James E. “Jim” Butler Jr. of Butler Prather. Courtesy photoJim Butler of Butler Prather had a clear message last week at the end of a three-week product liability trial he led for the family of a couple who died after the roof of their Ford F-250 pickup collapsed in a rollover crash more than eight years ago.

“A punitive damages award in this case heard round the world will save lives,” Butler told the jury during closing arguments in the trial’s second punitive damages phase.