Attorney Matthew Whitney Brissenden's Legal Cases

Appeals

United States v. Ghysels

N/A

OUTCOME: Conviction reversed

In United States v. Ghysels, Mr. Brissenden represented a stock broker in connection with his appeal from a conviction in a high-profile securities fraud case. On appeal, Mr. Brissenden argued that fe ... deral prosecutors had concealed important evidence which tended to show that the defendant was not guilty, and had pursued an unconstitutional theory of criminal liability. The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit agreed, and the defendant’s conviction was vacated.

Appeals

People of the State of New York v. Henagin

N/A

OUTCOME: Conviction reversed

Mr. Brissenden represented Mr. Henagin on appeal, where he argued that the defendant's conviction was the result of an unconstitutional search. The appellate division agreed, and the defendant's convi ... ction was reversed.

Appeals

People of the State of New York v. Damien Burton

N/A

OUTCOME: Conviction overturned

In People v. Burton, Mr. Brissenden handled the appeal of an individual who had been convicted of multiple felonies, following a convenience store shooting, and was sentenced to twenty-two years impris ... onment. The client maintained that he had been wrongly identified and convicted. On appeal, Mr. Brissenden was able to demonstrate significant trial errors, which resulted in the conviction being overturned.

Criminal defense

United States v. Atias

N/A

OUTCOME: All charges dismissed

In United States v. Atias, Mr. Brissenden represented an individual charged in Federal Court, in connection with an alleged mortgage fraud scheme. Following a lengthy investigation, Mr. Brissenden was ... able to demonstrate that his client’s name had been forged on the mortgage documents, proving that she had no involvement in the alleged scheme. As a result, all charges were dismissed.

Appeals

Izaguirre v. Lee

N/A

OUTCOME: Sentence vacated

In 2010, the defendant was charged with murder following a barroom altercation. Prior to trial, his lawyer had been offered an eight year plea deal, but was warned by the trial judge that the defendan ... t would be sentenced to 25 years if he failed to take the deal and was convicted. The defendant maintained his innocence, and insisted on his right to trial. Following trial, the defendant was acquitted of murder, but convicted of manslaughter. Nevertheless, the trial judge sentenced the defendant to 25 years, as promised. Mr. Brissenden represented the defendant after his conviction, and challenged the 25 year sentence as unconstitutionally vindictive. In particular, Mr. Brissenden argued that the defendant was punished for exercising his constitutional right to trial. A federal district court agreed, and the sentence was vacated. The unusual decision received prominent coverage on the front page of The New York Law Journal.

Criminal defense

United States v. Mancuso

N/A

OUTCOME: Indictment dismissed with prejudice

The defendant, a bookkeeper and office manager, was charged in federal court with stealing close to $600,000 from her former employer. Mr. Brissenden moved for a dismissal of the case based upon the p ... rosecution’s failure to bring a timely indictment, arguing that important evidence had been lost due to a lengthy period of delay caused by the government. The Court dismissed the indictment with prejudice. This highly unusual legal victory was featured on the front page of The New York Law Journal.

Matthew Whitney Brissenden's Legal Cases (6)

United States v. Ghysels

People of the State of New York v. Henagin

People of the State of New York v. Damien Burton

United States v. Atias

Izaguirre v. Lee

United States v. Mancuso