Erie County is set to appeal an $80 million court judgment following a recent ruling in a lawsuit brought by the estate of Darryl Boyd. County Executive Mark Poloncarz announced the decision on Thursday, indicating that the county is seeking to overturn the judgment which stems from allegations that the Erie County District Attorney’s Office withheld crucial evidence in a wrongful conviction case.
Darryl Boyd, who passed away earlier this year, was a member of the Buffalo Five, a group wrongly convicted in the 1976 murder of William Crawford. Boyd was only 16 years old at the time of his conviction and spent nearly three decades in prison before being paroled. His conviction was overturned in 2021, leading him to file a lawsuit against the county in the following year.
In his statement, Poloncarz emphasized the financial implications of the ruling. “If we were to pay it out of the operating budget, we would have to dramatically raise taxes or cut many services significantly,” he said. He warned that borrowing the funds would incur additional costs, potentially pushing the total to around $100 million when interest is factored in.
The legal battle highlights ongoing discussions about justice and accountability in wrongful conviction cases. Boyd’s story is emblematic of broader systemic issues within the criminal justice system, particularly regarding how evidence is managed and disclosed.
As Erie County prepares for this appeal, the outcome could have lasting repercussions, not just for the county’s finances but also for the legacy of those wrongfully convicted. The county’s appeal will be closely watched, as it could set a precedent regarding liability in similar cases across the country.
This case underscores the need for reforms in the justice system to prevent such miscarriages of justice from occurring in the future. The financial burden of the court judgment, along with the ethical implications, poses a challenging dilemma for Erie County and its leadership.
