Michigan Supreme Court Grants SADO Appeal in 2001 Case

Newly Discovered Evidence from Rape Conviction Results in Dismissal of Case

In one of the final Opinions issued last term, the Michigan Supreme Court granted relief to Appellant James Eugene Grissom, finding that newly discovered evidence could be considered in his request for a new trial.  SADO's Christine Pagac represents Mr. Grissom in this appeal.  As reported in the Port Huron Times Herald, the newly discovered evidence includes, but is not limited to, allegations from the complaining witness that she was raped by at least nine different people.  As a general rule, impeachment material is not normally considered a basis for a new trial, and the trial court declined to grant relief on that basis.  But the Michigan Supreme Court held that impeachment evidence can be considered in a motion for new trial "if it has an exclupatory connection to testimony concerning a material matter and a different result is probable."  On remand from the Michigan Supreme Court to litigate the 6.500 motion based on newly discovered evidence of numerous false rape allegations by the CSC I complainant, the trial court issued an opinion granting a new trial, a decision the Michigan Supreme Court affirmed.  On Monday November 19, 2012, the case against Mr. Grissom was dismissed and he was released after spending nine years in prison.  Articles covering Mr. Grissom's release can be found in the Times Herald, The Times Union and MIRS.