Watch CBS News

LI Attorney: Closed Lab Could Have Big Impact

NEW YORK (WCBS 880) – While the closure of the Nassau County Crime Lab had its supporters, there are some attorneys among them that are carefully looking over their own cases to see if the closure would affect their clients.

LISTEN: WCBS 880's Sophia Hall on the implications of the closure

Podcast

Attorney Vincent Trimarco Jr. said that the investigation into mistakes made in the drug testing section of the lab could carry huge implications to his and all cases in the county.

"If that evidence was incorrect, a client may have taken a plea bargain based on evidence that he believed was factual, and if it turns out it wasn't, then maybe he wouldn't have taken that plea," Trimarco said.

Although no other sections of the lab were compromised, Trimarco said that if defendants spend time in jail based on evidence that was wrong then "in settlement it could be thousands of dollars for every day the person spent in jail and they shouldn't have."

Trimarco said every attorney should look at their previous cases just in case as the supervisors from the lab are all under investigation.

He said if supervisors knew what was going on and never said anything, then "it may have put plea arrangements in jeopardy and as well as convicted people that should not have been convicted."

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.