The ghost of the WTO protests still hangs over the city of Seattle. Earlier this year, film crews dropped by to get a few location shots for the upcoming Charlize Theron movie; today the city lost its case in federal court:

the jury found the city liable for violating the rights of about 175 protesters against unreasonable search and seizure, but did not find a violation against their free speech rights.

A lawyer for the city argued that the mixed verdict shows the jury was confused by its instructions, and said Seattle will seek to dismiss the case.

Barring that challenge or an immediate appeal, the class-action lawsuit will move to a damages phase in which the city could be forced to pay millions of dollars. [montereyherald ^[1] (AP)]