Judge

Federal Judge Slashes $110 Million Medical Malpractice Award to $10 Million: Minnesota Case

by

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota – A federal judge has reduced a $110 million jury award in a medical malpractice case to $10 million, calling the original amount “shockingly excessive.” The ruling came in the case of Anuj Thapa, a college student who suffered a serious injury during a soccer match. In May 2022, a Minneapolis federal jury awarded Thapa $111.3 million in damages, including $110 million for pain and suffering, marking the largest award of its kind in Minnesota. The jury determined that negligent care following the injury had caused Thapa extreme pain and permanent disability. The … Read more

Judge Tracey Flemings-Davillier Takes the Helm as Chief Judge of Orleans Parish Criminal Court

by

NEW ORLEANS, LA – Orleans Parish Criminal District Judge Tracey Flemings-Davillier has been appointed as the new chief judge of the criminal court. The two-year appointment began on January 1, as disclosed in a news release received on Tuesday. Flemings-Davillier, 54, takes over from Judge Robin Pittman, who held the post for the past two years and continues to serve on the bench. Flemings-Davillier brings over a decade of experience to her new role. She previously presided as judge in Orleans Parish Juvenile Court from 2010 to 2012 and also served as Deputy Chief Judge … Read more

Florida School District Faces Lawsuit Over Removal of Books on Race and LGBTQ+ Identities, Judge Rules

by

PENSACOLA, Fla. – A federal judge has ruled that a lawsuit can proceed against a Florida Panhandle school district for removing books about race and LGBTQ+ identities from library shelves. U.S. District Judge T. Kent Wetherell II, based in Pensacola, made the ruling on Wednesday, granting standing to the writers’ group PEN America, publisher Penguin Random House, banned authors, and parents to pursue their claims under the First Amendment’s free speech protections. However, the judge denied a claim under the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. “We are gratified that the Judge recognized that books cannot … Read more

Federal Judge Upholds First Amendment Rights in Lawsuit Against Escambia County School District’s Book Ban

by

Pensacola, Florida – A federal judge in Pensacola has rejected a plea from the Escambia County School District to dismiss a lawsuit challenging its removal of several books from its shelves. The books in question include “The Bluest Eye,” “Slaughterhouse-Five,” and “The Kite Runner.” U.S. District Judge Kent Wetherell issued a terse order on Wednesday, allowing claims of viewpoint discrimination and denial of the right to receive information under the First Amendment. However, he did reject an equal-protection claim. The lawsuit, filed by PEN America, Penguin Random House, authors whose books were affected, and parents … Read more