Civil Rights
Representative Cases:
Freeport Settlement. The firm represented the Freeport African American Ministers for Change ("FAAMUC"), in their efforts to establish equitable treatment for students attending the Freeport School District, #145, in Freeport, Illinois. This matter was settled prior to the case being filed in federal court in 1996, and the settlement period was recently extended from July 2001 to June 2006.
ACLU v. City of Chicago, 561 F. Supp. 537 (N.D. Ill. 1982). This class action suit is one of the leading cases nationally in securing disclosure of and remedy for violations of First Amendment rights through the political intelligence operations of local police and the FBI. Precedent-setting consent decrees were negotiated with the FBI and the City of Chicago which provide far-reaching protection for citizen's rights against investigation or intrusion by law enforcement agencies. The Firm continues to represent the plaintiff class in monitoring and enforcement of the final judgment.
Jaffee v. Redmond, 116 S.Ct. 1923 (1996). This was a civil rights case in which a jury found for the plaintiff, whose decedent had been shot to death by the defendant police officer. The Supreme Court overturned the jury verdict in a landmark decision recognizing a federal psychotherapist-patient privilege. The case was retried in December 1996, and the plaintiff again prevailed.
Washington v. Eagle Food Co. (C.D. Ill. 1995). The firm was counsel for plaintiffs in a class action alleging race discrimination in promotions. The case was settled for back pay and policy reforms within Eagle to encourage and facilitate minority hiring and advancement.