Court Decision May Clear Way For Lawsuit Against Attorney For Malpractice

An Oakland County man who served seven years in prison before his sexual assault conviction was overturned, has cleared an important hurdle in a lawsuit against his attorney.

The Michigan Supreme Court doesn’t intend to intervene in a lower court’s decision that allows Jackob Trakhtenberg to sue Deborah McKelvy for malpractice. Trakhtenberg was convicted after a 53-minute trial during which McKelvy did not ask for a jury or make an opening statement.

He was released from prison in 2012 after the Supreme Court said McKelvy’s work violated her client’s constitutional rights to an adequate defense. Trakhtenberg has denied the sexual abuse allegations. He won a civil lawsuit that was filed against him on behalf of the alleged victim.

Thanks to CBS DETROIT.