Guyton v. United States of America

On April 21, 2026, John Guyton filed a civil lawsuit against the United States of America in federal court. Guyton alleged he was wrongfully convicted of murder in 2010 and served 15 years in prison before DNA evidence proved his innocence and led to his exoneration in 2025. The lawsuit claimed that FBI agent Mark Harris fabricated evidence and that federal prosecutor Sarah Collins intentionally withheld exculpatory material. Guyton sought compensatory damages under the Federal Tort Claims Act, asserting claims for malicious prosecution, civil rights violations, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The case immediately drew national attention due to its implications for prosecutorial accountability.

The U.S. District Court denied the government's motion to dismiss, ruling that the misconduct alleged fell outside protected discretionary functions. The case proceeded to a jury trial, which found the United States liable and awarded Guyton $12 million in damages.

Whether the discretionary function exception to the Federal Tort Claims Act bars claims for malicious prosecution against the United States, and whether the alleged misconduct by law enforcement and prosecutors can be attributed to the government for liability purposes.

The verdict intensified public demand for police and prosecutorial reform, sparked Congressional hearings on evidence disclosure failures, and prompted several states to revise laws governing compensation for the wrongfully convicted. It also set a key precedent for holding the federal government civilly liable for systemic misconduct in criminal cases.