TRIALS

1964-1983 / 1984-1992 / 1993-1999


The State of Illinois vs. Catlin Ewing

First Date of Trial: June 1984
Last Date of Trial: July 1984
Charge: The first-degree murder of David Thatcher
Counsel for the Defence: Mark Singleton
Counsel for the Prosecution: Eric Weston
Witnesses Called: Larry Ewing and Sally Frame
Outcome: Guilty as charged. Sentenced to the death penalty. He was cleared after Peter Love found evidence that proved that the true culprit was Dr. Emily Benson

The State of Illinois vs. Brittany Peterson

First Date of Trial: December 1, 1986
Last Date of Trial: December 29, 1986
Charge: The shooting of Peter Love
Counsel for the Defence: Zack Edwards
Counsel for the Prosecution: Peggy Lazarus
Witnesses Called: Bridget Connell, Mac Cory, Rachel Cory, Catlin Ewing, Jamie Frame, Ada Hobson, Michael Hudson, Nicole Love, Reginald Love, Vicky Love, Nancy McGowan, Sara Montaigne, and Peter Love
Outcome: Guilty as charged. Sentenced to five years with the strong recommendation of parole after two years
Notes: Brittany Peterson (Sharon Gabet) went on trial for the attempted murder of her husband, Peter Love (Marcus Smythe). The verdict was placed in the hands of a real-life jury. Advertisements ran in "TV Guide" and "The Star" inviting fans to sign up for jury duty. Of the 7,500 applicants, fifty were brought into Surrogate Court in Manhattan where the trial was taped. Only a simple majority verdict was needed. The writers had written scripts for either verdict. The resulting vote was seven men guilty and seven women innocent.

The State of Illinois vs. Felicia Gallant Cass, Matthew, Felicia (Freeze Frame)

Felicia, Zach, Cass, JohnFirst Date of Trial: April 14, 1989
Last Date of Trial: May 8, 1989
Charge: The first-degree murder of Jason Frame
Counsel for the Defence: Cass Winthrop, Stacey Winthrop, and Zack Edwards
Counsel for the Prosecution: Morgan Graves
Witnesses Called: Mitch Blake, Mac Cory, Sharlene Frame, Felicia Gallant, Rick Graham, John Hudson, Donna Love, Jake McKinnon, Courtney Walker, and Iris Wheeler
Outcome: Guilty as charged. Felicia spent one month in jail until Nicole Love, Jason's real killer, turned herself in to the police

Jamie Frame vs. Victoria HudsonStacey, Vicky

First Date of Trial: August 31, 1989
Last Date of Trial: September 4, 1989
Charge: Jamie sued Vicky for custody of their son, Steven Frame
Counsel for the Defence: Kenneth Martin
Counsel for the Prosecution: Stacey Winthrop
Witnesses Called: Vicky Hudson and Jake McKinnon
Outcome: Jamie was awarded custody of Steven, though Vicky was granted liberal visitation rights

Cass, Michael, Donna Toby and Eve Miller vs. Michael and Donna Hudson

First Date of Trial: July 11, 1990
Last Date of Trial: July 16, 1990
Charge: The Millers brought a lawsuit against the Hudsons to reclaim custody of their son, Michael (Mikey) Spencer Hudson, whom the Hudsons had adopted in November 1988
Counsel for the Defence: Cass Winthrop
Counsel for the Prosecution: Stacey Winthrop
Witnesses Called: Jake McKinnon
Outcome: When Stacey threatened to reveal Donna's affair with Jake, Donna gave up all custody rights to Mikey, who then returned to his natural parents

The State of Illinois vs. Marley HudsonMarley, Vicky, Cass

First Date of Trial: December 18, 1990
Last Date of Trial: February 7, 1991
Charge: The shooting of Jake McKinnon
Counsel for the Defence: Cass Winthrop and Stacey Winthrop
Counsel for the Prosecution: Morgan Graves
Witnesses Called: Paulina Cory, Jamie Frame, Ryan Harrison, Donna Love, and Marley Hudson
Outcome: A mistrial occurred when Donna, falsely, pled guilty to the charge. She was jailed for a short time then did community work at the waterfront clinic

The State of Illinois vs. Carl Hutchins Dana, Carl

First Date of Trial: October 1, 1991
Last Date of Trial: October 14, 1991
Charge: The attempted murder of Rachel Cory
Counsel for the Defence: Dana Kramer
Counsel for the Prosecution: Kevin Anderson
Witnesses Called: Amanda Cory, Rachel Cory, Donna Love, and Kathleen McKinnon
Outcome: Not guilty. The defence's case was seriously set back when Rachel, suffering from vision problems, identified a photo of her son, Matthew, as that of her assailant

Dr. Kelsey Harrison vs. Dr. Jamie Frame Kelsey, Jamie (Freeze Frame)

Cass, JakeDate of Trial: November 1992
Charge:
Dr. Harrison charged Dr. Frame, her superior at Bay City General Hospital, with sexual discrimination when he chose Dr. Darryl Beckett, and not her, as his personal assistant at the conclusion of the mentor program
Counsel for the Defence:
Cass Winthrop
Counsel for the Prosecution:
Kevin Anderson
Witnesses Called:
Russ Matthews and Jake McKinnon
Outcome:
Dr. Frame publicly admitted that he chose someone other than Dr. Harrison as his assistant so that their relationship wouldn't be put under undue stress. He was suspended from his hospital duties for two weeks