Overturns

Court Overturns $11 Million Verdict for Texas Spine Doctor, Citing Lack of Evidence in Confidential Files Case

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COLLIN COUNTY, Texas — A state appellate court has nullified an almost $11 million award for damages that a jury had granted to Dr. Stephen Courtney, a spine specialist based in Plano. In a surprising turn of events, the Dallas’ Fifth Court of Appeals ruled against the originally awarded sum, concluding that the defendants, Dallas attorney Kelly Liebbe and Jonathan Rute, should not be held financially responsible. The litigation’s origins traced back to allegations that Liebbe and Rute improperly acquired around 1,500 of Dr. Courtney’s confidential patient files. According to the spine doctor, they utilized … Read more

Washington Court of Appeals Overturns $185 Million Monsanto PCB Verdict, Impacting Future and Past Cases

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Seattle, Washington — A recent ruling from the Washington Court of repercussions, reversing a substantial $185 million verdict against Monsanto could potentially nullify a cumulative $1.6 billion awarded in past jury decisions concerning the company’s liability over toxic chemicals. The verdict, pivoting on the legal interpretation of liability timelines, could set a precedent affecting numerous similar cases in the state. Earlier in May, the Court of Appeals overturned the initial verdict from a 2021 King County Superior Court case involving 200 plaintiffs comprising students, teachers, and parents from the Sky Valley Education Center. These individuals … Read more

Appeals Court Overturns Major Part of $4.4M Award to Former Hallandale Beach City Manager in Wrongful Termination Case

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Hallandale Beach, FL — In a notable legal reversal, a former city manager of Hallandale Beach, Daniel Rosemond, who once saw a favorable $4.4 million judgement for wrongful termination, may not receive the substantial whistleblower portion of his award due to a recent appellate court decision. In late 2016, Rosemond was dismissed under allegations of misappropriation, including an accusation of misusing city funds to pay for a family member’s travel. The initial jury verdict, rendered two years ago, had sided with Rosemond, awarding him just over $4 million on claims of being unjustly terminated and … Read more

Texas Judge Overturns Centuries-Old Ban on Home Distilling, Citing Constitutional Rights

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FORT WORTH, Texas — In a landmark ruling, a Texas federal judge has deemed the 1868 federal ban on at-home distilling unconstitutional, marking a significant win for advocates of home-based spirit production. The decision, issued on Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman, not only struck down a longstanding prohibition but also emphasized the constitutional limits of governmental authority over individual liberties. The plaintiff in the case, the Hobby Distillers Association, represented by lawyers from the libertarian Competitive Enterprise Institute, argued that the ban overstepped Congress’s taxing powers and infringed upon the Commerce Clause of … Read more