From the Detroit Free Press: "Harassment verdict is overturned," by Dawson Bell--
The Michigan Supreme Court struck down a $21-million jury verdict in a sexual harassment case against DaimlerChrysler on Thursday, finding that flamboyant attorney Geoffrey Fieger had improperly appealed to juror bias.Fieger, the court said, likened his client to a Holocaust victim mistreated by a heartless German corporation.
The 4-3 court majority ordered a new trial for millwright Linda Gilbert, the victim of multiple crude taunts, anonymous vulgar cartoons and other emotional abuse.
Although Fieger was scathing Thursday in his criticism of the majority justices -- whom he described as "the most radical and extremist . . . in the history of the United States" -- the court was unanimous in finding the verdict was excessive.
It was at least the third time in recent years a Michigan appellate court has tossed out a multimillion dollar award to a Fieger client, each time citing his over-the-top rhetorical appeals to the emotions of jurors.
Thanks for the link to Ernie the Attorney. My first post on over-the-top closing arguments, in which a defendant was compared to a "terrorist," was here.
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