David MacMain and Tricia Ambrose Win Section 1983 Prison In-Custody Death Trial for Lehigh County Prison and 6 Correctional Officers
David MacMain and Tricia Ambrose successfully defended Lehigh County Prison and six (6) correctional officers in a Section 1983 ‘excessive force’ and ‘denial of medical attention’ claim brought by the family of an inmate who died in custody of excited delirium following a violent struggle with corrections staff and medical personnel. The trial was held before the Honorable James Gardner Knoll in the District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in Allentown. The case was very high-profile, and the trial was widely covered by both the print and television news media. After 10 days of trial, and testimony from over 20 witnesses and 5 expert witnesses, the 10 person jury returned a verdict in favor of the Prison and 6 officers on December 11, 2015 in just under 2 hours.