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Constitution Communications was as soon as on the hook for over $7 billion in a case involving a former cable technician who murdered an aged buyer in her dwelling. However Constitution is now on the verge of settling the lawsuit for lower than $262 million, an quantity that may apparently be totally lined by the corporate’s insurers.

A Dallas County Courtroom jury final 12 months determined that Constitution ought to pay the sufferer’s household and property $7 billion in punitive damages and $337.5 million in compensatory damages. A decide lowered the whole quantity to over $1.1 billion.

Constitution mentioned it deliberate to enchantment the $1.1 billion judgment, and the perimeters held settlement talks. The household apparently opted to take a smaller quantity as a substitute of risking an enchantment that might drag out the case longer and probably lead to decrease damages or an overturned verdict.