Monthly Archives: January 2021

Court’s “Anti-Deadlock Instructions Likely Coerced a Unanimous Verdict” Requiring Retrial, Holds D.C. Circuit

In United States v. Driscoll, No. 19-3074 (D.C. Cir. Jan. 5, 2021), the panel holds that the district court’s repeated efforts to force a verdict denied the defendant a fair trial and required that the conviction be vacated. “Jury deliberations in Driscoll’s trial began on Tuesday, November 20. The jury deliberated for approximately 45 minutesContinue reading “Court’s “Anti-Deadlock Instructions Likely Coerced a Unanimous Verdict” Requiring Retrial, Holds D.C. Circuit”

District Court Abused Discretion by Expanding Remedies on Rule 59(e) Post-Judgment Motion to Reconsider, Holds Fourth Circuit

In JTH Tax, Inc. v. Aime, No. 19-1746 (4th Cir. Jan. 4, 2021), the Fourth Circuit holds that the district court erred – on remand from an earlier appeal – in granting the winning plaintiff (1) additional compensatory damages on the grounds of newly discovered evidence, and (2) nominal damages. Aime operated nine tax franchisesContinue reading “District Court Abused Discretion by Expanding Remedies on Rule 59(e) Post-Judgment Motion to Reconsider, Holds Fourth Circuit”