A Sample of Our Success
ALAN NEWTON V. CITY OF NEW YORK
$18,592,000
9th largest general verdict and largest civil rights verdict in New York State in 2010. Newton won his appeal to the Second Circuit, but the jury verdict was subsequently reduced to $12 million by the trial judge post-appeal.
$2.9 million was ultimately paid additionally by the City of New York for attorneys' fees.
Total Amount Paid to Alan Newton by the City of New York: $14.9 million.
ALAN NEWTON V. STATE OF NEW YORK
$4,329,541.88
Total Amount Awarded to Alan Newton after trial in the Court of Claims and appeal in 2020.
Total Amount Paid to Alan Newton by the City and State of New York: $19,229,541.88
The Cases
Alan Newton was released from prison on July 6, 2006, after more than twenty-two years of incarceration for a rape and assault that DNA testing proved he did not commit. For twelve of those years, Newton repeatedly requested access to a rape kit that contained the ultimately exonerating DNA to no avail - not because Newton was not entitled to the rape kite, but because the New York City Police Department could not find it. The jury, after a 3 and 1/2 week trial, awarded Mr. Newton a total of $18 million in damages against the City of New York for 12 years of wrongful incarceration. The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed and reinstated the $18 million jury verdict in February 2015. The City ultimately settled the action for a total of $14.9 million in 2016. Newton brought an action against the State of New York for damages not paid by the City. In the Court of Claims action against the State of New York, Mr. Newton was awarded damages for additional years of unjust conviction not covered by the City of New York judgment in federal court, as well as an award of money for the economic losses sustained by him.