Experts in Criminal and Civil Law.
At Families and friends, we are dedicated to providing exceptional legal services tailored to the unique needs of families. Our mission is to ensure that every client feels supported and informed throughout their legal journey.
We have worked closely with advocates, legal organizations and legislators over the past 10 years to enact criminal justice reform. These include seeking to mandate the recording of all custodial interrogations of suspects from the time they are in police custody, as well as ensure police conduct double blind police line ups to prevent witness misidentification.
We have held numerous news conferences and provided testimony before the New York City Council and NYS Legislature seeking criminal justice reform, including laws to prevent prosecutorial misconduct, bail reform, discovery reform, sentencing reform measures and parole reform.
We worked closely with journalists and editorial writers, filmmakers, podcast producers and educators in promoting legislation and helping them to frame the issues surrounding wrongful convictions causes and remedies.
We successfully helped to pass legislation that mandates law enforcement agencies statewide to video record interrogations of people accused of serious non-drug felonies, such as homicides and violent sex offenses. The requirement applies to all custodial interrogations that occur in police stations, correctional facilities, prosecutors’ offices and holding areas. Failure to record interrogations in such cases could result in a court determining that a confession is inadmissible as evidence.
when someone is found guilty of a crime they did not commit. It can also refer to a conviction that has been overturned by an appellate court.
when someone is detained or restrained without legal justification, such as a warrant or probable cause. It can also be called false imprisonment or wrongful arrest.
A "lawsuit loan," also known as pre-settlement funding or litigation financing, is a type of financial assistance provided to individuals involved in a lawsuit, offering a cash advance against a potential settlement or judgment.
occurs when law enforcement uses more force than is necessary to control a situation or apprehend someone. It's a type of police brutality that can happen during arrests, questioning, or other interactions with police.
Police brutality is the use of excessive force, verbal abuse, or other misconduct by law enforcement officers. It can include beatings, unlawful killings, and torture. Police brutality is a violation of human rights.
conditions or mistreatment means filing a lawsuit alleging that prison officials violated an inmate's constitutional rights or state laws, potentially seeking damages or changes in prison practices.
Medical malpractice is a form of negligence in which a healthcare professional fails to meet the standard of care, resulting in injury or harm to the patient.
occurs when someone is injured after slipping, tripping, or falling on someone else's property due to a hazardous condition, and seeks compensation for their injuries.
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