Katie McCarthy / Counsel

Katie McCarthy is an experienced civil rights litigator whose practice focuses on wrongful conviction, police misconduct, and police brutality cases. Since joining NSBHF, Katie has helped secure millions of dollars for exonerated individuals and has been recognized as a New York Super Lawyers “Rising Star.” Katie is also an active member of the National Police Accountability Project, contributing on several issues including creating resources to raise awareness around absolute prosecutorial immunity and civil asset forfeiture.

Representative Successes:

• Coley v. Simi Valley: over $25 million in total settlements for California man who spent 38 years wrongly imprisoned for double murder.
• Tapp v. City of Idaho Falls: $11.7 million settlement for 20 years wrongful incarceration; largest wrongful conviction settlement in Idaho.
• Floyd v. Dillmann: $5.5 million settlement for Louisiana man who spent 36 years wrongly imprisoned for murder; largest wrongful conviction settlement with the City of New Orleans.
• Fogle v. Sokol: briefed and argued an appeal before the Third Circuit that resulted in a precedent-setting decision for civil rights cases that raise the issue of absolute prosecutorial immunity. Read the opinion here.
• Hall v. City of Rochester: part of team that defeated motion to dismiss in class action lawsuit challenging the Rochester Police Department’s longstanding practice of using excessive force on people of color.