Heated Trial and Mistrial Motion
The trial brimmed with tension. CTA counsel Andrew Shelby accused Avila of misconduct, including improper arguments and personal insults—at one point calling Shelby a “master manipulator.” On Thursday, Shelby requested a mistrial, insisting the jury might have been swayed by rhetoric rather than evidence.
But U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly swiftly denied the motion minutes before the verdict, stating the agency could revisit the issue in post-trial motions.
Representation and Next Steps
McCormick was represented by Frank B. Avila of Avila Law Group LLC, Noah Hurwitz of Hurwitz Law PLLC, and others, while the CTA relied on in-house counsel and attorneys from Michael Best & Friedrich LLP.
For McCormick, the verdict provides validation of his stance. For the CTA, the battle may be far from over as legal maneuvering continues in the wake of the jury’s decision.
