On June 11, 2008 plaintiffs filed a class action complaint in the Superior Court for Fulton County, Georgia pursuant to state law and 42 U.S.C. §1983. Plaintiffs sought declaratory and injunctive relief to protect their rights as clients represented by Metro Conflict Defender Office to continued ...
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On June 11, 2008 plaintiffs filed a class action complaint in the Superior Court for Fulton County, Georgia pursuant to state law and 42 U.S.C. §1983. Plaintiffs sought declaratory and injunctive relief to protect their rights as clients represented by Metro Conflict Defender Office to continued representation by counsel, access to judicial system, and due process of law. Plaintiffs also sought to protect the legal and professional responsibilities of the lawyers at the Metro Conflict Defender Office to continue their representation of clients after entering an appearance on their behalf.
On June 6, 2006, Metro Conflict Defender Office announced the firing of all lawyers and staff who were currently representing clients in the Superior and Juvenile Courts of Fulton and DeKalb Counties. This became effective on June 30, 2008. There were no arrangements made for a transition of representation. The firings left over 1800 clients without representation. Plaintiffs asserted violations of the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, and Article 1 Section 1 of the Georgia Constitution.
On January 16, 2009, (Westmoreland, J.) the case was dismissed.
Dayna Frenkel - 02/18/2009
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