1.   As the first verdict for Lyle Menendez was read, the elder brother looked straight ahead and then shook his head slowly.

2.   But outside the Moorish-style courthouse, there was little evidence of the outrage that drew thousands into the streets after the first verdict.

3.   But the companies also risk the first adverse verdict in a state tobacco suit.

4.   In July, in the first verdict in such a case, the jury sided with an HMO defendant.

5.   It was the first civil verdict against the church.

6.   Moments after the first guilty verdict was read, Ann Symington closed her eyes and shook her head slowly.

7.   She said it was the first major verdict for someone who had been fired for obesity in California.

8.   So many could not accept the first verdict in the criminal case, because it seemed to be totally inconsistent with the evidence they were seeing.

9.   The conviction was the first verdict in a series of court cases faced by Berlusconi and his associates on charges including bribery and illegal slush funds.