Wrongfully Convicted Florida Man Wins Lawsuit

A Broward County man who was wrongfully convicted and who served more than 25 years in prison for a rape and murder he didn't commit recently won his lawsuit against the former police officers who framed him. The two officers were found liable by eight jurors in a unanimous decision after a civil trial that lasted five weeks in Ft. Lauderdale. They were ordered to pay $7 million in damages.

At the time of the incident, the man who was convicted was a 15 year-old boy who had an I.Q. of 67. He was coerced into confessing to the rape and murder of a Miramar woman, for which he was prosecuted while the two police officers withheld evidence that would have cleared him of the charges. He was later freed from prison in 2009 on DNA evidence and the conviction overturned. When released, he was assigned a partial legal guardian by the courts, who helped him file the lawsuit seeking damages and compensation for the years he spent in prison.

The two police officers were ordered to pay compensation as well as punitive damages. The police detectives worked for the city of Miramar; the city or its insurers will likely have to pay part or all of the judgment. The wrongly convicted man, now 44 years old, has been a construction worker making $11 an hour since being released from prison.

Miami Criminal Defense Lawyer

The above story illustrates how important one's legal representation can be when accused of a crime. Law enforcement officers can often be overzealous and even criminal themselves in their effort to put people behind bars, to look good to their superiors or the community, or to "solve" crimes. Many people have been wrongly convicted and only recently, with the advent of DNA testing and evidence, have those individuals been freed from prison.

The criminal defense firm of Seltzer Law, PA provides experienced and reliable legal assistance to those facing criminal charges, whether associated with drug offenses, drunk driving, domestic violence, theft, sexual misconduct, juvenile crimes, fraud, federal crimes, or other crimes. Attorney David Seltzer defends clients in both state and federal courts. As a former prosecutor, he has a deep insight into the criminal justice system and knows how to counteract the prosecution with viable defense strategies. If you have been accused of a crime, contact his firm 24/7 for a free case evaluation.