Stock photo. 

With The Trial Wire, CVN moves beyond news of trials it webcasts to share the best stories of other significant litigation across the country. 

A metro Atlanta political consultant’s $11-plus million verdict against two men he claimed destroyed his reputation may be an incomplete victory, given questions of improper service on one of the men and the fact that neither defendant showed for trial, leaving an empty defense table facing jurors, according to a story in the Atlanta Journal Constitution. 

Jay Sadd delivers his closing argument on behalf of Patricia Smith, who claims Logisticare's failure to properly supervise a contracted paratransit transportation service led to the loss of her arm and the use of her leg. 

Atlanta—Jurors Friday awarded $5M to a Georgia woman who lost her left arm and had her right leg rendered useless in a fall on a paratransit van. Smith v. Logisticare, 2014EV002438-J.

Miami, FL—Lawyers began battle this week in the case of a Cuban immigrant who died of laryngeal cancer 20 years ago, as they debated whether a smoker could truly be addicted to nicotine if he could stop and start a casual casual cocaine habit. Ledo v. R.J. Reynolds, 08-113-CA-31. 

Sarasota, FL—A former military man described as hard-headed, stubborn, and having a short fuse, was completely responsible for his own smoking and could not have been dissuaded from his 3-pack-a-day habit, the defense claimed in opening statements last week in the trial against the cigarette maker charged with conspiring to sell the cigarettes that led to his lung cancer and death. Johnston v. R.J. Reynolds, 2014-CA-004023.2014-CA-004023.