Brown Et Al V. City Of Chicago Et Al
Case Background
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.
Cause
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 case against Brown. Witnesses who could have proven Brown’s innocence were ignored. Police reports were falsified to conceal misconduct.
The court convicted Brown of first-degree murder and sentenced him to 35 years in prison. Nearly a decade later, the court vacated his conviction in June 2018 after finding that his confession had been unlawfully obtained. The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office dismissed all charges in July 2018. A year later, Brown received a Certificate of Innocence, which formally acknowledged his wrongful conviction.
Injuries
Marcel Brown suffered severe and lasting trauma due to his wrongful arrest, conviction, and incarceration. He lost nearly a decade of his young adult life. From age 18 to 28, Brown lost out on basic human experiences that shape adulthood. He missed numerous important life events and milestones with family and friends. Brown lost educational and career opportunities that could have shaped his future. He was denied the chance to build relationships, fall in love, or start a family during his formative years.
The wrongful conviction caused extreme mental anguish, emotional distress, and loss of a normal life. Brown endured the daily indignities and dangers of prison life for years, knowing he was innocent. After his release, he faced difficulty adjusting to life outside prison. Family relationships were strained, and earning capacity was lost. Ongoing psychological trauma continues to impact Brown’s life. The injuries from wrongful imprisonment will affect him forever.
Damages
Brown sought compensatory damages for the immense harm caused by his wrongful conviction and imprisonment. He also demanded punitive damages against the individual defendants. This was to punish their misconduct and deter similar civil rights violations in the future.
Key Arguments and Proceedings
Legal representation
- Plaintiff(s): Marcel Brown
- Counsel for Plaintiff: Locke E. Bowman| Jonathan I. Loevy | Jonathan Matthew Manes | Tom Kayes | Vanessa Del Valle
- Defendant(s):City of Chicago | Kevin McDonald | Michael Mancuso, Chicago Police Detectives
- Counsel for Defendants: James Peter Fieweger| Ashni Gandhi | Carolyn E. Isaac | Kyle L. Flynn | Aaron Seth Klein | John F. Gibbons | Thomas Quinn Ford | Tyler Lynn Salway
Key Arguments or Remarks by Counsel
“Justice was finally served for me and my family today,” Brown said. “We’re just thankful, being able to be here today. Thank you, jurors.”
Attorney Locke Bowman of the law firm of Loevy & Loevy said the verdict should serve as a “wakeup call” to city leaders “that it is time to get a grip on the way the Chicago Police Department is conducting its interrogations.”
Claims
Brown filed federal civil rights claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. He alleged the defendant officers violated his Fourteenth Amendment right to due process and a fair trial. They fabricated evidence, coerced false confessions, and suppressed exculpatory evidence. Brown claimed the officers violated his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. They coerced an involuntary confession used against him at trial. The officers and ASA Spizzirri were accused of failing to intervene and conspiring to frame him through their coordinated efforts
Brown sued the City of Chicago under Monell v. Department of Social Services. He alleged the city had a pattern of coercing false confessions, particularly from young suspects. The city fabricated evidence, suppressed exculpatory information, and perpetuated a “code of silence” that allowed misconduct to continue. Brown claimed the city failed to train, supervise, and discipline officers involved in these practices.
The Wrongful conviction lawsuit also included state law claims. These were for malicious prosecution, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and civil conspiracy. Brown alleged the defendants pursued his prosecution without probable cause. They engaged in extreme conduct causing severe emotional distress and conspired to frame him for murder.
Defense
The City of Chicago denied most of the plaintiff’s allegations. It asserted several affirmative defenses. The City denied that its officers engaged in misconduct or violated constitutional rights. During the interrogation, no one coerced Brown, and no one fabricated or suppressed evidence.The City rejected accusations of having policies leading to wrongful convictions or rights violations.
The City also denied liability for any torts committed by its employees. It claimed the plaintiff’s claims were barred by statutes of limitations. The investigation, arrest, and incarceration of the plaintiff were justified, according to the City. The City claimed immunity from punitive damages under state and federal law. It argued that if the plaintiff’s injuries were partially caused by his wrongful conduct, any judgment should be reduced. The City maintained it was not liable for acts outside its employees’ scope of employment.
Jury Verdict
On September 9, 2024, the jury awarded the plaintiff $50,000,000 in compensatory damages in a Wrongful conviction lawsuit. They allocated $10,000,000 for pretrial detention and $40,000,000 for post-conviction imprisonment. The jury also awarded punitive damages of $50,000 against Defendant Mancuso.
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