Newly released deposition video of Donald Trump shows his demeanor going from calm to indignant as he faces the New York attorney general's questioning in a civil fraud lawsuit, where he rips the lawsuit as a "disgrace" and "a terrible thing." Trump insists the banks allegedly deceived suffered no harm and accuses the attorney general of spending time investigating him instead of stopping violent crime. He invokes his Fifth Amendment privilege more than 400 times in a previous deposition and claims his financial statements were not meant to be taken seriously, with some numbers being "guesstimates." Trump boasts about the value of his brand and properties, using superlatives to describe them, and suggests he could get staggering amounts if he were to sell them.
In his civil fraud trial, Donald Trump admitted that his New York penthouse is actually 11,000 square feet, not the 30,000 square feet listed on his financial statements. Evidence presented in the trial included a 1994 document signed by Trump himself, which stated the true size of his penthouse. Former finance chief Allen Weisselberg testified that he didn't pay much attention to the apartment's size as it was insignificant compared to Trump's overall wealth. Weisselberg also acknowledged signing documents certifying the accuracy of financial statements given to banks. The trial, brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James, alleges that Trump and his organization committed fraud by inflating the value of assets and net worth on financial statements.
A St. Louis County jury has awarded a $745 million verdict to the parents of a woman who was killed by a driver under the influence of Whip-It! nitrous oxide. The trial focused on whether the company distributing Whip-It! conspired with a local smoke shop to sell the product to customers who intended to illegally inhale it. The jury found the distributing company 70% liable, the smoke shop 20% liable, and the driver 10% liable. The verdict sends a message to the industry and may lead to reforms. The defendants have the right to appeal.
The Mississippi Supreme Court has denied an appeal to remove NFL Hall of Famer Brett Favre as a defendant in a civil lawsuit seeking to recover misspent welfare money. The lawsuit alleges that millions of federal welfare dollars were improperly spent on projects supported by Favre, including a volleyball arena and a concussion treatment drug. While no criminal charges have been brought against Favre, former department officials and others have pleaded guilty to their involvement in the misspending. Favre's attorneys argue that he was not part of the scheme and that the Department of Human Services is suing him to deflect from their own role in allowing fraud.
