Most Fermented Verdict: Man Who Burned 40% of Body Wins $56M Suit Against Brewery, Hose-maker
DeWarren Harris, of St. Paul, won a $56 million lawsuit after being severely injured by scalding hot water while working at a brewery, according to an article from U.S. News & World Report. The damages were the result of a six-year long case involving Summit Brewing Company and hose manufacturer Continental ContiTech and Campbell. Harris was cleaning the floor of the brewery when a hose connector failed showering him with 180-degree water. He spent six weeks in a hospital with burns on more than 40% of his body.
Most Retried Verdict: Men Imprisoned for Shooting at Cops Released After Ohio Innocence Project Retrial
Kenny Phillips and Michael Sutton, two Cleveland men imprisoned for shooting at police officers in 2006, were found not guilty on all charges during retrial, according to an article from Cleveland 19 News. The Ohio 8th District Court of Appeals granted the new trial, citing a “lack of evidence,” and the duo was released via bail bond in May of 2021. Two officers came forward to discredit original testimony presented by other officers during the trial.
Most Celebrity Verdict: R. Kelly Guilty On Multiple Child Porn Counts
Embattled recording artist R. Kelly was convicted on multiple sex abuse and child pornography charges by a federal jury in Chicago, according to an article from NPR. His associates, Milton Brown and Derrel McDavid, though, were acquitted after being accused of trying to rig a related 2008 trial. Kelley initially was faced with 13 counts, and each child pornography conviction carries at least a 10-year sentence.
Most Medical Verdict: Record-setting Verdict in Greenup County Leads to $23M Award
Chiropractors Shannon Johnson and Daniel Carey II won a $23 million defamation verdict against CSX Transportation and the company’s chief medical officer, according to an article from the Courier Journal. The verdict, which stems from a letter the company sent accusing the chiropractors of fraudulently treating employees, is believed to be the largest recorded in Greenup. A Greenup County jury found the claims in the letter were unsubstantiated and interfered with the chiropractors’ doctor-patient relationships.
Most Political Verdict: Democracy Partners Wins Over Project Veritas In Political Espionage Suit
Conservative group Project Veritas was found to be liable for breaking wiretapping laws and for “misrepresenting itself in an undercover effort to target Democratic political consultants,” according to an article from Reuters. To that end, $120,000 was awarded to a member of Democracy Partners, who claims an operative of the conservative group lied about her identity to infiltrate the organizations and secretly record conversations during the 2016 presidential election. Project Veritas was accused of using “heavily edited” footage to falsely suggest Democracy Partners conspired to incited riots and commit voter fraud.