BREAKING NEWS ~ Scrushy acquitted on all charges in corporate fraud trial News
BREAKING NEWS ~ Scrushy acquitted on all charges in corporate fraud trial

[JURIST] A jury has found former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy [JURIST news archive] not guilty on charges of wire and mail fraud, money laundering, conspiracy, and violations of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act [summary]. Scrushy was the first CEO to be charged with violating the act. The jury, originally given the case on May 19, was deadlocked for weeks [JURIST report] and had to start deliberating again on June 22 when a juror was replaced [JURIST report] for health reasons. The charges stemmed from a scheme to overstate earnings and inflate the company's stock price between 1996 and 2002. Prosecutors claimed Scrushy was in charge of the scam, while Scrushy's defense blamed aides, 15 of whom pleaded guilty [AP report]. CNN has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

38 Santee Sioux hanged by US for rebellion

On December 26, 1862, 38 Santee Sioux men were hanged in a mass execution for their roles in a rebellion against US authorities in Minnesota which left hundreds dead and made refugees of some 40,000 white settlers. Government annuities promised under a treaty with the Sioux had failed to arrive on schedule and credit for purchases was not advanced in the meantime, threatening the tribe with starvation. The Santee Sioux Tribe's members were deported first to South Dakota and ultimately to Nebraska, where they remain today. Learn more about the 1862 Minnesota Sioux Rebellion.

Louis XVI put on trial during French Revolution

On December 26, 1792, Romain de Sèze, a defense attorney for deposed King Louis XVI, presented a defense of his client. The former King was on trial before a French Revolutionary court on thirty-three charges, including treason and other crimes against the state. He was convicted on January 15, 1793 executed by guillotine on the following January 21.