SYRACUSE, N.Y. – In two recent pro bono cases, Mackenzie Hughes attorneys secured positive results for their court assigned pro-bono clients.
Christopher Powers represented a prison inmate in a civil rights matter against prison personnel. The plaintiff claimed he was unlawfully retaliated against by a guard for writing grievances about the guard’s treatment of him, a violation of his First Amendment rights. Specifically, plaintiff claimed that the guard had threatened physical violence and made harassing verbal insults because he learned of Plaintiff’s grievances. After a three-day jury trial, a verdict was returned in plaintiff’s favor, including an award of punitive damages against the defendant officer.
Ramon Rivera, lead co-counsel represented an inmate in a civil rights matter against prison administrators alleging a due process violation. Specifically, plaintiff alleged that he was deprived of income earned while employed at the prison without notice or opportunity to contest the deprivation. Through counsel’s representation plaintiff secured settlement that included full reimbursement of his confiscated proceeds, along with an opportunity to appeal dismissal of his other claims in a prior court order.