Texas Judge Finds Juror Misconduct, Awards New Trial to Plaintiffs

EL PASO, Texas -- A Texas judge has granted a plaintiff motion for a new trial in a mesothelioma case that ended in a defense verdict, accepting the argument that a juror's comments during voir dire resulted in prejudice against the plaintiffs. Melon v. Bondex, et al., No. 2003-4070 (Texas Cty. Ct. at Law No. 3, El Paso Cty.).

Sources said that Judge Javier Alvarez of the Texas County Court at Law No. 3 for El Paso County on July 19 granted a new trial to the plaintiffs after hearing testimony that a juror disclosed to a fellow juror that …