Chicago Man Exonerated of Murder Charge Awarded $50M By Federal Jury For Wrongful Imprisonment

Marcel Brown secures landmark victory after spending a decade in prison wrongfully convicted of murder

Marcel Brown awarded $50 million in unanimous decision after being wrongfully convicted of murder and imprisoned for 10 yearsPhoto byScreen Capture/Youtube Video [Creator]

CHICAGO — A federal jury has awarded $50 million to Marcel Brown, a suburban Chicago resident who was exonerated of a murder charge and released from prison in 2018. Brown, now 34, spent approximately a decade behind bars before his conviction was overturned.

The verdict, reached on Monday after a two-week trial, represents a significant legal and financial victory for Brown. The unanimous decision came from a federal jury and was based on a lawsuit filed by Brown in 2019.

Brown, who was 18 at the time of his arrest, was initially convicted of participating in the 2008 murder of Paris Jackson, a 19-year-old, in the Galewood neighborhood of Chicago. His case drew national attention due to the wrongful conviction claims outlined in the lawsuit. Brown was sentenced to 35 years in prison, but the criminal case against him was eventually dismissed in July 2018. The dismissal followed revelations that key witnesses, including his mother and her lawyer, had been barred from speaking with him the night of his arrest.

The lawsuit alleged that Brown's constitutional rights were violated. It claimed that Chicago police officers, an assistant Cook County state’s attorney, and Cook County itself had acted maliciously in their prosecution of Brown. The suit detailed that Brown was coerced into a false confession after an extended and illegal interrogation, and that his rights to legal representation were denied.

In Monday’s ruling, the jury allocated $10 million in damages for the time Brown spent in detention prior to his trial and $40 million for the period following his wrongful conviction. Additionally, the jury awarded $50,000 in punitive damages against one of the detectives involved in the case.

Outside the Dirksen Federal Courthouse, Brown expressed his relief and gratitude. “Justice was finally served for me and my family today,” Brown said, flanked by his legal team and family members. “We’re just thankful, being able to be here today. Thank you, jurors.”

Attorney Locke Bowman from Loevy & Loevy, representing Brown, emphasized the broader implications of the verdict. He stated that the outcome should act as a “wakeup call” for city officials regarding the conduct of interrogations by the Chicago Police Department.

In response to the verdict, a spokesperson for the Chicago Law Department indicated that the city is currently reviewing the decision and considering its next steps.