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No New Trial for Juror's Tweets
Remember the Twitter-loving juror who boastfully tweeted to the world at large that he and his fellow panel members has just given away $12 million? As we wrote here last month, the defendant whose pocketbook was hit in that Arkansas case filed a motion for a new trial upon learning of the juror's tweets, contending that they showed he was "predisposed toward giving a verdict that would impress his audience."
Turns out the verdict -- and the tweets -- will stand, at least pending further appellate review. The Associated Press reports that the judge turned down the request for a new trial.
Lawyers say Washington County Circuit Judge Mark Lindsay on Friday dismissed an attempt to overturn a judgment against Russell Wright and Stoam Holdings, a building materials company. While Lindsay said the posts by juror Johnathan Powell were in bad taste, the messages didn't amount to improper conduct.
In one of his tweets, the juror said, "oh and nobody buy Stoam. Its bad mojo and they'll probably cease to Exist, now that their wallet is 12m lighter." In another, he wrote, "I just gave away TWELVE MILLION DOLLARS of somebody else's money."The AP article does not say whether Stoam will appeal. Given that it is otherwise out $12 million, it seems like a sure bet that it will.
Posted by Robert J. Ambrogi on April 8, 2009 at 11:41 AM | Permalink
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