‘You can’t take the pain away, from being incarcerated for 35 years for something that you didn’t do.’

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - A federal civil lawsuit is being filed for Dwayne Brooks, a man who was exonerated after serving almost 35 years for a murder he did not commit.

The lawsuit is being filed by Friedman, Gilbert + Gerhardstein in the U.S. District Court.

“I was put on trial, facing the death penalty…and the whole time this evidence was there to show that I didn’t do it,” Brooks said.

“They don’t care about they took my whole life, but maybe they’ll care about some money that they have to spend.”

Attorneys say Brooks was exonerated in 2023 and brings claims for damages against the City of Cleveland and a number of former Cleveland police officers.

“There’s no real justice for me– because you can’t let me be 21 again. You can’t give me back all the people that I’ve lost. You can’t give me back my youth, my health,” Brooks said.

“But, it’s a semblance of justice.”