Mistrial. Judge Stops Trial After Jurors Complain Luxenberg Viewed Them Online.

A stunning morning in a Hartford courtroom. Judge Stuart Rosen declared a mistrial in Geoffrey Luxenberg v. Michael Farina. The case, filed in 2019, is a dispute over the payments Luxenberg claims Farina owed him from the operation of Vinci Group, a well-known Democratic campaign consulting firm.

The trial was expected to reach the jury this afternoon for deliberations. The schedule was upended Thursday morning when jurors notified Judge Rosen of an issue. At least one juror discovered that Luxenberg had viewed his or her LinkdIn profile while the trial was going on.

Judge Rosen, whose background in private practice is in civil litigation, is known to have a calm disposition. Daily Ructions understands that he was visibly dismayed at Luxenberg’s actions. Jurors are a no-go zone in Connecticut and every other jurisdiction that honors the rule of law.

Posted Thursday, December 2, 2021.