Chicago Settles Darius Pinex Wrongful Death Lawsuit

A lawsuit that led to a probe of Chicago’s Law Department is finally over.

The family of Darius Pinex agreed to settle their wrongful death lawsuit against the city for an undisclosed amount, the Chicago Tribune reports.

According to the Tribune, the case was scheduled for a retrial on July 18 before Pinex’s family and Chicago accepted a mediator’s proposal.

In 2011, two police officers fatally shot Pinex during a traffic stop. A federal jury ruled in favor of the officers and the city at the first trial. But U.S. District Judge Edmond Chang found that the city’s attorney, Jordan Marsh, intentionally withheld evidence and lied about it.

Chang ordered a new trial and wrote this sharply worded message in his 72-page opinion, reported in the Chicago Tribune:

“Attorneys who might be tempted to bury late-surfacing information need to know that, if discovered, any verdict they win will be forfeit and their clients will pay the price. They need to know it is not worth it.”

Chang blamed the Law Department for systemic missteps in cases involving police officers accused of misconduct, according to the newspaper.

That led Marsh, a veteran city attorney, to resign and the launch of a probe into the Law Department.

Steve Greenberg, the lawyer for the Pinex family, commented to the Chicago Tribune about the case:

“It wasn’t about the money. It was about teaching a lesson. All people have a right to be treated with respect by officers, and this case more than most sends a message, hopefully a message of honesty and change.”

The Tribune said the Law Department declined to comment.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune | PHOTO CREDIT: Getty, Twitter

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Chicago Settles Darius Pinex Wrongful Death Lawsuit  was originally published on newsone.com