Kramer Levin Secures Parole for Domestic Violence Victim Facing Potential Life Imprisonment

Litigation associate Elise Funke served as co-counsel in achieving a significant victory representing the victim of horrific domestic violence in securing her parole after 23 years of imprisonment.

In 1995, our client shot and killed her live-in boyfriend of 13 years while suffering from the effects of complex PTSD caused by her long history of severe domestic abuse. She was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 20 years to life in prison. Over three years ago, Elise began working on this pro bono case through Columbia Law School’s legal clinic, and she brought the case to Kramer Levin 17 months ago. The team pursued an Article 78 parole appeal on behalf of our client in the New York County Supreme Court and Appellate Division, and they prepared the client for her subsequent parole interview, enlisting the assistance of a clinical psychologist to evaluate the client and help her better understand and explain her crime. Before our client’s interview, the team presented an extensive submission to the Parole Board advocating for her release. On April 5, 2019, the Parole Board finally granted her parole. At age 69, our client is now free to spend her remaining years with her four children and eight grandchildren.

In addition to Elise, the team included supervising Litigation partners Michael Martinez and Darren LaVerne, and paralegals Santo Cipolla and Cedric Comeau.