New Haven, Connecticut, is moving forward with a $30.5 million settlement for two men who spent nearly two decades in prison for a murder they did not commit.
The city agreed in August to pay Vernon Horn and Marquis Jackson $15.25 million each to settle federal civil rights lawsuits tied to their wrongful convictions. On October 5, the New Haven Board of Alders approved borrowing up to $27 million to help cover the city’s share of the settlement.
Horn and Jackson were convicted in connection with a 1999 robbery and murder at the Dixwell Deli in New Haven.
They were later exonerated after a new investigation uncovered evidence that had not been disclosed during their criminal cases.
The case raises broader questions about what happens after a wrongful conviction, how compensation is calculated, and whether a city can be held liable when police misconduct contributes to years of wrongful imprisonment.
Why Is New Haven Paying $30.5 Million?
The settlement resolves federal civil rights lawsuits filed by Horn and Jackson against the City of New Haven and others.
Each man will receive $15.25 million, for a combined total of $30.5 million.
The city’s insurance is expected to cover part of the cost. New Haven officials sought authority to borrow up to $27 million for the rest.
The Board of Alders approved the borrowing on October 5.
The borrowing could ultimately cost the city more than the settlement’s face value due to interest paid over time.
Who Are Vernon Horn and Marquis Jackson?
Horn and Jackson were convicted of murder and robbery after the 1999 killing of 22-year-old Caprice Hardy during a robbery at a New Haven deli.
Horn received a 70-year sentence. Jackson received a 45-year sentence.
Both men maintained that they were innocent.
They were released and exonerated in 2018 after federal public defenders reinvestigated the case.
The new investigation uncovered evidence that supported their innocence and raised serious questions about the original police investigation.
How Long Were They Wrongfully Imprisoned?
Horn spent about 17 years in prison.
Jackson spent about 19 years in prison.
That lost time became a major part of their civil lawsuits.
Wrongful incarceration can affect nearly every part of a person’s life, including:
- work and earning ability
- education
- family relationships
- housing
- physical health
- mental health
- reputation
- retirement savings
- years of normal daily life
A financial settlement cannot return those years.
But compensation can be one way the civil justice system seeks to address the harm.
What Evidence Led to Their Exonerations?
A later investigation uncovered evidence that had not been properly presented in the original criminal cases.
Reporting on the case says investigators found phone records and other evidence that supported Horn’s claim that he could not have been at the crime scene.
The lawsuits also alleged that police withheld evidence and improperly influenced witnesses.
Those allegations became central to the federal civil rights cases.
The settlement ended the lawsuits without a trial on those claims.
Can Withheld Evidence Lead to a Civil Rights Lawsuit?
Yes, depending on the facts.
Police and prosecutors have legal duties related to evidence in criminal cases.
When important evidence that could help the defense is improperly hidden or withheld, it may raise serious constitutional issues.
A wrongful conviction lawsuit may involve claims tied to:
- hidden evidence
- false evidence
- witness pressure
- false statements
- improper identification procedures
- fabricated evidence
- failure to disclose evidence
- other violations of constitutional rights
Not every wrongful conviction results in civil liability.
The evidence must support the specific legal claims being made.
Ben Crump Law handles cases involving civil rights violations and wrongful incarceration.
Can Someone Get Compensation After a Wrongful Conviction?
Possibly.
Compensation may come from different sources.
Depending on the state and the facts, a wrongfully convicted person may be able to seek:
- state compensation
- a federal civil rights lawsuit
- a settlement with a city or county
- damages against individual officials
- other forms of legal relief
Horn and Jackson had already received separate compensation from the State of Connecticut before the New Haven settlement.
Horn received about $4.8 million from the state, while Jackson received about $5.3 million.
The New Haven settlement is separate from those payments.
Ben Crump Law’s wrongful incarceration lawyer page explains legal options that may be available after a wrongful conviction.
Ben Crump Law Handles Wrongful Conviction Cases
Wrongful conviction and wrongful incarceration are direct areas of Ben Crump Law’s civil rights practice.
The firm represented Joseph L. Bennett, a Massachusetts man who spent 22 years in prison after a murder conviction that was later vacated and dismissed.
Bennett filed a lawsuit seeking compensation and other relief for his wrongful incarceration.
That case is especially relevant to the New Haven settlement because it involves the same core issue: compensation after wrongful conviction and incarceration.
Ben Crump Law also represented the family of Leonard Cure, who spent more than 16 years in prison before being exonerated based on findings of actual innocence.
The circumstances of Cure’s later death are separate from the New Haven cases, but his history of wrongful incarceration gives BCL additional documented experience with the long-term effects of wrongful conviction.
Does Ben Crump Law Have a New Haven Connection?
Yes.
Ben Crump Law represented Randy Cox, who was seriously injured while being transported in a New Haven police van.
The City of New Haven later reached a $45 million settlement in that case. Ben Crump Law lists the matter among the firm’s major case results.
The Randy Cox case does not involve a wrongful conviction, so this link works best as a limited New Haven civil-rights authority signal rather than the main topical connection.
How Much Compensation Can Someone Receive for Wrongful Imprisonment?
There is no standard amount.
Potential compensation may depend on:
- years spent in prison
- lost income
- lost career opportunities
- emotional harm
- physical harm
- family losses
- evidence of official misconduct
- state compensation laws
- strength of a federal civil rights claim
Large settlements like the Horn and Jackson settlements do not guarantee a similar result in another case.
Each case depends on its own evidence and legal issues.
Related: Wrongful Conviction Compensation: How Much Can You Recover?
Can a City Be Held Responsible for a Wrongful Conviction?
Sometimes.
A city may face liability when the evidence connects a constitutional violation to a government policy, custom, practice, training failure, or other conduct that meets the legal requirements for municipal liability.
These cases can require a deep review of:
- police records
- investigative files
- department policies
- witness interviews
- prior misconduct
- officer training
- evidence-handling practices
The Horn and Jackson lawsuits were federal civil rights cases against New Haven and other defendants.
The settlements ended those cases without a full trial on liability.
What Does the New Haven Settlement Mean?
The settlement does not give Horn or Jackson back the years they lost.
But it provides financial compensation and formally ends years of civil litigation over their wrongful convictions.
It also shows how costly wrongful convictions can become for both the people who suffer them and the governments later required to address them.
For people who believe they were wrongfully convicted, early legal review may be important because evidence, filing deadlines, and state compensation rules can affect available options.
Ben Crump Law Handles Wrongful Incarceration and Civil Rights Cases
Ben Crump Law represents people whose civil rights may have been violated by police, government agencies, or the criminal justice system.
The firm’s wrongful incarceration lawyer page explains possible legal options after a wrongful conviction.
Its civil rights practice page covers broader constitutional claims.
If you or a loved one spent time in prison because of a wrongful conviction, an attorney can review the case and determine whether compensation may be available.
Contact Ben Crump Law for a free case evaluation.
