Deliberations Begin in Dramatic Case of Man Who Aimed Malfunctioning Gun at Pismo Beach Officer

PISMO BEACH, Calif. — Deliberations began Friday in the trial of Charles Ammons, 48, accused of attempting to murder a local police officer during a traffic stop in April 2022. The incident has gripped the coastal community, drawing renewed attention to the risks law enforcement officers face. Ammons, who was reportedly intoxicated at the time, had been pulled over by Pismo Beach Police Officer Chris Siglin for a vehicle code violation on Pomeroy Avenue. What should have been a routine stop escalated dramatically when Ammons allegedly aimed a semiautomatic pistol at Siglin and pulled the … Read more

Jury Released Without Verdict in Longstanding 2005 Toddler Manslaughter Case

Sydney, Australia — A Sydney court has released jurors from duty after they failed to reach a verdict in the trial of Cecil Patrick Kennedy, a 52-year-old man accused of manslaughter in the 2005 death of 21-month-old Jordan William Thompson. The case, which captured public attention due to the tragic death of the toddler nearly two decades ago, has ended in a hung jury after a week of deliberations. Jordan died in a Singleton unit in the NSW Hunter Valley in March 2005, while under the care of Kennedy, who was the boyfriend of Jordan’s … Read more

Jury Awards Ex-UPS Driver Over $237 Million in Historic Racial Discrimination Case

Yakima, Wash. — A former United Parcel Service (UPS) driver was awarded more than $237 million in damages by a Yakima jury, marking possibly the largest such award for a discrimination case in Washington state history. The verdict reflects both compensatory and punitive damages for the plaintiff, Tahvio Gratton, who alleged racial discrimination and a hostile work environment during his tenure with the company. The legal proceedings, held at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington on Thursday, concluded with Gratton receiving $39.6 million for emotional distress and an additional $198 million … Read more

Google Avoids Jury in Antitrust Case by Settling Claim with $2.3 Million Payment to Justice Department

A $2.3 million payment from Google to the U.S. Department of Justice at an evening hour marked a pivotal moment in a major legal challenge against the tech giant. The transaction aimed to resolve a component of a sweeping antitrust lawsuit over Google’s advertising practices initiated by the Justice Department and 18 states. This case, unfolding without a jury under the direction of U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema at a Virginia courthouse, underscores the intensifying scrutiny over the control wielded by tech behemoths in digital marketplaces. Unlike traditional jury trials, this bench trial puts the … Read more