One down, eight to go.
In a bizarre plot twist worthy of a John Grisham novel, a juror with ties to left-leaning filmmaker Michael Moore was ousted from the court battle between Terra Firma’s Guy Hands and Citigroup over the buyout of EMI.
Donna Romo-Gianell, also known as Juror No. 6, was dismissed from the fraud trial late yesterday after lawyers for Citi argued before Judge Jed Rakoff that she harbored an anti-bank bias based on her connection to the filmmaker.
Gianell's name appears in the film credits of
Citi's lead attorney Ted Wells said he found the connection "scary in the context of this particular case" and asked that Gianell be dismissed.
Judge Jed Rakoff did dismiss Gianell, not for her role in the
Citi’s rep Wells felt differently: "Out of nine people, I have one associated with the Michael Moore movie who's taking notes like a person possessed. We started putting in our case and suddenly we're seeing a different person."
Judge Rakoff dismissed Gianell despite protests from Terra Firma attorney David Boies, who said Gianell had been the most attentive juror in the complex financial case.
At day’s end, Mr. Rakoff dismissed the jury, but not before urging them to vote by reciting lyrics from the musical
Closing arguments in the case are set to begin today, and the jury should get the case in this afternoon.
THE COUNT: COACHELLA, FROM THE COUCH
The coziest way to experience the fest (4/18a)
| ||
THE NEW UMG
Gosh, we hope there are more press releases.
TIKTOK BANNED!
Unless the Senate manages to make this whole thing go away, that is.
THE NEW HUGE COUNTRY ACT
No, not that one.
TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN PLAYLIST
Now 100% unlicensed!
|