New York City is paying $17 million to settle 3 wrongful conviction cases

NEW YORK (AP) — New York City will pay $17 million to settle three wrongful criminal convictions.

City Comptroller Scott Stringer said Sunday that the settlements involve cases handled by retired homicide detective Louis Scarcella.

Scarcella’s tactics have come under scrutiny and are being reviewed by the Brooklyn district attorney’s office. He has denied any wrongdoing.

The cases involved three half-brothers; one died in prison.

Robert Hill, Alvena Jennette and Darryl Austin spent a combined 60 years in prison before their convictions were vacated by a judge in May.

Stringer told The New York Times he believed the city should avoid litigation — if found liable at trial — in which it could face exposure to high damages.

Stringer has previously reached two other pre-litigation deals involving major civil rights cases.