How much would 24 years behind bars be worth to you? Thomas Lee Goldstein, who was wrongfully imprisoned, got his answer Thursday: $7.95 million. It is the largest California pretrial settlement ever in a wrongful conviction suit, his attorney Barry Litt said.

“We don’t believe there was any wrongdoing” by city officials, said Monte Machit, who defended Long Beach in the case. “This is a lot of money, but in light of the potential verdict,” which could have been $24 million to $30 million and lawyers’ fees, he said, reported the New York Times, “we thought it better to get it resolved.”

When a person proves a case of wrongful conviction, they are generally entitled to some form of compensation for their lost time and pain and suffering. In a recent Ohio case an exonerated man received about $47,000 for each year he was wrongly imprisoned in his wrongful conviction suit. Goldstein recovered over $330,000 per year.

Goldstein said that the settlement put an end to a “painful chapter” of 30 years of his life. He plans to spend the coming years trying to rebuild his life, retire and help others.

Related Resources:

  • VAN de KAMP et al. v. GOLDSTEIN (FindLaw)
  • New Ohio Bill Would Pay the Wrongly Convicted Faster (FindLaw’s Blotter)
  • Ohio Man Freed by DNA Evidence After 29 Years in Prison (FindLaw’s Blotter)

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