Massive Florida Insurance Fraud Trial Could Get 2 Juries

Never mind Washington’s budget problems. The Justice Department wants to retrofit a Miami federal courtroom with two jury boxes for a massive insurance fraud trial.

Prosecutors have proposed the unusual two-jury solution to get around legal obstacles of trying all four defendants before a single panel. A court filing says the government will pay for all construction costs despite current federal budget woes. And prosecutors say holding one trial instead of two would save money in the long run.

Defense attorneys responded with three words: “Are they serious?” They contend the whole thing comes down to a single elderly witness from Thailand who doesn’t want to travel for two trials.

The case is a $1 billion fraud involving defunct Mutual Benefits Corp. Trial isn’t expected to start until 2012.