Judge declares mistrial in opioid case with deadlocked, squabbling jury
A Florida judge overseeing a high-profile opioid trial declared a mistrial Monday, days after one juror accused another of bullying and assault.
The case involved accusations that Walmart, Walgreens and CVS flooded Florida counties with opioid prescriptions, according to story reported by Law.com. The jury was in its 14th day of deliberations when the jury sent a note stating that it was deadlocked.
Broward Circuit Court Judge Carol-Lisa Phillips in Florida on Friday dismissed a juror who had been accused of bullying other members of the jury, making offensive statements, and speaking with defense lawyers about the case, Law.com reports. Juror No. 9 wrote in a note to the judge that juror No. 5 said he wasn’t following the jury instructions and pressured other jurors to “adopt his predetermined position,” according to Law.com.
Juror No. 9 also wrote that juror No. 5 “grabbed and hugged me without my consent,” on the first day of deliberations, according to Law.com.
The note was apparently written using Google AI assistant Gemini, according to Law.com. The trial had lasted 51 days. The case had been brought under the Florida Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, Law.com reports.
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