$100 Million Chicago Injury Lawsuit Accuses Police of Mishandling Mentally Ill Suspect
Nearly four years after 21-year-old Christina Eilman sustained a permanent traumatic brain injury after falling from the seventh floor of a public housing building, her family’s $100 million Chicago personal injury lawsuit against the city is scheduled to go to trial in March.
Eilman, who is mentally ill, was taken into police custody after she spent two days at Midway Airport where witnesses say she ranted, made lewd statements, and yelled at people. According to the Chicago Tribune, recent court filings indicate that police officers did not take her to the hospital for a mental health evaluation because a car wasn’t available. Instead, they placed her in lockup. She was in a holding cell for over 24 hours.
Over the phone, Eilman’s parents, who live in California, reportedly told police that their daughter was “probably bipolar." Even though Chicago police policy requires that mentally ill patients who are detained be taken to a hospital for an assessment, the young woman was allegedly yelled at in lockup, told to “shut up,” and called a “white bitch” by black police officers.
Upon her release from jail, police dropped Eilman off in a high-crime neighborhood where she wandered around by herself. She entered a public housing building on federal street where several men propositioned her. In one apartment, convicted felon and gang member Marvin Powell approached her, made sexual taunts and wouldn’t let her leave. He shut the door and allegedly sexually assaulted Eilman, who then fell seven stories and sustained permanent brain damage, shattered her pelvis, and broke several bones. She is impaired for life, will not progress behind her current childlike state, cannot live alone, and will always require ongoing medical care and therapy.
Chicago Personal Injury
The city of Chicago and its police force can be held liable for negligence if the failure to to follow procedures, police brutality, or another type of violation causes injury or death to the victim.
New revelations in woman's ordeal, Chicago Tribune, January 5, 2010
Survivor Of 7-Story Fall Released From Hospital, CBS2Chicago, October 15, 2009
Related Web Resources:
Chicago police department
The Robert Taylor Homes, Bradley.edu
