Short Seller Left Seeks Mistrial Over ‘Unusual’ Courtroom Error

Moments before short seller Andrew Left was convicted on 13 of 17 counts of securities fraud, an unusual error played out that could threaten the verdict and force a repeat of the landmark trial.

After two days of deliberations, jurors entered the Los Angeles courtroom Monday where the three-week trial had taken place and handed their verdict to the judge’s clerk. Unbeknownst to anyone, the jury used an old form and found Left guilty on an 18th count — lying to a federal agent — even though that charge was never part of the trial.

US District Judge Virginia Phillips ...