OAKLAND — In an award that may be worth more than $400 million, a jury found Monday that a group of investors is entitled to 20% of the stock of ComputerLand Corp. and a group of other companies owned by William Millard.
In a case that has dragged on since 1981, an Alameda County jury decided that Micro/Vest Corp., a group of 60 investors, has the legal right to the stock because of a 9-year-old debt by Millard, one of the world's richest men, for $250,000.
The jury has not yet ruled on the question of possible punitive damages, which could make the award "the largest overall verdict in a commercial trial," according to Micro/Vest attorney Herbert Hafif, who estimated that the stock is worth $300 million to $400 million.
ComputerLand spokesman John Porter said the company would have no comment on the jury's decision until the next phase of the trial has been completed.
