Zest Labs $222M Verdict Gains Widespread Media Coverage

On May 13, 2025, a unanimous jury awarded Zest Labs $222 million—$72.7 million in compensatory and $150 million in punitive damages—against Walmart. Patrick M. Ryan and his team’s major victory garnered widespread media coverage and stands as one of the largest verdicts in Arkansas history, and likely the highest trade secret verdict the state has ever seen.

The following is a summary of recent media coverage Patrick and the trial team’s victory received on behalf of Zest Labs!

• Law.com - Litigator of the Week Runners-Up and Shout-Outs

• Law360- Walmart Hit With $223M Verdict In Trade Secrets Fight

• Bloomberg- Walmart Hit with $223 Million Verdict at Trade Secrets Trial

• Arkansas Business- Jury Hits Walmart Harder in Trade Secrets Retrial, Awards $222M

• Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette – Jury Orders Walmart to pay Zest $222.7M & Jury orders Walmart to pay Zest $222.7M | Walmart set to report first-quarter earnings

• Arkansas Democrat Gazette - Jury orders Walmart to pay Zest $222.7M | Walmart set to report first-quarter earnings

• Simply Wall St. - Walmart (NYSE:WMT) Faces US$222 Million Verdict In Trade Secrets Dispute With Zest Labs

• Fox 16- Walmart loses $222 million in Little Rock federal court jury trial, ‘one of the largest in Arkansas history’

• Arkansas Money & Politics- Walmart Loses $222M in Trade Secrets Battle, Marking One of Largest Verdicts in Arkansas History

• USA Herald- Walmart Ordered to Pay $223M in Trade Secrets Case

• Investing.com- Jury Asks Walmart To Pay Over $200M To Zest Labs For Stealing Technology: Retail Focused On Upcoming Q1 Results

• Retail Insight Network-Walmart faces $222m verdict for Zest Labs’ trade secrets theft

• Talk Business & Politics- Walmart ordered to pay $222 million in dispute with Zest Labs

• Kark - Walmart loses $222 million in Little Rock federal court jury trial, ‘one of the largest in Arkansas history’

• Reuters - Walmart hit with $222 million US verdict in food preservation trade secret case

• KATV - Zest awarded $220 million in trade secrets lawsuit against Walmart

• MSN - Jury Asks Walmart To Pay Over $200M To Zest Labs For Stealing Technology: Retail Focused On Upcoming Q1 Results

• Grocery Drive - Walmart to pay tech company $222M over trade secret misappropriation

• Smart Rules - Explosive Verdict: Jury Orders Walmart to Pay $222 Million in Trade Secret Theft Case