Court Grants Mild Sanctions for Statements that Led to Mistrial

PHILADELPHIA - A federal judge who granted a defense motion for mistrial based on plaintiff's counsel's allegedly improper statements and questioning of witnesses has assessed that counsel for defendants' trial fees but declined to impose harsher penalties. Ferguson v. Valero Energy Corp., No. 06-540 (E.D. Pa.).

Judge Mary A. McLaughlin of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania declined to assess the court's trial costs against the lawyer and his firm, or disqualify the lawyer, saying in her May 27 memorandum that the law firm representing plaintiffs has stipulated that the subject attorney will not participate in …