Recent Success in Trial Practice

Loevy & Loevy is well-known for its willingness to take difficult cases to trial -- and winning.

In trying so many cases, Loevy & Loevy has also developed a tremendous track record for success. Some examples of our firm's recent trial successes include:

Alejandro Dominguez: In October of last year, we won a $9 million jury verdict for our client, a Mexican immigrant who spent four years in prison as a teenager after being wrongfully convicted. We proved at trial that the Waukegan Police Department violated his constitutional rights, including the use of a highly suggestive line-up procedure, to frame him for rape he did not commit.

Cornelius Ware: In February, we won a jury verdict for our client who was shot and killed by the Chicago Police following a car chase. There was eyewitness testimony that Cornelius was unarmed at the time, but four officers testified that he pointed a gun at them. The jury concluded that the gun later recovered in the car was planted after the fact. Following the jury's verdict, the City agreed to pay $5 million.

Steve Manning: An ex-Chicago Police officer alleged that he was framed by the FBI for a murder in Illinois and a kidnapping in Missouri. He received the death penalty for the former, and life in prison for the latter, though both sentences were eventually reversed. Mr. Manning's lawsuit alleged that he was framed by certain FBI agents, who fabricated evidence and manipulated the witnesses against him. After a five-week trial this in December/January 2005 before Judge Kennelly, the jury found in our favor and awarded $6.5 million in damages for the wrongful convictions.

Joseph Regalado: The $28 million jury verdict obtained by Loevy & Loevy in 1999 (in a case tried before Judge Shadur) is the largest police brutality jury verdict in the history of the City, and is believed to be the highest tort verdict against Chicago as well. Mr. Regalado was beaten into a coma by two Chicago Police Officers and ever since, he has been in a "locked in" condition: conscious, yet unable to move or speak.

George Garcia: $1 million jury verdict in a trial before Judge Holderman in 2003 for a beating inflicted by an off-duty Chicago police officer. Through a comprehensive study and analysis of the City's internal affairs "O.P.S." files, we established that the City's system for investigating/punishing Chicago police officers is so deficient that officers are effectively encouraged to believe they can engage in violence with virtual impunity. This "municipal liability" jury finding holding Chicago accountable for its broken O.P.S. system is one of the first of its kind in the country.

Robert Smith: $373,000 jury verdict in 2003. The Urbana police were called in response to a domestic incident, and the plaintiff was drunk and by his own admission ran from the police. With no witnesses other than Mr. Smith (testifying against four police officers) we were able to prove excessive force, resulting in a $373,000 jury verdict in a trial before Judge Baker in the Central District of Illinois in 2003. The jury also found Urbana liable on a "Monell" policy and practice claim because of our proof that the illegal police control techniques which caused Mr. Smith's injuries were condoned by the Department.

Kentin Waits: $2.015 million jury verdict in a trial before Judge Hibbler in 2002. Mr. Waits, a computer technician, made the mistake of squirting a Chicago police officer with a water bottle. The police seized him from his home and "taught him a lesson," covering the window to the interview room with paper and then slapping him repeatedly and kneeing him in the groin. They also held him overnight unnecessarily and towed and damaged his car. The case was pursued courageously by Mr. Waits on principle, consistent with our firm's belief that police officers should not take the law into their own hands and exact street justice. Though Mr. Waits had no witnesses to counter the denials of multiple police officers, the jury credited the plaintiff's case and awarded $2 million in punitive damages in 2003.

Jeremy Kunz: $275,000 jury verdict in police brutality case tried before Judge Zagel in August of 2005. Our client was carrying illegal drugs, and led the police on a chase driving a stolen Blazer. When the police caught him, they beat him up and broke his rib. Seven police offices testified as adverse eyewitnesses, but the jury ultimately believed Mr. Kunz.

James McGreal: Our client, Officer McGreal, was suspended by the Alsip Police Department after he initiated an investigation into video poker at a local tavern. His First Amendment retaliation claim was tried before Judge Conlon in 2004, and at the close of Plaintiff's case, the defendants settled the case before it went to the jury for $900,000.

Michael Shaun Russell: $1.5 million jury verdict in 2003 (before Judge McGrath in the Circuit Court of Cook County) for a young man shot and killed by a Chicago Police Officer who insisted that Mr. Russell was shooting at a rival gang member at the time in the Cabrini Green housing project. The jury credited the testimony of two admitted gang members over that of the Chicago Police Officers after we carefully took apart the official police version and exposed it to be a lie. The truth was that this young man was shot in the back in cold blood.

Leroy Gordon: $200,000 jury verdict in Title VII case for compensatory and punitive damages, as well as reinstatement. A black, over-40, male brought suit after his wrongful termination by United Airlines. United initially won summary judgment, but after Loevy & Loevy succeeding in getting that decision reversed by the Seventh Circuit, the case was tried in 2002 before Judge Leinenweber against Mayor, Brown & Platt. Without any direct evidence of discrimination, Loevy & Loevy instead proved a circumstantial case by comparing Mr. Gordon's treatment to hundreds of other employees.

Archie Robinson: $300,000 jury verdict (Judge Lefkow) for a man shot by a Harvey Police Officer who claimed that the plaintiff was pointing a gun at him. Loevy & Loevy prevailed twice, first at trial, and then after a re-trial in 2002 because of an inconsistent verdict. At both trials, Loevy & Loevy proved with compelling evidence that after the police shot Mr. Robinson, they planted a gun on the ground, a gun which had been seized on a different police raid earlier that day. At least one police officer had to plead the Fifth on the stand, and another claimed complete alcohol-related amnesia. The jury also found Harvey liable on a "Monell" policy and practice claim because its failure to discipline its officers was so egregious that officers were encouraged to believe they could commit this sort of abuse.

Myrna Smith: Another case brought on principle, this time by a lawyer from El Salvador who was being tormented and falsely arrested by her Chicago Police Officer neighbors. During the trial in 2002, Chicago settled the case mid-trial on Judge Castillo's recommendation on favorable terms when plaintiff closed her case.

Lurena Johnson: $100,000+ verdict (remitted by more than half) for unlawful detention and search of African American motorist driving through the town of Willowbrook. Tried before Judge Leinenweber in 1999.

Ana Menchacha: Loevy & Loevy co-tried this employment case with another firm and recovered a $509,000 jury verdict (compensatory and punitive damages) before Judge Kennelly in 2001 against American Medical Response of Illinois, defended by Hinshaw & Culbertson and another firm.