas. Susman Godfrey’s Dillard’s verdict was the largest verdict to be honored among breach-of-contract cases recognized at the ceremonies.

“It’s extremely gratifying to have our efforts on behalf of Dillard’s acknowledged,” firm founder Stephen Susman said. “Attorneys Ophelia Camiña and Terry Oxford did a terrific job of explaining the facts of the case to the jury and ensuring that justice prevailed.”

The case arose after Dillard’s licensed supply-chain software from i2 Technologies, Inc., now a subsidiary of JDA Software Group. When the software failed to perform as anticipated, Dillard’s hired Susman Godfrey and sued i2 for fraud, breach of contract and breach of warranty, alleging that i2 intentionally misrepresented the software’s capabilities. In response, i2 countersued Dillard’s for breach of contract and misappropriation of trade secrets.

After a five-week trial in Dallas County District Court, the jury found i2 liable for fraud and breach of warranty while rejecting the company’s counterclaims.

Susman Godfrey’s $239 million verdict in the Dillard’s v. i2 case also ranked among the top 10 verdicts honored in National Law Journal’s “Top 100 Verdicts of 2010.”

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