Steve Art

TRIAL COURT LITIGATION

People v. Tyrece Williams (Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois) Counsel for Tyrece Williams, who was wrongly convicted of a murder he did not commit. Secured Mr. Williams’ exoneration.

People v. Demetrius Johnson (Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois) Counsel for Demetrius Johnson, who was wrongly convicted of a murder he did not commit. Secured Mr. Johnson’s exoneration.

People v. Thomas Sierra (Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois) Counsel for Thomas Sierra, who was wrongly convicted of a murder he did not commit. Secured Mr. Sierra’s exoneration.

People v. Geraldo Iglesias (Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois) Counsel for Geraldo Iglesias, who was wrongly convicted of a murder he did not commit. Secured Mr. Iglesias’s exoneration.

Chicago Headline Club v. Noem, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois) Counsel for journalist organizations, religious leaders, and peaceful demonstrators challenging the use of excessive force by federal officers at immigration enforcement operations in Illinois. Case pending.

Bedi v. U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Workforce, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois) Counsel for law school clinical professors challenging a congressional committee’s investigation into their legal clinic’s work as a violation of the First Amendment. Case settled.

Villa v. Noradin, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois) Counsel for Alexander Villa, who was wrongfully convicted of the murder of a police officer he did not commit and spent nearly a decade in prison as a result of alleged police misconduct. Case pending.

Williams v. Guevara, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois) Counsel for Tyrece Williams, who was wrongfully convicted of a murder he did not commit and spent 20 years in prison as a result of alleged police misconduct. Case pending.

Schweitzer v. County of Hawaii, et al. (U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii) Counsel for Ian and Shawn Schweitzer, who were wrongfully convicted of a murder they did not commit as a result of alleged police misconduct. Case pending.

Melock v. City of Waukegan, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois) Counsel for Robert Melock, who was wrongfully convicted of a murder he did not commit and spent more than 30 years in prison as a result of alleged police misconduct. Case pending.

Lau v. County of Los Angeles, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Central District of California) Counsel for investigative journalist Maya Lau, who was subjected to a retaliatory criminal investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in response to her reporting on police misconduct. Case pending.

Coleman & Soto v. County of Los Angeles, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Central District of California) Counsel for Jofama Coleman and Abel Soto, who were wrongfully convicted of a murder they did not commit and each spent 20 years in prison as a result of alleged police misconduct. Case pending.

Cabanillas v. City of South Gate, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Central District of California) Counsel for Gerardo Cabanillas, who was wrongfully convicted of rape and kidnapping he did not commit and spent nearly three decades in prison as a result of alleged police misconduct. Case pending.

Soto v. Guevara, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois) Counsel for Oscar Soto, who was wrongfully convicted of a murder he did not commit and spent 27 years in prison as a result of alleged police misconduct. Case pending.

Gonzalez v. Guevara, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois) Counsel for Alfredo Gonzalez, Jr., who was wrongfully convicted of a murder he did not commit and spent 32 years in prison as a result of alleged police misconduct. Case pending.

Gecht & Kwil v. Guevara, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois) Counsel for David Gecht and Richard Kwil, who were wrongfully convicted of murders they did not commit and each spent 24 years in prison as a result of alleged police misconduct. Case pending.

Hernandez v. Guevara, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois) Counsel for Juan and Rosendo Hernandez, who were wrongfully convicted of a murder they did not commit and spent 26 years in prison as a result of alleged police misconduct. Case pending.

Martinez & Kelly v. Guevara, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois) Counsel for John Martinez and Thomas Kelly, who were wrongfully convicted of murders they did not commit as a result of alleged police misconduct. Case pending.

Robinson v. Guevara, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois) Counsel for Anthony Robinson, who was wrongfully convicted of a murder he did not commit and spent 14 years in prison as a result of alleged police misconduct. Case pending.

Gamalier Rivera v. Guevara, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois) Counsel for Gamalier Rivera, who was wrongfully convicted of a murder he did not commit and spent 22 years in prison as a result of alleged police misconduct. Case pending.

Reyes v. Guevara, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois) Counsel for Arturo DeLeon-Reyes, who was wrongfully convicted of a double murder he did not commit and spent 19 years in prison as a result of alleged police misconduct. Case pending.

Rodriguez v. Guevara, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois) Counsel for Daniel Rodriguez, who was wrongfully convicted of a murder he did not commit and spent more than 17 years in prison as a result of alleged police misconduct. Case pending.

Ortiz v. Guevara, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois) Counsel for Edwin Ortiz, who was wrongfully convicted of a murder he did not commit at age 14 and spent more than 20 years in prison as a result of alleged police misconduct. Case pending.

McDowell v. Guevara, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois) Counsel for Antonio McDowell, who was wrongfully convicted of a murder he did not commit and spent 23 years in prison as a result of alleged police misconduct. Case pending.

Iglesias v. Guevara, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois) Counsel for Geraldo Iglesias, who was wrongfully convicted of a murder he did not commit and spent 16 years in prison as a result of alleged police misconduct. Case pending.

Crawford v. McDonald’s USA, LLC, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois) Counsel for Black McDonald’s franchisees alleging racial discrimination in franchise placement and management policies. Case pending.

Long v. Weeks, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Central District of California) Counsel for Kimberly Long, who was wrongfully convicted of a murder she did not commit and spent seven years in prison as a result of alleged police misconduct. Case pending.

Koh v. Graf, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois) Counsel for Hyung Seok and Eunsook Koh in case alleging wrongful prosecution and detention. Case partially settled for $3.95 million. Case pending.

Black Lives Matter, et al. v. Wolf, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois) Counsel for social justice organizations in challenge to Trump Administration’s alleged unconstitutional actions to deter peaceful protest.

1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East v. DeJoy (U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida) Counsel for 1199SEIU in challenge to delay of U.S. Mail in Florida during the 2020 General Election.

Solis v. Hilco Redevelopment LLC, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois) Counsel for residents of the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago in class action against the developers responsible for a botched coal plant demolition that blanketed the community in toxic dust during the COVID-19 pandemic. Case settled for $12.25 million.

Johnson v. Guevara, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois) Counsel for Demetrius Johnson, who was wrongfully convicted of a murder he did not commit at age 15 and spent 13 years in prison as a result of alleged police misconduct. Case settled for $16.6 million.

Sierra v. Guevara, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois) Counsel for Thomas Sierra, who was wrongfully convicted of a murder he did not commit and spent 21 years in prison as a result of alleged police misconduct. Case settled for $17.5 million.

Torres v. County of Los Angeles, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Central District of California) Counsel for Alexander Torres, who was wrongfully convicted of a murder he did not commit and spent 20 years in prison as a result of alleged police misconduct. Case settled for $14 million.

Williams v. Kato, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois) Counsel for Bernard Williams, who was wrongfully convicted of a murder he did not commit at age 17 and spent 23 years in prison as a result of alleged police misconduct. Case settled for $7.5 million.

Palmer v. City of Decatur, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois) Counsel for Charles Palmer, who was wrongfully convicted of a murder he did not commit and spent 17 years in prison as a result of alleged police misconduct. Case partially settled for $8.15 million.

Gomez v. Guevara, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois) Counsel for Ariel Gomez, who was wrongfully convicted of a murder he did not commit at age 17 and spent 20 years in prison as a result of alleged police misconduct. Case settled for $4.85 million.

Rivera v. Guevara, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois) Counsel for Jacques Rivera, who was wrongfully convicted of a murder he did not commit and spent 21 years in prison as a result of alleged police misconduct. Jury returned a $17 million verdict for Mr. Rivera.

Burgess v. Baltimore Police Department, et al. (U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland) Counsel for Sabein Burgess, who was wrongfully convicted of a murder he did not commit and spent 19 years in prison as a result of alleged police misconduct. Jury returned a $15 million verdict for Mr. Burgess. Appeal pending.

Fields v. City of Chicago, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois) Counsel for Nathson Fields, who was wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death for a double murder he did not commit as a result of alleged police misconduct. Jury returned a $22 million verdict for Mr. Fields, among the highest jury verdicts in a wrongful conviction case in U.S. history. Jury verdict affirmed on appeal.

Rivera v. Lake County, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois) Counsel for Juan Rivera, who was wrongfully convicted of a murder he did not commit and spent 20 years in prison as a result of alleged police misconduct. Case settled for $20 million, one of the largest pretrial settlements of a wrongful conviction case in U.S. history.

Fox v. Barnes, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois) Counsel for Ray Fox and his family in civil rights lawsuit alleging that deliberate indifference by prison officials to Mr. Fox’s medical needs resulted in serious brain injuries. Jury returned a $12 million verdict for Mr. Fox, among the highest deliberate indifference verdicts in U.S. history.

Roberts v. County of Riverside, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Central District of California) Counsel for Horace Roberts, who was wrongly convicted of a murder he did not commit and spent 20 years in prison as a result. Case settled for $11 million plus.

Bost v. Wexford Health Sources, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Maryland) Counsel for family of Fatima Neal, who died at a county jail as a result of alleged denial of medical care. Case settled for $8.5 million.

Echavarria v. Roach, et al. (U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts) Counsel for Angel Echavarria, who was wrongly convicted of a murder he did not commit and spent decades in prison as a result. Case settled for multiple millions of dollars.

Awalt v. Marketti, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois) Counsel for estate of a man who died at a county jail as a result of alleged denial of medication and medical treatment during a five-day pretrial detention. Case settled following trial for multiple millions of dollars.

Julian v. Hanna, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana) Counsel for man wrongfully convicted of arson as a result of alleged police misconduct. On appeal of a motion to dismiss, won unanimous reversal in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Case settled before trial for $3 million.

Ford v. Caddo Parish, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana) Counsel for the estate of Glenn Ford, who was wrongly convicted of a murder he did not commit, was sentenced to death, and spent 30 years in solitary confinement on Louisiana’s death row as a result of alleged police and prosecutorial misconduct. Mr. Ford was exonerated in 2014 and died of cancer shortly after his release. Case dismissed.

APPELLATE COURT LITIGATION

Trump v. Illinois, 25A443 (S. Ct.) Counsel for amici curiae Chicago Headline Club and other journalist organizations in support of respondent in case about the federal government’s authority to deploy National Guard troops to Illinois. Stay denied, 6-3.

Estate of Hernandez v. City of Los Angeles, No. 21-55994 (9th Cir. 2025) (en banc) Counsel for amicus curiae National Police Accountability Project at en banc stage in case about excessive force during a police shooting. Ruling in favor of plaintiff reversing in part summary judgment for defendants.

Long v. Weeks, No. 24-4427 (9th Cir. 2025) Counsel for plaintiff in wrongful conviction case about fabrication and suppression of evidence and malicious prosecution. Ruling in favor of client affirming denial of qualified immunity.

Williams v. County of Los Angeles, et al., No. 25-2593 (9th Cir.) Counsel for plaintiff in wrongful conviction case involving a man who spent 41 years in prison and 32 years on death row. Appeal pending.

Chiaverini v. City of Napoleon, 601 U.S. 380 (2024) Counsel for amicus curiae The Cato Institute in support of petitioner in case about whether probable cause for one charge defeats a Fourth Amendment malicious prosecution claim based on other charges lacking probable cause. Ruling for petitioner.

Wade v. McDade, 21-14275 (11th Cir. 2024) (en banc) Counsel at en banc stage in case establishing the standard for deliberate indifference to medical needs under the Eighth Amendment. Ruling in favor of establishing a new framework based on criminal recklessness.

Vega v. Tekoh, 597 U.S. 134 (2022) Counsel for amici curiae National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and Due Process Institute in support of respondent in case about whether a violation of Miranda rights provides a basis for a claim under section 1983. Ruling for petitioner.

Palmer v. State of Illinois, 2021 IL 125621 (Ill. 2021) (Illinois Supreme Court) Counsel in case establishing standards governing the award of certificates of innocence in Illinois. Unanimous ruling that client Charles Palmer was entitled to a certificate of innocence.

Savory v. Cannon, 947 F.3d 409 (7th Cir. 2020) (en banc) Counsel in case about claim accrual in wrongful conviction cases. 9-1 ruling in favor of client reversing dismissal of case. Petition for certiorari denied.

K.J. v. Polk County, 960 F.3d 367 (7th Cir. 2020) (en banc) Counsel at en banc stage in case about municipal liability for sexual assaults in correctional facilities. Ruling in favor of client affirming multi-million dollar jury verdict.

Fields v. City of Chicago, 981 F.3d 534 (7th Cir. 2020) Counsel for plaintiff in wrongful conviction case following a $22 million jury verdict for client. Ruling in favor of client affirming jury verdict.

Owsley v. Gorbett, 960 F.3d 969 (7th Cir. 2020) Counsel in case about standing to pursue denial of access to courts claim. Ruling in favor of client reversing dismissal of case.

Lombardo, et al. v. St. Louis, et al., No. 20-391 (S. Ct.) Counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in support of petitioner at cert. stage in case examining whether police officers violate the Constitution’s prohibition on excessive force when they kill a shackled and handcuffed arrestee inside of a jail cell by compression asphyxiation.

Larry Thompson v. Pagiel Clark, et al., No. 20-659 (S. Ct.) Counsel for civil rights, racial justice, and criminal defense organizations in support of petitioner at certiorari stage in case examining whether individuals seized in violation of the Fourth Amendment must prove their innocence in criminal proceedings in order to pursue section 1983 claims. Certiorari granted.

Koh v. Ustich, 933 F.3d 836 (7th Cir. 2019) Counsel in case about appellate jurisdiction over qualified-immunity appeals in wrongful conviction cases. Ruling in favor of client dismissing appeal for lack of jurisdiction. Petition for certiorari denied.

McDonough v. Smith, 139 S. Ct. 2149 (2019) Counsel for amici curiae federal courts scholars in support of petitioner in case about accrual of section 1983 claims for wrongful prosecution in violation of due process. Ruling for petitioner.

Beaman v. Freesmeyer, 131 N.E.3d 488 (Ill. 2019) Counsel for amici curiae former prosecutors in support of petitioner in case about the elements of malicious prosecution in Illinois. Ruling for petitioner.

Burgess v. Baltimore Police Department, No. 19-1600 (4th Cir.) Counsel in wrongful conviction case following a $15 million verdict for plaintiff. Appeal pending.

Vargas v. Los Angeles, No. 19-55967 (9th Cir.) Counsel for plaintiff in wrongful conviction case. Appeal pending.

Kuri v. City of Chicago, No. 19-2967 (7th Cir.) Counsel for plaintiff in wrongful conviction case following a $4 million jury verdict for client. Ruling in favor of client affirming jury verdict.

Jackson v. Curry, 888 F.3d 259 (7th Cir. 2018) Counsel for plaintiff in case about appellate jurisdiction over qualified-immunity appeals in wrongful conviction cases. Ruling in favor of client dismissing appeal for lack of jurisdiction.

Manuel v. City of Joliet, 903 F.3d 667 (7th Cir. 2018) Counsel for amicus curiae National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in support of plaintiff in case about elements and accrual of false detention claims. Ruling for plaintiff.

Ford v. Caddo Parish, 18-30126 (5th Cir.) Counsel for plaintiff in wrongful conviction case involving a man who spent 30 years on death row. Ruling against client affirming dismissal.

Avery v. City of Milwaukee, 847 F.3d 433 (7th Cir. 2017) Counsel for amici curiae Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Civil Rights and Police Accountability Project of the Mandel Legal Aid Clinic in support of plaintiff in case about due process claims alleging fabrication of evidence. Ruling for plaintiff.

Manuel v. City of Joliet, 137 S. Ct. 911 (2017) Counsel for amicus curiae Albert Alschuler in support of petition in case about Fourth Amendment claims for wrongful detention. Ruling for petitioner.

Stinson v. Gauger, 868 F.3d 516 (7th Cir. 2015) (en banc) Counsel at en banc stage in case about jurisdictional limitations of qualified-immunity appeals. Ruling in favor of client dismissing appeal for lack of jurisdiction.

Sanders v. Jones, No. 15-6384 (6th Cir. 2015) Counsel for amici curiae the Innocence Network, David Ayers, and Clarence Elkins in support of plaintiff in case about section 1983 claims for fabricated evidence.

Kingsley v. Hendrickson, 576 U.S. 389 (2015) (cited in Kingsley, 135 S. Ct. at 2474) Counsel for amici curiae Former Corrections Experts in support of petitioner in case about use of force claims brought by pretrial detainees. Ruling for petitioner.

Julian v. Hanna, 732 F.3d 842 (7th Cir. 2013) Counsel for plaintiff in case about the viability of federal malicious prosecution claims. Ruling in favor of client recognizing such a claim for the first time in the Seventh Circuit.

Jimenez v. City of Chicago, 732 F.3d 710 (7th Cir. 2013) Counsel for plaintiff in wrongful conviction case following a $25 million jury verdict for client. Ruling in favor of client affirming jury verdict.

Engel v. Buchan, 710 F.3d 698 (7th Cir. 2013) Counsel in case about Bivens actions for due process violations. Ruling in favor of client recognizing Bivens action.

Illinois v. Oduwole, No. 5-12-0039 (Ill. App. Ct. 2013) Counsel for man prosecuted in Illinois based on charges that he attempted to make a terrorist threat. Obtained a unanimous appellate court decision reversing Mr. Oduwole’s conviction on the ground that the State had failed to present sufficient evidence of an attempt.

Vance v. Rumsfeld, 701 F.3d 193 (7th Cir. 2012) (en banc); Vance v. Rumsfeld, No. 12-976 (U.S. Supreme Court 2013) (petition for certiorari). Counsel for civilian American citizens who alleged that they were detained and tortured by U.S. military officials in Iraq.