Tue Sep 10 15:49:59 UTC 2024: ## Exonerated Chicago Man Awarded $50 Million in Wrongful Conviction Case
A federal jury in Chicago has awarded $50 million in damages to Marcel Brown, a man who was wrongfully convicted of murder and spent ten years in prison before being exonerated in 2018. The unanimous verdict, reached after a two-week trial, comes as a major victory for Brown, who was just 18 years old when he was arrested and charged with being an accomplice in the 2008 murder of 19-year-old Paris Jackson.
Brown’s lawsuit, filed in 2019, accused the city of Chicago, several police officers, an assistant state’s attorney, and Cook County of violating his constitutional rights and maliciously prosecuting him. The suit alleged that he was coerced into a false confession after being denied access to a lawyer during an extended interrogation.
The jury awarded $10 million for Brown’s pre-trial detention and $40 million for the post-conviction period he spent in prison. Additionally, one of the detectives involved in the case was ordered to pay Brown $50,000 in punitive damages.
Brown, visibly relieved and emotional, expressed his gratitude to the jury and his legal team, stating that justice had finally been served for him and his family.
His attorney, Locke Bowman, called the verdict a “wakeup call” for city leaders, urging them to address issues with police interrogation practices in Chicago.
The city of Chicago has indicated it is reviewing the verdict and will assess its options moving forward.
First Piper 