A Houston jury awarded Wellogix $94.4 million for Accenture's misappropriation of trade secrets in software that helped oil and gas companies track and manage costs of drilling wells. The judge cut the award to what Wellogix asked for — $26.2 million in actual damages plus $18.2 million in punies. And today the Fifth Circuit affirmed. Wellogix, Inc. v. Accenture, L.L.P., No. 11-20816 (5th Cir. May 15, 2013).

The case might pass without remark except for the respect the panel showed for the jury's work on the case. In the opening paragraph, the court set the tone by quoting Supreme Court decisions from more than 60 years ago on the test for setting aside a verdict:

"Only when there is a complete absence of probative facts to support the conclusion reached does a reversible error appear." Lavender v. Kurn, 327 U.S. 645, 653 (1946).

"But juries are not bound by what seems inescapable logic to judges." Morissette v. United States, 342 U.S. 246, 276 (1952).

See Wellogix, slip op. at 1 & 2.

The panel went on to approve the jury's finding of misappropriation and its awards of actual and exemplary damages.

To which Blawgletter says "wow" and "way to go".