Verdicts & Settlements

Jury awards delivery driver $50M after spilled Starbucks hot tea disfigures penis

Starbucks has been ordered to pay $50 million to a Postmates driver after its hot tea scalded his penis.

Mar 17, 2025 12:31 PM CDT

Former George Mason University law prof says he’s ‘fully vindicated’ after ‘relatively modest’ defamation suit settlement

A former professor at the George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School has reached a settlement in his defamation lawsuit against two former students who alleged that he abused his power to initiate sexual relationships with them when they were law students.

Mar 12, 2025 2:59 PM CDT

Judge’s life ‘in ruins’ despite mistrial in prosecution for fatally shooting wife, defense lawyer says

Jurors in Los Angeles were unable to agree on a verdict in the case of a California judge who texted court personnel after fatally shooting his wife, saying he won’t be at work the next day because “I just lost it. I just shot my wife.”

Mar 12, 2025 9:09 AM CDT

Supreme Court strikes down EPA rules on discharge of water pollution

The Supreme Court on Tuesday struck down rules regulating the discharge of water pollution, narrowing the landmark Clean Water Act in an unusual case that pitted one of the nation’s greenest cities—San Francisco—against the Environmental Protection Agency.

Mar 4, 2025 4:55 PM CST

Suit alleging dad bias at Jones Day resolved after ruling on memo

Jones Day and two former associates have resolved a lawsuit alleging that the law firm’s family leave policy discriminates against male attorneys.

Feb 26, 2025 2:46 PM CST

As Jan. 6 leaders call for retribution, judges warn against revisionism

Two newly freed leaders of the far-right Proud Boys and Oath Keepers groups called for investigations into the prosecution of people charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, assailing judges, jurors and prosecutors as they sought “retribution” after being granted clemency from President Donald Trump.

Jan 23, 2025 4:04 PM CST

Lawyer arrested at state bar meeting for carrying petitions reaches settlement

An Arkansas lawyer who was arrested for carrying ballot petitions at a state bar meeting in June 2024 has reached an out-of-court settlement that calls for payment of $200,000 to her lawyers.

Jan 22, 2025 2:58 PM CST

Mastercard agrees to $26M settlement over pay discrimination claims

Mastercard has agreed to pay $26 million to settle a proposed class action lawsuit accusing the company of paying female, Black and Hispanic employees less than their male and white counterparts.

Jan 15, 2025 9:26 AM CST

Giuliani contempt decision blocks him from doing this, putting his Florida condo at risk

Disbarred lawyer Rudy Giuliani is “in dire jeopardy” of having to turn over his Palm Beach, Florida, condo to two Georgia election workers who sued him for defamation after a federal judge held the former New York City mayor in civil contempt Monday, according to a report by Politico.

Jan 7, 2025 10:34 AM CST

Pentagon’s 9/11 plea deals can proceed, appeals court rules

The U.S. government’s controversial plea deals with three men accused of orchestrating the 9/11 terrorist attacks may proceed, a Defense Department appeals court has ruled, after the Biden administration sought to thwart an agreement that would spare the lives of those who have admitted guilt in the deadliest crime perpetrated on American soil.

Jan 2, 2025 3:10 PM CST

Apple agrees to $95M settlement in Siri privacy class-action case

Apple has agreed to end a five-year legal battle over user privacy related to its virtual assistant Siri with a $95 million payout to affected customers, according to a preliminary settlement.

Jan 2, 2025 2:30 PM CST

NRA must hire court-approved compliance consultant, says judgment in New York’s civil suit

A civil lawsuit that sought the dissolution of the National Rifle Association has ended with a final judgment that reforms the group’s governance and requires court approval of deals to resolve a $5.4 million judgment against former CEO Wayne LaPierre.

Dec 17, 2024 12:11 PM CST

In ‘stunning fall from grace,’ med-mal lawyer is convicted of trying to extort medical system for $25M

A medical-malpractice lawyer once regarded as a top plaintiff’s attorney in Maryland was convicted of attempted extortion Friday, a day after a federal judge found him in contempt and ordered his detention overnight for violating court orders while representing himself.

Nov 27, 2024 8:50 AM CST

Judge gives final OK to $8M settlement in Orrick data breach

A federal judge in California approved an $8 million settlement Friday in consolidated cases brought against Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe over a 2023 data breach that may have compromised the personal information of more than 638,000 people.

Nov 12, 2024 1:51 PM CST

St. Thomas College of Law and fired professor reach settlement

The St. Thomas University Benjamin L. Crump College of Law and a professor at the school have “agreed to amicably part ways,” according to a statement from the Florida-based law school to the ABA Journal.

Nov 12, 2024 10:51 AM CST