Local News in Brief : New Trial Asked in Rock Hudson Case

Lawyers for actor Rock Hudson’s estate and personal secretary requested a new trial in Los Angeles Superior Court Wednesday, alleging a jury was excessive in handing down a $21.7-million verdict against their clients for Hudson’s not telling his former lover he had AIDS. Lawyers also said a new trial was warranted because of alleged errors by the judge and misconduct by jurors.

A jury of seven women and five men awarded Hudson’s former lover, Marc Christian, $14.5 million on Feb. 16, deciding that the late actor conspired with his secretary, Mark Miller, to keep his acquired immune deficiency syndrome infection a secret from Christian so they could continue having sex together.

The jury then awarded $7.25 million against Miller in exemplary and punitive damages to punish him for his “despicable conduct” in helping Hudson hide his illness.