Jacob Trakhtenberg, 76, a former Chrysler engineer, lost his once-cushy life after he was convicted of sexually assaulting his young daughter in 2006, L.L. Brasier reports in the Free Press.
During the 53-minute bench trial, his court-appointed attorney didn’t ask for a jury, make an opening statement or call any witnesses other than Trakhtenberg.
Out of prison since 2012 — and with his record cleared after the Michigan Supreme Court tossed his conviction — Trakhtenberg is now suing his defense attorney Deborah McKelvy for malpractice. A trial is expected later this year.
In a rare move, the state Supreme Court issued a strongly worded ruling saying he was entitled to sue McKelvy because she violated his constitutional rights. The high court sometimes determines whether a defendant is entitled to a new trial, but seldom considers legal malpractice cases, which are civil matters.
Brasier writes Trakhtenberg hasn’t spoken to his daughter, now 17, since the allegations surfaced. He keeps a photo of her on his living room wall and said he plans to reach out to her someday soon.
“I love her,” he said. “I love all my children.”
