Michigan Man Convicted on Faulty Bite Evidence Receives $1.5 Million
A $1.5 million settlement was reached in a lawsuit brought by a Michigan man who spent 13 years in prison for a rape charge based on faulty bite mark evidence.
Two weeks before the case was set to proceed to trial, Michael Cristini reached a deal with The City of Warren to end the case. Cristini and Jeffrey Moldowan were convicted in 1991 of abducting Modowan’s girlfriend, raped her, and dumping her on a Detroit street.
The Michigan Supreme Court overturned Maldowan’s conviction in 2002 after the bite mark evidence was discredited and witnesses recanted. In 2003, Cristini’s conviction was reversed. An acquittal, in separate trials, resulted for each man.
Cristini said he was delivering pizzas on the night of the incident. Each man sued The County of Macomb, City of Warren and the dentist, Dr. Alan Warnick. Maldowan reached a $2.8 million settlement with Warren in 2011 and separate settlements with the county and Warnick.
In 2014, Cristini reached the $1.5 million settlement with Warren. He was represented by The Law Offices of Broshay, Fieger, Fieger, Kenney , Giroux & Danzig, and Dettmer & Dezsi. See: Cristini v. City of Warren (E.D. Mich. Nov 14, 2012) Case No 07-1141.
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Related legal case
Cristini v. City of Warren
| Year | 2014 |
|---|---|
| Cite | (E.D. Mich. Nov 14, 2012) Case No 07-1141. |
| Level | District Court |
| Conclusion | Settlement |
| Damages | 1,500,000 |
| Injunction Status | N/A |