Mixed verdict in Alaska Native corporation case

Tuesday, October 9, 2007  

A jury in Alaska delivered a mixed verdict in a case involving an Alaska Native regional corporation.

Cook Inlet Region Inc. and Nabors Industries, an oil services company, sued businessman John Ellsworth for $40 million. They accused him of fraud and wrongdoing.

Ellsworth countersued for $12 million. He said CIRI and Nabors cheated him out of his share of Alaska Interstate Construction, one of the state's largest construction firms.

A jury agreed that Ellsworth committed fraud. Under state law, the $7.8 million verdict could be tripled. But the jury also said CIRI and Nabors owe Ellsworth $12 million.

The trial lasted two months and jury deliberations lasted two weeks.

Get the Story:
Verdict mixed in Ellsworth-CIRI lawsuit; both sides see victory (The Anchorage Daily News 10/9)
pwlat

Relevant Links:
Cook Inlet Region Inc - http://www.ciri.com

Ex-CIRI executive defends contractor in theft case (09/12)