Insights

Chiara Tondi Resta, a senior associate with the law firm Werner Ahari Mangel, has secured a victory for her client in a long-running pro bono matter.

The client had been incarcerated since 1993 for a felony committed when they were 18 years old and while addicted to the drug PCP. Chiara filed a motion for a sentence reduction under the District of Columbia’s Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act, which allows people who were under the age of 25 at the time of the crime and who have served at least 15 years of their sentence to ask the court for a reduced sentence.

After four years and an appeal to the DC Court of Appeals, the motion was granted, and the client’s sentence was reduced to time served.

“I am very excited for my client to start this new chapter in his life with the help of his very supportive family,” said Chiara Tondi Resta.

In her pro bono work, Chiara represents incarcerated individuals seeking sentence reductions or other post-conviction relief. Her day-to-day practice includes representing insurers in complex insurance coverage litigation.

Werner Ahari Mangel is proud to contribute to the community and encourages its attorneys to pursue pro bono work.