Roshna Bala Keen - Chicago, IL

Overview

Roshna Bala Keen joined Loevy & Loevy in 2008. She focuses her practice on wrongful convictions, police sexual assault and excessive force cases, and unlawful arrests. In addition, she litigates class actions on behalf of people housed in jails and prisons, challenging their unconstitutional conditions of confinement. Ms. Keen also practices in the area of False Claims Act litigation and represents whistleblowers in state and federal qui tam lawsuits, involving contractor (MBE/DBE) fraud, tax fraud, and off-label marketing. Ms. Keen has been trial counsel in eight jury trials, including the trial of a class action that ultimately resulted in a $55 million settlement.

Prior to joining Loevy & Loevy, Ms. Keen was an associate at Sidley Austin LLP, where she handled white collar and internal investigations, general corporate litigation, and numerous pro bono matters, including the representation of a death row inmate in Alabama.

Ms. Keen graduated from Northwestern University Law School in 2004. During law school, she served on the Northwestern University Law Review, was research assistant to criminal law professor Paul H. Robinson, judicial extern for Hon. Judge Ruben Castillo of the Northern District of Illinois, and president of the Environmental Law Society. She was a recipient of the Honorable Robert A. Sprecher merit scholarship for all three years.

Ms. Keen serves on the board of directors of First Defense Legal Aid and volunteers for the Animal Legal Defense Fund. Prior to attending law school, she worked as an assistant editor of Foreign Affairs Magazine, published by the Council on Foreign Relations. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Chicago. Ms. Keen has been admitted to practice by the Supreme Court of Illinois, the Seventh Circuit, the Eighth Circuit, the Northern District of Illinois, and the Northern District of Ohio.

REPRESENTATIVE CASES

Doe v. Starks et al. (N.D.Ill.). Litigation counsel for Jane Doe, who was sexually assaulted by an on-duty Chicago Police officer. Obtained a $400,000 settlement from the city, plus individual payments by the police officer defendants.

Patterson v. Chicago et al. (N.D.Ill.) Litigation counsel for Mr. Patterson, who was wrongfully convicted of murder and spent 8 years in prison until DNA exonerated him. Secured a $4.2 million settlement for Mr. Patterson in civil rights suit alleging that Chicago Police Department and Illinois State Police crime lab withheld exculpatory evidence and deprived him of a fair trial.

Ross v. State of Illinois (Ill). Successfully overturned Mr. Ross's conviction of a crime of which he was innocent, in state post-conviction proceeding. Secured Mr. Ross's release on bond after 11 years in prison, pending appeal.

Towler v. DeChant et al. (N.D. Ohio). Obtained a multi-million dollar settlement for Mr. Towler in a civil rights lawsuit stemming from wrongful conviction and 29-year incarceration on a rape charge, of which he was later exonerated by DNA testing.

Young v. Dart (N.D.Ill.). Trial and litigation counsel for certified class of 300,000 detainees at Cook County Jail, who were improperly strip searched. Following a liability trial and bell weather damages trials, the case resolved in a $55 million settlement for the class.