Tuesday, July 18, 2006

CITY OF CHICAGO SUED FOR $100 MILLION

The parents of young California woman filed suit in federal court in Illinois recently, claiming that their daughter suffered catastrophic injuries as a result of the actions of the Chicago Police Department. The alleged facts, as reported by David Heinzmann in a June 10, 2006 article in the Chicago Tribune would make any parent shudder. The complaint alleges that 21 year old Christina Eilman, found herself stranded in Chicago on May 6, 2006, without enough money to return home to California. In addition, the complaint alleges Christina lacked sufficient "mental capacity" as well. Although the exact sequence of events isn't entirely clear, Christina's parents purchased a Southwest Airlines Ticket, with a departure date of May 7, 2006. The complaint further alleges that Christina missed the flight because she was in police custody after having created a disturbance on a CTA platform. She was arrested and the Chicago Police called her parents, leaving a message that Christina was "difficult to understand" and that the police "didn't know what they had on their hands". The complaint further alleges that the family then frantically began calling Chicago Police officials in an attempt to locate Christina and get her some help. In addition, the family allegedly advised the police at that time that Christina suffered from bipolar disorder, mania and depression.

The complaint also alleges that Christina's parents never received any information on their daughter's release or her mental condition, which was allegedly deteriorating. Ultimately, Christina was released by the Police into a high crime area at 51st and Wentworth. The family claims she should have been admitted into a physchiatric ward. The complaint alleges that after her release, Christina wandered around the neighborhood before being approached by some people at a restuarant. She then ended up in a vacant apartment on the seventh floor of a local high rise. An alleged gang leader, Marvin Powell then allegedly sexually assualted her. Later that night, Christina fell from the apartment window, dressed only in underwear. She is now paralyzed from the waist down and has yet to regain consciousness. The City has refused to comment. Powell is being held without bail in Cook County jail.

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