Atlanta—A driver who went for a wild ride at a busy Atlanta intersection after being spun out in a collision had a much safer trip in Fulton County State Court when the jury awarded her over $1 million in her personal injury suit against the driver who hit her. Felicia Cheek v. Julia Demmer (14EV000550)

Update November 12, 2015, 7:21 p.m.:  

Jurors this afternoon awarded $36 million to plaintiffs, including $11 million for wrongful death and $25 million for the estate's claim (which include medical expenses, pain and suffering, and funeral expenses). However, the award will be reduced significantly by the jurors' apportionment of 12.5% fault to defendant North Fulton Medical Center and assignment of no fault to the remaining defendants. 

Jurors assigned 87.5% of responibility to Dr. Harry Rutland, who had reached an earlier settlement with the plaintiffs and was not a party to the trial. 

CVN will have more on the case, as well as gavel-to gavel coverage of the trial on demand, as soon as it becomes available. 

Atlanta—The defense table is likely to be very crowded in Judge Jay Roth’s courtroom in Fulton County State Court this week as six different law firms present separate defenses for the various defendants in a wrongful death med mal case. However, one physician that the jury might well find substantially responsible for Sonya DuBose’s 2012 death will not be present at the defense table, having reached a settlement with the plaintiffs prior to the lawsuit being filed. Courtroom View Network is on hand to provide gavel-to-gavel coverage of one of the most complex Georgia malpractice trials in recent years. Anthony Marion et al. v. W. Glover Little MD et al. (13EV016954).

Randall Bassett tells jurors David Robertson was not a "tortured" smoker addicted to nicotine during closings of Irene Robertson's suit against Bassett's client, R.J. Reynolds. The tobacco company prevailed Monday against Irene Roberton's claim that Reynolds' was liable for her husband's nicotine addiction and fatal cancer. Watch the trial.

Fort Lauderdale, FL—Jurors Monday cleared R.J. Reynolds of liability for the lung cancer death of a Florida plaster worker who smoked for more than five decades. Robertson v. R.J. Reynolds, 07-CV-36442.

The six-member jury answered no to the preliminary question of whether David Robertson, the smoker at the case’s heart, was addicted to nicotine that caused his lung cancer. 

(Photo: "Under the Influence 2014" by CZR-E for the Come Up Show / CC BY 2.0)

(VERDICT UPDATE: After a weeklong trial, a Fulton County Superior Court jury issued a verdict in favor of Young Jeezy (given name Jay Jenkins) in the lawsuit brought by former business associate Demetrius Ellerbee (also known as "Kinky B"). The jury specifically found that Ellerbee was not entitled to half of Jeezy's earnings under the terms of the singer's contract with Def Jam Recordings, also a defendant in the case. In addition, the jury found in favor of Jeezy on the other counts of Ellerbee's complaint, alleging conversion and RICO Act violations. Courtroom View Network will continue to cover this story, including video clips of trial highlights, as it develops, and complete gavel-to-gavel coverage of the trial will be available on CVN's website as soon as possible.)

Attorneys in their closing statements often call into question the testimony of key opposing witnesses. In a recent DeKalb County State Court case, however, the plaintiff’s attorney instead went after a number of specific statements made by the defense attorney in his opening statement, which plaintiff’s counsel painted as part of the “bullying” tactics adopted by the defense in the case. Stephanie Nelson v. Ryan Beiner and Rural/Metro Corporation (13-A-47097-2).