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PaperclipPerfector  1d ago (text post)   1072 thread views

Friday Fun Thread for February 21, 2025

Be advised: this thread is not for serious in-depth discussion of weighty topics (we have a link for that), this thread is not for anything Culture War related. This thread is for Fun. You got jokes? Share 'em. You got silly questions? Ask 'em.

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My man, this is the opposite of fun. This is horrifying. That poor family, they really have suffered something nobody should have to suffer. And it sounds like they had irreparable financial harm on top of it, just to pay for a lawyer for the guy.

I am not that familiar with American legal system, but doesn't the loser have to pay the winner's legal fees? The loser being the state in this case, after the conviction was overturned.

No, definitely not. That's why you will frequently see people settle or otherwise cave when someone sues them - you are on the hook for your own legal fees, and unless you have deep pockets it can ruin you even if you win. That might be different in the case of a criminal trial, but I don't believe it is.

In criminal cases costs are certainly refunded if you win on appeal. I think sometimes the state can appeal against manifestly excessive expenditure (like if you have defense counsel stay in five star hotels and spend $200 a day on dinner), but mostly they do have to pay. What you can’t usually do is get money for inconvenience to your life from being prosecuted.

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