When someone is acquitted in a criminal case, families often wonder if they can still pursue justice through a wrongful death lawsuit. In Arizona, a criminal acquittal does not prevent a wrongful death claim because these cases operate under different legal standards and burden of proof requirements.
The criminal justice system and civil court system serve different purposes and use different rules to decide cases. A criminal court requires proof “beyond a reasonable doubt” to convict someone, which is a very high standard designed to protect individual liberty. A civil wrongful death case, however, only requires proof by “a preponderance of the evidence,” meaning it’s more likely than not that the defendant caused the death. This lower burden of proof explains why families can still win compensation even after a criminal acquittal, as seen in several high-profile cases throughout the country. Understanding how these two systems work together helps families make informed decisions about seeking accountability and financial recovery after losing a loved one.
What Constitutes a Wrongful Death in Arizona
A wrongful death occurs when someone dies due to another person’s negligent, reckless, or intentional actions. Under Arizona Revised Statutes § 12-611, wrongful death claims allow certain family members to seek compensation for their loss when the deceased person would have had the right to file a personal injury lawsuit if they had survived.
Arizona law defines wrongful death broadly to include deaths caused by various circumstances. The death must result from a wrongful act, neglect, or default that would have entitled the deceased to bring a personal injury action. This includes deaths from car accidents, medical malpractice, workplace incidents, defective products, premises liability, and intentional acts like assault or murder. The key requirement is establishing that someone else’s actions or failure to act directly caused the death.
The statute also specifies who can bring a wrongful death claim. Only certain family members have legal standing to file, including the surviving spouse, children, parents of minor children, or guardians of minor children. If none of these parties exist, the personal representative of the deceased’s estate may bring the claim on behalf of beneficiaries. This limitation ensures that only those most directly affected by the loss can pursue compensation.
How Criminal and Civil Cases Differ
Criminal cases and wrongful death lawsuits operate under fundamentally different legal frameworks designed to achieve distinct goals. These differences explain why a criminal acquittal does not prevent a successful civil case.
Different Burdens of Proof
In criminal cases, prosecutors must prove guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt,” which is the highest standard of proof in American law. This standard requires the jury to be firmly convinced of the defendant’s guilt with no reasonable alternative explanation. If any reasonable doubt exists about any element of the crime, the defendant must be acquitted. This high standard protects individuals from wrongful imprisonment and reflects society’s belief that it’s better to let guilty people go free than to imprison innocent ones.
Civil wrongful death cases require only a “preponderance of the evidence,” which means the plaintiff must show it’s more likely than not that the defendant caused the death through wrongful conduct. This standard is often described as proving something is at least 51% likely to be true. The lower burden reflects the different stakes involved—civil cases result in monetary damages rather than loss of liberty, so courts require less certainty before holding someone liable.
Different Objectives and Outcomes
Criminal cases aim to punish wrongdoing and protect society by removing dangerous individuals from the community or deterring future criminal behavior. Convictions result in penalties like imprisonment, probation, fines paid to the state, or community service. The government prosecutes these cases to vindicate the public interest in maintaining order and safety.
Civil wrongful death cases focus on compensating victims’ families for their losses and holding defendants financially accountable for harm they caused. These cases result in monetary damages paid directly to the family, including compensation for medical expenses, funeral costs, lost financial support, lost companionship, and emotional suffering. The goal is making the family as financially whole as possible given the circumstances.
Different Rules of Evidence
Criminal and civil courts apply different rules about what evidence can be presented and how it can be used. Criminal cases have stricter exclusionary rules designed to protect defendants’ constitutional rights. Evidence obtained through illegal searches, coerced confessions, or violations of Miranda rights may be excluded even if it’s truthful and relevant.
Civil cases have more relaxed evidence rules that allow a broader range of information to be presented. Evidence that might be excluded in a criminal trial could be admissible in a civil case because the constitutional protections that apply to criminal defendants don’t extend to civil litigants in the same way. This means civil attorneys may have access to testimony, documents, or physical evidence that criminal prosecutors could not use.
Why Criminal Acquittals Don’t Prevent Civil Claims
The principle that allows wrongful death lawsuits after criminal acquittals stems from fundamental legal doctrines about the nature of different court systems and constitutional protections.
Double Jeopardy Does Not Apply
The Fifth Amendment’s Double Jeopardy Clause prohibits trying someone twice for the same criminal offense, but this protection only applies to criminal prosecutions. When someone is acquitted of murder or manslaughter, the government cannot retry them for that same crime. However, a civil wrongful death lawsuit is not a criminal prosecution, so double jeopardy does not prevent it.
Civil and criminal cases are considered separate proceedings with different parties, different objectives, and different potential outcomes. The plaintiff in a civil case is the victim’s family seeking money damages, not the state seeking punishment. Because the civil case doesn’t put the defendant at risk of criminal penalties like imprisonment, it doesn’t violate double jeopardy protections even when based on the same underlying conduct that led to the criminal charges.
Collateral Estoppel Has Limited Application
Collateral estoppel, also known as issue preclusion, prevents parties from relitigating issues that were actually decided in a previous case. However, this doctrine rarely prevents wrongful death claims after criminal acquittals because criminal acquittals don’t necessarily decide specific factual issues.
A criminal acquittal means only that the prosecution failed to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. It doesn’t mean the jury found the defendant innocent or determined that the defendant didn’t cause the death. The jury might have believed the defendant probably caused the death but still acquitted because the prosecution didn’t meet the higher criminal burden of proof. Because the criminal verdict doesn’t conclusively establish that the defendant didn’t cause the death, collateral estoppel doesn’t prevent the family from proving causation by the lower civil standard.
Different Evidence and Legal Theories
Civil attorneys often discover new evidence during their own investigation that wasn’t available or wasn’t used in the criminal case. They can interview additional witnesses, hire different experts, obtain documents through civil discovery that weren’t part of the criminal investigation, and present evidence that may have been excluded under criminal evidence rules.
Civil cases also allow different legal theories of liability. Even if the defendant was acquitted of intentional murder, the family might prove negligent or reckless conduct that caused the death. For example, someone acquitted of murder might still be liable for wrongful death if evidence shows they were driving recklessly or failed to take reasonable precautions that could have prevented the death.
Notable Examples of Civil Recovery After Criminal Acquittal
Several high-profile cases demonstrate how families successfully obtained justice through civil courts after criminal acquittals, though these examples come from other states as wrongful death cases are often confidential settlements.
The most famous example is the O.J. Simpson case. After his acquittal on murder charges in Los Angeles criminal court in 1995, the families of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman filed wrongful death lawsuits. In 1997, a civil jury found Simpson liable for the deaths and awarded $33.5 million in damages. The civil trial presented different evidence, used different expert witnesses, and benefited from Simpson’s deposition testimony that he couldn’t refuse to give in the civil case.
The family of Trayvon Martin reached a civil settlement with the homeowners association of the community where he was shot, even though George Zimmerman was acquitted of criminal charges. While settlement terms were confidential, reports indicated it exceeded $1 million. The civil case focused on negligence and premises liability theories rather than the criminal elements of the shooting.
These cases illustrate that criminal acquittals don’t prevent families from pursuing accountability through civil litigation. The different standards of proof, broader evidence rules, and focus on financial compensation rather than criminal punishment create separate opportunities for justice.
The Wrongful Death Filing Process in Arizona
Understanding the procedural steps helps families know what to expect when pursuing a wrongful death claim after a criminal acquittal.
Determine Eligibility and Standing
Arizona Revised Statutes § 12-611 specifies who can file a wrongful death claim. The surviving spouse, children, parents of deceased minor children, or the guardian of surviving minor children have priority to file. If no eligible family member exists, the personal representative of the estate may bring the action for the benefit of the estate and family members.
Only one wrongful death lawsuit can be filed per death, so family members typically coordinate through a single attorney to ensure all eligible beneficiaries are represented. If multiple family members disagree about whether to file, Arizona courts may need to resolve disputes about who has priority to pursue the claim.
Gather Evidence and Build Your Case
Your attorney will conduct a comprehensive investigation separate from any criminal proceedings. This includes obtaining police reports, autopsy results, medical records, witness statements, photographs, video footage, and any other documentation of the incident. Experts may be hired to analyze evidence, reconstruct events, or testify about causation and damages.
The civil discovery process allows your attorney to demand documents from the defendant, take depositions of the defendant and witnesses under oath, and issue subpoenas for records. This process often uncovers evidence that wasn’t available or wasn’t used in the criminal case, strengthening your civil claim even after a criminal acquittal.
File the Complaint Within the Statute of Limitations
Arizona Revised Statutes § 12-542 establishes a two-year statute of limitations for wrongful death claims, measured from the date of death. Missing this deadline typically bars your claim forever regardless of the merits. However, the statute may be tolled during a criminal prosecution, giving families additional time to file after the criminal case concludes.
Your attorney will file a formal complaint in the appropriate Arizona court, usually the Superior Court in the county where the death occurred or where the defendant resides. The complaint must allege facts showing the defendant’s wrongful conduct caused the death and specify the damages being sought.
Proceed Through Litigation or Settlement
After filing, the case enters the litigation phase with discovery, motion practice, and potentially mediation. Most wrongful death cases settle before trial because defendants and their insurers want to avoid the uncertainty and expense of a jury trial. Your attorney will negotiate with the defendant’s representatives to reach a fair settlement that compensates your family for all losses.
If settlement negotiations fail, the case proceeds to trial where a jury will hear evidence and decide liability and damages. Civil trials typically take less time than criminal trials and have a more streamlined process focused on witness testimony and documentary evidence.
Damages Available in Arizona Wrongful Death Cases
Arizona law allows recovery of various types of damages to compensate families for their losses, though punitive damages may have limitations depending on the circumstances.
Economic Damages
Economic damages compensate for measurable financial losses resulting from the death. These include all medical expenses incurred treating the deceased before death, funeral and burial costs, and the lost financial support the deceased would have provided to family members over their expected lifetime. Courts calculate future lost earnings by considering the deceased’s age, health, occupation, skills, work history, and earning capacity.
Additional economic damages may include the value of household services the deceased provided, such as childcare, home maintenance, or financial management. Arizona courts recognize that non-working spouses and parents provide economically valuable services to their families, so their loss creates compensable economic harm even without lost wages.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages compensate for intangible losses that don’t have a specific dollar value. These include the loss of the deceased’s love, companionship, comfort, care, assistance, protection, affection, society, and moral support. Each family member’s relationship with the deceased is considered separately when valuing these losses.
Pain and suffering experienced by the deceased before death may also be recoverable depending on the circumstances. If the deceased survived for any period after the wrongful act and experienced conscious pain, that suffering can form the basis for additional damages. Grief and emotional distress suffered by surviving family members may be considered when valuing their loss of companionship claims.
Punitive Damages
Arizona Revised Statutes § 12-613 allows punitive damages in wrongful death cases when the defendant’s conduct was especially egregious. These damages punish the defendant and deter similar conduct by others. To recover punitive damages, you must prove by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant acted with evil mind or reckless disregard for others’ rights.
Punitive damages are subject to constitutional and statutory limitations. Arizona case law requires that punitive damages be reasonably proportional to compensatory damages, though there’s no fixed ratio. Courts consider the reprehensibility of the defendant’s conduct, the disparity between harm and punitive award, and comparable penalties for similar conduct when determining if punitive damages are excessive.
How a Criminal Acquittal Affects Civil Strategy
While an acquittal doesn’t prevent a civil claim, it does influence how attorneys approach the case and what challenges they must overcome.
The acquittal signals that the criminal prosecution’s approach didn’t convince a jury beyond a reasonable doubt. Your civil attorney will analyze what went wrong in the criminal case and develop different strategies. This might mean hiring different experts with more compelling credentials or better communication skills, identifying witnesses the prosecution overlooked, or reframing the narrative to focus on aspects of the conduct that resonate more strongly with jurors.
Defense attorneys will cite the acquittal to argue the defendant didn’t cause the death, even though the acquittal doesn’t legally prove this. Your attorney must be prepared to explain to the jury why the different burden of proof makes the civil case distinct and why evidence that created reasonable doubt in the criminal case can still support civil liability. Jury selection becomes particularly important because some potential jurors may incorrectly believe an acquittal means the defendant is innocent and cannot be held liable.
The Statute of Limitations and Tolling Considerations
Timing is critical in wrongful death cases because missing deadlines can permanently bar your claim regardless of its merits.
Arizona Revised Statutes § 12-542 establishes a two-year statute of limitations for wrongful death claims, beginning on the date of death. This means you must file your lawsuit within two years or lose your right to recover compensation. The deadline is strict, and Arizona courts have limited exceptions that would excuse late filing.
However, the statute of limitations may be tolled during certain periods, effectively pausing the clock. If a criminal prosecution is pending, some courts have held that the statute is tolled until the criminal case concludes, giving families additional time to file their civil case after an acquittal. This tolling recognizes that families often wait for the criminal justice system to run its course before deciding whether to pursue civil claims. Consult with an attorney immediately after an acquittal to determine how much time remains to file your claim and avoid missing critical deadlines.
Challenges Families Face After an Acquittal
Pursuing a wrongful death claim after a criminal acquittal presents unique emotional and practical challenges that families should understand before moving forward.
Many families feel defeated and exhausted after watching the criminal case fail. The emotional toll of a lengthy criminal trial, followed by the disappointment of an acquittal, can make it difficult to muster the strength for another legal battle. Families may doubt whether a civil case can succeed when the criminal case didn’t, even though the different legal standards create genuine opportunities for recovery.
Public perception can also create challenges. If the criminal acquittal received media coverage, some community members may view the defendant as innocent and question why the family is pursuing further legal action. Families must prepare for potential criticism and understand that their legal right to pursue civil claims exists regardless of public opinion.
Financial considerations add another layer of complexity. Many families already incurred expenses supporting the criminal prosecution, either directly or through lost time from work attending proceedings. Funding a civil lawsuit requires additional resources, though most wrongful death attorneys work on contingency fees and advance litigation costs, removing the need for upfront payment.
Working with an Attorney After Criminal Acquittal
Selecting the right attorney significantly impacts the outcome of your wrongful death case, especially when following a criminal acquittal.
Choose an attorney with specific experience in wrongful death litigation who understands how to build civil cases after criminal acquittals. This requires different skills than criminal defense work and different strategies than typical personal injury cases. Your attorney should have a track record of successful wrongful death verdicts or settlements and be willing to take cases to trial if necessary.
During your initial consultation, ask how the attorney would approach your case differently than the criminal prosecution approached it. A skilled wrongful death attorney will identify weaknesses in the criminal case and explain how different evidence, experts, or legal theories could lead to a different outcome under the civil burden of proof.
Your attorney will handle all aspects of the case including investigation, filing deadlines, discovery, negotiations, and trial if needed. They should keep you informed of developments, explain legal procedures in understandable terms, and respect your input on major decisions like settlement offers. Most wrongful death attorneys work on contingency, meaning they only collect fees if they recover compensation for you, typically ranging from 33% to 40% of the recovery depending on whether the case settles or goes to trial.
The Emotional Impact of Pursuing Civil Justice
Understanding the emotional journey helps families prepare for the challenges ahead and make informed decisions about whether to pursue a claim.
Reopening the case through civil litigation forces families to relive painful memories and confront details of their loved one’s death repeatedly. You’ll need to provide testimony, review evidence, and potentially sit through another trial where the defendant’s attorneys will challenge your claims. This process can interfere with healing and grieving, especially if the criminal acquittal already felt like a betrayal of justice.
However, many families find that pursuing a civil claim provides a sense of empowerment and control after feeling helpless during the criminal process. A successful civil case can validate their belief that the defendant was responsible and provide acknowledgment of their loss even when the criminal system failed them. The financial recovery, while it cannot replace their loved one, can ease practical burdens and provide resources to honor their loved one’s memory through scholarships, charitable donations, or other meaningful gestures.
Consider seeking support from grief counselors, support groups, or therapists who specialize in traumatic loss as you navigate the civil litigation process. Taking care of your mental health is essential because the legal process can take months or years from filing through resolution. Some families also find meaning in advocacy work or supporting other families facing similar situations, channeling their pain into positive action while their case proceeds.
Comparative Negligence and Its Impact on Recovery
Arizona’s comparative negligence law affects how damages are calculated and whether you can recover at all if the deceased contributed to the circumstances of their death.
Under Arizona Revised Statutes § 12-2505, Arizona follows a pure comparative negligence system. This means a plaintiff can recover damages even if they were partially at fault, but their recovery is reduced by their percentage of fault. If the deceased was found to be 30% responsible for the circumstances leading to their death, any damage award would be reduced by 30%.
Defense attorneys in civil cases often argue that the deceased shared fault to reduce potential damages. They might claim the deceased was engaged in risky behavior, ignored warnings, or failed to take reasonable precautions for their own safety. Your attorney must be prepared to defend against these arguments with evidence showing the defendant’s conduct was the primary cause of death and any actions by the deceased were reasonable under the circumstances or did not substantially contribute to the death.
Insurance Coverage and Collectability Issues
Winning a wrongful death verdict means nothing if the defendant cannot pay the judgment, making collectability a critical consideration before filing.
Most wrongful death recoveries come from insurance policies rather than defendants’ personal assets. Your attorney will investigate what insurance coverage exists, including homeowners insurance, auto insurance, commercial general liability policies, professional liability coverage, or umbrella policies. Policy limits may cap the maximum recovery regardless of the actual damages proven.
If the defendant has minimal insurance and few assets, collecting a judgment becomes difficult or impossible. Arizona allows various collection methods including wage garnishment, bank account levies, and liens on real property, but these only work if the defendant has income or assets to seize. Some defendants may file bankruptcy to discharge civil judgments, though wrongful death judgments based on intentional acts may not be dischargeable.
Your attorney should honestly assess collectability before investing substantial time and money in the case. If the defendant is judgment-proof, pursuing the claim may not be worthwhile unless there are other sources of recovery such as business entities, co-defendants, or third parties who share liability.
Alternative Dispute Resolution Options
Not all wrongful death cases require a full trial, and alternative resolution methods may provide faster, less stressful paths to compensation.
Mediation involves a neutral third party who facilitates negotiations between your attorney and the defendant’s representatives. The mediator doesn’t make binding decisions but helps parties find common ground and reach a mutually acceptable settlement. Many Arizona courts require mediation before allowing cases to proceed to trial, and insurance companies often prefer mediation because it reduces litigation costs and provides more predictable outcomes than jury verdicts.
Arbitration is a more formal process where a neutral arbitrator hears evidence and makes a binding decision on liability and damages. Some cases involve arbitration because the parties agreed to it in a contract, while others choose arbitration voluntarily to avoid public trials and expedite resolution. Arbitration awards are generally final with very limited grounds for appeal, so carefully consider whether to consent to arbitration rather than preserving your right to a jury trial.
Settlement negotiations can occur at any stage of litigation without formal mediation or arbitration. Your attorney will evaluate settlement offers by comparing them to the likely trial outcome, considering the strength of evidence, the credibility of witnesses, the damages you can prove, and the risks inherent in any trial. While settlement means accepting less than the full verdict you might win at trial, it also provides certainty, faster resolution, and avoids the emotional toll of trial testimony.
Tax Implications of Wrongful Death Recoveries
Understanding tax consequences helps families plan for how settlement or verdict proceeds will actually affect their financial situation.
Under federal tax law, compensatory damages for personal physical injuries or death are generally not taxable income. This includes both economic damages like medical expenses and lost earnings, and non-economic damages like loss of companionship. The recovery compensates for a loss rather than providing income, so the IRS doesn’t treat it as taxable.
However, punitive damages awarded in wrongful death cases are taxable as ordinary income regardless of the nature of the underlying claim. If your recovery includes punitive damages, you’ll owe federal income tax on that portion. Some states also tax punitive damage awards, though Arizona doesn’t have a separate state income tax on punitive damages beyond what flows through federal adjusted gross income.
Interest on judgments may also be taxable. If you win a verdict and the defendant delays payment, Arizona law requires payment of interest on the judgment at the statutory rate. This interest is considered taxable income when received. Additionally, if your settlement or recovery includes compensation for lost wages that the deceased would have earned, those amounts may be taxable because they represent income rather than compensation for injury.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I file a wrongful death lawsuit if the defendant was acquitted of murder charges?
Yes, a criminal acquittal does not prevent you from filing a civil wrongful death lawsuit in Arizona. The two cases operate under different legal standards, with civil cases requiring only a preponderance of the evidence rather than proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Many families have successfully recovered compensation in civil court after criminal acquittals because the lower burden of proof and different evidence rules create separate opportunities for justice that don’t violate double jeopardy protections.
How long do I have to file a wrongful death claim after an acquittal in Arizona?
Arizona’s statute of limitations for wrongful death claims is two years from the date of death under Arizona Revised Statutes § 12-542, not from the date of the acquittal. However, some courts have held that the statute of limitations is tolled during a pending criminal prosecution, potentially giving you additional time after the acquittal concludes. Contact an attorney immediately after an acquittal to determine exactly how much time remains to file your claim, as missing this deadline typically bars your case permanently regardless of its merits.
What damages can I recover in a wrongful death case after criminal acquittal?
You can recover both economic and non-economic damages including medical expenses before death, funeral costs, lost financial support, lost household services, and the loss of the deceased’s love, companionship, and guidance. Punitive damages may also be available if you prove by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant acted with an evil mind or in reckless disregard of others’ rights. The amount of damages depends on factors like the deceased’s age, earning capacity, life expectancy, and the nature of family relationships, with no statutory caps on most damages in Arizona wrongful death cases.
Will evidence from the criminal trial be admissible in my civil case?
Most evidence from the criminal trial can be used in the civil case, including testimony transcripts, exhibits, and expert reports. However, civil discovery often uncovers additional evidence that wasn’t available or wasn’t presented in the criminal case. Your attorney can also present evidence that may have been excluded under criminal evidence rules but is admissible under the more relaxed civil evidence standards. The defendant’s testimony from the criminal trial can be used against them in the civil case, and if they testified criminally but refuse to testify in the civil case, their criminal testimony can be read to the civil jury.
Do I need a different attorney for the civil case than handled the criminal prosecution?
Yes, you need a civil attorney because criminal prosecutors represent the state, not individual victims or their families. Criminal prosecutors cannot file civil lawsuits on your behalf or represent you in pursuing compensation. You should hire a civil attorney who specializes in wrongful death litigation and has experience with cases following criminal acquittals, as these require different strategies and skills than both criminal prosecution and typical personal injury cases. Most wrongful death attorneys offer free consultations and work on contingency fees, meaning you pay nothing unless they recover compensation for you.
Can the defendant use the criminal acquittal as evidence that they’re not liable?
Defense attorneys will argue that the acquittal shows they didn’t cause the death, but the acquittal itself doesn’t legally prove non-liability in a civil case. Your attorney can explain to the jury that an acquittal means only that the prosecution didn’t meet the higher criminal burden of proof, not that the defendant was found innocent or didn’t cause the death. The civil jury makes an independent determination based on the civil evidence and the preponderance of evidence standard, and many juries have found defendants liable after criminal acquittals once they understand the different legal standards and hear evidence the criminal jury may not have considered.
What if multiple family members want to pursue claims but disagree about settlement offers?
Arizona law allows only one wrongful death lawsuit per death, so disagreements among family members must be resolved through negotiation or court intervention. All eligible family members should be represented by the same attorney or coordinate closely if using different attorneys. If family members cannot agree whether to accept a settlement offer, the court may need to appoint a guardian ad litem or hold a hearing to determine what serves the best interests of all beneficiaries, with particular attention to protecting the rights of minor children who cannot make their own decisions about settlement.
How does Arizona’s comparative negligence law affect my wrongful death claim?
If evidence shows the deceased partially contributed to the circumstances causing their death, Arizona’s pure comparative negligence rule under Arizona Revised Statutes § 12-2505 reduces your recovery by the deceased’s percentage of fault. For example, if damages total $1 million but the deceased is found 20% at fault, you would recover $800,000. Unlike some states, Arizona allows recovery even if the deceased was more than 50% at fault, though your recovery would be substantially reduced. Your attorney must be prepared to defend against defense arguments that the deceased shared fault and present evidence showing the defendant’s conduct was the primary cause of death.
Conclusion
Understanding that criminal acquittals don’t prevent wrongful death claims empowers families to pursue justice even when the criminal system fails them. The different burden of proof, broader evidence rules, and focus on financial compensation rather than criminal punishment create genuine opportunities for accountability and recovery. While pursuing a civil case after an acquittal presents unique challenges, many families have successfully recovered substantial compensation that acknowledged their loss and provided resources to move forward.
If your loved one died due to another person’s actions and that person was acquitted of criminal charges, you still have legal options. Life Justice Law Group understands the complexities of wrongful death cases following criminal acquittals and has the experience to build strong civil cases even when criminal prosecutions fail. Contact us today at (480) 378-8088 for a free consultation to discuss your situation and learn how we can help your family pursue the justice and compensation you deserve.