Complex

Behind the Trial: Insights from the Jury Forewoman on the Complex Verdict of Jennifer Crumbley

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OXFORD, Mich. (AP) — The jury forewoman in the trial of Jennifer Crumbley, a Michigan mother charged in connection with a school shooting, described the decision-making process as challenging and emotionally demanding. The jury recently found Crumbley guilty on seven counts, including involuntary manslaughter, after her teenage son opened fire in his high school, killing four students and injuring several others. The trial, which drew national attention, lasted for weeks as prosecutors presented evidence and testimony to establish Crumbley’s culpability. The defense argued that the parents could not be held responsible for their son’s actions … Read more

Examining the Complex Legal Battle Between Florida State and the ACC: Insight from Mark T. Wilhelm

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Philadelphia, PA – A dispute between Florida State University (FSU) and the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) over the Seminoles’ future in the conference has sparked dueling lawsuits. The heart of the legal battle revolves around a grant of rights, a secretive document worth half a billion dollars. Mark T. Wilhelm, a mergers and acquisitions partner at Troutman Pepper, thoroughly examined the enforceability of this document in the Harvard Law School Journal of Sports and Entertainment Law. In an interview with the Tampa Bay Times, Wilhelm shared some insights and personal thoughts on the case. The … Read more

Promoting Fairness and Equity: How Common Benefit Funds Support Complex Litigation Cases

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PHILADELPHIA, PA – Common benefit funds (CBFs) play a crucial role in ensuring fairness and equity in the distribution of legal fees and expenses in aggregate and complex litigation. They are particularly relevant in cases such as class actions, mass torts, trust and securities, and multidistrict litigations (MDLs), where an ad hoc or judicially appointed committee or team of attorneys prosecute the litigation. These funds serve to recognize and compensate the attorneys who dedicate their time, expertise, and resources to advancing the interests of the plaintiffs involved in a specific litigation, including litigants who are … Read more

Philadelphia’s Complex Litigation Center Undergoes Leadership Changes Amidst Surge in Mass Tort Programs

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Philadelphia, PA – The First Judicial District’s Complex Litigation Center is undergoing leadership changes as multiple mass tort programs approach trial. Last week, Philadelphia Administrative Judge Lisette Shirdan-Harris promoted Judge Joshua Roberts to team leader of the center, replacing Judge Abbe Fletman who was appointed the supervising judge of the Commerce Court. These changes were prompted by the election of Judge Nina Wright Padilla as president judge, which created a vacancy on the Commerce Court bench she previously oversaw. Judge Joshua Roberts joined the Philadelphia bench in 2019 after working at the firm Datz & … Read more