The overall lesson that Houston litigator Trey Peacock took away from winning a $40 million verdict is that there are cases that should not be settled.

"Stand your ground, when you know you are right," said Peacock, a partner at Susman Godfrey.

In an underlying patent licensing dispute between companies that manufacture tools for plugging oil and gas fracking wells, Peacock represented Repeat Precision. His client scored a total defense win by defeating plaintiff Diamondback Industries Inc.'s claims, and winning counterclaims that brought the multimillion-dollar verdict.