Locke Lord Part of Team That Secured Affirmance of a $2.55 Million Judgment for Pro Bono Client Jane Doe in Landmark Civil Case Doe v. Sheikh

Locke Lord’s Cynthia Timms (Dallas) was part of a team of attorneys that obtained a decision from the Dallas Court of Appeals affirming a $2.55 million judgment in favor of their pro bono client, Jane Doe. The case alleged that a Muslim clergy counselor, who had provided counseling to Jane Doe starting at the age of 13, had used his trusted position at one of the largest mosques in the country to sexually assault and exploit her. The trial court awarded $1.5 million in mental anguish damages, $750,000 in punitive damages and $300,000 in attorneys’ fees. The court of appeals affirmed the judgment in its entirety. This has been the most significant civil case to date in the United States involving sexual abuse by a Muslim cleric. The Firm worked with trial counsel Farhana Querishi and Asiya Salejee of Querishi & Salejee PLLC, as well as with Susan Adams, formerly of Locke Lord. The case is Sheikh v. Doe, No. 05-19-01329-CV (Tex. App.—Dallas June 30, 2021).

Locke Lord has a rich and long-standing tradition of giving back to its communities through pro bono projects. The Firm considers it an obligation and responsibility as lawyers and as human beings to provide legal services to people who cannot afford them. To read about Locke Lord’s commitment to pro bono initiatives, please click here.