Judge notifies involved parties of denial of all defense motions to overturn jury verdicts in EDA civil liability cases

According to Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority Board of Directors Chairman Jeff Browne, the now County overseen EDA has received notice from civil case Judge Bruce D. Albertson on his ruling in the five defense motions to overturn jury verdicts of liability in the EDA financial scandal civil litigations. That ruling on five civil cases totaling over $14 million dollars of liability is denial of those motions to overturn.

“We understand all motions were denied, which is a great victory for Warren County residents and the Warren County EDA,” Browne told Royal Examiner Tuesday afternoon by phone. Browne’s understanding is based on a December 13th letter from 26th Judicial District Judge Albertson to plaintiff and defense counsels in the five personal liability cases at issue. There are also two associated business liabilities.

Between July and October the Warren County Courthouse saw a lot of EDA ‘financial scandal’ action, with five trials resulting in liability verdicts totaling over $14 million. Below, EDA civil case lead attorney Cullen Seltzer and his team are on a winning streak in civil liability cases related to the EDA financial scandal.

“This matter was before me on November 30, 2022, for hearing on Motion(s) to Set Aside filed by Defendants. I deny each motion for reasons cited by Plaintiff,” Judge Albertson wrote involved counsel, citing preparation of a Final Order by plaintiff counsel and the noting of any defense objections to that order. It is possible defendants could appeal the court’s ruling to higher state courts.

The liabilities found by five Warren County Circuit Court civil case juries, four in July, and one in October, include:

• Truc “Curt” Tran ($1,821,192.01 compensatory, interest liabilities), Tran’s ITFederal company ($10,419,327.38 compensatory);
• Donald Poe ($604,973.12 compensatory, punitive, interest), Poe’s Earth Right Energy company ($948,646.25 in compensatory, punitive, interest);
• Samuel North (approximately $893,000 compensatory, punitive, interest, & statutory conspiracy);
• William Lambert ($296,555.34 compensatory, punitive, & interest);
• April Petty ($125,000 compensatory judgment liability).

See story on these motions hearings (Judge ponders rulings in multiple defense motions to overturn civil case jury finding of liability in EDA financial scandal cases) as well as other related trial stories on the Royal Examiner website under “News” category, subcategories “EDA in Focus” or “Crime & Courts”.