I am not familiar with legal implications of a verdict in a civil trial. Are you saying whatever the lower court decides is the final decision? If true, that sucks.
You can appeal a civil verdict. Generally, the party appealing would have to post a security bond. In the case of NY, the appeal would go before the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court. I think that all of the justices in the First Department (NYC) were appointed by Democrats. Ugh. My experience is that the law is whatever the liberal judges say it is without deference to stare decisis (precedent).