Chicago Police Misconduct Lawyer | Police Brutality Attorneys

POLICE USE OF FORCE POLICIES

CURRENTLY LACK BASIC PROTECTIONS AGAINST POLICE VIOLENCE

Failing to require officers to de-escalate situations,

where possible, by communicating with subjects, maintaining distance, and otherwise eliminating the need to use force

Allowing officers to choke or strangle civilians,

in many cases where less lethal force could be used instead, resulting in the unnecessary death or serious injury of civilians

Failing to require officers to intervene and stop excessive force

used by other officers and report these incidents immediately to a supervisor

Failing to restrict officers from shooting at moving vehicles,

which is regarded as a particularly dangerous and ineffective tactic

Failing to develop a Force Continuum

that limits the types of force and/or weapons that can be used to respond to specific types of resistance

Failing to require officers to exhaust all other reasonable means

before resorting to deadly force

Failing to require officers to give a verbal warning,

when possible, before shooting at a civilian

Failing to require officers to report each time they use force or threaten to use force

against civilians

Source: useofforce.org

Understanding Police Misconduct

Police misconduct includes a range of behaviors, such as:

Excessive force use
False arrest
Wrongful imprisonment
Racial profiling
Other violations of individuals’ constitutional rights

Of course, misconduct harms the immediate victims. However, many fail to consider how improper behavior by Chicago police can impact the whole community, eroding public trust in law enforcement agencies.

The Impact of Police Misconduct

Depending on the type of misconduct, victims may suffer physical injuries, emotional trauma, reputational damage, or even death.

Communities may experience heightened tensions and diminished trust in law enforcement. If misconduct is specific to a particular community, it can divide communities.

These challenges make it increasingly difficult to maintain public safety and put people at risk. Targeted communities may be reluctant to call the police in emergencies.

Addressing instances of improper conduct—ideally with the help of an attorney—is crucial to ensuring justice for victims and restoring community confidence in Chicago law enforcement.

Legal Solutions

Victims of police misconduct can file civil lawsuits against offending officers and their employing agencies. These lawsuits aim to hold wrongdoers accountable and secure compensation for the victim’s injuries.

Indirect goals include deterring other law enforcement officers from engaging in misconduct and promoting systemic reforms within law enforcement agencies.

Challenges in Pursuing Justice

Victims of police misconduct in Chicago may encounter unfavorable legal conditions. They may face obstacles such as qualified immunity, a legal doctrine that can shield officers from liability in certain circumstances.

Institutional biases and a lack of transparency may complicate the legal process. Even community members can be an obstacle, as some believe law enforcement officers are above the law.

Having experienced legal representation is essential to navigating these complexities effectively.

Kaveny + Kroll’s Commitment

One of our passions at Kaveny + Kroll is advocating for victims of police misconduct. Understanding the sensitive nature of these cases allows us to provide compassionate support to our clients throughout the legal process.

Our approach involves thoroughly investigating each Chicago police misconduct case, gathering compelling evidence, and leveraging our legal knowledge and experience to build strong arguments.

Steps To Take if You Are a Victim

If you have been a victim of police misconduct in Chicago, you can take the following steps to safeguard yourself.

Document the Incident

Record all event details, including dates, times, locations, and the identities of the officers involved.

Seek Medical Attention

If you have sustained injuries, seek medical care immediately and keep records of all treatments.

Gather Evidence

Collect any available evidence, such as photographs, videos, and witness statements.

Enlist the Help of a Chicago Police Misconduct Attorney

If you or someone you love has suffered due to police abuse of power, don’t face the system alone. A Chicago police misconduct lawyer at Kaveny + Kroll can help you hold officers accountable and fight for the justice and compensation you deserve.

CASE STUDIES

Click through the tabs below to learn about a few of our cases involving POLICE MISCONDUCT.

$32M

Recovery for an 8-year-old girl whose four-limbs were amputated after a delay in the diagnosis and treatment of an infection, leading to severe septic shock.

$16M

Recovery for wrongful death of a husband and father of three due to undiagnosed aortic dissection in emergency department 2 days earlier.

$12M

Recovery for a 37-year-old man who suffered the partial amputation of both of his legs and one of his arms after a hospital failed to give him antibiotics for a serious infection (Featured in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin).

$10M

Recovery for a brain-injured newborn after doctors failed to timely deliver the baby by cesarean section.

$9M

Verdict for the wrongful death of a 40-year-old wife and mother of six children and her unborn seventh child after she suffered respiratory arrest due to pneumonia while in the hospital.

$7.5M

Recovery for an infant who suffered brain damage and developed cerebral palsy due to a delayed cesarean section after indications that the baby was not tolerating the labor well.

$15.504M

Recovery for the wrongful death of a 64-year-old man and the debilitating injuries of a 62-year-old woman—both from southern Illinois—arising from a multi-vehicle pile-up on a highway in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

$7M

Verdict for the wrongful death of a 25-year-old helmet-wearing cyclist who was struck and killed by a truck.

$6.5M

Recovery for a 55-year-old Chinese immigrant whose leg was crushed by a Chicago Transit Authority bus making too-tight-a-turn at a downtown intersection. The 55-year-old woman was within the crosswalk at the time of the Chicago accident.

$15M

Recovery for a 34-year old property adjuster in Dallas, Texas, left severely burned after being electrocuted by a dangerously-low-hanging electrical wire on a roof, about which the company had received complaints but failed to correct.

$3M

Recovery for three college students killed in an apartment fire when one fell asleep smoking. Apartment did not have working smoke detectors at the time.

$2.6M

Recovery for the wrongful death of a 24-year-old truck driver who was killed in an Adams County heptane gas explosion, leaving behind a wife and a 3-year-old daughter.

$5.25M

Recovery for a 29-year-old who suffered skull fractures, a traumatic brain injury, an 18-day coma, and partial quadriplegia after his pickup was broadsided by another vehicle, which was attempting to flee from a reckless and unnecessary police chase involving a minor traffic infraction (Featured in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin).

$5M

Verdict resulting from an improper police chase. Fleeing suspect hit car driving through an intersection with mother in front seat and minor daughter in rear. Mother was killed. Entire accident was caught on a nearby CTA bus videocam (Featured in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin).

$1.579M

Verdict for a 58-year-old public school principal whose reputation was damaged after she was wrongfully arrested, wrongfully charged, and wrongfully prosecuted following a fight involving six students at her school in which she merely called 9-1-1.

$148M

Verdict for a paralyzed 24-year-old female injured at O’Hare International Airport (highest compensatory verdict awarded to an individual in Illinois, and top five in U.S., excluding punitive damages).

$15M

$12.5M

Recovery for a Rolling Meadows high school football player who became a quadriplegic after he was tackled by a teammate into an unpadded, 25 foot-high steel post located 11.5 feet from the sideline of the school’s practice field.

$15.2M

Verdict for a 33-year-old veteran forced to undergo seven surgeries after his left foot was degloved when it was run over by a forklift while working at an international technology show at McCormick Place.

$15M

$4.75M

Recovery for a 42-year-old Chicago construction worker whose leg was shattered when he fell 20 feet after the steel beam on which he was working collapsed.

Currently seeking recovery on behalf of clients who have filed lawsuits against Abbott Laboratories, Inc. (“Abbott”), Mead Johnson & Company and Mead Johnson Nutrition Company (“Mead Johnson”). Babies born to these plaintiffs developed necrotizing enterocolitis (“NEC”) after they were fed infant formula manufactured by Abbott or Mead Johnson. NEC is a serious gastrointestinal problem that mostly affects premature babies and can lead to permanent injury or death.

Received financial compensation for the families of plaintiffs who were prescribed the pain medication Vioxx manufactured by Merck. The drug was found to cause heart attacks and strokes and has subsequently been withdrawn from the marketplace.

Verdict obtained on behalf of homeowners who lived near the Sterigenics facility and contracted various forms of cancer as a result of ethylene oxide (“EtO”) emissions into the environment by Sterigenics and its parent company, Sotera Health.

$148M

$6.5M

$5M

Recovery for a 31-year-old woman who suffered permanent brain damage after she was struck by public transit bus while jogging.

$4M

Verdict against school district for sex abuse of two minor children by gym teacher off school grounds.

Pending Case

Kaveny + Kroll has filed suit against Northwestern University due to its failure to protect a student who was knowingly experiencing suicidal ideation and planning. The student jumped from a fourth story window and suffered two punctured lungs, multiple broken ribs, damage to internal organs, and traumatic brain injury. The case remains pending.

Understanding Police Misconduct

The Impact of Police Misconduct

Legal Solutions

Challenges in Pursuing Justice

Kaveny + Kroll’s Commitment

Steps To Take if You Are a Victim

Document the Incident

Seek Medical Attention

Gather Evidence

Enlist the Help of a Chicago Police Misconduct Attorney

CASE STUDIES

We are on your side and have experience in all types of situations concerning police officer misconduct.