Trial Magazine

In 1976, Doe, a 20-year-old Black man, was convicted of raping a white woman in her home. No physical evidence linked him to the crime. Exculpatory evidence led to Doe’s exoneration and pardon of innocence in December 2020.

He sued the city of Concord, several of its police officers, and personnel of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), alleging wrongful conviction and civil rights violations. The plaintiff asserted that the case against him was built on his purported identification, which resulted from a highly suggestive courtroom ID procedure. Suit also alleged that investigators had concealed the exculpatory evidence.

Doe settled with the SBI for $3 million. The city and the police defendants later settled for $22 million. Additionally, the city agreed to issue a formal apology to Doe and his family.

Citation: Doe v. City of Concord, No. 5:21-CV-201-D (E.D.N.C. Jan. 9, 2024).

Plaintiff counsel: Chris Olson, Raleigh, N.C.; and David Rudolf and Sonya Pfeiffer, both of Charlotte, N.C.