[/floatr]Canadian Press: U.S. jurors' name-calling of Japanese-Canadian lawyer prompts new trial
A judge has ordered a new trial in a medical malpractice case after complaints several jurors referred to a lawyer of Japanese-Canadian descent as "Mr. Kamikaze" during deliberations. Spokane County Superior Court Judge Robert Austin said the racial comments call into question whether juror misconduct was at play in a verdict that went against lawyer Mark Kamitomo's client, clearing a doctor of negligence in a cancer diagnosis. Austin said he was surprised when he received Kamitomo's motion for a new trial last month...Two jurors approached Kamitomo after the Dec. 7 verdict, saying five other jurors mocked him during their closed-door proceedings, calling him names including "Mr. Kamikaze," "Mr. Miyashi" and "Mr. Miyagi," a character in the movie "The Karate Kid." One juror also said because the verdict was going to be read on the anniversary of the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, the remarks made about Kamitomo were "almost appropriate," said one juror's affidavit...more...
