Declared

Mistrial Declared in Michigan Shooting Case After Jury Deadlocks

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In ESCANABA, Mich., a non-fatal shooting case involving a family dispute has ended indecisively after the presiding judge was compelled to declare a mistrial. The deliberations came to a standstill when the jury concluded they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict after days of testimony and legal argumentation. The incident at the core of the trial occurred in January 2024, when Jacob Cronick allegedly shot his former father-in-law, Eric Parrotta. Cronick had faced serious charges including assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, alongside a felony firearm charge. The legal … Read more

Mistrial Declared in $300 Million Real Estate Scandal Case Against Umpqua Bank

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SAN JOSE, Calif. — A federal court jury in San Jose could not reach a unanimous decision regarding the liability of Umpqua Bank in a lawsuit stemming from its involvement in a $300 million real estate scheme that bore hallmarks of a Ponzi scheme. The deadlock prompted the presiding judge to declare a mistrial, leaving the victims’ quest for accountability unresolved. The scheme in question reportedly swindled numerous investors, promising high returns on real estate investments which were nonexistent. The plaintiffs in the case argued that Umpqua Bank was complicit or negligently overlooked warning signals … Read more

Jury Exonerates M. Night Shyamalan in ‘Servant’ Plagiarism Case, Series Declared Original Work

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A federal jury recently exonerated director M. Night Shyamalan and colleagues involved in the Apple TV+ series “Servant,” freeing them from accusations of plagiarism. The decision, made in a rare jury trial for this type of dispute, found that the thriller series was not derived from filmmaker Francesca Gregorini’s movie “The Truth About Emanuel.” Typically, lawsuits alleging copyright infringement in the entertainment industry are dismissed or settled out of court. However, this case escalated to an unusual extent, even prompting Shyamalan himself to testify. He firmly denied any familiarity with Gregorini’s work, describing any narrative … Read more

Stalemate in Court: Mistrial Declared for Ex-Youth Counselor Accused of 1998 Assault Amid Jury Deadlock

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Manchester, N.H. — A New Hampshire Superior Court judge declared a mistrial Wednesday in the trial of a former youth counselor accused of a serious assault at a juvenile detention center, providing a rare glimpse into the challenges of prosecuting historical sexual abuse cases. The mistrial follows a deadlock among the jury members, who were unable to reach a unanimous decision after nearly 12 hours of deliberation spread over three days. The case was being heard at Hillsborough County Superior Court North, where Stephen Murphy, 55, of Danvers, Massachusetts, stands accused of one count of … Read more