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going back.’ Judicial had a lot to catch
up on technology-wise in the last few
months, but it appears it’s paying off,”
said Shapiro, who is with Aeton Law
Partners. “It’s not a sprint here.”
Shapiro continued: “To the judge’s
credit, because of the time needed in
this case, he made this a top priority.”
Dur-A-Flex, Shapiro said, accused
one of its former chemists of misap-
propriating trade secrets and giving
them to a competitor. Dur-A-Flex
provides floor and wall systems for
various industries.
The case, Shapiro said, resumed all
day on Wednesday and Thursday, and Hartford Superior Court

half a day on Friday. The trial is expected to continue Jury trials can be held in the courtrooms or re-
into August, he said. motely, but, he said, it’s past time to start looking at
“It’s a really complex case,” he said. “There are options.
more than 900 marked exhibits. Evidence in the case “Remote jury trials can be an option,” Etemi said.
has been provided off and on for two years.” Through “But we need something to happen. Courtrooms
Microsoft Teams, Shapiro said, both sides this week are large enough, many of them, to apply social dis-
“were introducing evidence and tancing. In a nutshell, bench trials
examining witnesses.” are a test case to see how well the
The law firm Rogin Nassau in technology can hold up in a jury
Hartford is representing the plain- Possibly the first bench trial trial. I have faith that Judicial will
tiff, while there are several firms since the health pandemic come up with something.”

representing the defendants. shut down court business Rhonda Hebert, a spokeswom-

Shapiro said the return of the in March is the trade secret an for the state Judicial Branch,
trial the past two and a half days case of East Hartford’s said in a statement that Mou-
has seen some technical glitches kawsher’s trial is one example of
on the part of the Judicial Branch. Dur-A-Flex against 10 “evidentiary hearings being con-
But he said they were all minor. ducted by remote means. The
defendants, being heard by scope and nature of remote, evi-
“There was some delay, but they Judge Thomas Moukawsher.

got quickly resolved,” he said. dentiary hearings is expanding
Shapiro said attorneys are eager daily.”
to get back to work, but he said It’s not clear when jury tri-
some have concerns about doing so remotely. als will begin in state courts. This week, the federal
“I’ve heard from both sides,” Shapiro said. “Some courts in Connecticut announced jury selection and
people, like myself, are more than willing to do this jury trials would be pushed back from Sept. 1 to
remotely. Others are apprehensive.” Nov. 2.
Ron Etemi, a trial attorney for Trantolo & Trantolo ¦

in Waterbury, said attorneys “are patiently waiting for Robert Storace covers legal trends, lawsuits and
something to happen with jury trials. It’s a good sign analysis for the Connecticut Law Tribune. Follow
that we are doing bench trials, but I think we need to him on Twitter @RobertSCTLaw or reach him at
have some plans and options in place for jury trials.” 203-437-5950.

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