Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight Secures Compassionate Release for Richard Brown in 1988 Kansas City Fire CaseKANSAS CITY, Mo., Feb. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight announced today that the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri granted compassionate release to Richard W. Brown, vacating his life sentence and resentencing him to time served with five years of supervised release. The underlying conviction arose from the November 29, 1988 explosions at a southeast Kansas City highway construction site, where fires at a storage trailer containing approximately 25,000 pounds of explosives led to an explosion that killed six Kansas City firefighters, followed by a second explosion from a nearby trailer containing approximately 30,000 pounds of explosives. In 1997, Mr. Brown and co-defendants were convicted of aiding and abetting an act of arson resulting in the deaths of six firefighters, and Mr. Brown was sentenced to life imprisonment. Mr. Brown initially filed for compassionate release pro se on March 6, 2023. Sanford Heisler then entered the case and advanced an amended motion and a supplemental motion on July 8 and October 27, 2025, respectively. Co-Vice Chairman Kevin Sharp, Of Counsel Bob Sullivan and Associate Erica Roberts of Sanford Heisler serve as counsel for Mr. Brown. On February 27, 2026, the Court granted compassionate release to Mr. Brown. Notably, the Court found extraordinary and compelling reasons based on Mr. Brown’s age at the time of the offense, only thirty-four weeks past his eighteenth birthday, and his substantial rehabilitation, including earning a GED, completing numerous educational courses, holding work details, leadership roles, and maintaining a clean disciplinary record for over a decade. In its reasoning, the Court emphasized Mr. Brown’s youth at the time of the offense and the weight of contemporary understanding regarding adolescent immaturity, susceptibility, salvageability, and dependency, as well as his extensive rehabilitation, in determining that a reduced sentence is sufficient but not greater than necessary. The Court underscored that Mr. Brown’s proximity to juvenile status at the time of the offense is highly relevant, aligning with jurisprudence and research recognizing the diminished culpability of late adolescents and the reduced weight of penological goals when applied to youthful offenders. The Court noted the disparity in this case: Mr. Brown’s co-defendant Bryan Sheppard, who was a few months younger, qualified for resentencing and received twenty years, while Mr. Brown, only slightly older, had already served nine additional years. The Court further considered the nature of the offence, and highlighted statements made by the trial judge, that he did not believe that the defendants intentionally with malice and forethought set out to kill the firefighters. Accordingly, the Court vacated Mr. Brown’s life sentence, resentenced him to time served, imposed five years of supervised release, waived any fine based on inability to pay, and ordered joint and several restitution of $536,000 to the Kansas City, Missouri Fire Department.“We are grateful the Court recognized that Richard’s youth at the time of the offense and his transformation over nearly three decades warranted a second look,” said Kevin Sharp, Co-Vice Chairman and counsel for Mr. Brown. Erica Roberts, Associate and counsel for Mr. Brown, is also pleased with the Court’s decision: “Richard has invested in his education, worked consistently, and maintained an exemplary record in his decades of incarceration. We look forward to his reunion with his family and his successful return to his community.”As we celebrate this outcome, we honor the memory of the firefighters lost and reaffirm our commitment to a system that recognizes youth-related factors, corrects unwarranted disparities through compassionate release, and allows individuals who have transformed to return to their families and communities with hope.About Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnightSanford Heisler Sharp McKnight is a public interest and civil rights law firm with offices in New York, Washington, DC, San Francisco, Palo Alto, Nashville, and San Diego. The firm focuses on executive representation, wrongful termination, employment discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, wage theft and overtime violations, whistleblower and qui tam, sexual violence, Title IX violations and victims’ rights, financial mismanagement and ERISA litigation, and Asian American litigation and finance matters. Our lawyers have recovered over $5 billion for our clients through many verdicts and settlements.In 2024, Forbes named Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight Chairman and Co-Founder David Sanford to its inaugural list of America’s Top 200 Lawyers. The National Law Journal has selected Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight as Civil Rights Firm of the Year, and it has recognized the firm as both Employment Rights Firm of the Year and Human Rights Firm of the Year. Benchmark Litigation has named the firm Labor & Employment Firm of the Year, and Law360 has recognized the firm as Employment Practice Group of the Year.For the latest news about Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight, visit the firm’s newsroom or follow the firm on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter.If you have potential legal claims and are seeking counsel, please call 646-768-7070 or email david.sanford@sanfordheisler.com. Attorneys at Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight would like to have the opportunity to help you.Media Contact: Jamie Moss, newsPRos, at 201-788-0142 or Jamie@newspros.com.
Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight Files Federal Tort Claims Act Complaint Against the Army for Failing to Protect a Former Fort Hood Soldier Who Was Raped by Serial Predator Sergeant Greville ClarkeFORT HOOD, Texas, Jan. 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Attorneys at Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight (“Sanford Heisler”) today filed a Federal Tort Claims Act (“FTCA”) administrative complaint against the United States Department of the Army (“the Army”) on behalf of Mayra Diaz, who was violently raped and attacked by former Sergeant Greville Clarke in the Fort Hood barracks on July 15, 2022. The complaint alleges that the Army failed to keep Diaz and other female soldiers safe at Fort Hood despite having notice of a string of similar assaults against women on base in the months before Diaz’s attack.
Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight Files $36 Million Lawsuit on Behalf of Eighteen Student Pilots Deceived and Discriminated Against While Attending the American Airlines Cadet AcademySAN DIEGO, Dec. 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight, a leading national civil rights law firm, today filed a complaint against American Airlines, Inc. and American Airlines Group, Inc. (“American Airlines”), and Coast Flight Training and Management, Inc. (“Coast”) (collectively, “Defendants”) and American Airlines Federal Credit Union, alleging that the Defendants made false and misleading statements to eighteen student pilots (“the Cadets”) and targeted the Cadets, all people of color, to induce them to attend a discriminatory pilot training academy. The Cadets seek $36 million in damages for the alleged unlawful conduct.
Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight Files 7 Federal Tort Claims Act Complaints Against the Army on Behalf of Victims of Fort Hood Army Doctor Blaine McGrawFORT HOOD, Texas, Dec. 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Attorneys at Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight (“Sanford Heisler”) today filed Federal Tort Claims Act (“FTCA”) administrative complaints against the United States Department of the Army, the Defense Health Agency, and the Department of Defense (collectively “the Army”) on behalf of seven Jane Does (Jane Does 1-7), all of whom were sexually abused or non-consensually videotaped by Army doctor Blaine McGraw during medical appointments at the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center (“Darnall Medical Center”) in Fort Hood, Texas and Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii (“Tripler Medical Center”). McGraw is currently facing numerous criminal charges for secretly recording dozens of female patients.
Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight Recognized Among Top-Tier U.S. Law Firms in Best Law Firms® 2026 Rankings in Three CitiesNEW YORK, Nov. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight LLP has been recognized with multiple top-tier rankings in the 2026 edition of Best Law Firms®, earning Tier 1 placement in Washington, DC; New York City; and Nashville, TN; reaffirming its status as a national leader in employment, civil rights, whistleblower and ERISA litigation. According to the rankings published by Best Law Firms® the Firm achieved:
Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight to File New Federal Torts Claims Act Complaints Against the Army on Behalf of Victims of Fort Hood Army Doctor Who Sexually Abused PatientsFORT HOOD, Texas, Nov. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight, a national civil rights and public interest law firm, is investigating reports of alleged sexual misconduct by a medical provider at the Carl R. Darnell Army Medical Center in Fort Hood, Texas. The Army confirmed in a statement last week that it suspended the medical provider after receiving a report of misconduct. The Army’s Criminal Investigation Division is currently investigating the medical provider for allegedly taking non-consensual videos of female patients during medical exams. The base and the medical center are contacting all patients who were seen by the provider during the provider’s time at the facility and have opened a dedicated call-line for additional support.
Lawdragon Names 21 at Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight Among 2025’s Leading Civil Rights & Plaintiff Employment LawyersNEW YORK, Aug. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight, a leading national civil rights law firm, today announced 21 of its members are among the nation’s leading civil rights and plaintiff employment lawyers of 2025 named by Lawdragon, a legal media company providing online news and editorial features for and about legal professionals.
Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight Files Suit Against Baby Products Brand Munchkin, Inc., Alleging Retaliation Against Former General Counsel For Sticking Up For MomsLOS ANGELES, July 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight today announced that it had filed suit against baby products brand Munchkin, Inc. and its parent WHY Brands, Inc. on behalf of the company’s former General Counsel, Joseph Berkowitz. The lawsuit, filed in L.A. Superior Court, alleges Mr. Berkowitz repeatedly attempted to sound the alarm about complaints of discrimination made by the company’s working mothers against the company’s Chief Brand Officer. In response, Mr. Berkowitz claims that the company terminated his employment.
Sanford Heisler Sharp Mcknight Wins Final Approval of Record-Breaking $69 Million Settlement on Behalf of More Than 350,000 Retirement Plan BeneficiariesMINNEAPOLIS, June 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight, LLP, a national civil rights law firm, was granted final approval of a record-breaking $69 million settlement on behalf of more than 350,000 beneficiaries of the UnitedHealth Group 401(k) Savings Plan. The Honorable Judge John R. Tunheim of the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota ruled from the bench during a Fairness Hearing held today, approving the settlement amount and granting counsel’s requested attorneys’ fees and a service award of $50,000 for sole class representative Kim Snyder. Judge Tunheim informed the parties that a more detailed order would follow his ruling.
Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight Files Seven Additional Federal Tort Claims Act Administrative Complaints Against the Coast Guard on Behalf of Sexual Assault SurvivorsNEW LONDON, Conn., March 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, attorneys at Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight filed seven new Federal Tort Claims Act (“FTCA”) administrative complaints against the United States Coast Guard, its parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security; and its former parent agency, the Department of Transportation, (collectively “the Coast Guard”) on behalf of Does 23-29, all of whom allege they were sexually assaulted while they were cadets or prospective cadets of the Coast Guard Academy (“the Academy”). In September and October 2024, Sanford Heisler filed 22 similar FTCA complaints on behalf of additional sexual assault survivors, bringing the total number of former Academy cadets represented by the firm to 29. This is believed to be the first known collective action by sexual violence survivors against a United States service academy.
Statement on President Biden’s Grant of Clemency for Leonard Peltier From Kevin Sharp, Co-Vice Chairman Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnightNASHVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This morning, President Biden granted clemency to political activist and Native American community advocate, Leonard Peltier, who has been wrongfully imprisoned for 49 years. The plight of Leonard Peltier has been in the spotlight for decades with prominent personalities including Nelson Mandela, Bishop Desmond Tutu, Pope Francis, among hundreds of others, calling for his release.
Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight Argues Being Raped in Her Sleep Was Not Part of the Job Duties of a Civilian Mariner Aboard a U.S. Navy ShipCAMDEN, N.J., Dec. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight and Maritime Legal Solutions assisted Elsie E. Dominguez in filing a claim with the Department of Labor today seeking a determination that her experience of being raped by the Captain of the ship, while she lay unconscious in her bed aboard a US Naval ship, does not constitute workers’ compensation under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA).
