Total Injury

Allegations of police brutality have been making headlines recently, and The Injury Blog is here to keep you updated. Seven people claimed police brutality against the Chicago and Calumet Park police departments last week on the same day that the nearby village of Villa Park settled a similar personal injury lawsuit.

• On March 8^th, Chicago personal injury attorney Eugene Pincham filed civil complaints on behalf of seven people who claimed they were mistreated by police officers on August 6, 2006. Pincham alleged in an ABC7Chicago.com story that the Chicago Police Department arrested two minors in the front of their home as part of a drug investigation that day. When the family dog came out of the house, one of the officers shot  at it, with a stray bullet hitting an innocent bystander, neighbor Gwendolyn White.

Plaintiff Dwayne Spencer alleged that he ran into his house to tell his parents that the police were arresting his brother when things allegedly got out of hand. His mother and respective plaintiff, Danielle Spencer, said that police came in the house and violated the rights of herself and children, whom she added were traumatized by the incident. Pincham is also representing 23-year-old William Snodey, who alleged he was half a block away at the time when police officers approached him. Snodey claimed that he thought the officers were gang members and ran away out of fear before being shot in the back of the leg and apprehended.

Monique Bond, a spokesman for the Chicago Police Department, did not comment on the pending litigation but added that the allegations are being taken seriously. She said that an internal investigation into the matter has been launched and that disciplinary action has been recommended.

• The very same day that Pincham filed civil complaints, the village of Villa Park reached an undisclosed settlement with 36-year-old Jason Zubov, according to a Daily Herald story. After being arrested on August 24, 2003 on charges of aggravated assault and resisting or obstructing a police officer, Zubov alleged that he was hit several times without justification by officer David Subject at the village’s police station. Two other officers were named in the personal injury suit, which also included Deputy Chief Mark Johnson and the village as defendants. The village denied all allegations of abuse at the time.

Attorney Arthur Loevy said he was satisfied with the undisclosed settlement for his client, who was acquitted on all charges in regard to a physical confrontation with Subject according to the lawsuit. Subject and the two officers in question remain on the Villa Park police force. Deputy Chief Johnson refused comment on the settlement.