Lawyer Tricks Witness Into Shocking Himself With 750 Volts, Fined $3K

A Utah judge has fined a lawyer $3,000 for delivering a 750-volt shock to an expert witness via a trick pen. The lawyer, Don Howarth of Howarth & Smith, was attempting to undermine the testimony of Georgia Tech electrical engineering professor A.P. Meliopoulos, who was a witness in a case concerning shocking cattle.  Judge James Brady brought the hammer down on Howarth, limiting his pro hac privileges such that he may not cross-examine expert witnesses at the next trial and compelling him to pay thousands in damages, to be divided between the defendant and the witness.