Police Misconduct

Police Brutality Protester Receives Judgement Against CPD

In the spring of 2020, Kulis Law client “M” was protesting against the police killing of George Floyd when he himself became a victim of police brutality. “M” suffered a broken nose when a Chicago Police Officer unjustifiably and illegally struck him across the face with a baton. Kulis Law advocated on “M”‘s behalf, sued the City of Chicago and its police officers for excessive force.

“M” received a judgement against the City of Chicago in the amount of $50,000.00.

1.35 Million Dollar Verdict After Bar Fight / Police Shooting

Our client got into an altercation with several gentleman in a bar who beat him up and threw him out. Unbeknownst to him, they were off-duty police Chicago police officers. “E” went and picked up his friend and two guns and came back to the bar. The bar was closing so he followed one of the off-duty officers in his car. At a stoplight, a confrontation occurred. “E” and his friend were shot and killed by the Chicago Police officer. Neither our client or the other individual fired a shot.

A jury returned a verdict of $1,350,000.00 to “E’s” family.

Shooting of Store Robbery Suspect – $1,000,000.00

Police were investigating a string of electronic store robberies. The police decided to stop “A” when he left his home. As he drove away, the police alleged “A” tried to run over the defendant. The defendant police officer shot at the van, killing “A”. Plaintiffs alleged no officer was in a zone of danger when shots were fired.

No weapons or contraband were found in “A’s” possession. This case settled for $1,000,000.00.

Mother and Children Sue for Unlawful Search

Police raided the wrong apartment of a mother and her children. After the unlawful search, the police went to the correct apartment and conducted a raid where they confiscated drugs and cash. A sergeant then went back to the original home and gave the mother ten one-hundred-dollar bills to buy her silence, money stolen from the second apartment. The mother sued for unlawful search.

A settlement was reached for $40,000.00.

Shooting of a 15-year-old

Chicago police allegedly saw a young man standing in an alley in the middle of the day, holding a gun. They gave chase and radioed other police that they were chasing a young man. They never announced over the radio that he had a gun. The defendant officer jumped fences chasing “P” and claimed he saw “P” reach for his waistband. The officer fired once, shooting P in the back of the head, instantly killing him. “P” did not have a gun in his possession. A gun was later found along the path that the chase covered. The department, after settlement, recommended the officer be terminated.

The settlement was $950,000.00.

Bond for Drugs – $80,000.00

“S” was leaving his mother’s home when police stopped him and his friend, claiming they found some weed along the side of the house. “S” denied he had anything to do with the drugs. “S” was told they each had to “find or buy” a gun on the street to obtain their freedom or they were “going down for the drugs.” “S” illegally bought a gun off the street and placed it in a gift bag to buy his friend’s freedom. He videotaped the gun he purchased and the police picking up the gun in a gift bag which was never properly documented on their reports.

This case settled for $80,000.00.

Commercial Litigation

Defense of National Travel Facilitator

A long-time supervisor, “N”, of one of the largest travel facilitators in the United States left his job and went to a competitor. His employer had him criminally charged and arrested for stealing business. “N” sued his initial employer for false arrest. The original employer counter-sued “N” for theft of business and breach of fiduciary duty and sued his new employer for 6.8 million dollars for tortious interference with business relations.

Kulis Law represented the employee and his new employer. After a two-week trial, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the “N” for $50,000.00 and the new employer was found not guilty of any business wrongdoing, despite a claim of $6.8 million in damages—a total success.

Commercial Coin-Operated Laundry Company Sues to Re-Obtain Possession of Its Premises

A coin-operated laundry company leased a laundry room in a condominium complex to place its coin-operated laundry equipment. The association disconnected their equipment and locked them out. Kulis Law established the laundry company’s right to possession and was awarded possession back of its premises along with its attorney’s fees and costs for the wrongful eviction.