Chicago Woman Wins $7.9 Million for Rescuing a Police Officer; Rachelle Jackson Rescued...

Chicago Woman Wins $7.9 Million for Rescuing a Police Officer; Rachelle
Jackson Rescued Officer From Burning Squad Car And Spent Over Ten Months In
Jail
The Hero Speaks - Interview with Rachelle Jackson after the verdict at 3 p.m.,
Friday, June 13, 2008 at 119 N. Peoria Street, Suite 3A, Chicago, IL 60607.

CHICAGO, June 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Rachelle Jackson, a southside Chicago
woman, won $7.9 million dollars in her federal civil rights claim. "Rachelle
is a hero, and the jury knew it," said Christopher R. Smith, one of the
attorneys for Rachelle Jackson.
On November 19, 2002, Rachelle Jackson heard twisting metal and ran to aid
the occupants of a Chicago Police vehicle that had been in a car crash. The
car caught fire, but Rachelle rescued Chicago Police Officer Kelly Brogan from
the car anyway. Many residents responded to aid the officers. During the
chaos, someone stole the service weapon of Officer Brogan's partner, who lay
slumped over the steering wheel unconscious. Rachelle went to the police
station to be a witness.
Once there, officers subjected Rachelle to over fifty hours of coercive
and abusive interrogation, without access to a bathroom. Days later, Officer
Kelly Brogan, who Rachelle rescued, came forward with a lie that Rachelle
Jackson had attempted to remove her star and steal her gun; Rachelle claimed
she pulled the officer from the burning car. After over ten months in jail,
Cook County Circuit Court Judge Schultz exonerated Rachelle of wrongdoing,
just as the federal jury did yesterday. The eyewitnesses, except for Officer
Brogan, all corroborated Rachelle's story.
The jury found in favor of Rachelle on six claims, as follows: Federal
False Arrest - $150,000.00; State False Arrest - $250,000.00; Coercive
Questioning - $500,000.00; Length of Confinement - $1,000,000.00; Malicious
Prosecution - $2,000,000.00; and Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress
- $4,000,000.00.
"Officer Brogan's attempt to jail a woman who rescued her and the
detectives that encouraged Brogan to do so reflects the integrity of the
Chicago Police Department," said Daniel Alexander, lead attorney representing
Rachelle. "Peoples' rights can be, are, and will be protected in Chicago,"
said Christopher R. Smith, speaking after the verdict.
Interview with Rachelle Jackson after the verdict at 3 p.m., Friday, June
13, 2008 at 119 N. Peoria Street, Suite 3A, Chicago, IL 60607
CONTACT: Jared S. Kosoglad
TEL: 312-432-0400
CELL: 312-513-6000
EMAIL: jared.k@chicagocivilrightslawyers.com

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SOURCE A Law Office Of Christopher R. Smith

Jared S. Kosoglad, +1-312-432-0400, CELL: +1-312-513-6000,
jared.k@chicagocivilrightslawyers.com