All articles tagged with #verdict
A California jury found Larry Millete guilty of first-degree murder in the 2021 disappearance of his wife Maya Millete, ending a five-year, high-profile case in Chula Vista; Maya's body has never been found.
A California jury found Chris Brown and his company negligent after his 200-pound dog mauled Maria Avila, a housekeeper at Brown’s Tarzana home in 2020, awarding Avila about $12.9 million in damages; her sister Patricia Avila was granted $885,000 for emotional distress, and Maria’s husband Oscar Olivo was awarded $50,000. Brown acknowledged some liability but disputed injury severity, and he remains on tour with Usher as the verdict lands.
The Supreme Court rejected Trump's final challenge to the E. Jean Carroll defamation verdict, leaving roughly $83 million in damages in place. Trump argued jurors should not have seen the 2005 Access Hollywood tape, while Carroll’s suit stemmed from his 2022 Truth Social denial of her allegations; the jury found defamation and sexual abuse but not rape, and Trump pledged on Truth Social to keep fighting.
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Donald Trump’s challenge to a New York jury’s 2023 finding that he sexually abused and defamed E. Jean Carroll, keeping the $5 million civil judgment in place. The decision follows the Second Circuit’s 2024 affirmation of the verdict and Trump’s ongoing appeals in related matters, including an $83.3 million defamation award for Carroll, which remains under review with a bond increase pending further action. Trump labeled the move a “Fake Case” on Truth Social, while Carroll’s attorney praised the ruling as upholding the jury’s verdict.
Jurors in Los Angeles have reached a verdict in the federal arson trial of Jonathan Rinderknecht, the Uber driver accused of starting the deadly Palisades Fire in 2025 that killed 12 and devastated thousands of homes; prosecutors portrayed him as driven by revenge and cited the Hidden Buddha clearing as the ignition site, with more than 30 witnesses, while the defense argued there was insufficient evidence of intent and suggested fireworks as a possible cause. He faces three federal charges including destruction of property by fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce, and timber set afire, with the verdict to be read in court.
Famed short-seller Andrew Left was found guilty on 13 of 17 counts for using social-media posts to influence stocks, with prosecutors alleging he earned more than $20 million from related trades; Left testified in his defense, but jurors convicted him of running a securities-fraud scheme and acquitted on several counts, with sentencing set for Aug. 31 and Left to remain free until then. Analysts say the verdict could chill short-sellers by raising the risk of federal charges over public commentary and rapid trading around it.
A South Carolina jury found store owner Chikei Rick Chow not guilty of murder in the 2023 fatal shooting of 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton, concluding a highly publicized trial after closing arguments from both sides.
A Florida jury found Carnival Cruise Line 60% liable for a January 2024 incident on the Carnival Radiance, where a Sacramento nurse says crewmembers over-served her about 14 tequila shots over eight hours, leading to a fall and injuries. The $300,000 judgment underscores cruise-line responsibility for guest safety and the implications of all-inclusive drink packages; Carnival plans to appeal the verdict.
A New Mexico jury ordered Meta to pay $375 million for harming children’s mental health and exposing minors to sexual content, finding the company violated state unfair-practices laws and prioritized profits over safety; Meta says it will appeal as related cases continue.
Chance the Rapper won a five-year legal battle against former manager Pat Corcoran, with a Cook County jury awarding Bennett $35—a symbolic verdict after finding Corcoran owed no substantial royalties or commissions; the case centered on informal, unwritten deals. The article also covers Bruce Springsteen headlining a No Kings rally in Minnesota, a seven-figure trademark dispute between The Twigs and FKA twigs, and Moby’s criticism of The Kinks’ Lola, including responses from the band’s members.
A California jury awarded Donna Motsinger $59 million after finding Bill Cosby liable for sexually assaulting her in 1972, with $19.25 million in compensatory damages and $40 million in punitive damages; Cosby’s team said they will appeal, and Cosby denies the allegations.
A California jury awarded Donna Motsinger $19 million in a civil case accusing Bill Cosby of drugging and raping her in 1972; Cosby says the encounter was consensual, and the verdict also included punitive damages.
A San Francisco federal jury unanimously found that Elon Musk’s public statements about Twitter’s user metrics and the 2022 takeover misled investors, potentially lowering the stock by roughly $3 to $8 a share and exposing Musk to damages for the class; Musk testified that readers overinterpreted his posts, while investors like Belgrave said they sold at a loss amid the turmoil as the deal proceeded and the platform was renamed to X.
Kouri Richins, a Utah mother and author of a grief-themed children’s book, was found guilty on all charges, including aggravated murder and attempted aggravated murder, for allegedly poisoning her husband with fentanyl in 2022; prosecutors said the Moscow Mule she served contained a lethal fentanyl dose, and Richins also faced mortgage fraud and forgery charges; a sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 13.
Kanye West was found liable in a Malibu mansion renovation case brought by project manager Tony Saxon, but the jury awarded Saxon only $140,000 in damages—far short of the $1.7 million sought and with potential attorney-fee increases to come. The verdict also found Saxon an employee for certain purposes, denying many wage-related claims, and Ye’s team has signaled plans to appeal. The outcome also foreshadows a separate lawsuit over an allegedly unlawful mechanic’s lien on Ye’s property.