Facts

Caramad Conley sued the City and County of San Francisco and Prentice Earl Sanders, in connection with Conley's alleged wrongful murder convictions related to a 1989 drive-by shooting.

PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS:
Conley alleged that Sanders, one of the lead investigators in the underlying case against him, suppressed numerous pieces of material, exculpatory evidence related to the only alleged eyewitnesses to the crime. Conley alleged that Sanders had regularly paid one of those witnesses, Clifford Polk, and that these payments were not disclosed to the defense. Plaintiff claimed that Polk lied on the stand, denying he was paid, and Sanders failed to correct that false testimony.

Conley further alleged that Sanders had provided John Johnson, the other witness against him, and Johnson's wife with conjugal visits in an interrogation room at the San Francisco Police Dept.'s homicide detail. Plaintiff claimed that several witnesses corroborated these visits, and that the visits were never disclosed to Conley. Conley asserted a claim for civil rights violations, arguing that the suppressed evidence would have affected the credibility of these witnesses, and the testimony of the witnesses led directly to his conviction.

DEFENDANTS' CONTENTIONS:
Defendants denied that Sanders engaged in any misconduct and asserted qualified immunity.

Result

The parties reached a $3.5 million settlement during mediation.

Other Information

MEDIATOR: San Francisco County Superior Court Judge William J. Cahill, ret., of JAMS.