Former prosecutor sues Netflix over Central Park 5 series

Former Manhattan prosecutor Linda Fairstein has sued Netflix and film director Ava DuVernay over her portrayal in streaming service’s miniseries about Central Park Five case, which sent five black and Lati teenrs to prison for a crime y were later absolved of committing.

Fairstein claims in lawsuit, filed Wednesday in federal court in Fort Myers, Florida, that four-part series “When y See Us” defamed her by portraying her as a “racist, unethical villain.”

“Most glaringly, film series falsely portrays Ms. Fairstein as in charge of investigation and prosecution of case against five, including development of prosecution’s ory of case,” Fairstein’s lawyer, Andrew Miltenberg, said in a statement. “In truth, and as detailed in lawsuit, Ms. Fairstein was responsible for neir aspect of case.”

Fairstein was top Manhattan sex crimes prosecutor in 1989 when five teenrs were charged with a vicious attack on a jogger in Central Park. convictions were overturned in 2002 after convicted murderer and serial rapist Matias Reyes confessed to committing crime alone. DNA linked him to it.

Fairstein, who became a best-selling crime author after retiring from Manhattan district attorney’s office, observed boys’ interrogation but didn’t personally try case.

Fairstein was dropped by her publisher and resigned from several boards she served on after “When y See Us,” which dramatizes events surrounding trial, debuted last year.

Netflix called Fairstein’s lawsuit “frivolous” and said in a statement, “We intend to vigorously defend ‘When y See Us’ and Ava DuVernay and Attica Locke, incredible team behind series.”

Emails seeking comment were sent to a representative for DuVernay and to Locke, a writer and producer of series who was named as a defendant in lawsuit.