Medford Attorney Recognized by Peers
Victor Garo Earns American Bar Association Pro Bono Award
Attorney Victor Garo is pictured at left in his Medford office.
Medford attorney Victor Garo recently received the Edward S. Muskie Pro Bono Service Award from the American Bar Association for the thirty years he spent on a wrongful imprisonment case that eventually led to one of the largest judgments in US history- $101.7 million.
The award, presented August 10 in New York City at the ABA’s annual meeting, recognizes those who share with the late Senator Edmund Muskie of Maine a dedication to public service and a passion for justice for all citizens, among other attributes.
“Victor’s dedication to pro bono work and the public good are unparalleled. In the Joseph Salvati case, he invested more than thirty thousand hours of pro bono time to right a wrong and to uncover the government’s cover up of a public injustice of epic proportion…His commitment to the rule of law and service above self are examples for all lawyers to follow,” said Section Chair Peter Bennett of Portland, Maine.
In the Salvati case, Garo took on the federal government in an effort to help four men framed by the FBI for a 1965 murder they did not commit. After the men, two of whom died in prison, were finally exonerated after spending decades in prison, Garo successfully sued the federal government and just last year was awarded the largest judgment for wrongful imprisonment in US history- $101.7 million.
The dramatic story is being considered for a movie.
Garo was born and raised in Medford, where he still resides and maintains his law office. He is a graduate of Medford High School, the Boston University College of Business Administration, and the Boston University School of Law.
Garo was named one of 35 influential judges and lawyers of the past 35 Years by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly in its 35th anniversary special edition in 2007. He was the recipient of Boston University School of Law’s first Victor J. Garo Public Service Award, named in his honor, which will be presented annually to alumni and has received the Silver Shingle Award for distinguished service to the law school. Garo is also an active member of several local bar associations.
– InsideMedford.com
More…