Paul, Weiss Achieves Victory for Incarcerated Client in Article 78 Prisoner Rights Case

Paul, Weiss and the Legal Aid Society achieved a victory for an incarcerated client and her newborn daughter, allowing the two to stay together for up to 18 months in the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility Nursery Program rather than being separated at birth. The client was initially denied entry to the Nursery Program by prison officials solely because her crime, which occurred ten years earlier, involved violence. Arguing that under New York Correction Law 611 this was not a valid basis for denial, and pointing to the client's outstanding prior parenting, institutional history and efforts to improve herself, Paul, Weiss first obtained a TRO in late December 2012. Two weeks later, our client gave birth and under the TRO was able to return to the nursery with her daughter. On March 15, the court ordered into effect a settlement between the parties by which our client's status was made permanent.

The Paul, Weiss team included litigation partner Dan Beller and associates Jeremy Benjamin, Alexis Cohen and Meagan Sway.