Michigan Civil Rights & Product Liability Law Blog
Study finds police, prosecutor misconduct in more than half of wrongful convictions
Law enforcement and judicial misconduct are not myths. There is ample evidence that some members of the criminal justice system ignore basic rules and, in some cases, make a concerted effort to present a false narrative. The latest proof comes from a troubling study...
How an important wrongful conviction unit could be expanded
The Wayne County Conviction Integrity Unit’s purpose is clear: to review potential wrongful convictions and rectify any mistakes. As the county prosecutor’s office points out, this approach should be the expected standard. So far, the results have been encouraging....
Innocent man is free after exoneration in Wayne County
Eddie Khalil is finally free after serving seven and a half years for a murder he did not commit. The murder happened on September 15, 2011, at an apartment building co-owned by Khalil. Someone shot a 51-year-old man while he allegedly tried to steal scrap metal....
Oakland County deputy charged in shooting of pregnant teen
An officer-involved shooting in Pontiac on March 9, 2020, has now resulted in criminal charges against the police officer. What makes this shooting especially tragic is that the 16-year-old victim, Isabella, was pregnant at the time of the shooting. Fortunately, both...
Federal judge allows lawsuit to proceed against Detroit police
There is perhaps no worse act a member of law enforcement can commit than to fabricate evidence during a criminal case. When fake evidence is used, and innocent people are locked behind bars, the individuals responsible should be held accountable for their actions. A...
3 common causes of wrongful convictions
You may have heard the saying that the law isn't perfect or that wrongful convictions are inevitable in a system where justice usually gets served. But there is no excuse for imprisoning people on faulty evidence. If you or a loved one was wrongfully convicted, you...
Real-Life Wrongful Conviction Podcast
Great new podcast about real-life wrongful convictions in Detroit by Detroit News reporter George Hunter!
Juul facing pressure from federal regulators
E-cigarettes and vapes have been touted as a safe alternative to cigarettes. While the safety of these devices remains in question, one fact remains clear: vapes are dangerous and can pose a significant danger to users. This flies in the face of the marketing that...
E-cigarette batteries cause explosions, some of them fatal
Certain electronic cigarettes typically use what is called a 18650 lithium ion battery. Slightly larger than a AA battery, this lithium-ion battery has a stainless steel cover that can withstand the force of outdoor power equipment. Thus, it is meant more for power...
Wrongfully convicted man released after 17 years
Many individuals, including several Michigan residents, have been wrongfully convicted on the basis of eyewitness identification evidence. This was the case for a 42-year-old New Orleans man who was released on June 27 after serving 17 years for an armed robbery he...
