Family of David Ranta, Wrongfully Imprisoned for 23 Years, Sues City for $15 Million

Albert Samaha

The Brooklyn District Attorney's review of 90 questionable convictions, the tarnished reputation of former detective Louis Scarcella, the seven exonerations in Brooklyn in 2014, the renewed focus on police and prosecutiorial misconduct during New York City's crack era--it all started with David Ranta.

Ranta was exonerated in 2013, after he served 23 years in prison. Ranta sued the city for $150 million. Yet the law enforcement misbehavior that led to his wrongful conviction was so blatant and outrageous that the city comptroller's office offered Ranta a $6.4 million settlement before the city's legal department even got involved in the lawsuit. It was an unprecedented move.

The settlement, however, did not mean the city was done paying for the injustice. On Wednesday, Ranta's wife and children sued the city for $15 million.

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2014/06/david_ranta_family_lawsuit_15_million_23_years_wrongful_imprisonment.php