Wrongful Conviction Lawyer in Columbus
Wrongful Conviction Attorneys Fighting for the Wrongly Imprisoned Throughout Ohio
Being convicted of and serving jail time for a crime you didn’t commit is one of the most profound violations a person can experience. Years of your life, your reputation, your relationships, your livelihood: all of it affected by a system that got it wrong.
At Cooper Elliott, our Columbus wrongful conviction attorneys represent people who were wrongly imprisoned. We are one of a handful of firms in Ohio with a genuine track record in civil rights litigation, and we know how to navigate the complex legal landscape these cases require.
If you or someone you love was wrongfully convicted in Ohio, contact us today for a free consultation.
When the System Gets It Wrong
Wrongful conviction and false arrest cases arise in different circumstances, but they share a common thread: the government violated your rights, and you paid the price.
Here’s what we typically see:
Someone is convicted of a crime they didn’t commit and spends years in prison before the conviction is overturned.
Someone is held in jail or prison and denied urgent medical care, resulting in serious injury or death.
Someone is imprisoned and subjected to conditions or treatment that violate their constitutional rights.
These cases are legally complex and emotionally exhausting. You need attorneys who understand the specific hurdles involved—and who have the experience to navigate them.
What Makes Cooper Elliott Different
Wrongful conviction cases involve legal obstacles that simply don’t exist in other types of litigation. In wrongful conviction cases, for example, a civil claim cannot even begin until the conviction has been overturned. That means navigating both the criminal and civil systems—often over many years—before any recovery is possible. We understand that process, and we know how to help clients through it.
Many personal injury firms don’t handle civil rights or wrongful conviction cases at all. The legal issues are different and require an attorney to know both state wrongful conviction law and federal civil rights law. In federal cases, qualified immunity creates obstacles that require careful evaluation from the start, and these cases demand a level of experience that most firms simply don’t have. We’ve been doing this work for decades and are one of the few firms in Ohio with a real track record of results in civil rights litigation.
We are one of a small number of firms in Ohio with good trial results in civil rights cases specifically. That matters, because government agencies and their insurers know which firms will push a case to verdict—and that reputation affects how seriously your case is taken from the start.
You don’t pay unless we win. We cover all upfront litigation costs, and there are no surprise bills. We only get paid when you do.
Our Big Wins
$750+ Million
Recovered for Our Clients
What to Expect When You Work With Our Columbus Wrongful Conviction Attorneys
We’ll listen to what happened—the arrest, the conviction, the conditions of your imprisonment—and give you an honest assessment of whether you have a viable civil claim. In wrongful conviction cases in particular, we’ll discuss where things stand with the criminal case and what needs to happen before a civil claim can move forward. There’s no obligation and no cost.
Evidence in these cases can be time-sensitive. We act quickly to identify and preserve what exists—arrest records, trial transcripts, facility records, body camera footage, and any documentation of conditions or treatment while in custody.
Wrongful conviction cases often require coordinating across both the criminal and civil systems. A conviction must be vacated before a civil claim can begin, which means we may need to work alongside criminal defense attorneys or innocence organizations to pursue that step first. We understand how these systems interact and can help guide you through both.
Once the path to a civil claim is clear, we build the case—working with experts where necessary, identifying all liable parties, and preparing to present what happened in a way that a jury can understand and respond to.
The government agencies on the other side of these cases make calculated decisions about how to respond. We prepare every case as if a jury is going to decide it—and they know it. That changes what they’re willing to offer at the negotiating table.
Recognition & Results
The National Trial Lawyers Top 100
Recognition for excellence in trial advocacy and client representation.
U.S. News & World Report – Tier 1
Ranked in the region for personal injury litigation.
Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Fewer than 1% of lawyers are members of this elite group of attorneys.
30 Years of Experience
Serving clients since 1995 with a track record of holding powerful opponents accountable.
Verified Peer Ratings
Research our firm and attorneys on martindale.com and superlawyers.com.
Common Questions About Wrongful Conviction Cases
Wrongful convictions and false arrests are distinct legal claims that arise at different points in the process. A false arrest claim arises when someone is detained or arrested without legal justification, before any conviction. A wrongful conviction claim arises when someone is convicted of a crime they didn’t commit and later has that conviction overturned. Both are violations of your rights, but they follow different legal paths and have different requirements.
No—and in fact, we strongly encourage you to reach out as early as possible. In wrongful conviction cases, the conviction must be vacated before a civil claim can begin, but an attorney can help you understand what steps are needed to get there and connect you with the right resources. Statutes of limitations in these cases are complex, and waiting too long can put your rights at risk.
Damages in wrongful conviction cases can include compensation for lost income and earning capacity, the value of years spent wrongfully imprisoned, and the cost of legal proceedings. These cases don’t follow a simple formula. The damages depend heavily on the specific facts, including how long someone was imprisoned and what they lost as a result.
Qualified immunity is a legal doctrine that gives government officials protection from liability in certain circumstances. It doesn’t apply in state law wrongful conviction cases. But it comes up in almost every federal civil rights case we handle, including those involving wrongful convictions. If you’ve looked into civil rights cases at all, you may have already heard about it. Whether it applies depends entirely on the specific facts of what happened, and we’ll give you an honest answer about what it means for your case before you commit to anything.
Qualified immunity is a legal doctrine that gives government officials protection from liability in certain circumstances. It does not apply to state law wrongful conviction claims, but it does come up in federal civil rights claims related to wrongful convictions, such as cases involving a constitutional violation by law enforcement during the investigation or prosecution. If your case has a federal civil rights component, we’ll give you an honest assessment of what qualified immunity means for that piece of your claim before you commit to anything.
Testimonials
in the legal profession. That means everything to us.
I was involved in a serious car accident after just having welcoming our new son into the world.
When you are at your lowest, you remember with great detail how people treat you. Sean and his team treated me and my family with nothing but compassion, grace and care.
The stress, anxiety, and fear were only mitigated by the EXTRAORDINARY passion, care, and speed this firm operates at.
A huge thank you to Sean Alto with his incredible professionalism. I never once felt that Sean and the team at Cooper Elliot had anything other than my best interest.
Thank you Cooper Elliot for being a light during a very challenging time.
Talk to a Police Brutality Lawyer in Columbus for Free
If you or someone you love was seriously injured or killed during an encounter with law enforcement in Columbus or anywhere in Ohio, don’t wait.
Call (614) 481-6000 or contact us online for a free, confidential consultation with a Columbus police misconduct lawyer. We represent clients throughout Ohio.