Most Game-changing Verdict:California Tenure Ruling the First Domino in the Chain
Superior Court Judge Rolf Treu took the side of nine California students who claimed teacher tenure rules prohibit them from receiving a fair, equal and constitutional education, according to information in an Associated Press story.
Five laws were struck down as unconstitutional, with Treu noting that California’s tenure laws also disproportionately impact minority students. Teachers’ unions contest that the ruling is “deeply flawed” and is, in fact, not in the best interest of teachers and students alike. This first-of-its kind ruling is expected to fuel further litigation, legislation and policy debate in California as well as many other states.
Most Damaging At a Game: Bills Fan Tumbles Into Guilty Verdict, Faces Jail Time
It took 20 minutes for a six-member jury to find a Buffalo bills fan guilty of assault and reckless endangerment for falling onto another fan during a game last season.
During a November game against the New York Jets, Robert Hopkins repeatedly slid down a rail near his seat until he ultimately took a 20-plus foot fall onto another fan, according to an ESPN story. The prosecution argued Hopkins was aware of the dangers of his actions and disregarded them, and as a result was responsible for several injuries sustained by the victim.
Dr. Loubert Steven Suddaby, the victim’s doctor, testified Hopkins could have killed or crippled the victim if his fall had been just two inches forward, according to information from the article. He faces up to a year in prison and will be sentenced in September.
Most Technological Verdict: Jury Finds That Facebook Didn't Rip Off Dead Dutch Programmer
Facebook fended off a patent infringement lawsuit against holding company Rembrandt Social Media, who was representing the late Dutch programmer Joannes Van Der Meer. Van Der Meer created the never-launched Surfbook, according to an ABC7 story.
The ruling from the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, cleared Facebook of any wrongdoing in what is, according to one expert, only the second patent infringement case directed at the social media giant to make it in front of a jury.
Rembrant alleged Facebook had made use of technical aspects as well as user features that Surfbook pioneered. Facebook retorted that the patents granted to Surfbook should never have been given to Van Der Meer since the methods used were “obvious to people in the trade.”
Most Racially-charged Verdict: Police Challenge to ‘Stop and frisk’ Chucked By Judge
A union representing New York City police officers sough to make it more difficult for individuals who claim to have been racially profiled to sue individual cops, but a Manhattan judge tossed the case, according to a New York Post article.
Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association President Patrick J. Lynch said an appeal is in the works, and said the ruling sends a bad message to officers trying to do their job. Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg joined the case in support of the union, while current Mayor Bill DeBlasio favors the law aimed at curbing racial profiling. The New York Civil Liberties Union also favored the ruling, according to the Post story.
Most Civilized Verdict: NYC to Pay Almost $600K in Largest Occupy Wall Street Settlement to Date
New York City officials agreed to compensate 14 protestors $583,000 for what they claimed were wrongful arrests during a 2012 New Year’s Day protest in Zuccotti Park.
According to an Associated Press story posted to Syracuse.com, the demonstrators said police ordered them to leave the protest, but then prevented them from doing so and subsequently arrested them. The protester’s lawyers said this is the largest settlement in a single Occupy civil rights case to date. However protester Jennifer Peat said in the story: "the point was never the money. It was that there be consequences for the actions of the NYPD."
Dan Sabbatino is an award winning journalist whose accolades include a New York Press Association award for a series of articles he wrote dealing with a small upstate town’s battle over the implications of letting a “big-box” retailer locate within its borders. He has worked as a reporter and editor since 2007 primarily covering state and local politics for a number off publications.