Damages Award for Wrongful Conviction based on Coerced Confession

In Gristwood v. State of New York, Daniel Gristwood was convicted of the murder of his wife and sentenced to 12.5-25 years.  His original statement was exculpatory, but he later gave a coerced, false confession, which he quickly recanted. He was released after nine years in prison when someone else confessed to the crime. The court awarded damages of $5,485,394.

Gristwood v. State of New York, No. 114040, 2013 N.Y. Slip Op. 50737(U) (N.Y. Ct. Cl. Apr. 4, 2013) (Google Scholar)
Gristwood v. State of New York, No. 114040, 2013 N.Y. Slip Op. 50737(U) (N.Y. Ct. Cl. Apr. 4, 2013) (NY Court of Claims website)