ARCADIA, Fla. - An Arcadia man wrongfully accused of murdering his seven children in the 1960s seeks compensation from the state.

In 1968 James Joseph Richardson was convicted in the poisoning his seven children. Richardson was wrongfully incarcerated for 21 1/2 years.

In 1989 he was released from prison after a judge said Richardson did not receive a fair trial. Richardson's attorney Robert Barrar told WINK News, "his life was taken from him. Not only were his children murdered, but he lost his family he lost his friends he lost his future."

A new law signed by Governor Crist in July allows compensation of $50,000 for each year of wrongful incarceration. In James Richardson's case, that's more than one million dollars. The State Attorney's Office has 30 days to respond to Richardson's petition.

NOTE: This story originally aired on September 10, 2008.