"Alia has earned this award because she took on the Alan Crotzer case for all the right reasons; a relentless pursuit of justice to right a wrong and to change the life of a man who lost too much already," said Ron Sachs, president and CEO of Ron Sachs Communications. "We are very proud of her selfless dedication to this noble cause."

CONGRATULATIONS TO
ALIA FARAJ-JOHNSON,
Winner of the 2009 Bronze Bulldog Award for Best Crisis Communications

August 12, 2009

(TALLAHASSEE, FL.) August 12, 2009 - Ron Sachs Communications congratulates our Vice President Alia Faraj-Johnson on her recent recognition by the 2009 Bulldog Awards for Excellence in Media Relations and Publicity, a competition judged exclusively by working journalists.

"Alia has earned this award because she took on the Alan Crotzer case for all the right reasons; a relentless pursuit of justice to right a wrong and to change the life of a man who lost too much already," said Ron Sachs, president and CEO of Ron Sachs Communications. "We are very proud of her selfless dedication to this noble cause."

This national award, which is judged in 29 different categories, is awarded by renowned journalists such as:

Bill Newcott, Features Editor, AARP The Magazine

Chris Elliott, Ombudsman, National Geographic Traveler, Host, Fine Living Network

Tom Hallman, Senior Reporter (and Pulitzer Prize winner), The Oregonian

Meghan Collins-Sullivan, Deputy Online Editor, washingtonpost.com

Evan Cooper, Senior Managing Editor/Online, Editorial Director, InvestmentNews

Kate Carlisle, Managing Editor-WashingtonLATWP News Service, The Washington Post

For almost 25 years, Alan Crotzer was imprisoned for crimes he did not commit. DNA evidence cleared him of the crimes in 2006, and he was finally released from the Florida prison that had held him for a quarter of a century. In addition to his freedom, the Florida Legislature owed Crotzer significant financial restitution. But, his claims bill got tied up in the political process, and Crotzer and his attorney were having trouble getting support for it.

Tallahassee, Florida-based Ron Sachs Communications, through the encouragement of Alia-Faraj Johnson, took on the case pro bono. They introduced Crotzer to the Capital Press Corps to spread his story as part of a widespread PR campaign. With Crotzer constantly in the media spotlight, the Ron Sachs team was able to work directly with the House and Senate leadership and gain the support of Florida governor Charlie Crist. This ensured that a bill would be filed and ready for immediate consideration in the 2008 legislative session.

The team kept the pressure on, and a steady stream of electronic and print media coverage ensured that Crotzer's fate would no longer be tied up in politics. Governor Crist declared that passing Crotzer's bill was "the right thing to do," and it passed in the 2008 session. Crotzer was awarded $1.25 million, or $50,000 for each year in prison. He was also granted a state-paid college education. Today, he's out on the speaker's circuit working with at-risk youth through the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.