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October's Top Verdicts Include Country Rap King and Faulty Engines

Progressive Law Practice has identified five of the most notable verdicts from the month of October. 

Here they are:

gavel 3577258 640 smallMost Educated Verdict: Ex-principal Convicted of 21 Counts of Sex Abuse in Elementary School

A New York jury convicted former principal Kirk Ashton of sexually abusing 21 Northwood Elementary School students, according to an article from an 13 WHAM, an ABC affiliate. Reactions to the verdict, which came after a three-week-long trial, were mixed as many parents were confused as to how the abuse was allowed to go on for as long as it did. There are additional lawsuits moving through the federal court system against both the Hilton Central School District and Ashton.

Most Fatigued Verdict: 'Country Rap King’ on Hook for $20M After Found Liable for 2014 Crash

A Nashville jury awarded the families of two teenagers killed in a 2014 car wreck $20.7 million, according to an article from WKRG 5, a CBS affiliate. The accident was purported to have been caused by their employer, “Country Rap King” Jason Cross, who goes by the stage name Mikel Knight. The teenagers, Taylor Nixon and Robert Underfinger, were working under Knight’s Maverick Dirt Road Street Team when a fatigued, allegedly overworked employee fell asleep at the wheel killing them both.

Most Automotive Verdict: GM Ordered to Pony Up $103M in 'Rare' SF Federal Court Class Action

General Motors has been ordered to pay $102.6 million by a California jury for failing to disclose an engine defect affecting tens of thousands of trucks and SUVs, according to an article from Reuters. The decision was handed down in a “rare class action trial” in a San Francisco federal court. As such, each of the class members are expected to get roughly $2,700.

Most Awaited Verdict: Sans Body, Calif. Jury Finds Paul Flores Guilty for 1996 Dorm Room Murder

Even without a body, a California jury found Paul Flores guilty for the 1996 murder of Kristin Smart, according to an article from WYFF 4, an NBC affiliate. The pair were both students at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo when Smart disappeared, and prosecutors alleged Flores raped and murdered her in his dorm room. Flores’ father was also accused of helping his son hide Smart’s body but was acquitted by a separate jury.

Most International Verdict: Griner’s Conviction Upheld, Sentence Slightly Modified On Appeal

A Russian judge largely upheld the verdict against WNBA star Brittney Griner, who was convicted on drug smuggling charges, according to an article from CNN. As a result of the ruling, Griner’s sentence will now count time spent in pretrial detention, with each day counting as 1.5 days toward the sentence. Griner’s attorneys argued her sentence was unfair and disproportionate, and the court’s ruling of criminal intent was incorrect.

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