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Criminal Law: Jury Polling-Verdict
Where a defendant in a rape and sodomy case argued that the trial court erred in accepting the guilty verdicts because a juror during polling replied “I did agree” as her response during polling, which the defendant argued meant that she had changed her mind, the judgment is affirmed because the court could reasonably […]
Court affirms $9.5M verdict for ex-dancer
The Eastern District Court of Appeals on Feb. 26 upheld a $9.5 million verdict for a former dancer who sued a Cape Girardeau doctor and his practice group after a hip surgery left him disabled. A three judge panel ruled in favor of Benny L. Bell, who is originally from Caruthersville. Bell worked as […]
Jury awards $95M in sexual harassment case
A record-breaking $95 million sexual harassment verdict could make employment plaintiffs’ attorneys rethink what claims they bring and provide an object lesson for employers.
Accounting firm keeps award in non-compete case
An accounting firm, which sued four former employees accused of walking out with 124 clients, may keep a $1,369,921 award, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has held. The decision fine-tunes what can be considered as adequate consideration for an employee’s promise not to compete under Missouri law. Mayer Hoffman McCann, a national certified […]
Single claim award of $15.3M stands
What a Kansas City law firm is calling the largest single personal-injury verdict involving a single claim in Kansas’ history has been upheld on appeal. The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver last week affirmed an award to a Kansas City couple who filed suit after the collision of two tractor-trailers left one […]
Pro se plaintiff wins $140,000 verdict against Allstate
A federal jury has awarded a former St. Louis resident $140,000 in a breach of contract suit against Allstate. Reginald Bailey and his wife, Roxanna Bailey, sued Allstate for denying their homeowners’ insurance claim after their north St. Louis house caught fire in April 2008. Allstate denied the claim after their fire investigator concluded the […]
Appeal likely in suit against tobacco company
A persistent lawsuit against a cigarette maker that was thought to have ended this year after facing two juries and a lengthy appeals process could cough up another run at the Missouri court system. A Christmas week judge’s ruling has diminished immediate chances of a third trial in the long-running case against Brown & Williamson […]
Attorney loses $160K award to contractor
A federal jury awarded a man $160,000 for his breach of contract claim against his former attorney. But the jury sided with the attorney on two of his counterclaims. Tracy Tockstein, a contractor, sued attorney Steven Spoeneman, of Spoeneman, Watkins, Waltrip & Harvell, in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, for failing […]
Jury orders lawyer to pay contractor $160,000
A federal jury awarded a man $160,000 for his breach of contract claim against his former attorney. But the jury sided with the attorney on two of his counterclaims. Tracy Tockstein, a contractor, sued attorney Steven Spoeneman, of Spoeneman, Watkins, Waltrip & Harvell, in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, for failing […]
Jury awards $89M in drunken-driving case
A jury has returned a whopping $89 million verdict in a civil case against a drunken driver. The jury in Franklin County, just southwest of St. Louis, found for a woman who was a passenger in a vehicle struck by a drunken driver and for the family of her fiancé, who was killed in the […]
Patient awarded $100,000 over publication of naked photos
A federal jury awarded $100,000 to a plastic surgery patient whose naked photos were published in a Riverfront Times article about the doctors at a surgery center. The woman, identified only as “Jane Doe” from Georgia, expected her medical files to be confidential. On Monday the federal jury in St. Louis said the defendants – […]
Insurer recovers $450,000 from contractor
The storm that hit St. Louis in July 2006 knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of residents, downed trees and power lines and damaged the historic Switzer Building on Laclede’s Landing beyond repair. Just two miles south of downtown St. Louis, and a couple blocks west of the Mississippi River, the wind ripped the […]
Latest Opinion Digests
- Criminal Law: Child Abuse-Sufficiency Of Evidence-Closing Argument
- Civil Rights: Religious Freedom-RLUIPA-Res Judicata
- Civil Practice: Res Judicata-Stop Work Order
- Immigration: Drug Conviction-Removability-Overbreadth of State Offense
- Civil Practice: Asset Forfeiture-Sanctions
- Civil Rights: Due Process-Failure to State Claim
- Probate : Revocable Trust – Amendment – Reformation
- Employer – Employee : Unpaid Commissions – At-Will Status
- Criminal Law : Post-Conviction Relief – Effectiveness Of Counsel – Conflict Of Interest
- Appellate Practice : Jurisdiction – Final Judgment
- Domestic Relations : Parenting Plan – Child Support
- Criminal Law : Post-Conviction Relief – Guilty Plea – Sentence Advice
Top stories
- Cole County prosecutor loses third Sunshine Law appeal
- Supreme Court weighs lagging symptoms in work comp case
- New accommodation rights for pregnant workers offer broad protections
- Clark named as next Eastern District chief judge
- Russell reflects on change as women take charge of Missouri’s legal system
- NCAA scores positive gender equity review from St. Louis firm
- Big improvements for Missouri bar takers | List of bar passers
- Athena Dickson named vice-president of Missouri Bar
