Disney shareholders appeal ruling on Ovitz severance News
Disney shareholders appeal ruling on Ovitz severance

[JURIST] Walt Disney [corporate website] shareholders have appealed a ruling by a Delaware court that the company's directors were not liable [JURIST report] for approving a $130 million severance package for former President Michael Ovitz [Wikipedia backgrounder]. The appeal sought to have the ruling overturned on procedural and evidentiary grounds. Ovitz served as president of the company for 14 months before leaving in 1996. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

First US execution by gas

On February 8, 1924, Gee Jon, a Chinese man convicted of murder, was executed by gas in Nevada and became the first person in the United States to be put to death in that manner.

The Nevada state legislature had eliminated hanging and shooting as a method of execution in 1921, and had provided for execution by lethal gas instead. Nevada sent 32 convicts to the gas chamber between 1924 and 1979. Learn more about the history of executions by gas in Nevada.

Mary, Queen of Scots executed

On February 8, 1587, Mary I of Scotland was executed for involvement in a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I of England. Before execution, Mary denied three times assisting the Babington Plot to murder her cousin, Queen Elizabeth, and crown Mary as ruler of Great Britain. Mary's guilt or innocence is debated to this day. Learn more about the Babington Plot.