California taxpayers are footing a record-breaking $25 million bill after decades of government incompetence destroyed an innocent man’s life, exposing the catastrophic failures that plague our justice system when accountability takes a backseat to bureaucratic negligence.

Story Overview

• Maurice Hastings receives largest wrongful conviction settlement in California history after 38 years imprisoned
• DNA evidence finally proved his innocence in 2022, identifying the real perpetrator who died in prison
• City of Inglewood’s investigative failures cost taxpayers $25 million in September 2025
• Case highlights systemic problems with 1980s police work and forensic limitations

Decades of Injustice Finally Acknowledged

Maurice Hastings, now 70, spent nearly four decades behind bars for crimes he never committed after Inglewood police arrested him in 1983 for robbery, homicide, and sexual assault. DNA evidence conclusively exonerated him in October 2022, revealing that a convicted sex offender who died in prison in 2020 was the actual perpetrator. The California Superior Court declared Hastings factually innocent in 2023, paving the way for his landmark lawsuit against the city.

California man who served 38 years for murder he did not commit awarded $25m | California

Settlement reached after Maurice Hastings claimed he was framed by authorities for 1983 sexual assault and murder
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Government Failures Cost Taxpayers Millions

The City of Inglewood agreed to the unprecedented $25 million settlement in September 2025, marking the largest wrongful conviction payout in California history. Hastings’ legal team also sued two Inglewood Police Department detectives and an estate of a Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office employee involved in the original prosecution. The massive settlement reflects the severity of institutional failures that robbed an innocent man of his prime years while burdening taxpayers with the financial consequences of government incompetence.

Limited Government Accountability Despite Massive Payout

While Hastings expressed gratitude for the settlement’s conclusion, he emphasized that no amount of money could restore his stolen decades. Mayor James T. Butts Jr. acknowledged the inadequacy of financial compensation, stating money couldn’t compensate for “all those lost years, all the missed opportunities and times with your family.” The case underscores how government mistakes create irreversible damage that taxpayers ultimately bear, while those responsible for the original failures face minimal personal consequences.

This settlement sets a concerning precedent for municipal liability costs while highlighting the urgent need for justice system reforms. The case demonstrates how flawed investigative practices from the 1980s continue generating massive taxpayer expenses decades later, raising questions about current accountability measures and oversight mechanisms designed to prevent similar government failures.

Watch the report: Innocent man gets $25 million for wrongful murder conviction

Sources:

Man freed after 38 years of imprisonment settles for $25 million in wrongful conviction lawsuit – Los Angeles Times
Inglewood settlement freed 38 years prison wrongful conviction Hastings – CBS News