Recent Verdicts, Settlements, and Decisions

Publication: Cook County Jury Verdict Reporter Published: 12/4/1998

CIVIL RIGHTS--JAIL SUICIDE--JURY FINDS OFFICER DELIBERATELY INDIFFERENT

(QQ 9/1) Estate of Natiera Cunningham, deceased, Peggy Cunningham v Mark Tkadletz, Erica Sandahl, Correctional Medical Services of Illinois Inc., Laarni Dazal 97C-1109 Tried: Oct. 20-23, 1998 (14)

Verdict: $1,350,000: $100,000 to Natiera v Tkadletz (for loss of life under Section 1983); $500,000 comp., $750,000 punitive to Peggy v Tkadletz (the jury found, in answer to a special interrogatory, that Tkadletz knew of and disregarded the risk that Natiera would commit suicide); Directed Not Guilty to Peggy v Sandahl at the close of pltf’s case. CMS and Dazal settled out pretrial for an undisclosed sum. An appeal is pending.

Judge: David H. Coar (USDC IL NE)

Publication: Cook County Jury Verdict Reporter Published: 3/4/2005

CIVIL RIGHTS--SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF FEMALE MAINTENANCE WORKER

(WW 21/2) Neshawn Moore v Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
02C-4040 Tried: Jan. 18-27, 2005 (14)

Verdict: $885,000 ($60,000 actual damages/future medical expenses; $825,000 compensatory damages)

Judge: Magis. Nan R. Nolan (USDC IL NE)

Publication: Cook County Jury Verdict Reporter Published: 11/18/2011

(DDD 5/1)  CIVIL RIGHTS--FAMILY SCUFFLE WITH COPS CAUSED SENIOR'S HEART ATTACK/STROKE (14)

Dolores Delarosa v Officer Jorge Cerda , City of Chicago 07L-3198 Tried Oct. 3-14, 2011

Verdict: $1,375,000 v both defts ($1,000,000 past and future medical expenses; $175,000 pain & suffering;
$200,000 loss of normal life; $0 disfigurement; $0 emotional distress). Special Interrogatories: With regard to Count I, the battery claim, was the conduct of Officer Jorge Cerda willful and wanton? "No." With regard to Count III, the malicious prosecution claim, did Officer Jorge Cerda purposefully instigate the filing of the criminal complaint against the plaintiff for some reason other than to bring the plaintiff to justice? "Yes." With regard to Count IV, the intentional infliction of emotional distress claim, was Officer Jorge Cerda's conduct beyond all possible bounds of decency and intolerable in the civilized community? "No." With regard to Count II, the false arrest claim, was the conduct of Officer Jorge Cerda willful and wanton? "Yes."

Judge: Susan Ruscitti Grussel (IL Cook-Law)

Publication: Cook County Jury Verdict Reporter Published: 3/12/2010

(BBB 22/5) CIVIL RIGHTS--FATAL SHOOTING BY OFF-DUTY COP IN RESTAURANT PARKING LOT  (14)

Estate of Blue Sexton, deceased v Estate of Dominick Doris, deceased, City of Chicago 05C-3283 Tried Jan. 11-15, 2010

Verdict: $348,000 v both defts ($315,000 excessive force/wrongful death; $33,000 survival claim).

Judge: James B. Zagel (USDC IL NE)