KLLF Notes September 2023
2023 has brought some exciting developments, none more hard-fought than this week’s $12.6 million settlement on behalf of Ralph “Ricky” Birch, who spent 30 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. This week, the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General, along with KLLF and our co-counsel, announced that the State of Connecticut has agreed to pay a total of more than $25 million to Mr. Birch and his co-plaintiff Shawn Henning to resolve their claims against former state officials. The settlement is subject to final approval by the Connecticut General Assembly. Mr. Birch continues to pursue his civil case against the Town of New Milford, Connecticut, which is expected to go to trial next year. Federal judge Victor A. Bolden had previously issued an 84-page decision in the case in July, finding in Mr. Birch’s favor with respect to certain claims and denying the defendants’ request to have the civil case thrown out before trial.
We’re also thrilled to announce that we are growing! Pooja Shivaprasad has joined our team as an associate, and Travis Harper is KLLF’s first paralegal. Pooja brings extensive trial experience from her years as a litigator with the Brooklyn Defender Service’s Family Defense practice. Travis was a National Mock Trial champion and helped to design the Judicial Advocacy Team at March For Our Lives, a national youth-led gun violence prevention organization. We are so lucky to have them on our team.
There’s lots more going on that we’re excited to share. For example:
We have sued a Manhattan fertility center that destroyed all 16 of the eggs (ooctyes) our client had frozen and stored there years earlier. We have since learned that the facility lacked a valid license to freeze and store human eggs.
On behalf of two brothers who were wrongfully convicted of murder in West Virginia, we settled claims against the officers whose wrongful acts led to their false convictions. We continue to pursue claims against the county that convicted them.
Alanna was interviewed by The Jabot Podcast about starting a mission-driven law firm.
Reach us at info@kllflaw.com or (212) 660-2332. Check out our website for our latest news, or stop by our office to say hello!
Toward Justice. Together.