Lloyd Bell and Brian Trulock deliver their opening statements at trial against Agnes Scott College, accused of responsibility for the false arrest and imprisonment of a woman on sexual assault charges. 

Decatur, GA—An Atlanta-area women’s college is responsible for a reckless police investigation and abuse of power that led to a woman’s wrongful arrest and imprisonment on a baseless charge of sexual assault, the woman’s lawyer claimed as trial opened Tuesday against the school. Hartley v. Agnes Scott College, 11A36461-4.

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Melbourne, FL—A trial against the nation’s two largest tobacco companies for their alleged role in a Florida smoker’s death became the latest courtroom casualty of Hurricane Matthew Monday, as the judge in the case declared a mistrial following the storm. Wallace v. Philip Morris, 2014-CA-052862.

Jeffrey Furr delivers his opening statement on behalf of R.J. Reynolds, on trial for the COPD death of Elaine Konzelman.

Fort Lauderdale, FL—Attorneys argued whether a suit against R.J. Reynolds over a Florida woman’s respiratory disease is time barred, as trial in a suit by the woman’s widower opened this week against the tobacco powerhouse. Konzelman v. R.J. Reynolds, 2008-CV-019620.

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Decatur, GA—A jury next week is scheduled to consider whether an Atlanta-area women’s college is responsible for the role its campus police played in a sexual assault investigation that a former University of Tennessee student claims led to her false arrest, imprisonment, and a beating by inmates. Hartley v. Agnes Scott College, 11A36461-4.

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West Palm Beach, FL—A former realtor settled her suit against the Florida property owner and painting company she said were responsible for the fall on a shopping plaza ramp that allegedly caused her traumatic brain and spinal injuries, shortly before closing arguments were expected to begin in the trial. Sumner v. Lantana Palm Beach Retail, et al., 2010CA11199.