Verdict

$8 Million Verdict Reached: Jury Finds Against Investigator in Monumental Defamation Case

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WASHINGTON — In a landmark legal ruling, Christopher Chandler emerged triumphant in a defamation lawsuit that shook the capital, as a federal jury ordered Donald Berlin and his firm, Investigative Consultants Inc., to pay over $8 million for publishing false accusations against him. This decision, announced on Oct. 23, 2024, marks one of the largest defamation verdicts in Washington, D.C.’s history. The dispute centered on a disparaging dossier penned by Berlin more than two decades ago, which maligned Chandler’s reputation by falsely associating him with illegal activities. Chandler, asserting the falsehood of these allegations, successfully … Read more

$462 Million Verdict Against Wabash in Fatal Missouri Crash Raises Questions on Trailer Safety Standards

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ST. LOUIS, Mo. — In a landmark decision, a Missouri jury on Thursday awarded $462 million in damages to the families of two men killed in a 2019 accident involving a Volkswagen and a tractor-trailer manufactured by Wabash. The massive award stems from allegations that the trailer’s rear-impact guard failed during the incident on Interstate 44/55, resulting in fatalities of the driver, Taron Tailor, 30, and his passenger, Nicholas Perkins. The case, which highlights concerns over the safety of truck components designed to prevent undercarriage crashes, concluded with a finding that the guard was defective, … Read more

$19 Million Verdict Shakes Insurance Industry: Jury Sides with Jet Owner Against Starr Indemnity in High-Profile Seizure Case

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Santa Barbara, CA — The owner of a jet, Passport 420, has been awarded a $19 million judgment against Starr Indemnity & Liability Company. The insurer had denied a claim after the jet was seized, arguing that one of its owners, attorney Michael Avenatti, purchased his share using stolen funds. The jet in question, a HondaJet HA-420, was seized in 2019 at the Santa Barbara Airport. This followed the indictment of Avenatti, who is currently serving a 14-year sentence in federal prison for pilfering settlement monies from his clients, funds which were used among other … Read more

Macomb County to Pay $250,000 to Former Sergeant Following Retaliation Verdict

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Detroit, MI – A former Macomb County Sheriff’s sergeant, James Stanley, will soon receive a $250,000 payout following a decision by a federal appeals court. The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati upheld the jury’s verdict that Stanley’s First Amendment right to freedom of speech had been violated through retaliation stemming from his support for a political opponent of Sheriff Anthony Wickersham. The conflict dates back to the 2012 election when Stanley supported Wickersham’s rival. This led to a series of punitive measures against Stanley, culminating in his demotion. Although an arbitrator later reversed … Read more