Widow Files Illinois Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against City Colleges of Chicago, Cook County, and Ex-Con for Her Husband’s Murder
In Illinois, Desiree Hendricks has filed a Chicago wrongful death lawsuit against Cook County, City Colleges of Chicago, and ex-con Bennie Teague. Teague has been charged with killing Desiree’s husband Marcus on April 18, 2008.
Marcus owned Hendricks Plumbing & Sewer, a plumbing business on the South Side, and he had hired Teague to work for him as part of a program that assigned ex-offenders to businesses. The program, the “Re-Entry Employment” project, was jointly run by City Colleges of Chicago and Cook County. Teague worked under Marcus for about a year.
Hendricks, 34, was reportedly seated at his desk when Teague, who was no longer employed by him, allegedly entered the plumbing business and shot him in the stomach using an AK-47 rifle. According to witnesses, Teague was seen walking out of the building and placing his gun in a plastic bag. He then engaged in a shootout with a number of police officers.
Desiree maintains that Marcus only knew that Teague had a robbery conviction as a juvenile and was not told about his history of violent crimes. Teague served time in prison for threatening to shoot his girlfriend. He was arrested in the murder of Curtis Gates in 2001 but was acquitted. He was charged with Hendrick’s murder and the attempted murder of police.
Some Reasons Why Someone Might File an Illinois Wrongful Death Claim:
• Negligent driving
• Medical malpractice
• Inadequate security
• Failure to exercise a certain duty of care
• Products liability
• Murder
• Train accident
• Work accident
• Exposure to hazardous substances
• Hazards on a premise
• Nursing home abuse or neglect
• Police brutality
• Construction accident death
Work program sued by victim's widow, Chicago Sun-Times, April 18, 2009
29 people shot over weekend, at least 6 killed, ABC Local, April 20, 2009
Related Web Resources:
Wrongful Death Overview, Justia
Wrongful Death Act, Illinois General Assembly
