Most Superheroic Verdict: Batmobile Protected by Copyright Law
The legendary “Batmobile,” the ride of choice for DC Comics icon Batman, is in fact protected under copyright law, according to an article from Fox News. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Mark Towle, who built real-life replicas of the Batmobile as portrayed in film and on T.V., infringed upon DC Comics’ rights to the comic book car.
Towle was reported to be selling the replicas for $90,000. His lawyers argued, unsuccessfully, that Towle copied the cars design, which is not subject to copyright law as “characters.”
Most Inappropriate Verdict: Massive Award in Graphic Harassment Suit
A federal jury awarded $17.4 million to five women who were said to have been subjected to a number of disturbing acts, according to a story from HR Morning. Three employees of Moreno Farms Inc., of Felda, Florida, were accused of groping, propositioning, threatening termination, attempted rape and rape of female employees working for the company. The suit was filed on behalf of the women, who were eventually fired, by the EEOC. The victims were awarded $2,425,000 in compensatory damages and $15 million in punitive damages, although the punitive damages may be capped due to statute. “The jury’s verdict today should serve as a clear message to the agricultural industry that the law will not tolerate subjecting female farm workers to sexual harassment and that there are severe consequences when a sex-based hostile work environment is permitted to exist,” read the EEOC statement cited in the piece.
Most Deflating Verdict: Brady Suspension Overturned Amid NFL Missteps
Shortly before the NFL season kicked off, a federal judge vacated the four game suspension of New England Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady, citing a number of “legal deficiencies” in the process leading to his punishment. So reports ABC News.
Brady was suspended for his alleged role in a scheme to deflate footballs below permissible air levels in order to gain a competitive advantage. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell failed to give Brady adequate notice of his discipline, denied Brady the chance to examine a lead investigator and denied him equal access to investigative files. Judge Richard Berman also said Brady’s punishment “cannot reasonably” be equivalent to a four game steroid suspension. “In the latter case, the policy details testing procedures, an appeal right, discovery process, and burdens and standards of proof.” The NFL is planning to appeal the decision.
Most Smoking Verdict: R.J. Reynolds to Shell Out $34M in Tobacco Verdict
The family of Garry O'Hara is set to receive $34 million from the R.J. Reynolds tobacco company thanks to a verdict from an Escambia County, Florida, jury. The Pensacola News Journal reported O’Hara started smoking when he was 14 and was diagnosed with lung cancer when he was 49. He died 15 years after he quit smoking.
The company was said to have withheld information about the addictive and dangerous nature of cigarettes. "They were decades ahead of everyone else on smoking and health. That was all they did, study cigarettes and research how to addict more young teens," said one of the family’s lawyers. The case stems from the now overturned Engle v. Liggett Group Inc. class-action suit, which was set to dole out $145 billion in damages before being vacated by the Florida Supreme Court. As a result of the case, though, plaintiffs were permitted to bring individual suits using the findings from the class-action case.
Most Winding Verdict: Major Verdict Against Police Overturned
A multi-million dollar verdict against San Jose police--reported to be one of the biggest in years--was vacated by a federal appeals court, according to the Mercury News.
The ruling set aside a $3.25 million verdict in a case alleging police unlawfully seized three young children from a family and placed them into protective custody. The parents were kept from their children for more than a year. The family will be compensated for the seizure, but the award will be smaller. Amid concerns of sexual abuse, an infant, a three-year-old autistic boy and an 8-year-old girl were taken into custody. Investigators were said to have had concerns over the girl’s sexual behavior and her father’s lack of cooperation during an abuse investigation. The case was brought against the department after a subsequent review of the matter showed police lacked enough evidence to enter the home without a warrant.