$400,000 Settlement reached in Avery Wrongful Imprisonment lawsuit
In the category of what the hell are you thinking comes the Steven Avery settlement in his wrongful rape conviction. The initial 36 million dollar lawsuit brought on by Steven Avery against Manitowoc County has been settled for $400,000.00. Steven Avery spent 18 years in prison on a wrongful conviction on a 1985 rape.
Steven Avery and Manitowoc County have settled Avery’s $36 million civil lawsuit against the county and former officials, and the suit has been dismissed.
Attorney Ray Pollen, who represents former Sheriff Thomas Kocourek, said Avery and his attorneys, Walter Kelly and co-counsel Steven Glynn, have agreed to “dismiss all claims against the county” in return for $400,000.
Even though Steven Avery spent 18 years in jail on a wrongful rape conviction, with the recent events of the death of Teresa Halbach one would be hard pressed to see any jury awarding this man a dime. Also adding to the list of alleged crimes is a complaint filed in August 2004 by a woman who claims she was assaulted by Avery. The charges have yet to be investigated by the DA.
The suit said the county, Kocourek and former District Attorney Denis Vogel were negligent in the investigation and prosecution of Avery on a 1985 sexual assault charge.
Avery was convicted and spent 18 years in prison before he was freed in 2003 after DNA evidence exonerated him.
The agreement was reached Monday afternoon in U.S. District Court in Milwaukee, records show. Minutes from a conference said “the parties have settled,” but no other details were listed.
An order to dismiss was drafted to be signed by Adelman.
(Green Bay Press Gazette)
Avery is now jailed in Calumet County awaiting trial on charges related to the October 31 disappearance and death of Teresa Halbach.
Avery Settled Federal Lawsuit
His attorney for the civil case, Stephen Glynn says, Avery needs bail money in the homicide case and wants to hire a private attorney. He is currently represented by two public defenders. Pollen says the county’s insurers agreed to the settlement to ‘buy finality.’ (WXOW)
False rape case pays for murder defense
Pollen said the county’s insurers agreed to the settlement to “buy finality.”
Avery, who was convicted largely on the victim’s testimony, became a symbol of flawed criminal justice upon his release.
Gov. Jim Doyle signed a bill in December in response to Avery’s rape case. The bill made several changes to the criminal justice system, including allowing courts to order post-conviction DNA testing; requiring written policies on the use of eyewitnesses; and setting guidelines for preserving DNA evidence.
(CNN)
[...] $400,000 Settlement reached in Avery Wrongful Imprisonment lawsuit In the category of what the hell are you thinking comes the Steven Avery settlement in his wrongful rape conviction. The initial 36 million dollar lawsuit brought on by Steven Avery against Manitowoc County has been settled for $400,000.00. (More of the Story) [...]
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