Most Anonymous Verdict: Jury Hits Ex-assistant Principal Who Filmed Undressing Student with $4M Verdict

An Alabama jury awarded the unnamed victim of former Locust Fork High School assistant principal Tim Odus Clevenger more than $4 million after he was found to have filmed her getting ready to shower, according to an article from WVTM 13. Clevenger was convicted for producing child pornography in 2018 and was already serving a sentence at the Ventress Correctional Center for the crime. As such, attorney Scott Gilliland represented the victim in a separate negligence and invasion of privacy case yielding the punitive award.

Most Impactful Verdict: Judge Rules Infant’s Death Likely Caused By Infection

After his infant son died in 2021, Nicholas Edward Cox was found not guilty of child endangerment and first-degree murder, according to an article from the AP News. Despite the likelihood Cox mishandled the child the day he died, the court did not find “beyond a reasonable doubt” his actions were the ultimate reason for the death. Judge Bethany Currie said the death was likely caused by a “preexisting infection” while an autopsy listed the cause of death as “asphyxiation and blunt force trauma to the neck and spine.”

Most Violent Verdict: California Man Faces Life Without Parole After Murdering Police Officer

Gustavo Morales, who shot and killed police officer Jorge ‘JD’ Alvarado, was found guilty of all charges and now faces a possible life sentence, according to an article from KSBW 8. Morales shot Alvarado after being stopped by the officer and said he did so for fear the officer was going to shoot him for carrying a loaded gun. Prosecutors countered the actual reason he shot first was to avoid going back to jail as he was driving drunk with a suspended license and loaded weapon.

Most Technological Verdict: Doorbell Video Company SkyBell Triumphs In Patent Lawsuit Over Home Security Firm Vivint

A federal jury in East Texas awarded SkyBell Technologies more than $45 million after finding Vivint, a home security company, infringed upon its patent rights, according to an article from Reuters. SkyBell, a video-doorbell company, sued Vivint in 2020 after alleging the company ripped off its tech, while Vivint contends SkyBell’s patents are invalid. The jury added the infringement was “willful,” which could lead to a larger award for the plaintiff.

Most International Verdict: India Will Keep Same-sex Marriage Outlawed As Committee Looks to Fight LGBTQ Discrimination

India’s top court ruled same-sex marriages will remain outlawed in the country, but emphasized the importance of protecting the LGBTQ community from “prejudice and discrimination,” according to an article from CNN. As such, a “high-powered committee” is expected to be formed to study the complex legal matter. Marriage rights were initially limited to heterosexual couples per a penal code introduced in 1860 by the nation’s British colonial rulers.