California Watch

A Los Angeles jury awarded $370 million in damages to five former employees of Guess Jeans mogul Georges Marciano, making it the biggest verdict of 2009, according to Lawyers USA.

The employees brought the defamation suit against Marciano, claiming he "falsely accused them of stealing from him and used his wealth and connections to dog them with investigations, tax audits and accusations in newspaper ads and on Internet sites."

Marciano had sued the employees in 2007, "alleging that they were stealing his e-mails and other personal information and conspiring to sell valuable pieces of art and wine from his collection."

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Elizabeth White threw out Marciano's suit and "ruled that he should be held liable" for defaming the former employees.

Lawyers USA released its tabulation of the top 10 jury verdicts of 2009 and highlighted the Marciano case as a "record defamation verdict," and "bizarre trial."

In a particularly odd twist, Marciano was barred from attending his own trial, "as a sanction for repeatedly failing to show up at depositions, attorneys for plaintiffs said."

Marciano announced an independent bid for governor in April 2009, but it's unclear if he plans on continuing his campaign.