Wrongful Conviction

On April 9, 2018, Plaintiff Jeanne Olson, as successor Plaintiff for William E. Amor filed a lawsuit in the Illinois State, Northern District Court of Chicago Division (Case number: 1:18cv2523). Judge John J. Tharp, Jr presided over the case. In September 1995, Naperville police officers conspired to unlawfully arrest and prosecute William E. Amor, leading to a notorious false confession case. The officers coerced a false confession from Amor using physical force, mental coercion, lies, and improper interrogation techniques. They falsely told Amor he had failed a polygraph test and fabricated witness evidence to support charges they knew lacked probable cause. As a result of their misconduct, Amor was convicted and sentenced to 45 years in prison. He served over 20 years before his conviction was vacated in 2017, after experts agreed his confession was scientifically impo

On June 18, 2019, Plaintiff Marcel Brown filed a Wrongful Conviction lawsuit in the Illinois State, Northern District Court of Chicago Division (Case number: 1:19cv4082). Judge Lindsay C. Jenkins and Heather K. McShain presided over the case. In August 2008, 18-year-old Marcel Brown was wrongfully arrested for the shooting death of Paris Jackson. The incident occurred at Chicago’s Amundsen Park. Officers, including Michael Mancuso, Kevin McDonald, and others, interrogated Brown for over 34 hours. They deprived him of food, sleep, and contact with his family or attorney, Stephen Wham Cary. Authorities used coercive tactics to extract a false confession from Brown. He had limited intellectual abilities and little legal experience. The officers, along with Assistant State’s Attorney Michelle Spizzirri, fabricated evidence and suppressed exculpatory information. They coerced false witness statements to build their