On May 31 a Benton County jury rendered a defense verdict in Key v. H.C. Jett – H.C. Ford & Sons Funeral Home. The case involved a car wreck on Highway 72. It’s a four-lane, divided highway.  The plaintiff was stopped in the highway with other vehicles waiting for a funeral procession to pass.  He was rear-ended by an approaching vehicle and suffered catastrophic injuries, including an undisputed traumatic brain injury.  The parties agreed on…

Last week the Mississippi Supreme Court amended the Rules Governing Admission to the Mississippi Bar. Here is the Order. Effective immediately, everyone who was admitted to practice without having to take the bar exam must pass the exam to continue practicing. Just kidding old fellas. Here is the new rule: Section 8. Re-examination in Excess of Three. An applicant who has unsuccessfully taken the Mississippi Bar Exam three (3) times shall not be eligible…

Here is a preview of the May 2019 issue of the Miss. Jury Verdict Reporter: $174,303 verdict- Hancock County insurance negligence/ failure to pay claim case (4/18/19); $70,000 verdict- Gulfport Federal Court sexual harassment case reported here (5/1/19); $37,000 verdict- Hattiesburg Federal Court uninsured motorist case (5/1/19); $31,250 verdict- Oxford Federal Court civil rights case (5/1/19); $1,700 verdict- Simpson County car wreck case (5/7/19); defense verdict- Hinds County car wreck case (5/7/19); defense verdict- Lauderdale…

On May 16 a Washington County Circuit Court jury rendered a $339,104 verdict in Patton v. Hilpert. The case involved a car wreck at the Sonic in Leland, MS. The defendant pulled over on the left side of the Sonic Drive-In exit before attempting to exit the driveway to throw away trash in the garbage can. At the same time, the plaintiff drove her vehicle along the right side of the defendant’s vehicle to make…

Jimmy Gates with the Clarion-Ledger reported on a $1 million verdict in Hinds County on Friday in a case alleging Jackson police mishandled a 911 call: A Hinds County Circuit Court jury has awarded $1 million to the family of a 67-year-old Jackson woman killed in 2014 after family members and others say Jackson police bungled the woman’s 911 call about a prowler. “If they would have followed policy and procedures, more likely than not, it would…

On Tuesday a federal court jury rendered a total verdict of $3.3 million in EEOC v. Danny’s Downtown Cabaret. Here is the Complaint. The EEOC alleged Danny’s discriminated against five dancers on the basis of race. See the Complaint for details. The trial began on May 6, 2019 and ended on May 14. The jury rendered a plaintiff verdict for: $1.68 million- compensatory damages; $130,550- back pay; and $1.5 million- punitive damages. I believe a…

Clio’s blog published this article advising attorneys to stay off their mobile phones for the sake of mental health. It includes: Sometimes working outside of business hours is necessary—there may be a transaction heating up or a trial to prepare for. Intermittent days of long hours are often required, but when this becomes business as usual, something needs to change. Tony Swartz founder of the The Energy Project writes: “The more hours people work beyond…