Appeals

U.S. Appeals Court Resurrects $81 Million Trade Secrets Case Against Boeing, Favoring Electric Aircraft Innovator Zunum Aero

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A U.S. appeals court in San Francisco has reinstated an $81 million judgment against Boeing in a case alleging the company stole trade secrets from the electric aircraft startup Zunum Aero. The ruling from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a previous decision by a California judge, who had dismissed a jury’s finding in favor of Zunum. The appeals court rejected the lower court’s conclusion that the proprietary information claimed to be misappropriated by Boeing did not qualify for trade secret protection. Zunum’s attorney, Vincent Levy, expressed satisfaction with the appeals court’s ruling, … Read more

Texas Court Upholds $21.3 Million Verdict for Wronged Former Police Officer, Rejecting Appeals from Local Officials

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QUITMAN, Texas — A federal judge has upheld a substantial jury award of $21.3 million for Terry Bevill, a former police officer who was found to have been wrongfully terminated and arrested. The ruling came after a trio of local officials—a judge, a prosecutor, and the sheriff—sought to overturn the jury’s decision from September 2024. In a ruling issued on Monday, U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant determined that the defendants did not present sufficient reasons to invalidate the jury’s verdict. The case underscores significant allegations of public corruption within the small community of Quitman, located … Read more

Florida Appeals Court Overturns $8.1 Million Verdict Against R.J. Reynolds, Calls for New Trial Amid Jury Instruction Controversy

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Miami, Fla. — A recent decision by Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal has significant implications for a case against R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., reversing an $8.1 million jury award. The court determined that the initial trial contained errors that warrant a new examination of the evidence on strict liability and negligence. During the previous trial, instructions provided to the jury included findings against R.J. Reynolds that had already been dismissed during the summary judgment phase. This prompted the appellate court to take action, resulting in the case being sent back for a fresh trial. … Read more

Appeals Court Upholds Judge in Tsarnaev Death Sentence Case Amid Ongoing Juror Bias Concerns

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BOSTON — The First Circuit Court of Appeals has rejected Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s appeal to disqualify U.S. District Court Judge George O’Toole from his ongoing death penalty case. This ruling comes amid a protracted legal battle surrounding Tsarnaev’s sentencing for his involvement in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. Tsarnaev’s legal team argued for O’Toole’s recusal, citing perceived bias stemming from comments he made during educational panels and a podcast, as well as remarks directed at jurors throughout the trial. However, a panel of judges determined that O’Toole’s statements regarding the complexities of jury management and social … Read more