(Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)
The city of Chicago should pay $1.75 million to a man injured by a driver fleeing Chicago police and resolve another lawsuit prompted by a crash caused by a police pursuit, city lawyers are recommending.
Eddie Banks Jr. was severely and permanently injured in the early morning hours of July 5, 2018, while driving through the intersection of 83rd Street and Stony Island Avenue when he was struck by a vehicle driven by John Tinker, who was fleeing police, according to his lawsuit against the city.
Court records show the city sued Tinker, seeking to force him to pay damages to Banks and blaming him for the pursuit that injured Banks. But Tinker has no assets to pay a judgment, forcing the city to shoulder the entire cost of resolving the lawsuit, officials said.
The department changed its policy for vehicle pursuits in August 2020. That policy now requires officers to “consider the need for immediate apprehension of an eluding suspect and the requirement to protect the public from the danger created by eluding offenders” and ensures that no officer could be disciplined for terminating a pursuit.
Marked police cars must also take the lead in pursuits, and activate their lights and sirens, according to the revised policy.
Chicago taxpayers spent $74.4 million since 2019 to resolve lawsuits sparked by police pursuits, with the city’s insurance coverage paying an additional $25 million, according to an analysis of city data by WTTW News.
The proposed $1.75 million settlement is set to be considered Wednesday by the City Council’s Finance Committee. A final vote of the City Council could come on Oct. 9.
In a separate case, alderpeople will consider paying $445,000 to a teen who was injured on June 12, 2021, when the car she was riding in was struck by a SUV driven by a Chicago Police officer near Michigan Avenue and Pershing Road.
The officer told investigators he was responding to a call of a person with a gun when the crash occurred.
The lawsuit filed by Tilila Wade alleged the officer ran a red light just before the crash occurred, but had not activated his emergency lights or sirens when he entered the intersection.
The Finance Committee will also consider paying $332,500 to a Gold Coast woman who sued the city after she was arrested after calling police to report that the company in charge of managing her building had improperly entered her unit.
According to the federal lawsuit filed by Jeanette Bass, the officer who responded to her complaint injured her and had her involuntarily committed to a psychiatric facility.
Contact Heather Cherone: @HeatherCherone | (773) 569-1863 | [email protected]
