Authorities say New York City has agreed to pay $40 million to settle civil rights lawsuits filed by five people who claimed they were wrongfully convicted of murder in the Bronx.
The New York Times reports the Law Department said Thursday it had agreements with three plaintiffs and agreed to two more in principle.
The plaintiffs are to receive $8 million each. Their lawsuits accused two police detectives of misconduct during the investigation. Each of the plaintiffs spent over 17 years behind bars.
Three of the plaintiffs were convicted in the 1995 killings of a livery cab driver and a Federal Express executive. The other two were convicted only in the cab driver's slaying.
One of the men, Eric Glisson, told NBC 4 New York that he isn't celebrating the windfall because the time he lost was more valuable.
"It's tiring," he said. "You're tired and you've already done 17 years and 9 months."
Glisson, who owns a juice bar in the Bronx, said he plans to use the money to help his family and make a difference in the community.
Local
""I just want to move on with my life and hopefully they can move on with their lives as well because they're also human beings too," he said. "They committed a wrong against me but they have to look themselves in the mirror not me."
The Law Department says the settlements are in the best interest of the city.
