CHICAGO, Feb. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- In a 17-page Order dated January 26, 2009, United States District Court Judge, Ruben Castillo, reduced a jury verdict against the City of Chicago and three Chicago police officers from $7.9 million to $1.9 million.
The plaintiff, Rachelle Jackson, had sued claiming she was falsely arrested and detained for attempting to disarm a Chicago police officer. Ms. Jackson was arrested on November 19, 2002 for attempting to disarm Chicago police officer Kelly Brogan after Brogan's squad car was involved in a serious automobile accident. Ms. Jackson admitted to pulling Officer Brogan out of the squad car and placing her in a "full nelson" hold but added that she was trying to rescue Officer Brogan, not disarm her.
Ms. Jackson spent 10 months in jail before her criminal charges were ultimately dismissed at trial. Ms. Jackson then filed a civil suit against the Chicago police officers involved in her arrest. Following a nine-day jury trial, the jury awarded Ms. Jackson $7.9 million on her various claims.
In granting the defendant's motion for remittitur, Judge Castillo agreed that the jury's damage award was "monstrously excessive," not rationally related to the evidence presented, and out of range with awards in similar cases. Judge Castillo noted that "[t]here was no evidence that Plaintiff requires professional treatment for mental or emotional distress (other than her alcohol treatment), nor was there any evidence of lost wages, medical expenses, or other out-of-pocket losses. Based on the evidence, an award of $7.9 million in compensatory damages was grossly excessive."
Judge Castillo reduced the plaintiff's compensatory damages to $1.9 million. Ms. Jackson has since rejected the $1.9 million and will try her luck again with a jury. The damages trial is March 11, 2009. The defendants are represented by Andrew Hale, Avi Kamionski and Ebone Liggins of the law firm Andrew M. Hale & Associates, LLC.
About Andrew M. Hale & Associates
Andrew M. Hale & Associates specializes in the defense of civil rights lawsuits brought against municipalities and police officers. The firm's principal attorneys are Andrew M. Hale and Avi T. Kamionski. The firm maintains two blogs dedicated to civil rights and the defense of police officers in wrongful conviction cases: www.civilrightsdefenseblog.com and www.dontblamethecops.com.
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Contact: Andrew M. Hale, 312-341-9646, ahale@ahalelaw.com
SOURCE Andrew M. Hale & Associates
