Mock Jury Finds for Byrnes

A jury verdict assessing $2,000 in damages to plaintiff John Byrnes against defendant Frank Hastings was brought in at the mock trial attended by first year law students in Langdell Court Room last night. The proceedings were designed to show the actual workings of a jury trial.

The fictitious Byrnes, a concert singer, accused Hastings of upsetting him by calling him a communist, thinking he was Joseph Burns, a renowned communist singer. Byrnes also was seeking to recover for economic loss when his emotional distress caused him to leave the stage and forfeit his $1,000 salary.

The jury adjudged Byrnes $1,000 for his economic loss and another $1,000 for the mental anguish suffered. Byrnes' counsel, Arthur E. Sutherland, professor of Law, was denied his plea for battery.

This is the second year in which the mock trial has been held in conjunction with the new teaching fellow program.

Judge Francis J. W. Lord '03 of the Boston Federal District Court handed the jury a special verdict questionnaire listing the counts for the jurors' decision.

The decision will be appealed on October 30 with Dean Griswold acting as counsel for Hastings, and Archibald Cox, professor of Law, representing Byrnes.