The American judicial system affirms the guilt of Elizabeth Holmes, the mastermind behind Theranos.
In a recent ruling, a three-judge panel from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco dismissed appeals lodged by Theranos founders Elizabeth Holmes and Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani. The duo, who were once college pals, faced separate trials in 2022 and were handed severe sentences of 11 years and three months for Holmes and 12 years and 11 months for Balwani, her former romantic partner.
The court's decision to reject their appeals stems from various claims of legal errors throughout their trials. Holmes, the mastermind behind Theranos, alleged numerous issues such as misuse of expert testimony, admission of post-misrepresentation evidence, voiding of patient tests, and Confrontation Clause violations. Her appeals, however, were ultimately dismissed.
Balwani, for his part, argued against constructive amendment of the indictment and a due process rights violation, as well as contesting the restitution calculation. Yet, the court did not find merit in his claims either.
This verdict represents a significant victory for the legal system, providing closure for the investors who fell prey to Theranos' deceptive practices and leaving Holmes and Balwani with significant prison sentences to serve.
Holmes and Balwani, both faces of Theranos' business, started their entrepreneurial journey as college pals. Despite their appeals following their 2022 trials, Holmes, the company's CEO, was sentenced to 11 years and three months, while Balwani, her former romantic partner and president, was given a harsher sentence of 12 years and 11 months for their roles in the Theranos scandal.
