PHILADELPHIA (CN) - A federal judge declined to let legal publishing giant Thomson West completely nix a $5 million defamation verdict that a jury awarded two law professors.
The two professors now have the option of either taking $200,000 each or retrying their case against Thomson West.
U.S. District Judge John Fullam found Wednesday that the $90,000 each in compensatory damages awarded by the jury was "quite generous," but not excessive to the point that intervention was warranted.
The $5 million in punitive damages was "undoubtedly excessive," however, and $110,000 each was more appropriate, he wrote in a five-page decision.
Fullam's opinion may be among the last of the judge's illustrious - and sometimes controversial - tenure. The 89-year-old said last week that he would step down after over four decades on the federal bench.
Subscribe to Closing Arguments
Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.
Additional Reads
-
-
Contributor-Test-Post-2024-04-12 April 12, 2024
