On June 17, 2025, ECBAWM filed a civil rights lawsuit in the Northern District of New York on behalf of the Estate of Messiah Nantwi, a 22-year-old man who was brutally killed by correction officers at Mid-State Correction Facility. On March 1, 2025, at least eighteen correction officers viciously beat Mr. Nantwi to death for over five minutes or stood by and watched. The officers purposely turned their body cameras off or faced away from the beating so that they would not record the violent attack. Following the beating, the correction officers conspired to orchestrate a cover up to justify their use of force, even meeting for breakfast the next day to align their stories and agreeing to submit false reports. Mr. Nantwi’s murder comes only three months after the fatal beating of Robert Brooks directly across the street, at Marcy Correctional Facility.

“These deaths are part of a disturbing pattern of violence and cover-ups in New York’s prisons that DOCCS has long ignored,” said ECBAWM Partner Earl Ward. “We are honored to represent Messiah’s family in their pursuit of justice and accountability.”

The Estate of Mr. Nantwi is represented by ECBAWM Partners Earl Ward and Katie Rosenfeld and ECBAWM Associate Hannah Brudney.

Read the full press release here

Press:

“Lawsuit filed in connection with death of Mid-State inmate,” Spectrum News

“Federal lawsuit filed on behalf of man fatally beaten by prison officers,” Times Union Albany

“Emery Celli Files Civil Rights Lawsuit Against NY State Prison System, Officers Over Fatal Beating of Inmate,” Law 360

“Estate of Messiah Nantwi files lawsuit against officers in fatal Mid-State beating case,” CNY Central

“Messiah Nantwi estate files federal lawsuit against DOCCS Commissioner, COs, in death,” CBS 6

“NYC Law Firm Files Federal Suit in Death of Mid-State Correctional Facility Inmate Messiah Nantwi,” WKTV