Chicago Injury Attorney Blog

The Cook County police brutality filed against the city of Des Plaines and 11 of its police force members filed by the mother of Krzysztof Kaczor has been moved to federal court. The 24-year-old’s mother, Elmwood Park resident Danuta Kaczor, is seeking damages for his Des Plaines wrongful death. The request to move the case to the US District Court was made by the city.

Kazcor died on December 21, 2010 after he was shot four times by police. While police say that he had threatened a cop with a long-handled ax, his mother’s Cook County wrongful death lawyer contends that her son did not pose an imminent threat and police shouldn’t have fatally shot him. Kazcor, who spoke limited English, may not have fully understood the police’s order to drop the ax.

Illinois Civil Rights Violations
Violation of a person's civil rights can be grounds for a Chicago personal injury lawsuit. Unfortunately, many victims don’t realize that they are even entitled to file a claim seeking damages. Even if charges are not filed against police, you may still be able to obtain financial compensation for the harm or injuries suffered.

Recently, the family of New Lenox 20-year-old Jessica Mejia filed a civil lawsuit against the Cook County sheriff’s department because officers allegedly removed the clothes off her dead body and took photographs of her at a crash site. Mejia died in a Chicago car accident on December 31, 2009.

The family is contending that not only did police fail to follow county medical examiner’s office guidelines, but also, they behaved without medical justification when they took the nude photos of Jessica in front of onlookers. They are seeking over $200,000 for distress suffered.

Wrongful death suit against Des Plaines cops moves to federal court, Daily Herald, January 9, 2011

Police deny claim nude pictures were taken, The Herald-News, January 4, 2011

Related Web Resources:
City of Des Plaines, Illinois

Chicago Police Brutality and Civil Rights Violations, Chicago Injury Attorney