Most Overturned Verdict: Family of ‘The Walking Dead’ Stuntman Plans to Take Overturned $8M Award to State Supreme Court
The Georgia Court of Appeals ruled an $8 million jury verdict awarded to the family of a stuntman who died on the set of the AMC show “The Walking Dead” was prohibited by the Worker’s Compensation Act, according to an article from Fox News. The suit was brought by the parents of John Bernecker, who fell from a balcony to his death while rehearsing a scene in Senoia, Georgia. The family sued the network, the production company, Stalwart Films, and others, reads the article. They are planning to take the case to the Georgia Supreme Court, it adds.
Most Secret Verdict: Property Management Firm, Consultant on the Hook for $152M in Trade Secrets Case
Property management software company ResMan LLC was awarded a $152 million verdict against one of its customers, Karva Property Management and Scarlet InfoTech, a third-party software consultant, according to an article from Crowell Trade Secret Trends. The trial had twice been postponed due to COVID-19. The award from a jury seated in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas comes in the wake of a number of allegations, including “trade secret misappropriation, breach of contract, tortious interference, and violations of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act,” according to the article. The damages totaled $120 million for punitive considerations—$90 million of which were attributable to “trade secrets count”—and $32.29 million came with respect to compensatory damages.
Most Rejected Verdict: Iowa Supreme Court Upholds $10M Verdict Against Man Held Liable in Mom’s Death
The Iowa Supreme Court rejected the request of Jason Carter to nix a ruling against him—he was ordered to pay $10 million to the estate of his mother—upholding the verdict he is liable for her shooting death, according to an article from the KBOE Radio. Carter was sued by his father and brother. He was acquitted of murder in criminal court.
Most Technological Verdict: Apple to Pay $308M 'Running Royalty' to Patent Assertion Entity PMC
A jury has issued a $308.5 million patent infringement verdict against tech behemoth Apple, according to an article from Law Street Media. The ruling comes from the Eastern District of Texas and finds that Apple must pay “patent license and assertion entity” Personalized Media Communications after it was found to have infringed on patents related to digital rights management. Specifically, the technology in question is used to distribute encrypted content hosted in the App Store, iTunes and Apple Music. Apple is considering an appeal.
Most International Verdict: Ex-Syrian Intel Officer Found Guilty in Germany for 'Crimes Against Humanity' in Historic Ruling
Eyad al-Gharib, an ex-officer in the Syrian intelligence service, was found “guilty of being an accomplice to crimes against humanity” in a German court for his role in the torture of prisoners, according to an article from The Guardian. The verdict is being touted as a historic victory in a worldwide effort to “bring legal accountability for atrocities committed in Syria’s long war.” The former officer is sentenced to four years and six months in prison. This is the first instance in which the actions of Bashar al-Assad’s government were considered to amount to a crime against humanity, it adds.