Lawyers for Atlanta-based The R.A. Siegel Co. knew they were in troublewhen the first of two trials involving a Miami couple’s wrongful-deathsuits ended with a $798,410 verdict earlier this month.

Before the second trial started last week, the lawyers offered $500,000to settle, according to plaintiffs’ counsel William E. Gray II. He andco-counsel Bruce M. Edenfield took their chances and went to trial.