One of the most prominent civil rights attorney’s, Ben Crump, is a staple in the Black community for his work towards achieving justice. 2025 signifies another major year for the legal expert as he represented the families of Black victims of national cases and incidents such as Trey Reed, Sonya Massey, Charles Payne, and many more.
Crump also played a vital part in representing and helping homeowners who were victims of the Altadena Eaton Canyon wildfires earlier this year. So, one may ask, what isn’t he capable of? Ultimately, Crump has shown himself to be a pillar of justice, a beacon of light, a piece of the building blocks necessary for justice being served to the Black community, a community that till this day still struggles under the grips of white supremacy.
Born on Oct. 10, 1969 in Lumberton, N.C., Crump is a highly esteemed individual who has dedicated his life to achieving justice. Many Black families, such as the family of Trayvon Martin, have called on Crump to assist them with their pursuits of justice.
A motto that he goes by is “justice equals respect” as his firm put forth all of their efforts also handling cases involving personal injury, employment matters, class actions and mainly holding those in power that cause harm, accountable for their actions, according to a statement.
Reflecting on one of his most recent verdicts for the family of Sonya Massey, Crump and fellow attorney on the case, Antonio Romanucci released the following statement.
“While we believe Grayson’s actions deserved a first-degree conviction, today’s verdict is still a measure of justice for Sonya Massey. Accountability has begun, and we now hope the court will impose a meaningful sentence that reflects the severity of these crimes and the life that was lost. We will continue to fight for Sonya’s family and for reforms that protect everyone from unlawful use of force.
“The family extends deep gratitude to Sangamon County State’s Attorney John C. Milhiser and his entire office. They handled the case with professionalism, transparency, and compassion. Prosecuting a police officer is never easy but this team did it with courage and integrity.”
Some notable cases of 2025
— Lewis Butler Verdict: The family of Lewis Butler received $779 million in a wrongful death verdict.
— Sonya Massey Case: One of the most controversial cases that has garnered national attention, Ben Crump was sought out by the family of Sonya Massey after she suffered in a wrongful death case. Both attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci fought for a $10 million settlement for Massey’s family, with former Illinois Deputy Sean Grayson being found guilty of second-degree murder for the 2024 shooting of Massey.
— Southern California Edison (SCE) lawsuits : After the January 2025 wildfires, Ben Crump filed various lawsuits claiming that the company was negligent for failing to de-energize powerlines as the Santa Ana Winds played a key role in the Eaton Canyon fire spreading. Numerous deaths occurred, including Evelyn McClendon who was named in the suit.
— Malcolm X Case: Ben Crump filed a lawsuit against the Department of Justice (DOJ), FBI, CIA, and NYPD on behalf of the estate of Malcolm X in order to push for an examination of all of the events leading up to Malcolm X’s assasination.
Ben Crump has had an extraordinary year as he continues to help Black families receive justice. For more information about his work visit www.bencrump.com.