Illinois Supremes: Barring Firearms Within 1,000 Feet of Parks Facially Unconstitutional by Richard Resch by Richard Resch In April 2013, Julio Chairez pleaded guilty in connection with a plea agreement to possessing a firearm within 1,000 feet of a park in violation of Section 24-1(a)(4), (c)(1.5) of the Unlawful Use …
15 Crooked Cop Cases Canned by Christopher Zoukis by Chris Zoukis Cook County, Illinois Chief Criminal Judge LeRoy K. Martin tossed the convictions of 15 criminal defendants on November 16, 2017 because the cases were linked to disgraced former Chicago Police Sergeant Ronald Watts. All of the men whose …
Five Years for Cop Who Fired 16 Bullets Into Car of Teens by Christopher Zoukis by Christopher Zoukis Marco Proano, 42, a former Chicago police officer, was sentenced to five years in federal prison on December 4, 2017 for unloading his weapon on a car full of teenagers in 2015. …
Former Illinois State Attorney Indicted: Misconduct, Misappropriation of Funds by Dale Chappell by Dale Chappell A former Illinois state attorney was indicted by a grand jury September 5, 2017, on 17 counts of misconduct and misappropriation of public funds in connection with a special police force he created. Brian Towne …
Curb False Confessions: Provide Suspects With Lawyers by Derek Gilna by Derek Gilna According to the nonprofit National Registry of Exonerations, Cook County, Illinois has a false confession rate three times higher than the national average. In November 2017, Cook County Prosecutor Kim Foxx dropped criminal cases against 15 men …
Seventh Circuit: Capital Case Defendant Denied Pro Se Right Granted Habeas Relief by Christopher Zoukis by Christopher Zoukis The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit granted a state prisoner’s petition for habeas corpus relief because the prisoner was denied his right to proceed pro se at trial, in …
$9.5M Settlement Approved by Chicago City Council for Yet Another Excessive Force Case by Derek Gilna by Derek Gilna The Chicago City Council approved yet another multi-million dollar settlement for excessive force on September 5, 2017, but this time, some members complained about the steep tab. Jose Lopez was rendered …
HRDC v. Baldwin, censorship suit against Illinois DOC, complaint 2018 Case: 1:18-cv-01136 Document #: 1 Filed: 02/13/18 Page 1 of 45 PageID #:1 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENSE CENTER, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) vs. ) ) JOHN BALDWIN, in …
In Historic Move, 15 Cases Related to Crooked Chicago Cop Thrown Out by Christopher Zoukis by Christopher Zoukis Cook County, Illinois Chief Criminal Judge LeRoy Martin tossed the convictions of 15 criminal defendants on November 16, 2017 because the cases were linked to disgraced former Chicago Police Sergeant Ronald Watts. …
Yes, Lawsuits Are Expensive—But So Is Police Misconduct by Antonio Romanucci by Antonio Romanucci Last week, my firm, Romanucci & Blandin, secured the largest verdict ever in a police misconduct lawsuit in Illinois against the city of Chicago — $44.7 million. In an op-ed reacting to the verdict, William Choslovsky …
$44.7 Million Awarded to Man Shot by Intoxicated Chicago Police Officer With Troubled History by Derek Gilna by Derek Gilna On October 27, 2017, a federal jury awarded a record $44.7 million to a man, Michael LaPorta, who was shot by a drunken off-duty Chicago police officer named Michael Kelly. …
Eighth Circuit: Illinois Burglary Conviction Not Valid Predicate Offense for ACCA Purposes by The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit ruled on September 28, 2017 that a generic burglary conviction in Illinois cannot be used as one of the three “violent felonies” necessary to establish violation of …
Yes, Lawsuits Are Expensive--But So Is Police Misconduct by by Antonio Romanucci Last week [October 2017] my firm, Romanucci & Blandin, secured the largest verdict ever in a police misconduct lawsuit in Illinois against the city of Chicago — $44.7 million. In an op-ed reacting to the verdict, William Choslovsky pointed …
Seventh Circuit Upholds Malicious Prosecution and False Arrest Dismissal by Mark Wilson The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit upheld the dismissal of false arrest and malicious prosecution claims of two Illinois men. Jai Crutcher was incarcerated on Illinois offenses from 2002 to 2010. He was released …
$327,500 to 77-Year-Old for Civil Rights Violations by Christopher Zoukis by Christopher Zoukis An elderly Chicago woman was awarded $327,500 in damages for the violation of her civil rights by overzealous and misinformed Chicago police officers. The June 28, 2013 verdict awarded damages for embarrassment and humiliation, injury to reputation …
$1,000,000 Jury Verdict Against Sheriff Who Engaged in Political Retaliation by Christopher Zoukis by Christopher Zoukis A Chicago area jury awarded $1,000,000 to a DuPage County Sheriff's deputy who claimed that she was passed over for a promotion because she didn't support the Sheriff's political campaign. Susan Lakics was a …
$6.375 Million to Exonerated Former Prisoner by Christopher Zoukis By Christopher Zoukis A man who was wrongfully convicted of rape and attempted armed robbery agreed in August 2013 to accept $6.375 million to settle his claim that he was wrongfully convicted and imprisoned for over a decade. Larry Gillard was …
