Episode
Russell Pate - Island Justice in the U.S. Territories: $6.3M & $113M verdicts
- Podcast
- Trial Lawyers University
- Published
- Mar 17, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 5413
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://tlu.captivate.fm/episode/96-russell-pate
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Summary
Little island. Big cases. Bigger verdicts. Russ Pate is a solo plaintiff lawyer in St. Croix whose career has included a combined $113 million verdict in two consolidated tobacco cases and $6.3 million verdict in a premises liability trial. He also worked with the Virgin Islands’ attorney general to pursue civil claims against the Jeffrey Epstein estate using the Virgin Islands' unique tax credit program. Taking a break from the TLU ski bootcamp in Big Sky, Montana, Russ sits down with host Dan Ambrose to reflect on his journey from that first roach-infested, $500-a-month office in St. Croix. Train and Connect with the Titans ☑️ Russ Pate ☑️ The Pate law Firm ☑️ Trial Lawyers University ☑️ TLU On Demand Instant access to live lectures, case analysis, and skills training videos ☑️ TLU on X | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn ☑️ Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube 2026 Programming ☑️ Training Witnesses to Transport Themselves and the Jury , April 17-18, Hermos Beach, CA ☑️ TLU Trial Skills Training , April 21- 25, Hermosa Beach, CA ☑️ Witness Preparation & Direct Examination , May 8 - 9, Hermosa Beach, CA ☑️ Dark Arts Trial Craft Bootcamp , May 27 - June 2, Huntington Beach, CA ☑️ TLU Beach , June 3-6, Huntington Beach, CA Episode Snapshot At Chapel Hill (UNC) law school, Russ missed the first week, had no idea what a study group was, and received some of his worst grades in torts. As he says, “To be a plaintiff trial lawyer, you don't have to graduate from Harvard and be top of the class.” After law school, Russ landed a federal public defender clerkship placement in Dallas, where he worked as second chair on Ponzi scheme fraud and child pornography collection cases. Russ launched his solo practice in St. Thomas in a $500-a-month office with moldy carpet, A.C…