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Juror Can’t Keep Quiet: Trial Twitter Tweet Could Cost 12 Million Bucks

Posted on 26 August 2009 by Brian Karpf

A $12 million jury verdict in Arkanksas is now being appealed after it was learned that one of the jurors was posting on twitter about the case during the trial. Stoam Holdings owner Russell Wright is looking to overturn the verdict against him and his company. Stoam was that alleged ponzi scheme whereby people sold “stoam” – some crazy substance that insulated like foam and was strong as steal (“stoam” – get it?).

One of the smarty-pants jurors (“Juror Jonathan” of Fayetteville, Arkansas) tweeted the following message on twitter: “oh and nobody buy Stoam. Its [sic] bad mojo and they’ll probably cease to Exist, now that their wallet is 12m lighter.” What is it with these people? If you are going to break a rule, be a little smarter and don’t broadcast it to the world. This bozo blunder is painstakingly reminiscent of the Judge Lawyer Ex Parte Communication on Facebookstory.

For those you don’t know what twitter is (do you sleep all day?), its basically a system where people broadcast what they are doing, for all the world to see. If you don’t know what twitter is, chances are you won’t understand why it would even exist. Fortunately or unfortunately, it’s a world full of yentas, and some people are obsessed with reading that Jack loves eating his cherry pie, or that Wanda is reading a book that she is enjoying soooo much.

The problem with Juror Jonathan is that jurors are usually told not to discuss or share any information about the trial to or with the public. Good one, Jonathan.

So we’re entering the realm of twitter legal issues. Well here’s my tweet for the day – Lawyer Lunch: Hey Jonathan, if you wanted out of the jury, you could’ve just pulled the good ‘ole Larry David stunt!

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