Trial by Body Language

TRIAL BY BODY LANGUAGE: The Terra Firma-Citibank trial, which began yesterday in a N.Y.C. courtroom, focuses on the battle between two former pals and business associates in Guy Hands and David Wormsley over the former's 2007 acquisition of EMI Music. On the first day of the proceedings, presided over by federal judge Jed Rakoff, whose no-nonsense style has earned him the nickname “Judge Dread” in Wall Street circles, Wormsley, flanked by his lawyers, could be seen flipping a coin between his fingers nervously or rubbing his eyes during one of the numerous sidebars that pushed the opening portion of the trial into today. Hands seemed “jittery” in a blue-gray suit that appeared a little too baggy. Many of the jurors hearing the case “appeared overwhelmed by the wonky, esoteric banking terms being spouted by the lawyers.” In fact, during Terra Firma attorney David Boies’ opening statement, one in the front row could be seen snoozing soundly. (10/19a)