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State Ordered to Pay Georgia Thompson's Legal Fees

By Jeralyn, Section Innocence Cases
Posted on Wed Dec 05, 2007 at 02:00:50 PM EST
Tags: Georgia Thompson (all tags)
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Remember Wisconsin "political prisoner" Georgia Thompson, whose conviction was reversed by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals drawing questions about the U.S. Attorney's handling of the case?

The State Claims Board has ordered the state to repay her $228,000 in costs and legal fees.

She was wrongfully imprisoned for four months.

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    State Ordered to Pay Georgia Thompson's Legal Fees | 2 comments (2 topical)

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    Actually, (none / 0) (#1)
    by Packratt on Wed Dec 05, 2007 at 03:30:44 PM EST
    They should do this for anyone who is wrongfully accused or wrongfully convicted. After all, it's a bit morally defective to suggest that it's ok to imprison innocent people and not compensate them for the harms they endured as a result of a mistake on the state's part.

    I'm glad to see that this time, the government actually stepped up and said "we made a mistake, we should pay for it."

    Refreshing.

    i would note that it wasn't the (none / 0) (#4)
    by cpinva on Wed Dec 05, 2007 at 05:01:43 PM EST
    federal prosecutor required to compensate her, the state had to do it. what incentive does this give to the USA to not bring questionable charges, if they don't suffer any personal harm from doing so?

    also, whoever decided the tax issue is an idiot. if the compensation she received would have been taxable to her, had it been paid directly, paying it to another party, on her behalf, makes it no less taxable. she has constructive receipt.

    State Ordered to Pay Georgia Thompson's Legal Fees | 2 comments (2 topical)

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