The Connecticut Supreme Court has reversed a prior appellate decision and granted a new trial to Cecil Grant, a client represented on appeal by Attorney Norm Pattis of Pattis & Paz, LLC. This ruling is a significant win in the realm of ineffective assistance of counsel claims.

Mr. Grant was convicted of conspiracy to commit robbery, attempted robbery, and assault in connection with the 2011 shooting of a pizza delivery driver. His defense claimed that another individual was responsible. However, the jury never saw crucial phone records that undermined the prosecution’s key witness—records that were available to trial counsel but never investigated or introduced at trial.

The Connecticut Supreme Court found that the failure to present these records constituted not just deficient performance by trial counsel, but one that created a reasonable probability of a different verdict. As a result, Mr. Grant’s convictions have been vacated, and he will receive a new trial.