Court Roundup

Arkansas New trial ordered in lawsuit against Tyson Foods FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) -- A new trial has been ordered in a sexual discrimination lawsuit against Springdale-based Tyson Foods Inc. The ruling published Wednesday by the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals overturns a $600,000 judgment that Tyson was ordered to pay Retha Weems after a federal jury agreed with Weems' discrimination claim. Tyson appealed and a three judge panel ruled that a federal judge was wrong to allow the jury to hear about a separation agreement Tyson offered Weems. The judges said the agreement prejudiced the jury against Tyson. The agreement would have settled Weems' complaints for a portion of her salary and medical benefits if she left her job. A Tyson spokesman told the Northwest Arkansas Times that Weems remains an employee. An attorney for Weems was unavailable for comment. New Hampshire Convict knew she lost appeal before she died CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- A New Hampshire convict learned she had lost her appeal on multiple convictions she fabricated evidence against her ex-husband just hours before she died. The lawyer for 36-year-old Kristin Ruggiero confirms she learned of the court's decision Wednesday, shortly before she was discovered suffering a seizure in her cell at the women's prison in Goffstown. Ruggiero was taken to Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, where she was pronounced dead. The New Hampshire Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld numerous convictions for fabricating threats against Ruggiero by her ex-husband. Attorney Mark Sisti says Ruggiero was disappointed by the ruling but he would not elaborate on his conversation with her Wednesday morning. Sisti said he is awaiting autopsy results to learn more about her death. Ruggiero was serving a sentence of 7-14 years. Published: Thu, Dec 29, 2011