Most Terrifying Verdict: Isis ‘Inspired’ Ahmad Rahimi Guilty on 8 Charges, Using WMD
Ahmad Rahimi was found guilty on eight charges, including using a weapon of mass destruction, after detonating two bombs, including one in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, last year, according to an article in The New York Daily News.
Rahimi faces life in prison after a shrapnel-packed bomb injured 30 people. He was accused of placing pressure cooker bombs on both sides of the Hudson River "creating havoc" and "spreading fear through much of the Northeast." He was said to have planted 10 devices in all, with only two detonating. His attorneys plan to appeal the verdicts.
Most Pardoned Verdict: Arpaio’s Guilty Verdict Stands Amid Presidential Pardon
President Donald Trump's pardon of former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio effectively ends his prosecution, but U.S. District Court Judge Susan Bolton refused to wipe out the guilty verdict instigating the presidential reprieve, according to an article from Politico.
Arpaio was found guilty of criminal contempt for defying a judge's order “aimed at preventing ethnic profiling of Latinos.” While awaiting sentencing, the President issued a pardon. However, Bolton said while the pardon alleviates any punishment Arpaio would have faced, the historical record of his guilt should be preserved despite the President’s decision. The former sheriff’s attorney is planning an appeal.
Most Mismanaged Verdict: JPMorgan to Pay $4B for Mishandling Late Airline Exec’s Estate
JPMorgan Chase & Co. was ordered to pay more than $4 billion for mismanaging former American Airlines Executive Max Hopper’s estate, according to an article from the Financial Advisor.
The damages are not expected to withstand appeal, however. According to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, punitive damages must be proportionate to actual damages, which in this case were $5 million. Hopper died in 2010 without a will and testament in place and JP Morgan was hired to divvy the assets among surviving family members.
Most Medical Verdict: Judges Toss Historic $483M J&J Talc Powder Verdicts
Two separate judges overturned massive financial settlements against Johnson & Johnson, who plaintiffs said manufactured products that caused ovarian cancer, according to an article from CNN.
Women from California and Alabama were initially awarded $417 million and $72 million, respectively, after accusing the company's Baby Powder and Shower to Shower powder products of causing their cancer. The judge ruled there was insufficient evidence of causation in both cases, as well as an error in law at trial and jury misconduct leading to excessive damages. There are at least 4,800 similar cases filed against the company.
Most Murderous Verdict: Noonkester Guilty in Calif. Double Murder
John Noonkester was found guilty of first-degree murder after killing his ex-wife and ex-father-in-law, according to KRCR News Channel, an ABC affiliate.
Noonkester reportedly killed them in July of 2015. He shot and killed Kimberlee Thomas, and her dad, Keith, outside a store in Lake California following an argument. The defense argued despite video evidence showing that Noonketer executed the killings, it does not show why he shot them, claiming “he was in protective mode” due to his children being in the presence of a “predator.”
Noonkester faces life in prison and will be sentenced 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 9.