Elizabeth Fink facts for kids

Elizabeth Marsha Fink (born June 7, 1945 – died September 22, 2015) was an American lawyer who worked to protect people's rights. She was known for helping people involved in the Attica Prison events. In 1974, she filed a big lawsuit for the prisoners. This lawsuit said that prison guards had mistreated them. The case was settled in 2000, and the prisoners received $12 million.

Early Life and Education

Elizabeth Fink was born in Brooklyn, New York. Her father, Bernard Fink, was also a lawyer. Her mother, Sylvia Caplan Fink, worked to help older people and was against nuclear weapons. Elizabeth was named after Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, who helped start the American Civil Liberties Union, a group that protects people's rights. Her older brother, Larry Fink, became a photographer.

Elizabeth Fink went to Reed College and graduated in 1967. Later, she studied law at Brooklyn Law School and finished in 1973.

Helping People Through Law

Elizabeth M. Fink started her own law firm in Brooklyn, New York. Her firm focused on protecting civil rights and the rights of people in prison. It also defended people accused of crimes.

The Attica Lawsuit

A big part of her work was the lawsuit related to the Attica events. This case took up much of her time until 2000. That year, the prisoners won $12 million from the state of New York. However, the state never said sorry or admitted they were wrong.

Other Important Cases

Fink also helped other people who were in prison or facing serious charges.

• In 1989, she helped a group called the Ohio 7. They were accused of certain crimes, and Fink helped them get found not guilty.
• After the September 11, 2001 attacks, Fink represented Osama Awadallah. He was a college student from Palestine who was arrested and accused of lying to a special jury. Fink helped him, and he was found not guilty in 2006.
• In 2006, Fink represented Lynne Stewart during her sentencing. Stewart had been found guilty of breaking rules about talking with a client. Fink helped her get a shorter sentence at first, but it was later made longer.
• Fink also represented Jeremy Hammond in 2013. Hammond was found guilty of hacking into a private company called Stratfor and sharing its documents through WikiLeaks.

Elizabeth Fink passed away from a heart attack on September 22, 2015, in New York City. She was 70 years old.

Ghosts of Attica Documentary

Elizabeth Fink and her assistant, Frank Smith, were featured in a documentary film called Ghosts of Attica. Frank Smith had been a leader among the prisoners during the Attica events. The film, released in 2001, tells the story of the Attica uprising and the lawsuits that followed. Ghosts of Attica won an award for excellent journalism in 2002.