Court Roundup

Montana Landowners win $437K verdict from natural gas co. GREAT FALLS, Mont. (AP) -- A Toole County jury has awarded $437,000 to a ranching couple who sued an oil and gas company for contaminating their livestock pond with wastewater from natural gas wells. The Great Falls Tribune reports the jury reached its verdict on July 22 in favor of David and Lenora McEwen, who ranch in the Sweet Grass Hills. The couple sued MCR LLC of Shelby for breach of contract in 2008. Lenora McEwen says the contract allowed MCR to put production water from one natural gas well in the stock pond on the condition it was safe. She says waste water from two other wells was placed in the pond without the family's knowledge. Attorney John Crist of Billings says the company hasn't decided if it will appeal. Louisiana Katina shooting trial jurors to get case Wednesday NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Jurors are scheduled to hear closing arguments Tuesday in the trial of five current or former New Orleans police officers charged in deadly shootings on a New Orleans bridge after Hurricane Katrina. U.S. District Judge Kurt Engelhardt announced Friday that he expects the jury to begin deliberating on Wednesday. The jury heard five weeks of testimony from roughly 60 prosecution and defense witnesses before the defendants' attorneys rested Thursday. Prosecutors called several rebuttal witnesses on Friday. Police allegedly shot six unarmed people, killing two, on the Danziger Bridge less than a week after the storm. Prosecutors say officers engaged in a cover-up to make the shootings appear justified. Defense attorneys say police were shot at before returning fire. Missouri Jury weighs punitive damages in smelter suit ST. LOUIS (AP) -- A St. Louis jury could award even more damages to 16 residents of Herculaneum who have already been awarded millions in a lawsuit against the former owners of a lead smelter in the eastern Missouri town. On Thursday, the jury awarded $38.5 million in compensatory damages in the case against Texas-based Fluor Corp., Virginia-based A.T. Massey Coal and Doe Run Investment Holding Co. The holding company is not affiliated with The Doe Run Co., the present owner of the smelter. On Friday, the jury began hearing arguments for punitive damages. The suit focused on the period of 1986 to 1994 and the effects on people who grew up near the smelter. High levels of lead in the blood can lower IQ and cause problems such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Published: Mon, Aug 1, 2011