A Dallas County jury awarded former Baron & Budd lawyer Gary Cruciani $8.8 million in damages today after jurors found that firm founder Russell Budd and his firm made negligent misrepresentations to Cruciani when they hired him in 2006.

At the conclusion of the six-week trial, the jury also found that defendants Baron & Budd and Budd did not commit fraud when they hired Cruciani. The jury rejected counterclaims Baron & Budd brought in the suit.