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INTHEUNITEDSTATESDISTRICTCOURT
NORTHERNDISTRICTOFILLINOIS,EASTERNDIVISION
GEORGEROBERTS, ) HON.
Plaintiff, ) HON.
)
v. ) No. 15-cv-8049
) CITYOFCHICAGO, ) CHICAGOPOLICEOFFICERS ) R.ADAMS(Star#11786), ) T.HALL(Star#5575), ) P.CORSO(Star#12158), ) B.ELLISON(Star#12599), ) M.MURPHY(Star#15504),and ) E.MARTINEZ(Star#17750),and ) UNKNOWNPOLICEOFFICER, )
Defendants. ) JuryTrialDemanded
Complaint
NOWCOMESPlaintiff,GEORGEROBERTS(“Roberts”or“Plaintiff”), by
hisattorney,TimothyJ.Fiscella,andcomplaining ofDefendants, CITYOF CHICAGO, CHICAGO POLICE OFFICERS R. ADAMS (Star #11786) (“Defendant Adams”or“OfficerAdams”),T.HALL(Star#5575)(“Defendant Hall”or“OfficerHall”),P.CORSO(Star#12158)(“Defendant Corso”or“Officer Corso”),B.ELLISON (Star#12599)(“DefendantEllison”or“OfficerEllison”), M. MURPHY(Star#15504)(“Defendant Murphy”or“OfficerMurphy”),E. MARTINEZ(Star#17750) (“DefendantMartinez”or“Officer Martinez”),andan
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UNKNOWNCHICAGOPOLICEOFFICER(“referredtoas“Unknown Officer”)
(referredto collectivelyas“DefendantOfficers”),andstatesasfollows:
Introduction
1.This actionisbrought pursuant to42U.S.C.§1983toredress the deprivationunder color of law of Plaintiff’srights as securedby the UnitedStatesConstitution.
JurisdictionandVenue
2. ThisCourthasjurisdictionoftheactionpursuantto28U.S.C. §§1331and
1343(a), the Constitution of the United States, and this Court’s supplementaljurisdictionpowers.
3. Venueisproperunder28U.S.C. §1391(b). Oninformationandbelief,all parties resideinthisjudicialdistrict, andtheevents giving risetothe claimsassertedhereinoccurredwithindistrict.
Parties
4. Plaintiff,George Roberts, is51yearsold. Heisandhasbeenatalltimes relevanttothisComplaintemployedbytheIndependent PoliceReview Authority(“IPRA”)as a SupervisingInvestigator.He is a residentof Chicago,Illinois,withintheNorthernDistrictofIllinois,EasternDivision.
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5. Oninformationandbelief,allDefendantOfficers areandwereatthetime
oftheeventscomplainedofhereinemployedbytheCityofChicagoas
PoliceOfficers.
6. CityofChicagoisamunicipalcorporationwithintheNorthern Districtof
Illinois.
7. At alltimesmaterialtothisComplaint,the DefendantOfficerswereacting undercolorofstatelaw,ordinance, and/orregulation, statutes,custom, andusageofCityofChicago.
Background
8. OnJanuary1st,2015 around1:30a.m. Plaintiffwas on hiswayhome when stoppedbyDefendants foraminortrafficviolationnear1500East85th Place,Chicago,Illinois.
9. Defendants approached Plaintiff’svehiclewiththeirgunsdrawnandat leastoneofficerhadhisweaponpointeddirectlyat Plaintiff.
10.Plaintiff exitedhisvehicleasorderedandwasthenpushedinthebackby oneormoreoftheDefendants.
11.Plaintiffstruckthegroundcausing injuriestohislegsandknees.
12.One of the Defendants, believed to be Defendant Corso, threatened
Plaintiff:“Don’tmakemefuckingshootyou!”
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13.Theaforementionedconductwaswhollyunnecessaryandunreasonable,
asPlaintiffwasnotthreatening,resisting,orotherwisefailingtocomply withtheDefendants’ordersatthispointoratanypointduringthestop.
14.DefendantswentthroughPlaintiff’spocketsandlocatedhiswalletwhich
contained his driver’s license and his identification as a supervising investigatorwithIPRA.
15.Momentslater,DefendantEllisonranbacktohisvehicleandturnedoff hisvehicle’svideorecordingequipment.
16.Up to that point, the video recording device had been properly functioningwithdateandtimestampsclearlyvisible.
17.Additionally,atleasttwooftheDefendants’vehicleswereequipped with audiorecordingdevices.
18.However,accordingtotheDefendants,thereapparentlyisalsonoaudio recordingofanyportionoftheencounter.
19.Noexplanationwasofferedforthisthroughoutthecriminalproceedings orinanyofthereportsgeneratedbytheDefendants.
20.WhentheDefendantsturnedoffthedashcamera,thingsgotworsefor
Plaintiff.
21.Initially,Plaintiff,who wasapproximately315poundsatthetime,was placedinasinglesetofhandcuffsthatwereclearlytootight.
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22.PlaintiffpleadedwithDefendants toloosenthehandcuffs orusemultiple
pairsbecauseofhissize.
23.TheDefendantsrefusedandthenputPlaintiffinthebackofapolice vehicle.
24.While inside the squad car, Plaintiff noticed that the handcuffs kept gettingtighterwhenhemovedevenslightly.
25.WhenPlaintiffagaincomplainedabouttheextremediscomforthewas feelingduetothecontinually tighteninghandcuffs, oneofDefendants, believedto be DefendantAdams,leanedintothesquadcar andsaid something totheeffectof:“What areyougoingtotellmenext,youcan’t breathe?”
26.PlaintiffcontinuedtopleadwiththeDefendantstoloosenthehandcuffs frominsidethesquadcarwithnoresults.
27.Specifically,PlaintiffbeggedDefendants,“I’m6’3”,315pounds,these handcuffsaretootight!”
28.Defendant,believedtobeOfficerAdams,replied:“That’syourfault!”
29.TheotherDefendantslaughedat DefendantAdams’commentandtook noactiontoloosenoradjustthehandcuffs.
30.Eventually, Defendants, apparently annoyed by Plaintiff’s numerous complaintsofdiscomfort,removedhimfromthesquadcar.
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31.Plaintiff wasthentakentothegroundagainsoviolentlyhelostcontrolof
hisbowels.
32.HewaseventuallytakenbacktotheDistrict4lockupwhereheremained in hissoiledclothesovernight.
33.Whileinthecellinhissoiledclothes,Plaintiffaskednumeroustimesto speaktoasupervisortoreporttheDefendants misconduct, theinjuries theyhadcausedhim,andtomakenecessarynotificationsofhisarrest.
34.HewasneverallowedtospeakasupervisororreporttheDefendants’
misconduct.
35.However,atonepointduringthenight,anUnknownChicagoPolice Officer,believed tobeasupervisorandwearingawhiteChicagoPolice uniform shirt,didlookintoPlaintiff’s cell,laughathim,andthenwalk away.
36.Plaintiff was eventually given tickets for multiples minor moving violationsanda chargeofdrivingunderthe influence.
37.The ticketsissued toPlaintiffhadaboxtoindicate whethertheincident(s)
werevideorecorded.
38.The Defendantsdid not indicate that there was video on any of the citationsissuedtoPlaintiffdespitethefactthatasignificantportionof
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Plaintiff’sdrivingisactuallycapturedonthedashboardcamerabeforeit
wasturnedoff.
39.Similarly,theDefendants’alsocheckedthe“No”boxwhenaskedifthe incidentwasvideorecordedontheAlcoholInfluenceReport.
40.TheDefendantsnever told theprosecutionabout thevideo orthefactthat they had turned it off until it was discovered by Plaintiff’s criminal counsel.
41.FollowingabenchtrialintheCircuitCourtofCookCounty,Plaintiffwas acquittedofDUI.
CountI
42U.S.C.§1983:FalseArrest
42.Each of the paragraphs of this Complaint is incorporated as if fully restatedherein.
43.As described in the preceding paragraphs, the Defendant Officers unlawfully detained and falsely arrested Plaintiff without legal justificationorprobablecause.
44.Defendant OfficersknewthatPlaintiff hadnotcommittedanycrimesand stillcontinuedtoeffectuatethearrest,detention,andprosecution of Plaintiffforthecharge.
45.ThemisconductdescribedinthisCountwasundertakenwith malice, willfulness,andrecklessindifferencetotherightsofPlaintiff.
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46.ThemisconductdescribedinthisCountwasobjectivelyunreasonableand
wasundertaken intentionally withwillfulindifference toPlaintiff’s constitutional rights,specificallytheFourthandFourteenthAmendments totheUnitedStatesConstitution,andhence42U.S.C.§1983.
47.As a result of the unjustified violation of Plaintiff’s rights by the Defendant Officers,Plaintiffhassufferedinjury,includingemotional distress.
CountII
42U.S.C.§1983:ExcessiveForce
48.Each of the paragraphs of this Complaint is incorporated as if fully restatedherein
49.AsaresultoftheDefendantOfficers’unjustifiedandexcessiveuseof force,Plaintiffsufferedpainandinjury,aswellasemotionaldistress.
50.This conductviolatedthe Fourthand FourteenthAmendmentsto the
UnitedStatesConstitution,andhence42U.S.C.§1983.
51.ThemisconductdescribedinthisCountwasobjectivelyunreasonableand wasundertaken intentionally withmalice,willfulness,andreckless indifferenceto Plaintiff’sconstitutionalrights.
52.TheaforementionedactionsoftheDefendantOfficerswerethedirectand proximatecause oftheconstitutionalviolations,and theattendantinjuries resultingtherefrom,asset forthabove.
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53.AsaresultoftheDefendantOfficers’unjustifiedandexcessiveuseof
forcePlaintiffhas,asadirectandproximatecause,sufferedpainand injury,includingemotionaldistress.
CountIII
42U.S.C.§1983:DueProcess/BradyViolation
54.Each of the paragraphs of this Complaint is incorporated as if fully restatedherein.
55.Defendantsdeliberatelydestroyed,hid,and/orpreventedthecreationof impeachingandexculpatoryevidence.Specifically,Defendants:
a. Turnedoffthevideorecordingequipmentas referencedabove;
b. Failedtoaudiorecordanypartoftheirencounter withPlaintiff despitebeingequippedwithsuchdevices;
c. GeneratedanAlcoholInfluenceReportwhich falselyindicatedthat the incidentwasnotvideorecorded;
d. Generated citations which omitted the fact that a substantial portion ofPlaintiff’s drivingandtheinitial partoftheencounter is capturedonvideo;and
e. Testifiedfalselyathearingsthroughoutthecriminalproceedings regardingtheaforementionedmatters.
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56.Inthemannerdescribedabove,DefendantOfficersdeprivedPlaintiffof
DueProcessinviolationofthe5thand14thAmendmentstotheUnited
StatesConstitution.
57.DefendantOfficers’actionssetforthaboveweresoarbitraryastoshock theconscience.
58.SuchviolationsofPlaintiff’srightswereundertakenintentionally,with maliceandwillfulindifferenceto Plaintiff’srights.
59.As a result of the above-described wrongful conduct, Plaintiff has sufferedpainandinjury,aswellasemotionaldistress.
60.The misconduct alleged in this Count was undertaken while the
DefendantOfficerswereactingwithinthescopeoftheiremployment.
61.ThemisconductdescribedinthisCountwasundertakenwithmalice, willfulness,andrecklessindifferencetotherightsofothers.
CountIV
StateLawClaim:FalseImprisonment
62.Each of the paragraphs of this Complaint is incorporated as if fully restatedherein.
63.PlaintiffwasimprisonedbytheDefendantOfficers,andtherebyhadhis
liberty to move about unlawfully restrained, despite the Defendant
Officers’knowledgethattherewasnoprobablecausefordoingso.
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64.TheactionsoftheDefendant Officerswereundertaken intentionally,with
maliceandrecklessindifferenceto Plaintiff’srights.
65.AsaresultofthewrongfulinfringementofPlaintiff’srights,Plaintiffhas, as a direct and proximatecause, suffered injury, including emotional distress.
66.As described above, the Defendant Officers’ conduct was undertaken withinthescopeoftheiremployment suchthattheiremployer,Cityof Chicagoisliablefortheiractions.
CountV
42U.S.C.§1983:ConspiracytoCommitConstitutionalViolations
67.Each of the paragraphs of this Complaint is incorporated as if fully restatedherein.
68.Asdiscussedingreaterdetailabove,theDefendantOfficersconspired witheachotherto causedamagetothePlaintiffby:
a. Agreeingnottoreporteachotherafterwitnessingand/orusing excessiveforcerelativetothePlaintiff;
b. Agreeingnot to generatereportsdocumentingtheir conductto cover-uptheirownandeachother’smisconduct;
c. Agreeingtogeneratereportsandotherdocumentswhichomitted materialfactsrelatingtothearrestandcontainingpatentfalsities;
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d. Agreeingto testify falsely throughoutthecriminalproceedings;
and
e. Agreeingtohide,destroy,and/orpreventthecreationofevidence of the Constitutionalviolationsdescribedaboveand, including, stoppingthevideocamerarecordingequipment duringthestop; turningoff/disablingallaudiorecordingequipment;andagreeing togenerate reportswhichfalselyindicatedthatnovideorecording existed inorderto coveruptheabovementionedmisconduct.
69.TheaforementionedactionsoftheDefendantOfficerswerethedirectand proximate causeoftheviolations oftheUnitedStatesConstitution discussedabove,andthe attendantinjuryandemotionaldistressresulting therefrom.
CountVI
42U.S.C.§1983:FailuretoIntervene
70.Each of the paragraphs of this Complaint is incorporated as if fully restatedherein.
71.Asdescribedmorefullyabove,oneormoreoftheDefendantshada reasonable opportunity to prevent the violations of Plaintiff’s constitutionalrightsasset forthabove.
72.As a result of the Defendant Officers’ failure to intervene, Plaintiff sufferedpainandinjury,aswellasemotionaldistress.
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73.TheDefendants’actionswereundertakenintentionallywithmaliceand
recklessindifferenceto Plaintiff’srights.
74.Themisconductdescribedin thisCountwasundertakenby the Defendant Officerswithinthescopeoftheiremploymentandundercoloroflaw.CountVII
StateLawClaim:MaliciousProsecution
75.Each of the paragraphs of this Complaint is incorporated as if fully restatedherein.
76.As described more fully above, the Defendant Officers commenced, causedtobecommenced,and/orcontinuedacriminalproceedingagainst PlaintiffforwhichDefendant Officersknewtherewasnoprobablecause, andthecriminalproceeding terminatedinPlaintiff’sfavorinamanner indicativeofinnocence.
77.The Defendant Officers’ actions were undertaken intentionally, with maliceandrecklessindifferencetotherightsofothers—specifically, the Plaintiff’s.
78.The DefendantOfficers accused Plaintiff of criminal activity knowing thoseaccusationstobewithoutprobablecause,andtheymadewritten andotherstatements withtheintentofexertinginfluencetoinstituteand continuejudicialproceedings.
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79.Statementsand reports of the DefendantOfficersregardingPlaintiff’s
alleged criminal culpability were made with knowledge that the statementswerefalse.
80.AsaresultoftheDefendantOfficers’maliciousprosecution,Plaintiffhas
suffered,as a directandproximatecause,injury,includingemotional distress.
CountVIII
StateLawClaim:AssaultandBattery
81.Each of the paragraphs of this Complaint is incorporated as if fully restatedherein.
82.Asdescribedmorefullyintheprecedingparagraphs,Defendants’used
unnecessary and unreasonable force against Plaintiff, which included harmfulandoffensivetouching.
83.At that time, Plaintiff had a reasonableapprehensionthat he was in considerabledangerandwouldbesubjectedto greatbodilyharm.
84.ThemisconductdescribedinthisCountwasundertakenwith malice,
willfulness,andrecklessindifferencetotherightsofothers—specifically, thePlaintiff.
85.Asdescribedintheprecedingparagraphs,theconductoftheDefendant
Officers, acting under color of law and within the scope of their
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employment, was undertaken willfully and wantonly, proximately
causingPlaintiff’sinjuries.
CountIX
StateLawClaim:IntentionalInflictionofEmotionalDistress
86.Each of the paragraphs of this Complaint is incorporated as if fully restatedherein.
87.Inthemannerdescribedmorefullyabove,theDefendantsengagedin extremeandoutrageousconduct,including,butnotlimitedto:
a. ThreateningtoshootortasePlaintiffwhilepointingweaponsat himwithoutanyreasonablejustification;
b. Puttinghiminextremelytighthandcuffsthatwerenotproperly
lockedsothattheycontinuallygottighterandcausedmoreand morepainanddiscomfort;
c. RefusednumerousrequestsbyPlaintifftoloosenthemorusetwo setsofhandcuffs;
d. HeldPlaintiffincustodyforseveralhoursinsoiledpantswhileat
leastoneunknownofficerwalkedbyhiscellandlaughed.
88.The Defendantsintendedthattheir conductwouldcausesevereemotional distresstothePlaintiffandknewthattherewasahighprobability that theirconductwouldcausesevereemotionaldistresstothePlaintiff.
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89.ThemisconductdescribedinthisCountwasundertakenwith malice,
willfulness,andrecklessindifferencetotherightsofothers.
90.As a proximate result of this misconduct, Plaintiff suffered injuries, includingbutnotlimitedto severeemotionaldistress.
CountX
StateLawClaim:RespondeatSuperior
91.Each of the paragraphs of this Complaint is incorporated as if fully restatedherein.
92.Incommittingthe actsallegedin the precedingparagraphs,the Defendant OfficerswereactingasmembersandagentsoftheCityofChicagoacting atallrelevanttimeswithinthescopeoftheiremployment.
93.DefendantCityofChicagoisliableasprincipalforalltortscommittedby itsagentswhenactingasitsagent.
CountXI
StateLawClaim:Indemnification
94.Each of the paragraphs of this Complaint is incorporated as if fully restatedherein.
95.Illinois law provides that public entities are directed to pay any tort judgment for compensatory damages for which employees are liable withinthescopeoftheiremploymentactivities.
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96.TheDefendantOfficersareemployeesoftheChicagoPoliceDepartment,
who acted within the scope of their employment in committing the misconductdescribedherein.
WHEREFORE,Plaintiff,GEORGEROBERTS,respectfullyrequestthatthis
Courtenter judgment inhisfavorandagainstDefendants, CITYOF CHICAGO, andCHICAGOPOLICEOFFICERSR.ADAMS(Star#11786),T. HALL(Star#5575),P.CORSO(Star#12158),B.ELLISON (Star#12599), M. MURPHY(Star#15504),andE.MARTINEZ (Star#17750),awarding compensatory damagesandattorneys’fees,alongwithpunitivedamages againsttheDEFENDANT OFFICERSintheirindividualcapacity,aswellas anyotherreliefthisCourtdeemsjustandappropriate.
JuryDemand
Plaintiff, GEORGE ROBERTS, hereby demands a trial by jury pursuant to
FederalRuleofCivilProcedure38(b)onallissuesso triable.
RespectfullySubmitted,
/s/TimothyJ.Fiscella
AttorneyforPlaintiff
LawOfficeofTimothyJ.Fiscella
53WestJackson,Suite1750
Chicago,Illinois60604
312-546-4885