Schulte Litigators Win Release of Pro Bono Client After Successful Appeal

In January 2018, the Second Circuit issued its opinion reversing the conviction of Schulte pro bono client Joseph Tigano, III in the case of United States v. Tigano. Tigano was arrested on federal charges of growing marijuana in 2008, but he did not have a trial until 2015. During that entire time, he remained in pretrial incarceration. The Second Circuit agreed with the argument by Schulte litigators that this extraordinary seven-year delay violated Tigano’s constitutional right to a speedy trial. This is the first time the Court has reversed a conviction based on a violation of the defendant’s Sixth Amendment right to a speedy trial in nearly 40 years. As a result of the Schulte team’s efforts, Tigano has been released from prison and reunited with his family, and the indictment against him has been dismissed with prejudice.

Former federal prosecutor and SRZ litigation partner Gary Stein led the firm’s pro bono effort in the case. The team also included former Schulte lawyers Abigail Coster, Andrew Gladstein and Stephanie Kelly.