Netflix series When They See Us chronicles the rapid prosecution by police, prosecutors, and Donald Trump that resulted in Rayomond Santana, Antron McCray, Yusef Salaam and Korey Wise’s conviction in 1989. At the center of this miniseries is Elizabeth Lederer (Vera Farmiga).
She monitored their interrogations but denied claims they were pressured into confessing. This series has renewed calls to fire her.
1. We’re a boutique law firm
If you have an interest in a particular legal niche, working at a boutique law firm might be ideal for you. These specialized practices tend to offer more opportunities for growth and development while placing more importance on quality than quantity in their work output.
This music and entertainment boutique, for instance, provides significant year-end bonuses that rival those offered by larger firms. Furthermore, they place great importance on mentoring associates as well as offering courtroom experience to litigators.
As a complex litigation boutique, this firm takes great strides in providing its attorneys with a work-life balance by offering flexible billing and fostering an inclusive workplace ethos; even offering dedicated maternity leave policies for female lawyers.
2. We’re a family law firm
Martindale-Hubbell has awarded several of our attorneys as Family Law Super Lawyers and given us its AV Preeminent rating for legal ability and ethics standards. Additionally, multiple publications and organizations recognize us as being one of the country’s premier divorce and family law firms.
In her Emmy-winning Netflix miniseries When They See Us, Ava DuVernay painted Manhattan District Attorney Linda Fairstein as an uncompromising prosecutor who unjustly prosecuted five teens convicted for the 1989 rape of female jogger Laurel Malinowski at Central Park. Felicity Huffman played Fairstein as she persisted with their conviction despite several inconsistencies and problems within their case against them despite this belief in their guilt.
Now, Fairstein has experienced another negative repercussion of her depiction on television. Columbia Law School announced on Wednesday that Elizabeth Lederer – who played Fairstein – will not return as a lecturer next year due to how the series depicted her. Lederer served as lead prosecutor in the case against Korey Wise, Raymond Santana, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam and Antron McCray but stated she no longer wishes to teach in light of how her image has been depicted on screen.
3. We’re a criminal defense firm
New York criminal defense attorneys stand ready to defend you when government efforts threaten. Our firm has extensive experience defending clients charged with political corruption, RICO violations, money laundering schemes, capital crimes and drug distribution among many other offenses.
Ava DuVernay’s four-episode miniseries When They See Us has garnered much acclaim for its depiction of the Central Park Five’s unjust conviction and imprisonment; five Harlem boys wrongly charged with brutally raping a jogger in 1989 and falsely imprisoned under Prosecutor Linda Fairstein (Felicity Huffman in this version) is depicted as an aggressive attorney intent on convicting these teens.
Fairstein ignores inconsistencies and evidence pointing towards their innocence, even after a serial rapist confesses to the crime and DNA testing proves their innocence. Now she is suing Netflix and DuVernay for defamation alleging they portray her as racist and unethical villain.
4. We’re a personal injury firm
New York personal injury firm that specializes in car crashes, medical malpractice, and construction accidents. Recently we secured one of the highest jury verdicts ever seen in New York court history for a pedestrian struck by a double decker sightseeing bus in downtown Manhattan.
Fairstein filed suit against Netflix and co-writers/directors Attica Locke and Jharrel Jerome for defamation over their 2019 miniseries portraying her inaccurately, alleging actions, responsibilities and viewpoints which did not belong to her. The suit was ultimately settled.